I took a deep breath and corrected my collar and then my sleeves. Àbram slid the vest over my shoulders and smoothed down the fabric. Silk stretched over my back as fine wool covered the front. It was beautifully embroidered with thorns. Then came the blazer, all white. A chain hung from one vest pocket to the other, crossing my stomach. Silver buttons lined my left shoulder and my hair had been slicked back and bound with a white sild band. It had taken ages to try and get it to not curl as wildly as it usually did, and I thought I looked handsome. I had gained a little weight, so my face didn't look as sharp and angular. I'd look good in the pictures, I thought to myself and smiled at my reflection. Maybe I'd look back at them and remember this day as something nice. A day spent in love with my soon-to-be husband.

"You look marvellous, Your Highness," Àbram said and carefully placed the silver thorn crown on my head.

"Thank you, Àbram. Will you be there at the party?"

"I won't have the time. I need to make sure your chambers are suitable for your wedding night."

"No, come." I turned towards him and smiled. "I'd like you to be there."

His eyes widened. "A-are you inviting me?" It was hilarious how he forgot everything he had been taught in regard to how to treat royalty.

"Yes, Àbram. I am inviting you. And please, call me Quinn from now on."

"I can't-"

"You can," I interrupted and turned back to the mirror. "I think I'm ready to go."

"I think so too, your-... Quinn." He bowed and I went into the sitting room, finding my fiancé all ready for me, dressed in white.

"Quinn," he said softly and met me halfway. He bent down and kissed my forehead. "You look gorgeous."

He was the gorgeous one. He looked so tall and his shoulders so broad in his suit. We matched but the suits weren't the same. His had four buttons, two on each row, while mine was a two-button piece. Islo's didn't have the buttons on his shoulder. He didn't wear a crown either. But he looked more handsome anyways.

"Let's do this." He took my hand in his and together we exited the apartment. We walked down the halls of the stronghold. The halls I had played in when I was a child. Giggled and snuck around when I was a teen, stealing kisses from handsome guests. I'd run here with Al, when we tried to escape our tutors. These halls told an entire history of me. My life. And now it'd tell stories about Islo and me. Our life. Our future child. About Isla.

As we ascended the stairs to the main hall, I felt my nerves rising. The whole city would be watching. The radio would be covering our wedding all day so the whole nation could follow the progression of different ceremonies.

"You're shaking, Sweetness," Islo murmured as the doors to the stronghold opened.

"I'm nervous. Aren't you?"

"No. I'm right where I want to be." He smiled a little and then tugged me along. With him here, I could do this.

I smiled at the photographers who were almost falling over each other to get a picture of us. Every newspaper from Skyen, Andaheim and Bursaaq had a photographer present.

We walked down the steps and stepped into the car waiting for us. It'd drive us slowly through the city, so we could wave at the people. It had no roof and the front of it was so long. It was also silver, to display the joyous occasion that it was.

White peddles were falling from the sky, servants standing on the roofs of the, tossing them out over us and the spectators. It was the imitation of snow as there was none. We were nearing the end of the winter and spring was on our doorstep. So close all the trees were just waiting to pop when the spirits gave the go-ahead.

Islo turned to me and smiled. "I love you," he murmured and leaned in, kissing me. People around us cheered and I couldn't help but smile.

"I love you too." I kissed him one more time and then leaned back against the backrest. "I'm so hungry."

"I think we'll get some food after the ceremony?" He shrugged a little. "I'm hungry too."

"I hope it won't be too long. And oh gods, the dinner tonight. I'm so looking forward to that."

"I'm looking forward to after the whole thing. For tonight." He put his arm around me and kissed my cheek. "We won't be sleeping much, you know."

I felt heat flare up in my face and I grinned like a moron. "Islo, we're in public."

"We are indeed." He snickered like a naughty little boy and kept his arm around my shoulders.

