Una put her hand on her warm cheek. How could she be so oblivious? The day that Una's father, the great king Cynan was murdered, was the same day Eurion was crowned king. The coronation had to be immediate. With no king to govern the kingdom, the people would feel vulnerable even though there is no real threat.

Una continued to clothe herself in the beautiful silk dresses. She then adorned her waist with a gold belt she found. The pieces in front hung down like a cascading waterfall of glinting sunlight. Una added the peplos brooches on her shoulders, the ones that Llewellyn had given Una. They didn't match the gold, but they would be hidden under Una's hair and veil. Una had never worn a veil before, but she knew it was standard to wear one, incredibly noble. Besides, Una didn't want to raise a brow to anyone.

Though Idris loved the kingdom of Gwynedd, that is not to say everyone else did. Una's people didn't take too kindly to outsiders, though Una could understand. Everyone thought the welsh kings and queens were of dragon's blood. You were either loved or hated. That was the nature of Bryttania. Cynan had once told Una that when the Romans came to invade a thousand years ago, they were the ones that disrupted the balance. Yes, feuding clans, kingdoms, and tribes, but nothing instilled more hatred than the intruders. Now that the Vikings have come, the second wave of hatred has swept the land. No one can trust each other. It was brother against brother yet again.

Una gently took out her two side braids and combed them out with her hands. Her usually straight hair fell into shimmering waves of dark amber. Then she gathered an off-white silk veil over her head and set it in place with a gold headpiece she found with the belt. She couldn't see if it was crooked because there was no mirror in this room. Una walked over to a bronze water basin situated on top of a large stand. She splashed water across her face and patted it dry with her veil. Una walked over to the large window, unlatched it, and allowed the wind to carry away any dampness left on her face. The wind carried her veil up, and Una had to hold her headpiece down so it wouldn't blow off. She tried to match the nobles she had seen in town, what they wore. Una hopes she won't be the laughingstock of this special day.

Una suddenly heard a knock on her door.

"Lady Una?" Ingrid said faintly outside the cracked door.

Ingrid had brought Una's boots and clothing back. She also brought up some berries to eat and a chunk of chalk to polish her teeth with.

"Ingrid?" Una said, walking to the door and opening it.

Ingrid stood there and blinked her eyes a few times. Towering over her was Una, dressed in such lovely garb. The way she stood with her hands clasped at her midriff made her look so fair and elegant.

"My lady, you look sumptuous!" Ingrid smiled and walked in.

Una blushed and smiled back.

"Really? I feel like I ate a feast with all this on me!" Una laughed.

"My lady, you look like the one who's receiving the crown today, not that old crone!" Ingrid said back as she ran over to the bed to lay down the chalk and berries. Then she walked over to the wardrobe and added ago Una's clothes.

Una noticed that Ingrid herself had changed her clothing. Her mundane peplos was exchanged for a bright yellow one. She had on a long fitted white gown underneath it like Una. It appeared that everyone was fixing up for this event.

"Oh, I brought you some berries and chalk," Ingrid said, sprinting over to Una to hand them to her.

"Thank you, Ingrid," Una said as she bit down on a large cherry,

Ingrid watched in horror as Una spat the pit out in her hand and popped another cherry in her mouth.

"My lady! You'll get that all over your dress! Spit them in my hand."

"What!?" Una laughed as she spits out another in her hand.

"Lady Una!" Ingrid repeated herself.

"Fine, fine." Una grinned as she hopped up and threw the cherry pits out of the open window.

Ingrid stood there with her mouth ajar. She watched Una walk back over to the water basin, and she dipped her hands in them. Ingrid wonders how this woman was a queen. She obviously lacked pampering.

"You could have rubbed your cheeks with that juice, my lady." Ingrid laughed as she folded her hands in front of her.

"Whatever for?" Una asked.

"You need color in your cheeks. It would be an insult to have fairer skin than the new queen Wilona." Ingrid said with a laugh.

"Is that so?" Una said, grabbing a cherry.

"Wait!" Ingrid said and ran up to her and grabbed it from Una's hand.

"Forgive me, but allow me to add it. I would have to gouge my eyes out if I saw you get such a staining substance on these silks!" She smiled.

"Um, alright. If you wish." Una said.

"Thank you, my lady. Please, sit down since I might draw tears of blood on you by accident at this angle." Ingrid laughed.

"Haha, alright," Una said as she sat down at the end of the bed.

On the platter of berries was a small chunk of chalk. Una grabbed it and played with it around in her hands as Ingrid slightly squeezed the darkest cherry with her fingertips.

"Alright, please look up, my lady," Ingrid said as she pulled Una's chin up.

