Scene change:
With the possible additional political marriage in the works,servants were rushing all over the place. Things were already being prepared. Prince Alexander was startled by the sudden addition to events. His sister kept scolding him for that.

The king was now in the dining hall, talking with servants in regards to the preparations. He wondered what his daughters were thinking. He also hoped his missing daughter would be brought home soon. He heard she had been found and was happy by this news.

The guests were allowed to enjoy themselves until either the ceremony or the big gala, whichever happened first.

What was going to happen next?

@Wolvena

@Vampiretwilight


Bella kept her head down as Peren spoke. She knew he was right in what he said. When he played the tune, she lifted her head and saw the Pegasus burst from the clouds above them. She watched as it flew down and landed near them, then took Peren’s offered hand and stood with his help, then climbed on the Pegasus’s back with his help. Once Peren was on with her, she wrapped her arms around his waist at his request and held on. As they flew, she focused on his back and the surrounding clouds, not being able to bring herself to look down. When they landed, she thanked Peren and slid from the Pegasus’s back, and headed into the castle with a few guards as her escorts.

She knew she looked rough after everything that happened when Ironwolf kidnapped her, but she was too tired and too sore to care too much about it at the moment. She just wanted to get out of her ripped dress and get clean, then possibly go to bed after everything. But she had a feeling the only thing she’d be able to do was get cleaned up and into a new dress with everything going on.

@Wolvena
Just as the king was talking with staff, and he was gathering everyone for a meal to 'celebrate' all the alliances, and the upcoming 'ceremony', he got word of his daughters' safe return. He gasped and ran to wherever she was, being led by the guard who had told him all that. He cried out his daughters' name, ready to embrace her, tearing up.

He would let her get cleaned up and dress, as well as rest for a time, before informing her of what had happened during her kidnapping.

Annalise still couldn’t believe what had happened. With everything that happened what did that mean for her and her sisters, or the Princes who had arrived to court them. What would it mean for her future children. She already had those questions regarding everything before this new King showed up. She now paced the hallways, worried for her missing sister and the state of everything. She wasn’t able to sit still trying to not get in the way of the servants that were bustling around, looking for literally anything to distract her.

Eventually she had wandered her way into the extensive library the family had. This was her safe space, her bubble away from the world. Marabella had the garden, Jinayah had the archery range, and she had more books that any individual would possibly be able to read in a lifetime, or so one would think. Annalise had knocked out a large portion of these books in her many years of being able to read. Not many people made their way here so it was a place to get away from anyone else. She had just started getting into books about magic, which she supposed seemed appropriate with what was happening now. The idea of magic had always intrigued her as it wasn’t something that required much physical ability. Something someone as frail as her could learn. She had never expressed this interest to her father, knowing he would likely not approve.

She had just touched the spine of one of the books when she heard the news of her sister’s return being shouted outside the door. Abandoning the book she headed toward where her sister was said to be. “Marabella!” She moved to hug her sister, the servants and guards who were around moving out of her way so she could get to her sister and father.






Gil and Aldan had since retreated to the quarters that were prepared for Gil. A heated argument between the two as to if Gil should remain in the castle and go through with the marriage was being had. Aldan insisting they leave for Gil’s protection and Gil telling him they would wait for their messenger hawk to return with instructions. Gil would not go against his father’s instructions and would only leave if his father felt it was vital he do so.

@Vampiretwilight @LostDestiny



Bella continued to walk down the halls with her escort, rubbing her sore wrists, happy to have them free of the bindings. She mentally scolded herself for being so stupid as to let herself get kidnapped and having to be saved. She stared at the floor as she walked, feeling ashamed and knowing she should have known better. When she heard her father's voice, she flinched and didn’t want to meet his gaze. Bella finally looked and saw her father’s face. Seeing him tearing up caused her to do the same, and she went to him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug and burying her face in his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, father.” she whispered in a tear filled voice. She lifted her head slightly from her fathers shoulder at the sound of approaching footsteps, seeing Annalise as she called her name. When she was close enough, Bella grabbed Annalise by the arm and pulled her into the hug and wrapped her arms around her father and sister. Now feeling safe and the adrenaline wearing off, she trembled in their embrace.

