Amaya barges in the throne room seething with rage. Some of those damn Shinobis really  annoyed her. Though, their smugness didn't do them any good in the end. Seriously, what did they expected her to be, a crying damsel in distress? Oh no. She is not a whining five years old.

As she enters the room, she sees two men there, their attire was same as the rest of them. One was facing her, his long hairs were tied up in a sloppy pony-tail. The other one had his back towards her. The only thing that she could see was his long raven hair that reminds her of a porcupine along with a huge Gunbai strapped on his back. Amaya felt a strange tickle in her stomach, but quickly brushed it off.

She glared at the one facing her. His eyes held a certain spark in them that she couldn't exactly figure out. She points her katana at him, "I am going to ask this only one time." her glare intensifies, "...who are you and what do you want from us? "

The moment she uttered those words, a sickening wave of nostalgia hit Madara. 'Maybe, next time... '
The serene voice echoed in his head. 'This couldn't be... ', he slowly turned around.

The moment the other man turns around, Amaya's eyes widens as big as saucers, a shocked expression makes itself visible on her face as her anger induced facade crumbles away.
"I-Its... You... ", she whispers as the katana falls from her hands onto the carpeted ground with a soft thud.

She takes a few steps back, stumbling on her own step, which surprised Izuna. He turns around, only to find the same look on his brother's face.

Before he could figure anything out, a spine-chilling scream escapes the girls lips and she falls on the ground, like some unknown force hit her.
Izuna rushed to her side, only to find her knocked out cold. 'What the hell happened?' he asked himself.

"You wouldn't like her if she is awake." a woman's voice comes from behind one of the statues in the far corner of the room. "...especially, with that thing within her reach." she smiles slyly, coming into full view, pointing at the sword that fell not to far from the girl.

"And, who are you to be the judge of that?", Madara grumbles, irked by her interruption.

"Her mother." the woman smirks.

The woman, dressed up in expensive royal robes, strolls towards the throne with a sway in her hips. Both the brothers exchange a look. Izuna glances at the woman and then at the unconscious girl.

Aara turns around, standing beside the throne. "I know who you are and why you're here... I just didn't expected the leader of the Uchiha clan  to come here himself."

Madara stares her down, while Izuna tries to figure out the situation.
'She knew we were coming.' the voice in his head speaks. He looks at Madara, who nods very slightly, letting him know that he is thinking the same thing.

Aara looks at both of them, "Anyway. I say... How about we stop this...useless blood-shed and come to a... truce of sorts."

"A truce?" both the brothers say at the same time.

"Yes. I know what might have brought you here to our doorstep." she looks at Amaya's unconscious form, "The alliance that we are forming with the Senju."

"And... That makes you our enemy. So, I why would we want to make a truce with you?" Madara asks.

"What if...we are ready to break it? My daughter's engagement with Tobirama Senju."

"And why would you do that, um...?"

"Oh! My bad. Call me Aara."

"Aara-san?" Madara glares, his voice held fake sweetness.

"The news of Amaya's engagement with the younger brother of the Senju clan leader is what brought you here. You are here to kill her, so that her bloodline could not mix with your enemy's, resulting in them become stronger in future." her expression changes from sly smugness as a serious tone of voice replaces it. "What if... We give that opportunity to you instead, by marrying her off to one of you?"

Izuna, at this moment, could literally feel the wheels in Madara's head turning. He looks at the girl beside him. She is getting traded like a cattle, by her own mother, while she couldn't even voice her own opinion. He felt sorry for her. More so, because he knows what must be going on in his brother's mind.

"She is pretty strong... For an ordinary Shinobi. Also, she is the heir, and the only surviving member of the Ryuuketsueki clan, a clan almost as equal to the Otsusuki, our forefathers." Izuna stands up and walks to them, "What makes you think she will agree to this... new arrangement?"

Madara too thinks about the point his brother raised. This girl, single handedly killed almost half of the force he had brought with him. According to Akinari's intel, and what he felt a few minutes ago, her Chakra too is on par with that of his own and Hashirama. She's skilled and smart and could very well fight him or Izuna or both. Also, there is a possibility that she might resist, and she can very well fend for herself if she does. He looks at Aara, an eyebrow raised.

"She will agree. Because, she doesn't have much of a choice here, does she? The Uchiha are at our doorsteps and the Senju are nowhere at sight to protect us like they promised. All the while, she herself is knocked out cold, unable to protect anyone." Aara turns towards the throne, "A princess has more than just her own life to look out for. She has a duty towards her people too?"