"What's the chalk for? I do not have an upset stomach." Una said.

"Nay, my lady, that is for your teeth," Ingrid said as she dotted tiny droplets of red across Una's cheeks.

Ingrid gently rubbed in color under Una's cheeks, concentrating on her cheeks' apples and her nose's bridge. As she buffed out the paint into her skin, she felt how soft Una's skin was. It was not like Wilona's skin, weathered by the sun and creased.

"Why would I need chalk for my teeth?" Una asked.

"To polish your teeth, my lady," Ingrid replied as she dotted more juice on Una's lips now.

"Well, I have never used chalk before. I use a small twig with salt. Una said.

"Say ahh, my lady." Ingrid smiled.

"Well, today we have chalk to use," Ingrid added.

Una opened her mouth to make her lips taut, so Ingrid could evenly apply the juice.

"Now, let that sit for a while so it will stain. I know it's difficult, but don't lick your lips." Ingrid said.

Una couldn't help but laugh at the way she held her mouth wide to dry.

"My lady Una, your teeth!" Ingrid said in awe.

Not one of Una's teeth were missing or discolored, despite not ever had been polished by chalk.

"What's wrong with them? I don't stain them blue like the Vikings!" Una said, bending her head down with a laugh.

"Nothing at all. They're lovely. What is your diet like, my lady?" Ingrid was genuinely interested.

"It mostly consists of meat and cheese. It keeps me full, and it lasts on the battlefield, unlike bread and fruit." Una smiled again.

Ingrid remembered that Wilona loved bread and honey, but Una had a wildlings diet of meat and cheese.

"You've been to battle?" Ingrid asked

"Numerous times, unfortunately," Una said softly, remembering her last battle.

Suddenly the vision of Yvar came to her mind. She bit her lip, trying to make that memory evade her.

"My lady, you're smudging your lips!" Ingrid said she took her finger and tried to smudge out where Una drew a line with her teeth.

"Sorry. I forgot not to move my lips." Una said.

Ingrid huffed and grabbed the chalk out of Una's hands.

"No matter, now let's get those teeth shining!" She laughed.

Before Una could reject Ingrid's advance, Ingrid shoved her thumb on top of the chalk and pressed it on her front teeth. In a circular motion, Ingrid polished the front sets of Una's teeth.

"Ugg, how terrible!" Una said, smacking her mouth after Ingrid finished.

The chalk had drawn every bit of moisture out of her mouth.

"Now, for your shoes!" Ingrid said, sprinting over to the wardrobe.

She pulled out a pair of red leather shoes to match Una's peplos. The color reminded Una of Frey's necklace around her neck, and she pulled it out from under her peplos.

"My lady, that is such a beautiful necklace. You look like a glowing sun angel!" Ingrid said, crouching down at Una's feet.

"It's was a gift from a friend," Una said meekly before feeling Ingrid's icy hands on her feet.

"Yowl!" Una shouted, picking her feet up.

That was one thing Una hated people touching more than her hands and cheeks.

"Oh, I am very sorry, lady Una. Forgive me hastiness!" Ingrid pleaded.

"It's alright. I can manage on my own. Una said, calming down, and she slipped her feet into the shoes. However, she could only get her feet midway in the shoe.

"Blasted foot! What kind of woman wears shoes this small?" Una shouted as she stood up and walked over to get her boots.

"My lady, they are not dry," Ingrid said, turning to the side, gazing up at Una struggling to put on her wet boots.

"They will suffice for now. No one will be looking down at my feet, I hope." Una laughed as she laced her boots up.

The wet leather's discomfort against her bare legs made Una very uncomfortable, but she didn't let that show.

"Come along now, Ingrid. You know where we are going, right?" Una asked.

"Of course, follow me, my lady," Ingrid said.

"Thank you for assisting me, Ingrid, as painful as it must be to help me." Una laughed.

Ingrid walked to the door and opened it for Una.

"Please, you're by far the easiest. It should be me who is thanking you!" Ingrid laughed and tugged on the crook of Una's arm, pulling her out of the room.

They made their way through the endless expanse of halls and corridors.

"The burial at the tomb will take place first. Then the funeral parade will come back here for the private coronation. After that, we shall feast!" Ingrid said excitedly.

It was refreshing to see someone so jovial, even amid a tragic passing with King Idris.

Ingrid led Una out of the castle. In the dark, the court seemed so modest and minimalistic. Now she can see the intricate architecture, from the wood carved beams to the floor's mosaics. It was no wonder Una thought that old Idris wanted to protect his kingdom so severely and to keep trade deals going. The castle itself was worth at least five kingdom's assets combined.

"Queen Una." Una heard a voice hiss behind her.