@LostDestiny@Wolvena
@Sanity43217
The king kept shaking his head. Tears ran down his cheeks.
"Do be quiet. I am simply glad you are safe!"

He was sincere and meant every word. He did not bring up the arranged marriages, or his big news, or anything, at least not yet. He would wait for the time being. His daughter had gone through quite the tragic ordeal. She needed time to recover, or at the very least, to rest and such.

He did not think about his 'fiancee' or anything else. He was simply too happy to think about anything else but this moment.

Prince Alexander blinked. He was tempted to follow. He was actually about to do so.

His sister tried to stop him though. She frowned. She narrowed her eyes at him.

It didn't take Jin to get the news either. She sped as much as she could in a gown, to see her sisters and father embracing. She too, joined the group, trying to control her own tears. "Bella, thank goodness you're back!"

She could feel her older sister shaking, and wondered what she'd gone through. Nothing nice, of course, but she wasn't going to ask unless Bella was comfortable bringing it up.

"It's okay now. We have you."

-timeskip-
The day of the ball:

It had been a bit of time since his, the kings', daughter was safely home. Time seemed to pass more quickly, and yet a bit slowly, for one reason or another.

Servants rushed about to get everything ready. This was on top of getting ready for a certain ceremony, which had not occurred yet. Anyway, the royal guests would be tended to until the festivities started.

That evening:
The ball would begin. The guests would start to arrive. Everyone invited, as well as everyone else, would be excited over the news to be announced. Who would be matched with whom? And what was this secret extra announcement that was to be made?

They would find out soon enough...........

Annalise had spent most of the time from the incident to the ball, either helping make decisions on various ball aspects, or in the library reading. The books that currently filled her time were not books about the other countries, or past royalty, or even stories of heroes. No, instead she spent her time trying to understand magic. Learning about its history, applications, benefits, downfalls. Anything and everything, though if she was being honest the information she had on magic was mediocre at best. As if the information was being intentionally hidden from at least the residence of the castle. Regardless she learned what she could when she had time. Not that much of what she learned was of any real use.

She had also spent her time actively avoiding the other King. Normally she would have made an attempt to be civil however the whole situation confused her and thus, she had just decided to avoid it. However, today there was no more avoiding it. Not only would the suitors pick who they chose to be their wife, but her father would make the announcement about the...proposal of peace the other King had offered.

She was in her room being fawned over by various handmaidens as they got her ready for the ball. Opting for her usual white and blue colored dresses insisting she looked the most attractive in them, and any man would be lucky to have her as their wife. She more or less ignored them, lost in thought. Eventually, it was time to make her way to the ballroom for the event. Standing and looking at herself in the mirror she couldn’t help but stare a minute. Her hair, which was usually in some sort of updo, had been left down to flow behind her when she walked. The maids said it made her look more feminine. Like she didn’t already look that way. The half veil that usually covered her eye, in an attempt to make the slight difference in color had been all but abandoned for this look. Claiming her future husband should see all of her in truth beforehand. And so, with as much confidence as she could muster, she entered the ballroom where the guests were already gathering. Here she went to find her father but was stopped by nobles wishing her luck and congratulations as she went.






Gil and Aldan, both in as formal of attire as they had, and by that, Aldan was in what he described as a “stuffy cloth prison” of a military formal uniform that had clearly been tailored to fit his large size. This was in stark contrast to the more tribal clothing he had formerly been seen in. Though clearly the young Prince found his guard’s discomfort amusing. Little did Aldan know it was Gil that had arranged this clothing selection and not his father as Gil had told him. If Gil had to abandon his loose fighting tribal desert clothing for this event, he was going to make Aldan suffer with him. Though in all honesty Gil didn’t mind these types of clothing, they just weren’t practical in his country.

