The children who were to escort the couple, three page boys and three flower girls, grew restless as they stood a good distance from the garden and the guests while waiting for their big moment to start. The flower girls wore white dresses and daisies in their braided hair while holding onto little baskets, and the page boys were dressed in white collar shirts and pale green shorts with white tights. The servants constantly had to pull them back into the assemblage or hush them, and Valek didn't blame the poor children, as he was bored out of his mind as well. Not to mention that the wine made him struggle to keep his posture and remain steady on his feet.

Across from him stood Tsega, dressed in a hooded sleek dress in Brimstone's dark green signature color, countless sparkling stones had been sewn onto the silken fabric and silver threads had been stitched alongside it ever so precisely, yet on her back was strapped her dear katana, and from that moment on Valek knew that Tsega Tsui would never lower her guard no matter the occasion. The one who would leave everyone in awe was going to be Ysella, he knew, who was dressed in a green dress with a wide skirt, its dark green shade matching his own uniform perfectly, covered in subtle emeralds and stitched flowers. Her auburn hair fell down in long waves with an ornament made of pink and white roses. She looked like a goddess, bright and pristine, while the children looked like little angels.

Valek couldn't figure out what part he had with the goddess and her angels. Certainly not a god. He was just a nobody who collected action figures and preferred videogames over social gatherings, someone who rushed home as soon as the school day ended. Even though he found himself in the company of royals and angels, he knew he wasn't any part of the parade, but rather was one big charade. Deep inside he was certain that he'd forever be that nobody forced to be a somebody, invisible and alone, no matter what throne or crown that was thrown upon him.

"Can we go already?" Ysella said, raising her hands in frustration. "I'd say we have long passed the element of surprise and being fashionably late."

"I agree," I said as I leaned against the wall to hold myself from toppling over. "What exactly are we waiting for?"

"Royal engagements are always like this. Fun for the guests, but a torture for the couple," Tsega said. "If you think this is unbearable, you do not want to experience your wedding." Then, she looked at Valek and hunched close enough to whisper in his ear. "Lord Valek, are you drunk? Your speaking is a bit slurred."

The teenager shrugged, and indicated with his thumb and index finger a small amount, telling her a big lie that he was only just a little drunk. In reality, he was close to passing out in his own vomit. The only thing that kept him going was his fear of ruining everything for Ysella.

In the distance, bells rang.

The children's faces lit up bright as they knew this was, at last, their cue. As the parade came into motion with the children at the lead, and they followed the sound of the song, a shockwave of the final reality washed over Valek and Ysella. Exchanging a look, they knew that this was it, that from now their careless chapters had come to an end and they would never be children again. They clasped one another's hand and looked ahead and strolled along.

A white carpet appeared, then a large field with dark green flags holding Brimstone's sigil waving in the wind and endless rows of white clothed and flower decorated chairs and tables, and an endless amount of people seated, watching them. Cheering loudly for them. A knot tightened inside Valek's stomach.

Pink and white petals, coming from the children's baskets, blew around in circles in front of them, and it was the most magical thing he'd ever seen. The look on Ysella's face was a blend of sadness and fear, and though Valek couldn't exactly know what was going through her mind, what he could tell for a fact was that at that moment panic controlled her every being.

He brought his lips near Ysella's ear, and whispered. "If you focus on the flowers, it's no longer scary."

She looked up and threw him a quick smile, then as she watched the petals fly around, he saw her expression change into a peaceful calm.

At the end of the carpet was a large arch made of flowers, beneath it stood King Clarke and Queen Rosella, along with a man dressed in black and white holding onto a big book. The children and their petals guided the couple towards them, and for an unknown reason Valek was thankful for the children to be there. Perhaps it was their pure innocence he wanted to cling onto, or maybe it was that the children made the situation less tense and solemn, it could be both but he turned very saddened once the children were taken by the hand and ushered to the tables.

The clerk with the book began. "We have gathered here today..."

While they faced one another, all the voices muffled and faded and all Valek could hear was his pounding heartbeat as he looked into the big eyes of a mortified teenage girl whose freedom had been taken away by those who were meant to raise and protect her. Neither himself nor Ysella wanted to do this, they barely knew each other, so why were they here? Valek understood that a lot of lives were at stake, but he couldn't understand why they were required to sacrifice their freedom and identity to please some self-absorbed king in order to save these lives. There had to be another way.

A glistening ring where a ribbon had been tied to was shoved around his ring finger and he returned to reality, hearing the clerk say, "To tie this union, you shall tie the ribbon to one another, so that you will be tied to each other."

Ysella took his hand and slipped the ribbon around his ring and made a knot, then looked up to him and waited for him to do the same to hers. But he didn't. Instead, Valek stumbled backwards and removed the ring from his finger, and, as the audience let out loud gasps and shocked mutters, he threw the ring far enough for it to disappear into the field.

"She's not cattle," he said loudly, then faced the king. "She's your daughter, she's a human being, she's a person who has the right to make her own decisions instead of being sold off to the highest bidder." The uproar grew louder, he ignored it. "She's not a trading item for your diplomatic affairs, King Clarke." Then, he faced Ysella and swallowed. "I'm sorry. We are better than this. You are, too. We will fight, even if we have all odds against us, and if we lose then so be it. But I will not be the reason you are pawned off like some farm animal."

"How dare you?" The king roared. With a swing of his hand he grabbed Ysella's arm and dragged her towards him. "We are leaving, come."

Ysella pulled her arm back and stepped beside Valek. "No!" Her loud voice echoed over the field and silenced the wave of mutters. She started panting, as if she were shocked by her own doing, but stood her ground. "No, father. I'm staying." She took off her ring and threw it away just like Valek had. "I don't give a damn about being a princess. I'm staying, and I'm fighting in the greatest war we have ever seen. And when people speak of me, they will remember me not for being the obedient betrothed of a warrior, no, they'll know me as a warrior."

"Have a good journey home, my king." Valek said, and offered his arm to Ysella where she linked hers through. As they strolled off in the midst of gasps and whispers, he laughed and said, "A warrior, huh?"

"That's right," she said, smiling. "We may be outnumbered, but we are more composed and I have faith in you, Lord Valek, that you will lead us to victory with wits instead of muscle."

"Wits instead of muscle is the only road I know, my dear lady."

"Oh, you may stop calling me lady." Ysella paused and snorted. "Because, if there is anything I'm absolutely certain about, it's that after today I have officially lost my title."