I was currently reading one of my favorite books in my private library (which isn't much, about ten books, since I had to be able to move quickly) when I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find a serving boy in his uniform.

"Lady Thorn, we need you to announce the unity of the Sea Shapers and Shadow Dancers after years of opposing each other. Are you ready to be presented to the public?" The boy stumbled over his words, obviously not practiced in speaking to strangers, or in his case people he thinks are important.

It's odd to think that people consider me important after hiding in the crowd for so long. I had tried to avoid being noticed my whole life, and here I am becoming the queen of the people I most wanted to avoid. I still don't want to be in this position, yet this boy acts as though I've always been an important figure.

"I'm coming," I said gently, and he practically fell over from nodding too much. He blushed when I offered to help him up, and stood up quickly, dusting himself off.

"What's your name?" I asked him. He looked at me in horror.

"I'm not supposed to say, ma'am," he stuttered quietly. I nodded, and went to get ready.

I quickly combed my hair (seriously, they found all my belongings) and was escorted to the room I met the Blackburns in. The only differences were that there was a big crowd, and there are two thrones now.

"And Lady Thorn has arrived!" William announced. The crowd turned to look at me. Caleb, who was standing beside his father, gestured in a "come here" motion. I walked with the best posture I could muster towards the Blackburns and eventually was next to Caleb.

"The union of Thorn and Blackburn will be momentous. It will be legendary. Let us celebrate the new couple!" William threw his hand in the air, the one not holding his cane. The crowd cheered, and started talking among themselves.

Caleb turned to me. "You're going to decide on a first name. Everyone has a code name that they tell the public. Never call father by his real name, since that's the only one you know. His code name is Tyler. You have to come up with one too," he whispered softly into my ear. He pulled away, and someone in the mass of people giggled. My subconscious rolled it's eyes.

Caleb and I were "socializing" and talking to the people who were not Blackburns after that. Someone asked if I was planning on getting pregnant soon, and I didn't know what to tell them. Another guy asked if I would sponsor his restaurant, and Caleb had him escorted out. That was apparently a common occurrence.

Eventually the building cleared out, and Sam dramatically collapsed on the floor, making the whole family laugh. I was laughing too.

"So, decide on a name?" Caleb finally said through little laughs.

"Kiora," I replied. I slowly lifted the hem of my skirt, and sprinted out of the throne room. Caleb chased me, while Wade glared at the two of us, probably for running.

Left, straight, left, right, right, straight, straight again, into the left corridor, no matter where I went I heard feet following me and occasional laughter.

I did get lost, which is when Caleb caught me. He pulled me to my room in the right corridor, letting go of me once we reached the door. I was close, I thought. He did a quick elaborate bow, and began running back in the other direction. I laughed, and it felt like the most I had laughed in a day for a very long time.