[center][b]The Doll with the Heart of a Bear[/b][/center]

Frija was startled by the voice that addressed her, having been so engross in her work. She huffed in irritation to hide her slight embarrassment. Her cheek were pink, the light kisses of freckles on her cheeks and nose standing out a bit more than would have with her usual creamy complexion. Looking up at the man on the horse, her round green eyes widening at the side of none other than Janirarl Asgeirr Renouf sitting on that saddle. She wondered if she should curtsy. Her eyes glanced at the ax she had resting on her shoulder and she smirked with a sniff. Nah, probably not. She didn't all the much care for arrogant men she didn't know anyhow. Instead she gave him a curt but deep nod. 

"Janirarl, how kind of you to inquire," there was a bit of a smirk on her rosy lips, a bit of sarcasm in her voice, but not enough to offend, "We manage the best we can, like everyone else." Her gloved hand went on her hip, the other side resting her ax on her shoulder. Her wildfire hair was tied back with a thin strip of leather and she was in a worn winter dress that might of been blue at one point and a vest of grey fur that might just of been a wolf at some time. She was known for having a face and form that was too easily underestimated. Those that got on the deadly side of her temper, usually trying to take what belonged to her or her father, usual ended up close to death, or dead. Like her vest for instance. But then again some didn't believe it, getting a good look at her.

"Father is sleeping," she said briskly, "You can deal with me." Her face steeled for either laughter or anger. Women in the North weren't known for handling business affairs and they certainly were not allowed to own land when unmarried. But all the same. Father needed to rest. They'd be at it in the fields again tomorrow and she didn't want him catching sickness. Catching sickness was deadly out here, so far from a doctor.

[center][b]Ur'Sula and Hakari: The Greeting of the Dragon and the Phoenix [/b][/center]

Ur'Sula scoffed at her brother and rolled her eyes. She was a calm and rather easy going person, unless pushed to far. The other female Alpha however seemed more aggressive openly. She could see how she tensed and seemed to wait for Ur'Sula to put Tas'Vil in his place. But Ur'Sula did not need to lash out at him. He knew her all too well. He never pushed far beyond the norm and Ur'Sula enjoyed watching him squirm uncomfortably. She enjoyed watching men squirm. It was extremely entertaining.

"Better follow him to make sure he doesn't mess anything up," she smirked, turned to trudge to the main tent where all the other alphas would be waiting. It was never good, getting all those arrogant power driven men in on small place. There was always trouble, especially if two alphas happened to be battling for territory. She heard one of Hikari's tribe members run up to his Alpha. Hm, something amusing must be underway… She'd have to keep an eye on that female's tribe.

"Ah, so we are almost all gathered, I see!" she said cheerfully in her raspy voice, even though it held all the command and power of an angry warrior, "Then it is time to get this underway! We all wish to hear news from one another, certainly, but being Host I have news concerning the King Dog of the North." The alphas around her growled and grunt, beating a single foot on the ground. Ur'Sula smiled cruelly, her thin lips stretching over white teeth like an animal bearing its fangs.

"It has long been said that the King Dog has been hounded by the Old Mule of a Queen down in the Southern lands to mate with her cow of a daughter," the male Alphas smiled at the snide joke, "Well, it seems he just might make the girl his b**** soon enough." Now there was a low laughter. The brutes. Her face got cold and serious. "I say that's a bad thing for our tribes. You mix Southern stealth warriors and their unrelenting berserkers into the mix of North swords and archers, what do you think they will do first?" Another stomp on the ground mixed with growls. "Aye, that's right!" she raised her voice and pumped her fist, standing near the fire in the center, "They'll start bringing the fight into the forests, the mountains, everywhere they know we reside!" 

She took out her dagger and jabbed it towards the fire. "They'll hunt us like game, the cowards!" she shouted, "And they'll swarm us and out number us like bugs!" Ur'Sula's eyes gleamed unnaturally from the fire light, even making her brother shudder. "Well I say we keep the Northern Dog from getting his paws of dangerous toys," her raspy voice had softened into a icy whisper, making the others lean in to hear her, "He thinks he'll be safe there at the border? He thinks since we have nowhere to ambush him from, that will let him live?" She let out a vicious roar. "I say we tear his head off!" The other roared with her, their feet thundering on the ground. Once the din calmed a bit, she shook back her hair.

"Now then," she grinned like a wolf, "Ideas anyone?"

