Taking a bath in a royal apartment was not quite as good as swimming in the natural pool in her mountain cave, but it had its own charm. Leevana lay back and soaked herself in the scalding hot water, letting her eyes close. She enjoyed it best when the water was heated to nearly boiling point – much higher than a human would be able to stand. It was hot enough to make her strong muscles unwind and helped her forget that she had become feverish and sweated a lot, neither of which was natural for a night-hag.

After Leevana had dressed herself in her custom-made nightgown designed to fit a lady of giant heritage like herself, she brushed her long, damp hair in front of her mirror. In the mirror she could see that the candlelight shimmered off her green cheeks – her face was sticky with sweat again. It had been like this even since the shade of Isaac the Dreadful had struck her with his Sceptre of Doom. What was wrong with her? She didn't know the answer to that, and she didn't want to worry Karl, so she decided to keep it to herself.

There was a soft knock at the Elsie the assistant cook entered her dressing room with a silver tray with bread, jam and tea. Elsie's round cheeks flushed pink. "I – I was waiting 'til you were out of the bath, Ma'am."

"Thank you, Elsie," said the night-hag grinning as she accepted the tray.

The girl laid a small hand on Lee's bare arm. "I – I wanted to talk about holidays… about the Spring solstice."

"You're looking forward to seeing your family, hey? Do you guys have anything special planned?"

Elsie twirled a strand of her curly hair in her fingers and licked her lips. Was she nervous. "I d-don't really want to go home now. I want to stay here and serve you."

Lee really hoped Elsie wasn't having any problems at home. "Is there anything you want to tell me, Elsie?" she asked softly.

"Yes. Leevana, what do you know about love? A-About finding a love…" The girl blushed again.

The night-hag smiled. "I can only share my experience. I wanted to be a mother and I could not find a love, so in the end I resolved to adopt a mortal child who needed a strong mother. But perhaps I can find a man to love now. These things don't have to happen in any specific order, hey?"

Elsie's bottom lip was quivering. "Hey, hey…" Lee put her arms around her. Elsie rested her cool, dry cheek against the hag's hot, sticky one. "Don't be sad, Elsie. You will find a man to love."

"A man… I don't think that would work out."

The night-hag tutted. "You are a special girl. Things will work out for you."

Elsie gripped Lee's shoulders with her little hands. "The tales never told how magnificent night-hags are," she said suddenly.

Lee would have blushed if her face had not been green. "Humanity is magnificent," she replied. "So beautiful and graceful… and there's this nobility about you… My sister Ulva agrees with me."

"Mmm… yeah… humanity is magnicient. Right." But Elsie didn't sound very enthusiastic.

00O00

One of the things that thrilled Lee about Rosewood was that she could involve herself in charitable work. In Ostinia, there had been no chance of this. She was even more thrilled when Jason expressed a special interest in accompanying her one night. He really was a good man.

This night, Lee would be helping a poor man in a hospital who was suffering from long term post traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Great War. She and Jason reported at the hospital reception and the receptionist marked their names down in her register. "It's good to see a young couple taking an interest in helping our veterans. Not enough people do."

Yet again, Lee knew she would have blushed if her face was not green. "Um… we're not a couple… that is…" she bit her lip. "I'm centuries old. Not that young, hey?"

Jason chuckled.

The veteran was asleep. His poor face on the pillow looked so worn and haggard in the flickering candlelight.

"Fighting in the trenches must have been Hell," said Jason. "You know about trench warfare? It's basically chucking people at the problem, whether that problem be an invasion, or a counter-invasion."

Lee scowled. "It was an outrage. Treating men as callously as that. Every life is precious." She was breathing through her nose, her bosom rising and falling.

"And yet all the leaders were guilty of it. Even Rosewood's and the Grey Isles. What does it say about them?"

And it wasn't just them. Lee had the uncomfortable awareness that Karl's royal father, the old King of Ostinia, had taken part in trench warfare as well. And surely trench warfare was the kind of evil thing worthy of Steel - or Isaac the Dreadful? She put the thought from her mind.

She and Jason say down on either side of the patient's bed. She gazed into Jason's pretty eyes, that shimmered in the light of the beeswax candles. "Post-traumatic stress disorder is a problem of the mind. That's where my special powers can be of real use. Dreams and night-mares are a night-hag's specialty. Other night-hags bring night terrors, but my sisters and I have sworn never to hurt a living human. Now I get to use my might powers help someone. We both can, if you are ready… if you are prepared…"

Jason nodded and they clasped their hands together. Lee concentrated, and they both reached into the veteran's mind… she could feel Jason's surprise as he was drawn in with her.

