The ride to the kingdom was quiet but calm. Lit by glowing balls of fire in lanterns attached to the wagon, others followed behind them, creating a long snake. Morris was nervous as she did not know anyone in the other kingdoms except for Poppy and Nyle.

It was an eerie feeling as they all arrived at the palace, one by one, each family got out, the one eligible went up the stairs first followed by the parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. All too soon it was Morris's turn, her parents pushed her out and she stumbled slightly. Righting herself she ascended the stairs, her cape swishing behind her as she wrapped her arms around her tummy. A guard was at the door holding a brown spear with a red tip, he turned his brown eyes on her

"First name?"

"M-Morris."

"Last name?"

"Rossa."

"Who's giving you away?"

"We are!" The guard sniffed and handed them pink colored silk string.

"Put these on." Tryna and Danker slipped them on, then with a nod from the guard they entered the crowded palace.

"All eligibles this way! All eligibles this way." A loud voice said. The crowd moved and Morris's fingers slipped from her fathers grasp.

"Papa! She shouted. "Papa!" But there was no response, she allowed the crowd to take her behind the big stage.

"Please get in a line, alphabetically by last name. Stand behind the pole that is in accordance with your kingdom number." The mob of girls pushed and shoved, squashing and trampling each other. A shrill whistle sounded, everyone froze, a male spoke.

"No one said you could move yet. We understand your nervousness but please wait and listen. Marta, go ahead."

"All right, in kingdom one we have Daliah, Berkeley, Myna.." The kingdom had twenty eligible teens and women. Then the man spoke.

"Kingdom two, Ryla, Sweine, Dinda... Morris." Morris's heart skipped a beat as she got in line behind a woman with chestnut colored hair. She'd been too nervous to hear her name. In total there were thirty and Morris was the 25th. The next kingdom went but Morris heard nothing, she needed her fathers hand or Nyles.

"Hey are you okay?" A voice asked as she felt a tap in her shoulder. She turned and faced a girl with red colored hair and hazel eyes.

"I think so, why?"

"You look ready to pass out."

"Oh. I think I might." The girl squeezed her shoulder

"Oh it's alright you'll do great! My sisters all got good beau's so I'm very confident I will too."

"That's good." Morris said unsure of how to answer

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"Oh, I'm twenty. What's your name?"

"Morris. You?"

"Sanka. I heard a rumor that the PeaceKeeper is going to show up!"

"Oh? Where did you hear that?"

"It's floating around. I guess a guard overheard it and then spread it around."

"Oh." Morris licked her lips. She needed to find Nyle and tell him to tell the queen that she couldn't come.

"Yeah I wonder who.." Morris stopped listening as she turned and saw the girl looking around. She ducked down and snuck out of there and made her way to the other side where the men were. She stayed in the shadows grateful that the lights here were dimmer than they had been where she was. Her eyes located the second kingdom's pole. She drew up her mask just because and gently moved in between the rows of statues. She went through the line looking for him, she suddenly was grabbed by a hand. Turning she saw a hard faced man.

"What are you doing here? He whispered angrily.

"Oh um I need to talk to Nyle Jerrs."

"Nyle? Who's that?"

"H-he's a warrior. The queen sent me." She said in hope that the man would let her talk to him as no one disobeyed the queen.

"Very well. Nyle Jeers come here." A head poked out near the head of the line. He waved weakly as he came closer.

"What?"

"You have five minutes." The man said. Morris grabbed Nyle and brought him to the back wall.

"We don't have time, you need to go tell the queen that I-well the peacekeeper won't be here."

"Why can't you?"

"Because there won't be enough time for me to change you dummy."

"Oh. u'm yes I will tell her."

"Thank you." Morris turned to leave

"Good luck."

"You too." Morris nodded as she snuck back out.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. The black moon has just risen and the Ceremony shall commence. I give you the kings and queens." Fan flares played as Morris slipped back in line.

"Where did you go?" Sanka asked

"The bathroom."

"Oh well we're starting to go up there. The first kingdom has already begun to go up. It's so exciting!!"

"Sure." They followed the first kingdom, taking off their capes, and cloaks before entering the auditorium and taking their seats. The men were on the stage, sitting in chairs in their own groups. The ceremony itself wasn't scary, it was the part about not knowing what man you will get and from which kingdom as no one really knows each other. Queen Sanda rose and walked to the microphone. She was adorned in a sparkly long sleeved gown made of diamonds, no doubt gifted to her from the second kingdom.

"Ladies and gentlemen good evening. With the black moon high, it is now time to commence the ceremony. The PeaceKeeper was going to make an appearance, but unfortunately she could not make it. Though we have a woman here named Morris Rossa who is wearing a dress in her honor." Applause erupted. The queen lifted her hand and they stopped. "Now, If you all will stand, we shall continue." Mothers and fathers, children and grandparents rose. As custom, the guests, as they were able to do so, stood the whole time, this was out of respect to the queen who had to stand through the whole thing.

A man in black with an orange cape came up and put the rose into the center of the stage on a gold metal stand. Murmuring filtered through the whole room. An announcer stood next to Queen Sanda.

"The first name is.." She said as a drum roll went off. She dug into the big pot to her left

"From the third kingdom, Stallan David." The announcer shouted. Stallan, a small girl in rags, stood and walked towards the rose. She rubbed her finger nervously then she pricked it. The whole room was deathly quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Then slowly a chair squeaked and a man with dirty blonde hair rose. He looked sick to his stomach. Crown in hand and blood down his arm, he approached the girl. She bowed her head and he placed the crown on her head. They shook hands and then he went back to his seat and she to hers. This is how it went, person after person. Some were sad, some were mad, and some were happy. The guests began to start sitting for a bit but then they would stand back up after feeling rejuvenated.

After many years later..

Morris Rossa." Her name echoed in her ears. She didn't move, she was so scared, it was finally time to face the music. She was pushed to her feet by Sanka, Morris glared at her wishing she could punch her. Shaking the thought, Morris climbed the glass stairs to the rose that had giant thorns already red with blood. Before pricking her finger she glanced around the stage, her eyes landed on Nyle who waved at her, he seemed to be doing okay which was good, then she turned toward the crowd and located her parents. Her father gave her the thumbs up and her mother made a deep breath motion with her hands. Morris did so as she pricked her finger, a pool of blood oozed out as pain sliced through her finger. She looked around hopefully and eagerly awaiting Nyle to step forward. But he didn't. In fact no one did. Morris sighed as she glanced at the line of men but none gave the hint that there were hers and just scared or embarrassed to come up.

A sudden sound of whispers and shuffling feet could be heard. She turned around to see the crowd part like the red sea as someone walked toward her. Blood dripped down his arm, running between each knuckle and down his hand. It dripped onto the floor like tears, in his hand was a gold crown. As he came into the light, her right eye began to twitch as her breath left her for it was the One and Only...