The unbearable weight of his stare rested on Mynera for the rest of the night. While she smiled, danced and laughed, however awkwardly, she could always feel his gaze burning through her clothes, filled with hostility. She didn't dare to look at him. Out of fear? She wasn't sure, but she didn't know what she would find when her eyes met his.

Hale did not appear again for the remainder of the ball. Though she had looked when she had the chance, she had not seen his blond hair towering overhead, nor the slim berth of his shoulders. He had simply disappeared. Or he was staying out of her line of sight. The second sounded more believable.

But, at long last, the tiring night passed and the morning had begun. The morning of her wedding. Streams of glittering sun rays rested on her face, and slowly brought Mynera from her sleep. She didn't want to open her eyes. If she did, she would be giving herself up to the day. She would be forced to start the day beginning with the preparations for the wedding. She didn't want any of it.

"M'lady!" Mynera jerked slightly when her handmaids rushed into the room. "M'lady, you overslept!"

Slowly, she opened her eyes and sat up. "I didn't oversleep," she said, her voice a bit croaky. "I merely did not want to get up."

"Oh, but m'lady it's your wedding today."

"Do you not think I know that? I've very much aware of what today is." With a soft sigh, she stood. The muscles in her legs burned slightly; all that dancing and standing taking its morning toll. Mynera's feet made light sounds as she padded over to the window and sat gracefully at the chair, concealing the hiss of pain with a sigh.

"M'lady?"

"Where is Charmaline?"

"W-what?"

Her green eyes shifted to the window. From her vantage point, the ground was impossible to see. A thick layer of fog coated the base of the castle, but now and then she would see a head rush past, then another, then another. All probably running about setting up for the royal wedding. "Charmaline. Where is she?"

"She is receiving the bridal gown, m'lady. She will be here soon."

It seemed as if Mynera would be sighing all day today. Once again, a soft sigh escaped her lips. She continued watching the rushed commotion down below. Charmaline would be arriving shortly, to hand over a wedding gown to the very woman who was going to marry her love. Pity trembled within her.

And Mynera would be slipping into that same dress, praying over and over again that somehow this was all a dream and that soon she would wake up in her own bed in her own castle, with this whole wedding ordeal behind her. That pity within her grew. Akin to the weird annoyance and anger whenever she was near, Mynera couldn't deny that Charmaline was in a sad state. She had no choice in who she fell in love with than Mynera had in who she would marry. It was simply unfair, but there was nothing either of them could do.

A knock sounded at the door. The handmaids almost tripped over their skirts in their haste to get it. Mynera's back remained to it all, but she heard the low creak as the door was pushed open, and soft footfalls coming towards her.

"Lady Mynera." This voice was lovely. It was strong, and beautiful at the same time. Mynera turned slightly, out of curiousity, but when she saw who it is, she sprang to her feet and made a deep curtsy.

"Your Grace," she greeted. Her head remained bowed as she straightened. It was the king's wife, not the late Queen Margaret Naiger but the king's second wife of five years, Queen Madeline. Mynera had seen her during the ball last night, sitting prettily on the throne beside the king. Regal, back straight, hair styled beautifully, dressed like the queen she was. She had not gotten the chance to speak to her last night, or to even get close for that matter, but seeing her now, standing before her, she felt clumsy and foolish. Not at all like the lady who had walked down those steps last night on the arm of the prince.

The queen's lips spread into a smile that didn't touch her eyes at all. "I finally get to see you up close, my dear," she said. "I have been watching you last night as you danced and talked but, alas, we did not meet."

"I had hoped to speak with you too, Your Grace," Mynera said, raising her head. The queen hovered a good head over her, her hair long, blond and shiny, brushing against her backside. "'Tis an honor."

"Indeed it is." Her skirts rustled as she turned. Mynera watched as she walked around the room. What would the Queen want with her now? Was she here to give any last minute warnings? Last minute congratulations? It was hard to tell with the way she walked, her chin lifted just a bit which made her look as if she was looking down on everything. "Do you like the room, darling?" the queen asked.

"I most certainly do, Your Grace. It looks almost exactly like my room in Typena. I'm touched at all the effort that was put into making it that way."

The queen stopped and looked at Mynera, her eyebrow raised ever so slightly. "Touched? Ha, no need to be touched, my dear. There wasn't as much effort as you would assume."

Mynera's eyes widened, taken aback. Queen Madeline looked her up and down before turning away from her once more, leaving Mynera with time to ponder on what she said. If she hadn't known any better she would have thought that the queen was being impolite. But the queen? Impolite?