[center][b]The Hall of the Northern King[/b][/center]

Ularich mused over what His Majesty presented him with. After such a long struggle with the South, when presented with continuing the struggle only to have it escalated, or to set aside centuries of pain to bind the two with marriage, what should a young king do? Even the snake of priest was a bit daunted by the whole ordeal. But he was never one for violence. At least not out in the openness of daylight. A smile washed over his serious expression finally though.

"May I present His Majesty with some advice then?" he grinned taking out a small blue vial, "We can not know the future, but we can prepare. If you lay eyes on the young Queen, despite that horrid shadow that has plagued us all for four years, and you do wish to go along with the marriage, let it run its course for a while." He set the vial on the table. 

"The young Queen is said to be very pleasing to the eye and very entertaining when in good company," he mused, "Perhaps you will find her a better puppet under your control than her mother's. But…" His eyes slipped down to the vial. "If she proves to be more trouble than she is worth as a wife… Well, you know how easy it is for the Southerns to catch sickness in our harsh climates. If one day she slips into sickness and can not be found in better health, no one would blame her loving husband for overseeing her royal duties." He smirked looking up at the King. "Like say… over seeing the South."

It was a sneaky plan, but the priest was know for more delicate tactics than the general. What he was suggesting was that the King marry the young Queen, sever her mother's puppeteering and instead turn her into his own pawn. But if she could not be controlled, then she could be subdued. If they married they would have to travel between the North and Southern capitals while plans for a central place were set in place. And if the young Southern Queen happened to 'catch sickness' while staying in the North, no one would blame the North. Not with this certain potion Ularich had happened on. A drop of it would make her ill for a week, and no doctor would be able to tell what the cause was. And if she had the whole vial… Well, they would have to make sure the King had full holds over her lands before she drank all of it. Sinister and sneaky, but cautious and genius. He wasn't called the Snake for nothing.

"I advise you keep the general here, for his temperament is no good at negotiations," he said placing a comforting hand on the King's shoulder, his voice soothing and soft, "I will also have the royal physician make you an elixir to make sure you rest well. I can also make a few suggestions for a more fulfilling meal regiment to the royal cook. After all, if haven't got your health, you haven't got anything." He gave the kind a gentle smile. "The Gods watch over you with good grace, My King," he said kindly, "They know you are strong of heart and mind, and they bless you with good fortunes. For behold, here is the King who will do as none have before him! He will unite the lands for the first time in centuries!"

[center][b]The Great Temple in the Dessert of Tamkamet, 19 days far to the Meeting of Royal Peace[/b][/center]

"You Majesty, will not the Queen Dowager protest to this?" a young high priestess said softly with worry as they entered the courtyard, "This is not a ceremony usual for someone who is about to be married."

"Yes, it is something for young maids to ask the Goddess for their true soul's half to be shown to them," the dry yet sultry voice of the General of the South smirked in amusement, "You're mother may find it a bit rebellious."

"As if I care," the young Queen said calmly, waving their words away, "All [i]unmarried[/i] women do it, so I shall do it too. I want to savor being free for a while longer, and so I shall do all maiden do at my age. Including the Heart Flame Ceremony." She undid her hair, it falling in waves of dark soft silk down to the back of her knees. Looking up at the night sky, she wondered if it the rain would fall that night. She prayed to the Goddesses it would. Then perhaps it would put out her flame during the ceremony and she would not wonder if her other soul's half would always be out of her reach. For if it went out during the ceremony, then it would mean her other soul's half was not living and she could be content in her unhappiness without the hope. Ah, she was such a child.

"Well, I shall be in the courtyard to watch, Your Highness," General Fonfira chuckled, sauntering out waving behind her, "Have fun with your ceremony." Ashamaria paid no heed to her General's teasing. She might think it was silly of her to try to quash her hope, and maybe it was. But the fear within her, the stress of thinking she might be married to a beast of man who'd steal all her birthright freedom… It was enough to make her ill. So she would conduct the ceremony and invoke the Goddesses knowledge. But unlike those who usual conducted such a ceremony, she hoped for a different answer. [i]Oh please, let the flame die, so I am not tempted to reject this advancing marriage merely on the hope that I can be happy in love.[/i] she though as she lit the wick in the lotus like bowl. An thus, the ceremony started.
[hider=The Heart Flame Ceremony][youtube]ImmM3mtXdKc[/youtube][/hider]