We stopped at the temple. It was time for the entering ritual. We stopped by a path laid with white flower petals. Islo stepped out of the car first. He stopped, held his arm out for me and bowed as I stepped in beside him. He stole a quick kiss and then we walked together up the path. More snow symbolism. More freshness and more new beginnings.

A seer stood by the entrance under the blue painted wooden dragons. Islo and I knelt in front of her. She painted three blue lines on our foreheads. One for my soul, one for Islo's and then our combined souls.

She then held her hands over our heads and everyone around us fell silent for the prayer. I touched my forehead and then fitted my fingers in between Islo's. I closed my eyes and just listened to the songs in the old language. I had no idea what the words meant, but I felt it. In my heart I felt it. The connection to the spirits, the one that had been passed down to me by my ancestors. It was overwhelming, feeling this closely connected to them. I felt happy.

I just wished Al had been here to see it. Wherever she was, I hoped she was happy.

The song ended and Islo and I rose back up to our feet. The seer smiled at us and then showed us inside.

The temple was emptied of people. No one were to enter but me, Islo and the seer. And of course the spirits.

Pillows had been put on the floor in the middle and we all sat down.

"Your Highness," the seer said and offered me a nod. "My lord." She nodded to Islo too, smiling softly. "Today you will bind your spirits together forever. When you leave this world, you will find each other in the world beyond." She held her hands out and we placed one of ours in hers, our palms up. She took the knife from the silk on the floor and ran the edge over Islo's skin. When she was ready to cut my hand she hesitated. The weird round scar in the palm of my hand was ugly and the colour was a stark contrast to my lightened palms.

Her eyes met mine. I wasn't sure what she was doing or why she was hesitating. She smiled after a tense moment and then ran the blade over my skin. Then she put Islo's hand on top of mine, binding our hands together.

"Your blood will be mixed and with it, your spirits as well. Keep your hands tied together until the wounds are healed."

We didn't keep our hands bound until the wounds had healed anymore. In the olden days they'd do it and a lot would die from infections. Now we'd get the wounds treated and our hands would be bound in silk. Some would keep a long silk band between them and when we left the temple, so would Islo and me. A more modern version of a very old tradition.

We were to drink saltwater at the entrance of the temple and eat some very hard bread too. I had never understood why but I kind of like the tradition. And I was really hungry after all.

And then we had to re-enter the temple as married. As bonded. The doors closed once again behind us. Time for more prayers. I think this one was about a long and healthy life, filled with children.

I sent my own prayer out. To my surrogate. I hoped she was doing well, that she was taking good care of my child while she was carrying it.

I asked for a boy. Boys had it easier than girls, especially royalty. Àlvar and I had never had the amount of pressure Al had had. She needed to be so proper. I didn't want to bring another girl into something like that. I didn't want a child of mine to end up like Al. Sad. Angry. Captured. She was so good at covering it up, but I saw it. I always tried to make her laugh and most of the time I was successful too.

Gods, I missed my sister.

A tear trailed down my cheek and I hurried to brush it away. This was about me and Islo. I squeezed his hand and he squeezed mine back.

I opened one eye and glanced at him. He cracked a smile as if he could feel me peeking at him. I didn't want to interrupt his prayer. I didn't actually know if he was very religious. He had pretty much always respected the bond I had to the spirits and he believed me almost immediately when weird things started happening. He was so amazing.

"I love you," I whispered.

Islo smiled again and then opened his eyes. "His highness is supposed to be praying," he whispered back.

"It's hard when you're so handsome and right next to me."

My soon-to-be husband closed his eyes again but moved a little closer, giving my hand another squeeze. I wanted this prayer to be over so we could get a move-on. I wanted him to be my husband now.

It was finally over after about twenty minutes. On wobbly legs I rose with Islo and the seer. She smiled at us and put her hands on our foreheads.

"Your Highnesses. You are now married."

I turned to Islo and hauled him down, kissing him fiercely, my hands on his cheeks. He chuckled and kissed me back, his hands on my lower back, pressing me to him.