Upon entering the ballroom many of the guests tried to stop him to talk but Aldan quickly shooed them away. They would get their chance to talk to the Prince later, when the event had officially started, until then they would have to wait.

Fetes and processions marked the passing of every hour here, it seemed. So soon after the last ended did a new one begin, with even more pomp and finery.

"Look at this wealth," Tellos said, having returned to Vyarin's side. "Imagine the silver it must have cost to arrange this party. With that same money we could hire tens of free companies from across the Zpina, entire warbands up and down the Three Great Rivers, and contract princes from every corner of the League, amounting to . . . hundreds? Thousands of able swords."

"Prozdy is at peace," Vyarin responded, gritting his teeth. Behind his rotted eye a dull pain throbbed. He could barely listen at all.

"Peace will not last. We have repelled the Western Overlords once; they will return. With such a show of arms, we needn't fear this second attack. Indeed, with such power, we could cross the Zpina and destroy their fortifications on the mountain pass. Then we shall rule in their lands, for a change." Tellos continued. If he was aware of Vyarin's annoyance, he made no show of it.

"Do you intend for us to capture the silverware, with which we may hire these swordsmen?" Vyarin asked, with a raised eyebrow. Of course, it mattered little, as the other eyebrow rested under a thick coat of cloth.

"If the knowledge Brudzkon passed to me is correct, the traditions of this kingdom are strange," Tellos said, after shooting his cousin a withering look. "The succession prefers consanguinity to strength. Daughters in this land are more legitimate than brothers with large retinues. The woman you were speaking with-"

"Annalise is her name," Vyarin hissed.

"I know," Tellos said. "She is eldest among her siblings, and thus the primary heir. Eventually, she will rule over her sisters as liege, if her sisters ever inherit parcels of land at all. Do you realize what this means?"

"That were this . . . 'alliance' to happen, you will be advising a woman on matters of war?" Vyarin asked, rhetorically.

"You already know," Tellos huffed. "I will write home to your father, detailing the options given to us, our clan. He will likely write back with commands. They are to be followed." With that, Tellos left Vyarin, ducking into a side hall in search of a local scribe. Vyarin grasped the cloth over his head with a heavy hand, stress pounding in his skull. Who was his cousin, or his father, or even his great ancestor Kremaze to dampen his new acquaintanceship so? He exhaled heavily through his nose and looked around. Nosy courtiers, as usual. Ever since Annalise pointed out their tendency for spycraft, he began to see it everywhere. Hushed whispers, sideways glances, a few words here and there traded as they pass each other. They were listening in on him. He looked around for her, then made a show of pretending not to. He had to get a grip on himself. Would she see this potential marriage in the same light?

Jinayah was getting tired of gowns.

The castle had been on somewhat of a lockdown after Marabella's kidnapping and return. Her father had given the order that she was to stay within the castle grounds. So she couldn't put on her trousers and go out, which was stifling. So she'd spent it near the training grounds as much as possible. She did her best to keep herself active, as being cooped up indoors was practically punishment for the active princess.

She avoided the other King as much as she could, without being impolite. There was just something so fishy about him, even though she had no concrete evidence.

The big day approached too quickly, and Jin was practically forced into a soft silver gown and doused in lily perfume. She hated the perfume. Didn't they know that scent just ruined a good hunt? Not to mention, it sort of gave her a headache. But primped and polished, she did show up at the grand ball.

She was going to have to have a long talk with her future husband, about pants and bows and freedom, and she was dreading it. She tried to keep the morose look from her face as she entered.

@Sanity43217@bloonewb@Mistress Dizzy@Wolvena@LostDestiny
LET THE BALL BEGIN!

The king made the call as soon as the guests had filed in. He gave a signal and music started to play. There was a band performing. It was nice music, or so one would think under normal circumstances.

