"Lord Aphmau! Lord Aphmau!" Vylad called, entering the Council Room. His sweaty face and tiredness a sign he had ran as fast as he could to get here.

"What is it, Vylad?" Aphmau asked.

"I just had a message from The Demon Warlock!" Vylad gasped.

"Catch your breath," Katelyn advised.

This caught everyone's attention. 

Cold fear and uncertainty hung in the air at the mention of the mention of The Demon Warlock.

Vylad caught his breath, and everyone leaned in to get a good hear.

"He says we can have a peace--" Vylad started.

"What?" "Seriously?" What are the demands?" "I have a bad feeling.." 

"Let him finish," Aphmau said, giving a stern glare at everyone. She calmed down, looking Vylad in the eyes, silently urging him to continue.

"We can make peace, but only if a woman who is 'important, powerful, and special' to us marries a man of the name Travis Valkrum. This will be further discussed in the Drenched Plateau, however, we will have needed to pick and bring the 'bride.' We have today and tomorrow to decide. Day-after-tomorrow, the 'bride' and us will discuss and set arrangements with the Demon Warlock," Vylad said.

"Marriage? Someone from our side, the light, has to marry someone of the dark?" Garroth said.

"If we don't decide a bride? If we refuse a marriage?" Laurance questioned.

"War continues," Vylad said bleakly.

"This is sudden. There was no indication.. is this a trick?" Katelyn asked aloud.

"What do you think, Aaron?" Aphmau asked Aaron.

Aaron had just recently spied on Aeolos, thankfully coming back alive and in one piece.

Aaron shook his head. "This is no trick. In fact, The Demon Warlock was probably already thinking through this and discussing about it from the rumors that went about," Aaron said.

"So, which lucky, or perhaps, unlucky, gal is getting married?" Laurance asked.

"How can you talk so casually of this? If we pick, the unlucky woman will have to marry an enemy." Katelyn said.

 "It's for peace..A loveless marriage for peace.." Hyria sighed.

-The Next Day, Evening-

Lucinda entered the council room, feeling a little nervous. Vylad had told her that the council had summoned for her.

"You called for me?" Lucinda asked, trying to hide away the uncertainty in her voice.

"Yes, we did," Garroth said, sounding unhappy and gruff.

"Lucinda, you remember the Demon Warlock proposing a peace treaty, right?" Aphmau asked.

"Yes, I do, but I don't like where this is going," Lucinda said.

"Lucinda.. we decided that if any women would marry Travis Valkrum for peace, it'd be you. Do you want to marry Travis Valkrum?" Aphmau asked.

"Me? You want me, Lucinda Pikoro, to marry the enemy?" Lucinda asked, astonished.

"It's entirely up to you. We are not forcing anyone. If you do not marry Travis Valkrum, we will continue to fight for our rights and beliefs. We haven't been defeated yet." Aphmau said, trying to sound bold and strong. 

Aphmau was doing very good with that, but Lucinda knew Aphmau very well. Lucinda could hear the loss of hope and strength in Aphmau. Lucinda knew that Aphmau knew they couldn't hold up the war for much longer. If they didn't couldn't win, they'd face a terrible defeat and everyone's lives would change, probably for the worst. The land, the people, cultures, beliefs, they were different. Aeolos and Ru'an were just too different. The results would not be good, especially for Ru'an. Even Aeolos would change. 

Lucinda thought about what Aphmau had just said.

Will you marry Travis Valkrum, for peace?

Lucinda didn't want to be in a romantic relationship, much less get married after the Ivan incident.

For peace?

But... PEACE. Everyone needed it. Lucinda had no idea what was happening in Aeolos, but here in Ru'an... things were bad. More and more people were dying. More and more were losing hope. Ru'an was becoming weaker. It was sickening and heart-breaking. If Lucinda married this Travis Valkrum, at least death at the hands of war would stop. People could be a little more happier, a little more safe. But, would Lucinda herself feel happy? Would she feel safe? Lucinda didn't want to, but...

For peace?

Time was ticking. If Lucinda had been picked out of all the women who met with the criteria 'powerful, important, and special', then everyone else had refused, weren't fit for a marriage or were already married.

For peace?

Lucinda was at the perfect age for marriage. She was twenty-five years old. Of course, witches like herself could live a few hundred more years more before she became at a 'less suitable' age for marriage, but that didn't matter right now. Lucinda's mother and father flashed through her mind. Her father, Luke, had been killed in the war, and Hyria was still mourning years after. Lucinda turned to look into her mother's eyes. They were calm yet wise, and told Lucinda nothing. This was all up to Lucinda.

For peace.

Lucinda took in a deep breath. She was doing this for her country. For her people. For her loved ones. For her friends. If Ru'an was safe from the terrible hands of Aeolos. If Ru'an could have peace and freedom, even at the cost of Lucinda's, she'd do it. 

"Yes. I'll marry Travis Valkrum," Lucinda announced.

"Are you sure?" Aphmau asked.

"Yes, I am." Lucinda said, becoming calmer.

"It is decided then. Lucinda Pikoro shall marry Travis Valkrum," Aphmau said. "Vylad."

"Yes, My Lady?" Vylad asked, looking a lot more calmer.

"Tell the rest of the council members to come to the Council Room. We must let them know of this and continue discussing for other matters. Lucinda, you may take a seat," Aphmau ordered.

"Of course, Lord Aphmau," Vylad bowed, quickly exiting the Council Room.

Lucinda took a seat beside Katelyn.

"So, you have a fiancé now?" Katelyn asked.

Lucinda shrugged. "I suppose so," she answered quietly.

Everyone was silent, waiting for the rest of the council members before they could start, but Lucinda knew they were feeling relieved, even hopeful, at the thought of a long lasting peace.

'This is for them. For Ru'an. I'm getting married for my country. Aeolos will hopefully stop terrorizing us for a long time,' Lucinda thought as she inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a brief moment.