When the knights engaged Rikive, the Queen contented herself to sit upon her throne, the orb containing Parael in her lap, and watch. A spectator at one of the melees she threw for her own entertainment, she thought this would be a quick bloodsport and she could get to the business of putting Parael's power to use.

After the third knight fell and a spray of blood landed on her immaculate gown, the Queen channeled more of Parry's powers to form a golden orb about herself, protecting against any more unsightly disruptions in her appearance. Inside the orb, tendrils of lightning affixed themselves to Parry's back, the bawling infant slowly growing more tired as the Queen fed off of him for power to feed her shield.

The death of her First Champion, Rosette, left the Queen shaken. There hadn't been a long parry, thrust, countermove of a knightly duel as Rosette was used to. Rikive struck with a swift and angry brutality that clove the Champion's skull in two. Then there were three knights life, and all were juniors. Cowardly and wise enough to hang back and let the other knights battle, but not so ignorant of the Queen's wrath that they would willingly surrender. 

All three were on the floor within seconds, slashes across their bellies spilling their guts across the grassy floor.

The queen's courtiers took that as a sign to scatter to the four winds.

And then the Queen stood alone, impervious in her shield but with nowhere to run and no way to fight. With the infant Parry tiring from her use of his power, she wasn't even sure if the shield would hold against the enchanted blade Winterthorn.

Politics was a game, however, and she took heart from the fact that no one would see her willingly surrender her prize to Rikive.

"You wish for the babe to be made whole? Swear to me- by your father and Grandfather- that no harm shall come to me for releasing him to you after all that has been done. Swear it, and I will release him from the curse."