"I-I'm sorry, Your Grace. I did not mean to assume anything. I just thought-"

"Just thinking could be said to be the same thing as assuming, am I right? You just thinking that we went over every painful detail just to get it right for your arrival is simply the same thing, darling." Queen Madeline turned and sat on the edge of the bed. She cocked her head to the side. "You did not know?"

Mynera blinked. What was she to say to that? All the words that had rushed to her head as a reply was just too rude to be said aloud - and to the queen, no less. So instead, she swallowed back her words and resumed her seat by the window, this time her back facing the window.

"Was there a reason for your visit today, Your Grace?" she asked with tight politeness.

"Does the queen need a reason to visit her future daughter-in-law?"

"I suppose she doesn't but I doubt you made the lengthy trip all the way to this less than worthy room to look upon my face ... Your Grace."

The queen laughed, a harsh scoffing sound. "I can see why the king is so besotted with you. Your words. You better watch them. They may serve to charm the king but it will not charm me."

"Not to worry, Your Grace. I have no intention to charm you in any way."

"And let it stay that way. I will not be fooled by you like everyone else has."

Mynera's eye widened ever so slightly. "Fooled by me?"

"Conned. Or charmed, as you would like to put it." Her voice suddenly became cold and hard. "If I had my way, this wedding would not have even happened. You do not deserve my son."

"Then let us both be sad that you did not have your way, Your Grace. Whether if I deserve your son or not, well ... that is to be debated."

"He is the future ruler of the Five Nations. What he needs is a woman who was born and raised in court, someone who understands the ways of the people and knows how to be a proper lady, not some outcast girl from some mining city!"

Mynera sat and watched as colour slowly rose to the queen's cheeks, her words filling more and more with anger. While the Queen of the Five Nations sat before her, getting angry and heated, Mynera folded her hands in her lap, watching calmly until she was finished talking, her head cool and leveled.

"That mining city, Your Grace, makes up over a third of the king's riches. I do suggest you know the names of your cities. If I may suggest that is."

Blood rushed to the queen's cheeks immediately. "What?" she gasped, getting up. Mynera looked up at her, briefly wondering where the elegant, beautiful queen had disappeared to, before also coming to her feet. Keeping her hands clasped in front of her, she looked Queen Madeline dead in the eye.

"Also, Your Grace, although I have lived in Typena for most my life and have not been to court until yesterday, I do understand the ways of the court. More than many of the ladies here, I might add. I know how to be a proper lady too, Your Grace, and have been told countless times that I have great physical beauty. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the welfare of the Kingdom and your beloved son. He will be in good hands, I assure you."

"You have no manners! You insolent little -" Suddenly Queen Madeline broke off, aware of how inelegant she was being. She cleared her throat and smoothed her skirts down, calming herself. "I will leave you to get ready," she muttered.

Mynera curtsied low and deep. "Yes, Your Grace. Thank you for the visit."

Mynera rose back up and almost laughed aloud at the look on the queen's face. She looked annoyed but she was trying to control herself. It was failing miserably. The look in the queen's eyes would have had Mynera falling dead to the ground then and there if looks could kill.

Finally, she twirled on her heels and stalked out, managing to keep her posture. Looking at her from behind, one would have thought that everything was okay. It was her face that gave everything away.

As soon as the queen left, Mynera sank back in the chair. The queen had looked furious. Her father once told her that an angry woman in power was the most dangerous person you could meet. And she's just angered the queen. What else could go wrong?

"You're crazy," she muttered to herself. She couldn't help but smile, staring out the window. She was crazy. Now, unless she got on the good side of the queen, that woman would do everything she can to bring her down. But then again, the king was old. When he died, Mynera would be queen and everything would be fine.

Goodness, there's no use thinking about this.

Mynera jumped out of her chair and shook her thoughts away. Just then the door opened and about a dozen handmaids poured in, Charmaline following behind them all holding the dress, with the help of others. The ginger had a large grin on her face when she ran in, struggling, but when she spotted Mynera the grin fell and was replaced with a grim look. Mynera had no time to react to the sudden intrusion. She was promptly pushed aside, then grabbed once more, rough hands stripping her clothes.

"Be gentle! Be gentle!" she tried to say, but it was to no avail. Her clothes were stripped off her and the rushing handmaids nearly picked her up to throw her into the bath water. When they had drawn the bath was a mystery to Mynera.

"Hey, watch it. Be a little more gentle!" This time, they listened a bit. Their rough hands calmed and Mynera sighed a bit before sending a scathing glare in their direction. She understood that they were running a bit behind time, but their rough treatment of her only worsened her mood. She knew she had no choice but to prepare herself for what was to come, especially not after Queen Madeline's little visit. She was not about to make her believe she had scared her into not coming; not after all the things she had said.