"Come, Sweetness," he murmured against my lips, and pulled back, taking my hand in his again. "We have so much to do."

"Yes," I grinned. "Husband."

He smiled widely and stole a kiss before we exited the temple for the second and last time. People cheered and I couldn't stop smiling. The cameras made a terribly loud sound and so did the people, really, but I didn't mind any of it.

We were driven back to the stronghold, for the party. There'd be served tea on the large terrace facing the city.

My father would host parties there, having the band play so loudly everyone surrounding the stronghold could hear it and let the commoners participate. Dreki had said they'd do the same. They had even put up speakers, so everyone could hear the music. It'd be broadcast live in the radio too. Everyone were invited to my wedding in some form or another.

As we stopped at the top of the stairs I turned to Islo.

"Kneel, my love," I said softly.

"Pardon?"

"Kneel."

He frowned but did as told. One servant stepped forward with a sword while another had a wooden box.

"Islo av Stál," I said and took the sword in my hand. "I, King Quinn av Stál the first, crown you." I put the sword on his left shoulder and his eyes widened. "Prince regent of Skyen." I put the sword on his right shoulder and then handed it back to the servant. The other opened the box, exposing a crown similar to mine, but smaller and slimmer. I took it out of the box and placed it on his head. Then I brought my fingers to my lips before placing them on his forehead.

A tear trailed down his cheek as he rose and kissed me, to much joy of the spectators.

"You've secured Isla's future," he said with a shivering voice.

"She'll be princess regent of Skyen. As will her children after her."

"Quinn," he almost sobbed and kissed me again. He pulled back and smiled at me, smoothing his thumbs over my cheeks. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise. And for once Dreki didn't have any objections."

"You lovely, sweet, beautiful man." He hugged me and then corrected his crown as it was about to slide off. "Damned thing. How do you manage?"

"Just don't move your head too much. You'll be fine." I turned to the photographers one last time, so they could get their photo of the new prince, and then we went to take our seats.

We were lucky with the weather. A warm wave of hot air had hit us, and it was quite pleasant to be outside in the sun.

The first course was placed in front of us. A simple fish soup with thyme. It tasted deliciously and I wished I had had the time to finish it.

But I didn't.

A large boom sounded in the distance, coming from the harbour. Guards all rushed towards Islo and me, but I brushed them off and strode to the railing around the terrace.

The harbour was on fire and these... Things were flying towards the stronghold.

"Quinn," Islo breathed. "It's happening."

"Aatskina?"

He nodded.

"Your Highness, you have to get inside the stronghold!" the general shouted and was about to grab my arm, but he stopped.

Dreki wasn't so scared of touching me, his fingers curling around my arm. Islo's hand shot down on Dreki's wrist.

"We're in public. You cannot touch the king, you daft idiot!" he spat and shoved Dreki back.

"Get inside, now!" Dreki hissed, sounding like a cat.

"No, I can't abandon the people," I said without taking my eyes of the black contraptions getting closer and closer to the stronghold.

A guard came running up the stairs, soot in his face. "Your Highness, Your Highness, My Lord," he panted and bowed at us. "The harbour. It's been bombed. Aatskina tribe members, sirs. And Paamut. Kabiran battleships."

Dreki grabbed the collar of the guard and pulled him close. "Then get every aeroplane in the sky and bomb them to shits!"

"Yes sir!" The poor guard rushed off.

"Will the city stand?" I asked with a shivering voice and looked up at Dreki.

"You'd like it to fall, wouldn't you? Fear not, Your Highness. We've been expecting them. Their ranks are not as closely knit as they'd like to pretend."

"A mole?" Islo asked, his eyes widening.

"Yes, Islo. Everyone has a price."

Islo didn't get a chance to respond as another explosion went off. I couldn't breathe. I knew this was different but all I could hear was screams of agony and my own, calling out for Al. I latched on to Islo, my whole body shaking.