They now stood on what appeared to be a blasted landscape.

"A dreamscape," said Lee. "The veteran's subconscious has converted his internal struggle into a kind of dream." The pungent reek of gunpowder was heavy on the air … so real that even Lee's unrefined taste-buds could taste it.

The veteran stood before them and looked around wildly. "The guns… each night they sound…" he said, pointing at in the distance. There was a sound of firing shots and the veteran drifted in the opposite direction, but Lee caught hold of him. A shadow loomed on the horizon and drew nearer at an incredible speed. The outline of a demon with horns and glaring red eyes…

Lee could sense Jason's fear and reassured him with a touch. "I am here, my dears. I can handle this."

She turned towards the dream demon. The personification of post traumatic stress disorder. She glided towards it. In the dreamscape, it was as though she had no weight. She could glide and fly without mushrooms and without a broom. The demon reached out with its terrible talons. She reached out with her long hands that now glowed green.

"Demon… where do you think the shadows all go to hide from the light? Into the realm of night. I am a creature of the night. A personification of primordial dream. You are nothing compared to me. Now you will never trouble another soul again."

She tore into the demon and it dissipated into clouds of smoke. She and Jason emerged from the dreamscape and awoke in the hospital room, Jason blinking.

The veteran sat up. "The nightmare's over. At long last."

Lee cupped his face in her hands. "You no longer have reason to fear, hey?"

"Being with you is always an adventure, Lee," said Jason. "And a dream."

00O00

When Lee eventually got back, Elsie was waiting up in the parlour. She had specifically requested the duty of looking after Leevana's boys – Prince Karl and Twiggy the broom. Looking after Twiggy involved feeding the broom sugar-lumps according to the schedule Leevana had drawn up. Twiggy now lay motionless on the table. "Hey, Elsie." The hag touched the girl's cheek. "How's everything been? I hope you're feeling better tonight." Elsie had certainly seemed sad the previous night.

"You've been gone a long time, Ma'am. His Highness has been asleep for ages. Um… Twiggy is as good as gold."

Lee sat down at the table on one of the sturdy chairs. "Thank you so much for looking after my boys." She noticed Elsie had laid out tea and scones for them. "And you've made tea. What a star you are." She smiled at Elsie who blushed pinkly.

Elsie gazed at her steadily. "How was charity work?"

Lee laid a hand on her arm. "It went so well. I'm glad I could do such good with my powers. And Jason was so great. This kind of healing work can be upsetting for sensitive young people."

Elsie's expression was hard to read. "He's a great guy, as you say. Really handsome as well, right?"

"Devastatingly handsome," said Lee. "But what's important is the strength of his heart. He's a man of strength who can get his hands dirty helping people by my side. Lucas and I will be attending the Grand Gala this week and I'm so glad Jason can come too."

At that moment there was a pounding at the door. "Lemme in, Lee. It's not been an easy journey."

Lee stood up. "Can it be…?"

She opened the door and Aila was there. Lee grinned and threw her arms around her. "You've come all the way from Ostinia to see me? That's so sweet."

"Well the Wall's down and Ostinia's still a hell-hole with Steel in charge – for now. So I understand you're doing pretty well for yourself?"

Lee smiled. "My little Karl has brought joy to his grandmother's heart."

"Uh huh." Aila went ahead into parlour. Elsie stared at her, wide-eyed. Aila pointed a claw at her. "You're the servant? What're you sitting on your backside for? I demand raw meat, nice and bloody."

"She's joking around, Elsie," said Lee hastily.

"Joking aside, if you're a Prince's mother, aren't you royalty? And what does that make me? I should think a servant's very far down the pecking order."

Lee glared at her and folded her arms. "You will address Elsie by her name. Got it?"

"You must be Aila, Ma'am?" said Elsie, looking bemused. "I've heard about you and your jokes. Um… I like jokes too, I think."

"Speaking of jokes, Lee's hunting counts as a lame joke," said Aila. "She can't catch so much as a bunny rabbit. When she last caught a goat, she just let it go."

"It's true. I just can't bring myself to kill a bunny or a goat," said Lee shrugging.