"There was no need to be so rough, you know," Mynera said after a while, calming. The handmaids' hands slowed a bit when she spoke but then resumed washing her hair and scrubbing her skin. Charmaline remained eerily silent, which Mynera found relieving. She was a naturally talkative person so the fact that she was so quiet was a little disconcerting but Mynera was glad she didn't say anything. She wasn't sure what she should say to the ginger. 

Console her? Laugh in her face? She was at a crossed between pity and gloat. It was not a good feeling at all.

So the mundane task of being washed passed in complete silence except for the simple sounds of lapping water. When it was over, Mynera stepped out of the bath, her body dripping wet and allowed the handmaids to begin drying. Her brown hair curled slightly from its wetness, looking a deep shade of brown and surely, it would take a much longer time to get it ready for the wedding. 

To this very moment, Mynera had not seen the dress. No doubt it was spectacular. That was to be expected. The future queen would, of course, have to look spectacular for the royal wedding. 

And so would the prince. Undoubtedly, Saenar was in his bedchambers at this very moment, getting ready. She could almost imagine his face as he got dressed. Grim. Unpleasant. Of course, his mood would be sour. Mynera knew he didn't want to get married to her any more than she wanted to get married to him. He was in love with someone else, damn it. Of course he didn't. But still ... she wanted to see him, if only to see how he looked. With his hair brushed back and his clothes snug and fitting ... her mouth dried at the image.

"M'lady, please sit while we do your hair," Charmaline whispered.

Mynera allowed her to lead her to a chair and sat. She looked up at the girl to see her concentrating hard on drying her hair.

"Are you all right, Charmaline?" Mynera asked, before mentally cursing herself. How foolish of her to ask. Of course she wasn't fine.

"Y-yes, m'lady," Charmaline murmured, swallowing. "W-why do you ask?"

"You seem very withdrawn today," she replied coolly. "You're usually very talkative."

"I-I'm just not in the talking mood, m'lady. Please forgive me."

"It's nothing I should forgive you for. Everyone has those days from time to time. I'm sure it will pass in due time." As soon as the words were out her mouth, Mynera wished she could take it back. She was truly putting her foot in her mouth this morning.

"I do hope so, m'lady," Charmaline replied, her voice sounding soft and sad. Guilt hit Mynera like a knife to the chest. Damn her and her huge mouth. She didn't have to rub salt in the wound, did she?

Mynera refused to say another word out of fear that she would say something foolish again. Her hair took years to finish but when it finally was she saw that it was once again braided. This style, however, was different from the last. Her hair was pulled back from her face, not too harshly, twisted around and somehow Charmaline managed to interlock the curls of her hair in such a way that made it not look like braids. Her hair continued to entwine until she reached the back where a lock was wrapped around the end releasing the braid and allowing the curls to let loose. Mynera touched the hair in wonder, surprised at Charmaline's skill.

"The dress, m'lady," a handmaid said to the left.

With a sigh, Mynera rose and finally took a good look at the dress.

"It was customized to suit you, m'lady," Charmaline said. "The royal tailors and dressmakers thought that they should make it more nontraditional."

And nontraditional it was. Mynera stared with eyes wide at the beautiful dress. At one glance you could tell that a lot of work and detail was put into making a dress like this. Not only was it beautifully stitched, but there was a lot of ... Mynera in it.

At the back, there were black strings interlocked to bring the dress closer to her body, much like what the whores wore: a corset. It was more on the elegant side, however, and had been a long standing tradition in Typena to have the black strings added to the white wedding dress. It was a symbol showing promised fertility, linking the whorish look with the pure white. The dress was also lined with black trimmings but, upon closer look, one could see that the trimmings were actually tiny leaping Pegasi, the sigil of the Antarian household. Of course, the rest of the dress was white, with flared sleeves and a train so long and heavy, it would take multiple people to help carry it. The dress was just so beautiful she didn't know what to say. Her loss of words remained with her even as they helped her into the dress, and pulled the strings tight to outline her tiny waistline.

"M'lady, you look ..."

"Beautiful?" She smiled at the handmaid. "For once, I feel beautiful. This dress is ... absolutely gorgeous."

"Indeed, it is, m'lady. The prince will be proud to have you for a bride."

She smiled slightly. "Doubt it," she whispered to herself, but the handmaid didn't hear. She was too busy getting the door at whoever had knocked.