Una watched Ingrid's happy expression sink into despair at the person behind her. Una turned around and faced a woman who had an uncanny similarity to her mother. She was tall, with a small chest and wide hips. Her hair was gray and gold and hung in long braids down to her thighs. Woven into her two side braids were little adornments of pearls and gold strands. She wore an immense white translucent veil over her head. Sitting on top of her head was a thin band of gold decorated in many colorful faceted gems.

She wore a long purple dress, cinched at the waist with the same belt Una was wearing. On her shoulders hung a large mantle made of white furs and red silk. Around her neck were gold and pearl necklaces. On her wrists were large bands of silver and gold, and large gems adorned her fingers. She looked like a radiant beam of light with all that silver and gold shining.

"My queen Wilona," Una said with a polite bow.

"Humph. There is no need for a real queen to bow to a princess." She snickered.

"Though, I appreciate the sentiment. It appears you know your place well."

Una meekly smiled at her as she met this woman's piercing ice gray eyes.

"I trust that Ingrid is not a pest like she has been with me lately." Wilona laughed and furrowed her brow at Ingrid.

"She's been wonderful." Una hesitated.

Wilona passed Una and walked up to Ingrid.

"I like your braids out. You look like an attractive young man." She sneered and laughed as she plucked a hair out of the center of Ingrid's head.

Una could see the discomfort Wilona was causing Ingrid.

"Well, I suppose I am keeping you. We must hurry with the parade leaving out soon. You look lovely, future queen Wilona of Wessex." Una said quickly and grabbed Ingrid's arm and pulled her away and out of the throne room.

Wilona crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. Una is pretty, but Wilona thinks that she was nowhere near as beautiful as she was. Una was a heathen of the northern mountains. The only thing beautiful that came out of Gwynedd was their wildlife, the people not included.

"Where's Una?" Wilona could hear a voice call to her from behind.

"Oh, you look splendid, my love!" Wilona reached up to her handsome husband and kissed his jaw.

Wilona was irritated that Gareth was searching for Una. What could he possibly want with her? Una was just a whorish snake who has bewitched Gareth with a spell, Wilona thought to herself.

"Queen Una was supposed to meet me here. Did she go back to her chambers? I heard her voice for sure!" Gareth said, moving forward, looking out.

"Um, I believe she did go back up to her chambers," Wilona said, coking a wide grin.

"Why did she go back there?" Gareth demanded.

"Oh, she was feeling faint and needed to lie down." Wilona lied.

"Ugg, wait for me here, Wilona," Gareth said, rushing off to Una's room.

She didn't care if her husband was late to his father's burial. She hated Idris more than anything on the Earth. She liked to watch Gareth squirm, and being worried for an impudent rat from Snowdon served him right if he was to be late. Wilona walked after him with a grin on her face. She watched his face as he saw that Una was gone.

"Where is she!?" He demanded, walking to the door.

In the corner of his eye, he saw a glint of red and ran to the window. He could see Una on top of her horse, with Ingrid sitting behind her. Gareth turned around and looked at Wilona with anger.

"Why must you lie to me! What was the point of me coming up here!?" He demanded.

Wilona stepped into the room and latched the door shut behind her.

"So I could lure you up here, my dearest husband." She laughed.

"This is no time for your funny games. Let's go!" Gareth demanded as he walked over to the door but not before Wilona slammed her back against it.

"You're not leaving," Wilona said, flexing her chin up to meet Gareth's golden eyes.

"Get out of my way, Wilona. We are going to be late." He insisted.

"No, please, Gareth. Stay with me for a few minutes!" She begged, grabbing his royal purple mantle in her hands, reaching up to kiss him.

"Wilona, enough!" Gareth said, moving his body back and pushing her arms away.

"Please, Gareth! Why won't you touch me?! You're a king now, and I'm a queen! We need an heir. We have none! You have not consummated this marriage! Our wedding ceremony was a ruse!" She shouted with tears forming in her eyes.

"We have my cousin, Sion." Gareth seethed as he finally wedged himself between Wilona and the door and freed himself out of her grasp.

He didn't know how much longer he could stand her antics, and now she was going to be the queen of Wessex. She was right, though, and Gareth knew he needed an heir. He did have Sion, but that was the only male left to rule. He thought for a moment about Una. Perhaps even Llewellyn could become queen one day, in his place, if he were to die.

He laughed to himself, thinking about his will. What should happen to old Wilona when he dies? Perhaps a servant girl would suffice. Other than that, he would want her to go back up to Mercia, where she is from. God forbid her from creating an abomination that was the mix of a male from Wessex and her own Mercian lineage. Gareth laughs again. Una may have dragon's blood, but she will never be as scary as that mix.