The look that both the brothers exchange makes it clear that they were thinking the same thing, 'Exactly what is this woman suggesting?'

"And, what is it that you will gain from this?" Izuna asks.

"Peace of mind." the queen replies.

Both Madara and Izuna stares blankly at her back. Aara turns to them composing herself. An overly sweet smile decorating her visage that didn't quite reached her eyes.

"You see..." she started, as she gestured to a statue at the far corner of the room, "...My husband and Amaya's father wanted her to marry in one of the strongest clans. So that the old reputation of the Ryuuketsueki could be restored with its new generation. He chose the Senju clan for this purpose. But as far as I can see..." she takes a few steps back, touching the throne's armrest, "...an Uchiha is no less worthy... " she looks at Madara straight in eyes, "...to be called the King of Dragons."

Madara, just for a fraction of moment, seemed a little taken aback by her statement. She must have seen the lustful look that Madara gave when he first laid eyes on the throne.

"So. It would give me some peace of mind, knowing that his last wish is fulfilled, and Amaya is with someone worthy of her, and her legacy." Aara smirks looking at her daughter's unconscious form.
                               ***

Izuna was walking through the Ryuuketsueki fort's corridors, replaying the events that occurred last night in his mind. He and his brother were the Queen's honoured guests. But, something about Aara Ryuuketsueki just doesn't feel right. What she suggested was very unlikely. Especially for a mother and a queen of honour. She sold her daughter like a relic or something. And for what... He couldn't yet figure out.

Izuna didn't know what a mother's love is, due to his own mother dying while giving birth to him. But he knew that it isn't supposed to be like this...

He was lost in his thoughts, when he suddenly bumped into something small and soft.

"Oomf... " came a melodious voice as the person fell on his rear.

Izuna was surprised, before he realized what happened. He bents down to help the woman up.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's alright. It was my fault too. I was in a hurry." Eiko says composing herself.

Izuna smiles at her which she partially returns. She was worried about something which Izuna noticed.

"Is there something wrong, miss... ?"

"Oh! Eiko sir... I'm Amaya-hime's personal attendant." she bows down respectfully. "I was just... going to her room."

"The Dragon princess? I see... " Izuna cat-smirks, a finger on his chin as if thinking about something. "My name is Izuna Uchiha, by the way."

"Uchiha!!??" Eiko blinks surprised.

"ummm.... Yeah... " he smiles sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

"So... Your must be his brother??? The Uchiha lord??" she asks, brows knitted together.

"Yes. I am."

"hn." she grunted. "..and.... You're here looking for something....?"

"Yes. I was wondering if I can accompany you. I might have something to talk about with Amaya-hime."

"hmm... " she hummed, debating on something in her mind before she came to a decision, "ok.... Follow me."

They walk in silence through many corridors until they reach in front of the princess's door. Eiko seemed hesitant at first, but then knocks on the door four times.

"Come in." a stern monosyllabic voice came from inside the room which they both recognized to be Aara's.

Eiko opens the door and the queen strides out. Stopping in front of them she says, "Izuna sama. Eiko."

Both of them bows.
"Aara sama." Izuna says.
"R-Ryujoo." Eiko stutters.

Aara slightly turns towards the room she came out from, then looks at Izuna and smirks, "I hope she behaves."

The queen leaves the two alone. They share a look, worry evident in Eiko's gaze. They walk inside the room, only to find it in utter mess. There was a sobbing petite female in one corner of the room, leaning on a bed which was dispositioned. Her long hairs covered her face.

"A-Amaya hime... "Eiko runs to her beaten up mistress, while Izuna watched them worriedly.

"Amaya-hime? What happened?" Eiko kneels beside her, taking her into her arms.

"What do you think, Eiko chan?" the woman says spitting blood, "I got disciplined." she smirks.

Eiko brushed aside some of the hair strands, to reveal a hurt face. Eiko gasps and Izuna's eyes widens. Amaya's face was red as tomatoes with a black eye and many other wounds through out her body.

"Did Aara do this?" Izuna asks, his emotions somewhere between shocked and angry.

"Yes." Eiko replies, wiping blood from near her mistresses lips. "this is not the first time." she mumbles softly, not for him to hear. But he does anyway.

Izuna's eyebrows knitt together to form an angry frown. He remembered what Aara did the last night in the throne room.
'I knew something was wrong.'

"Let me help." he says.
He picks Amaya up bridal style and lays her down gently on the bed. The abused princess falls asleep shortly after. Eiko covers her with a blanket and goes around cleaning other mess in the room.