Mynera turned and saw her father walk in. He was dressed handsomely and when he saw her, he did a quick smile. Mynera turned slightly, leaning forward to accept the embrace that was more like a pat on the shoulder than an actual heartwarming hug.

"Father, when did you arrive?" she asked him. Daego's face was drawn, his cheeks hollowed. Mynera frowned worriedly. "Have you eaten since we left? You look horrible."

"There you go again with your quick words," Daego snapped, the smile disappearing as if it never happened. "Is it ladylike to tell someone they look horrible? Is that what Margot taught you?"

"I did not think I would need to bother with such things when I'm talking to my own father. I guess I was mistaken."

"Don't assume. You must always keep your manners. You can't go out there and just spurt whatever nonsense comes to your mind."

"I was merely asking how you were, Father." Mynera resisted the urge to sigh in frustration, for she knew he would not appreciate it one bit. "Your face looks as if you haven't eaten days. I was just worried."

"Don't worry about me," he said curtly, walking away. "Today you will be marrying the prince. Today you shouldn't worry about anything." He reached into his coat and drew something out. Walking back to her, he held it out.

Mynera looked down at it. It was a forehead tiara. It was made of gold, the two thin bands coming together, curled and a white gem connected to the end that changed colour when it hit the light.

"Is this an opal?" she asked in awe, taking it from his hand.

"Yes. It was your mother's. She got married to me in it and, well, it should be yours."

Mynera looked up, emotions flooding her body. "Father..."

"And this," he held up a thin gold chain with a cross on the end, filled with tiny opal gems, "this was also hers. She wore it as a priestess from Arcadia. It was her most precious item."

"Oh my, Father ..."

"Let me put it on so we can get going." Mynera turned and allowed him to put the necklace over her head. Before she could open her mouth to thank him, he held out his hand impatiently. "Let's go."

She took his hand and, with the help of the handmaids who rushed back in to hold her train, she exited the room. Dread settled into her stomach as soon as she did. With Jagen, the Mutes and a dozen other guards following behind them, she was led to the castle courtyard where the royal wedding was to be held. They passed before the door and Mynera could hear music on the other end, the sound of laughter and chatter and she ran her fingernail over her skin nervously.

"You're ready," Daego whispered to her. She didn't answer. It was typical of him. He didn't ask whether she was ready, he just said she was because he needed her to be. He didn't care much for what she was really feeling.

But she had no choice but to be ready.

The doors were suddenly swung open and the spotlight was on her. The music started and Mynera felt her feet move on their own accord. Her eyes trained ahead and didn't waver, not when the guests gasped when she came into view, not at the cute little girl throwing flower petals everywhere, not at her father who she wished she could look at for comfort but knew it would be to no avail. Her eyes remained on thing only. Saenar.

He stood at the altar with his hands clasped before him. His hair was brushed back, just as she had imagined and was wearing a full white suit that made his hair look darker and his eyes more intense. Or maybe his eyes were so intense because he was looking at her. He had not taken them off her since she came out and she had not taken her eyes off him.

Saenar watched with building momentum as she came closer and closer. He didn't think it could be possible that she became even more beautiful but it happened. The hairstyle, the beautiful dress, elegant jewelry, everything on her was so beautiful his eyes could not look away. Her hair hit the sun and glinted red at him and he swore he lost all senses then and there.

Finally, Mynera reached him. She took his gloved hands, still not able to look away from him out of fear that her strength may leave her and she may fall. She didn't want to do this! Everything inside her was screaming at her to run away. The sky was clear and bright, the soft breeze that brushed past them soothing, but the flowers closed their petals, the birds were silent. While everyone sat staring at the couple at the altar, so enraptured in the commencing ceremony that they could focus on nothing else, something deep in Mynera's heart told her that this was wrong. She shouldn't be here.

But running away was no longer an option. She was at the altar, her hand clasped in that of her future husband and there was no escaping. Not when so many eyes were on her, including King Damon, Queen Madeline and her father. No, there was no choice but to see this through. The words of the priest went through one ear and out the next. She didn't hear anything. There was a loud roaring in her ears and her throat was extremely dry. Her fingers tightened unknowingly on Saenar's. She shouldn't be here.

"Do you, Prince Saenar, take Lady Mynera to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Mynera refused to look up at him when he answered.

"I do."

"Do you, Lady Mynera, take Prince Saenar to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

No. "I do."

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husba-!" The poor man's words were cut short when an arrow shot out of nowhere and embedded itself in his heart, killing him instantly.

Everything froze for about a second before someone shouted, "We're under attack!"