"You are the kindest and gentlest mistress I've ever had," said Elsie. "It doesn't surprise me."

"To kind and gentle to bring home the bacon," said Aila. "Looks like it's up to Elsie here to go out and catch some raw meat. I'm too tired."

Elsie laughed weakly. "Well we've got raw steak in cold storage."

She went and fetched them.

"How is Ulva?" said Lee.

"Oh, she's fine on her own. She didn't want to come. You know how funny she gets about crowds."

"She's shy," said Lee.

"But I knew you wouldn't get along without me," said Aila, picking up a steak.

"Have you heard about the Grand Gala, Aila?" said Elsie suddenly. "Lee's going with Jason."

"Not with Jason… um… Jason's going too…" said Lee, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.

Aila swallowed her mouthful of meat. "Who's this Jason?"

"Lee's made a new friend who's great, just like she is," said Elsie. "Tell us, Lee. Isn't Jason wonderful? Beautiful? And male? Better than the rest?"

Lee was puzzled by the girl's tone. "Um… yes, he's wonderful. He's gorgeous too, an amazing example of human beauty. But what does that mean, better than the rest?"

Aila narrowed her eyes. Blood from the steak was dribbling down her green chin. "So … you've made an amazing new friend. Made you forget about your old ones?"

"And do you find the opposite gender intriguing?" said Elsie. Her tone was very deliberate and Lee was still puzzled. Aila's dark eyes were flickering from Lee to Elsie with her calculating expression.

"I guess I find male energy intriguing, hey?"

"Our own gender will never make you crazy, that's what you mean," said Aila smirking. "Who can compete with a beautiful and energetic man?"

Elsie scowled. Aila nudged her and winked.

"And this Gala, you'd happily go with this Jason?" said Aila.

"I'm going with Lucas and Jason," said Lee.

"I can go as well. And bring a guest of my own," said Aila. "I'm centuries old, just like you, and I do have older friends. From before we swore sisterhood."

"Of course," said Lee smiling at her. Aila scowled back.

00O00

The Grand Gala Hall looked magnificent on the eve of the Gala. The great crystal chandelier cast sparkling lights with rainbow hues over them all. Lee and Karl were accompanied by Lucas and Jason.

Lee was holding Karl's hand. The night-hag had dressed herself and her son in their matching silvery outfits. "Now we can't stay too late. Karl and I will have to sit out the dancing."

"A pity," said Jason.

At that moment, a bugle sounded and the announcer called: "Announcing Aila the night-hag and her guest, the Blob!"

There were gasps from around the hall. Lee stared. Aila was at the entrance to the hall with a pink, slimy blob, with a single staring blue eye. A type of swamp creature. Lee knew all about them. She had carved a wooden image of one for her board game, after all. And Aila had decided to bring one to the Gala…

"What's Aila doing?" whispered Karl.

"By the Moon… I wish I knew," murmured Lee.

"That's your sister, I can see the likeness," said Lucas. "Why has she brought that foul thing here? What even is it?"

"That is a swamp creature and she is a she. She's not foul, she's just the way swamp blobs naturally are."

"Of course," said Jason nodding.

"Why is such a creature even here? And how?" demanded Lucas.

"Must have been via the sewers," said Lee. "They communicate in thought. Aila summoned her."

Aila smirked and waved her clawed green hand. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. What a glorious affair. Just spectacular." The Blob reached out a pink proboscis and snatched the bugle off the announcer and then swallowed it by the process of absorbing it through her pink translucent membrane.

"She has a magpie like fascination with shiny things, the rascal," said Aila, patting the Blob's membrane. She got pink slime on her hands and wrinkled her shiny green nose in disgust. She wiped her slimy hand all over the announcer's tunic.

"This is unacceptable," said Lucas, his silver moustache bristling.

"I'll handle it," said Lee with a sigh. She strode over to Aila. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Oh hello, Lee. I didn't notice you there," said Aila. "Hard to spot a seven foot tall social butterfly with green skin."

Lee folded her arms and frowned.

Aila pointed a claw at the Blob. "I'm attending the Gala with my oldest, best friend."

"Make absolutely sure she doesn't bother the humans or steal any more shiny things," admonished Lee. "Got that?"

"Yes, yes, of course," said Aila, waving a green hand. "Now isn't there a raw meat buffet?"