Izuna intently watches the sleeping girl, until his eyes suddenly catches the sight of something. A painting, that was supposed to be hidden under the now dispositioned bed. He gets near it and picks it up. Eiko notices this and gasps loudly.

Izuna blinks shocked as he sees what it is. A painting....of his... Brother. He sees many more scattered throughout the room. He looks at Eiko, who motioned for him to be silent. Amaya stirred in her sleep, mumbling something incoherent.

Eiko gestured for him to follow her, which he obliged. They both got out of the room silently, closing the door behind them. Once outside, he looks at Eiko for answers.

"Not here." she mouths, looking around. He follows the girl to outside the fort.
                               ***

Waves of questions were riling up in Izuna's head, as he looked all around for his brother, only to find him in their room.

Madara was sitting on the bed to meditate when Izuna approached him. "Nii-san."

"Hmm?" he opens his eyes to see him, "What is it Izuna?" he asks.

Izuna hesitates a bit but asks anyways, "you... Aara called for you to talk about something... Can I ask what it was about? "

Madara smirks, "the seal, that could... discipline... the princess." he replies.

'Discipline.' Izuna twitched at the word. After what he saw this morning and what Eiko told him after that, he had developed a certain annoyance to this word.

Madara notice his brother's discomfort and asks, "Is something wrong?"

"May I ask what type of discipline she told you about?", there's a hint of anger in Izuna's voice, which didn't go unnoticed by his brother.

"A seal. According to queen, the princess has a habit of losing her temper and going out of control with her bloodline abilities. So this seal helps the caster to keep her in control or subdue her, if needs be."

"Control?" Izuna's anger fades away, only slightly and curiosity creeps in. Madara smirks again.

"It attacks her kekkei-genkai at its emergence point, where its placed. It can only be activated by the caster, therefore personalized. The queen has one on her right now. But she said she will remove it, so that I cast one of my own...if I say yes for the marriage." Madara says, lips tightly in a straight line and eyes focused on the flame of the lamp on the opposite table.

Izuna's eyebrows forrows, he remembers what Eiko told him this morning. "She is also offering a good deal as wedding offerings. Don't you think she is being too generous, Nii-san. What does she wants in exchange?" he asks.

"Something.... That I am not planning to give her.... But she doesn't need to know that. Does she? " Madara smirks like a devil giving a hard gaze to the lamp. A cold wind pass them by, making the lamp's flame flicker and the go off, leaving the room in pitch black darkness.
                              ***

Eiko was pacing up and down the room, packing the stuff that her mistress might need for her journey. The environment in the castle was quite ever since the incident with the Uchiha.

Amaya was not happy about the turns of events. But she didn't have much choices in front of her. The only other option she has other than marrying the Uchiha leader, is to die in his hands. What Aara told her the other day still echoed in her head.

(flashback)

"How can you do this... How can you do this to me.... What right did you had to make such a decision... Its my life. The decision who to spend it with is mine. Only mine.... How dare you... "
Amaya was screaming furiously, thrashing everything that she found near.

A tight slap landed on her face and she fell on the comfort seat nearby. Holding up her bruised cheek she looks up to see her mother advancing towards her. Aara held her by her hair, bringing her back to her feet before she threw her on the ground.

"Listen to me clearly, Girl... " Aara sneered in hushed tones, leaning on her, "...I will tell you how I dared to make this decision for you. They were at our door. In our fort. Our home. THEY were here to kill YOU...
We were at a disadvantage here. The Uchiha is a strong clan. And Madara Uchiha is a very strong Shinobi. We didn't stand a chance. Our soldiers are not good enough to fight them. The only one here who is, is you. And you are not enough."

"Why did you traded me then?" Amaya asked, streams of tears flowing from her eyes.

"Because, my dear daughter, you are the only thing worth taking, for them."
Aara caressed her face, "The Senju didn't kept their end of the bargain by not sending any troops here to help us. So, we have all the rights to break the alliance. We must do what we must do, Amaya."

"And... What if they come after us for doing this.... The Senju?"

"The Uchiha are strong enough to fight them off. They are at war with them for centuries. This is a difficult time for us. And as your father always said, 'Desperate times. Desperate measures.'
And Madara Uchiha is the desperate measure."

A tear drop fell from Amaya's eyes. The man, that she always saw in her dreams was now her only means of survival. She almost laughed at the irony of it all. Oh! How desperately she wishes for the circumstances to be different.

*Ryujoo - Dragon queen