"I can't do this," I whispered. "Please, stop it."

"Quinn, listen to me. Nothing will happen to you, I promise. I've got you."

Loud and noisy contraptions flew over us, towards the black ones coming towards us. They attacked the Aatskina aircrafts with what looked like fire balls. One went down in a blaze of fire, hitting the city.

"Islo, the people. We've got to secure the people."

"Yes." Islo turned to Dreki. "Evacuate. Get everyone to the stronghold if you can. Or the temples. All are firmly built. Just get people out of here."

Dreki narrowed his eyes before he went to one of the guards, giving the orders. The aircrafts came closer and something caught my eye. I grabbed the binoculars out of the hands of a guard and got a closer look.

"Al," I whispered. I tossed the binoculars aside and raised my arms in the air, waving. "Al!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Get your arms down, Quinn!" Dreki roared, but I wasn't listening. Not anymore. He couldn't do shit to me out in the open. I went to the stairs with Islo closely following me.

"Alvina!" I screamed again. The aircraft changed course, ever so slightly going directly for my location. They were coming for me. I was getting out. "Where is Isla?"

Islo clenched his jaw and limped towards the crowd of royal guests. He grabbed his little girl and hoisted her up on his hip. "Don't worry, sweetheart, these are not our enemies."

She was scared. Her eyes were wide and so glassy, and she was holding on to her father for dear life.

I could feel the heat from the burning contraption. The fire had already caught a bunch of the surrounding houses and soon the whole city would burn.

I couldn't let my city burn. My people.

I balled my hands into fists and then raised my arm. I could feel the darkness in my chest spreading but I was blocked. The damn bracelets.

I tried to push through, but it hurt. It hurt so much. Every fibre in my body was screaming at me, but something told me to push through. It'd stop in just a minute. Just a little more. I just had to push a little more.

It was as if pain exploded behind my eyes and I felt something trickle down my throat and from my nose.

But I just had to push through.

Just.

Push.

Through.

Something released in me. I broke through the barrier and everything slowed down. The aeroplanes didn't reach the aircraft Al was on. But that just came closer. Everything else stopped. The fire in the buildings, the embers mixing in with the smoke. Even the birds in the sky. Everything stopped.

"Al," I whispered.

"Quinn," someone said from beside me. I didn't take my eyes off the aircraft. "You can let go now. You do not have to hold it anymore."

"I can't let go. I want it all to stop," I said, my voice cracking.

"I know, but you will not survive. Let them get away. Look, they are turning around." The voice was so soothing. A hand landed on my shoulder. "You have done so well, Quinn. You are helping your sister get away. You do not have to die for her too."

The aircraft was turning around and flying away. It was sheltered from the aeroplanes which would've reached it if I hadn't stopped them. Fireballs hung in the air, so close to hitting the craft. But it was turning away. They were getting away.

And Al was leaving me.

But at least she was safe.

"You can let go now, Quinn."

"No," I cried.

The man stepped in front of me. He was kind looking. Black hair and light brown skin. His eyes were dark too. There was something so oddly familiar about him.

"It is alright. Let me in now, Quinn." He circled his arms around my neck. I could still keep my arms up. He wasn't forcing me to stop.

"Let me in, Quinn," he murmured softly.

I didn't know what he meant, but then I did. I just knew I had to let him in. He was here for me. There was a bond between us, and it sprang alive when I finally let go of the everything. My arms dropped down to my sides and my legs buckled. He went down with me, making sure I didn't get hurt.

"I am Barr. I am your spirit," he said and smiled. "Please, do not tell anyone. I will disguise myself to stay close. But it is not safe for me to be out in the open."

I nodded. He brought out a handkerchief and dried the blood away from my face and throat.

"I am here now. I am sorry it took me so long, but I am here. I will help you."

I just knew it was true. He was here to help me. I trusted him. I felt it so deeply in my core that he was telling the truth.

And it was a relief.