00O00

Lee was trying to make conversation with Lucas, but she couldn't concentrate. Shouldn't she be making sure Aila wasn't doing anything else stupid? As if in response to her thought, Aila came up to them, with that swift, almost gliding gait of a night-hag. The Blob was nowhere to be seen. Aila coughed loudly.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friends? Or are you too embarrassed? Or nervous. I see you're sweating and your heart is thumping quickly… not like a night-hag's heart beat anymore."

Lee groaned inwardly. Aila was clearly trying to embarrass her, although why was a mystery. "Jason, Lucas, this is Aila," she began.

Aila leaned down, putting her shiny green face close to Jason's. "Why you must be Jason. To a witch, that name sounds intriguing."

"Aren't you going to introduce your friend, the Blob?" asked Jason.

At that point, Maria the Duchess came sweeping over, her blue eyes flashing. She pointed at Aila. "Young lady, you're to keep the Blob under control. It's already tried to steal a gentleman's pocket watch and got slime on his tuxedo."

Aila folded her arms. "Oh please. I'm not watching that thing all night."

They all stared at her and she hastily corrected herself. "What I mean to say is, that thing is a dear friend and I'll make sure the slime she can't help secreting doesn't get on anyone else."

"That's better," said Maria.

Lee tried to start a conversation that would interest Lucas, but she was too flustered. Jason seemed to sense it and laid a calming hand on her arm.

At that moment, Aila's voice resounded throughout the hall. She was standing on the stage at the far end. "Good evening ladies, gentlemen and creatures. I've come a long way from Ostinia and grateful to be away. Steel's tried to destroy the place. About fifty silver pieces worth of damage."

The hall was silent.

"Now what?" murmured Karl.

"I think that was meant to be a joke?" said Lee.

"Oh jokes. I like those, even if they're bad," said Jason. "Don't you, Dad?"

Lucas only harrumphed in disapproval.

"Tough crowd," said Aila. "Perhaps some observational humour? I understand Leevana the night-hag stood up to Isaac the Dreadful for your sakes. His Sceptre of Doom obviously had some spooky power like a magical blast that would bring death to the living… but on a night-hag it has the opposite effect and gives life. Quick heart-beat – a body temperature. I notice that tonight, Leevana's less stiff."

Again a stoney silence.

Aila tried again. "Knock knock."

Silence.

"You're supposed to say, 'who's there!' This is the most basic joke!"

"You're the most basic joke," called Jason. There was a ripple of laughter throughout the hall. Lee chuckled.

At that moment, a door at the end of the hall burst open and the Blob emerged looking huge and swollen. Leevana's keen eyes could see gleaming trophies in her slimy form. Aila must have shoved her in a trophy room before attempting her stand-up comedy.

"The ooze is on the rampage!" called Aila. "Careful mortals… it might grab you."

There were gasps and shrieks from around the hall, but Leevana marched right up to the Blob and reached into her cold, gelatinous form, then wrenched the pile of trophies out so that she deflated back to her previous size. "Sorry about that. Please can you just wait here?"

The Blob sat in a docile heap while Lee stormed up to Aila on the stage. "I don't understand why you're doing this. Why do you want to mess up the Gala?"

Aila glared. "You've made new friends you think are better, as if Ulva and I never mattered."

"Do you really think I'd abandon you both just because I have new friends? We've sworn sisterhood for eternity. That will never end. What if you found someone you could make 'knock-knock' jokes with? Would that mean you abandoned me?"

Aila looked uncomfortable. "Well no… I suppose I may have overreacted a smidgen."

Lee glared at her. "Oh, do you really think so? Just a smidgen?"

Lee's supernatural hearing could pick up Lucas' voice in the crowd sounding aggrieved. "I can't keep this charade up any longer. These… green women in my life… something I can do without."

Jason's voice: "How can you say that, Dad? Lee's a wonderful woman. She's smart, kind, funny… If only there were more humans like her. You'd let a bride like her slip through your fingers?"

"Son, if you like her so much, why don't you marry her yourself?" Lucas spoke these words kindly and softly.

"That's the best idea anyone's had all night," said Jason.

Lee looked down from the stage, her heart thudding with excitement. He ran towards her and she leapt down onto the dance floor.

Leevana and Jason ran to each other and clasped each other's hands. He looked up to meet her gaze. She knew her eyes glistened with tears of joy…