However, during the ball, people would whisper and wonder about the pairs, and about the extra announcement. Just what was it? No one knew. And...the king would not say...not yet.

As soon as the music started Annalise was bombarded with various requests to dance, which she attempted to politely decline but the energy of telling various noble men who wanted to speak with her while they danced became more than just accepting their offers. She was halfway through a dance with an older lord when her eyes, well...eye, landed on a pair of Princes across the ball room. The Prozdy Prince and the Afdan Prince both stood in the same general area, essentially dwarfing the other guests around them. Though both men were dwarfed by the pureblooded Orc that stood not too far from the pair looking, admittedly, kind of silly in the outfit he currently wore. The Lord she was dancing with had followed her eyes when he turned them.

“Admiring the forign Princes my dear?” He questioned as if to tease her for her wandering gaze. Though he didn’t give her a moment to respond. “You know, excluding this mysterious announcement your father has, who each of you will be chosen by has been the talk of the party. Some of us Lords have even made wagers, all in good fun of course.” He paused, as if expecting her to respond, which she did not, so he continued. “A delicate thing such as yourself would look so small beside men such as those two. Nobody would ever take you seriously. If I were you I would hope one of them didn’t pick you. Your sisters would be better off with them.”

Annalise had held her tongue for long enough. The man had started out respectable but ended up only upsetting her. Which she was sure was the point. The song ended and the two bowed to each other to signal the end of the dance but Annalise had one trick up her sleeve. She pulled the man closer, into what looked like a friendly manor and whispered in his ear. “You forget your place dear Lord. Your opinion on this, and many other things, is unimportant. Your position can be removed, mine is a birthright. Keep that in mind the next time you feel the need to tell me where my place is.” She pulled away, her usual sweet smile on her face, though the Lord had paled considerably. Turning from him to dance with the next noble who requested her attention rather proud of herself.






The Prince and his advisor had found a spot, more or less out of the way to stand, though it seemed Gil and found himself near the Prodzy Prince, not that he minded or had time to really care. It seemed the nobles had lost whatever fear of him they had once had as many of them came up to him requesting to know which of the Princesses would be his choice. If he was honest he didn’t know, but his answer to them all was that they would have to find out when it was time. The only one of the Princesses he had had any real interaction with was the youngest, which, if he was honest he didn’t mind. He had no interest in the eldest of the three, marrying her would give him responsibility he didn’t exactly want. The middle had been missing from the first meeting, kidnapped apparently and thus he had no interaction with her. Regardless, he didn’t share this information with the curious nobles who came up to him since it wasn’t really their business.

Prince Alexander was simply standing around, glancing around the room a bit. Many a lady had been hoping to dance with him when they saw him, but he kept respectfully declining. His sister kept glaring at him because of that. She kept urging him to be more social, as well as insist that he hurry up and decide on which of those princesses would be his bride. He kept putting it off. He was unsure, undecided. He had barely gotten to know any of them, he thought.

Sarah was very unhappy with her brother.
"Must you always be such a coward!"
She ended up...a little loud.

Alexander had backed away a step. As his sister kept scolding him, something....snapped.
"Stop it!!!"

People turned to look in their direction. He continued as if he did not notice.
"Enough!! You keep calling me mean and hurtful names! How father saw you as the more suited one to succeed him I shall never know! You are mean, rude, cold, ignorant, and just plain....ugly inside! How dare you judge me when you yourself are worse than I could ever be!!"

There was gasping. Sarah looked....rather humiliated and angry.

@bloonewb@LostDestiny@Mistress Dizzy @Sanity43217@Wolvena

Jinayah was gliding through the steps of an elegant dance with a nobleman friend when she heard the outburst of Prince Alexander. It was definitely a shock. Sure, she and her sisters did have their disagreements from time to time. Jinayah knew she was the most spoiled one, which she was sure rankled her sisters to no end. But they always made up – harsh words apologized for and forgiven in time.

But she’d never said anything like that to anyone in her family. She was wondering just what brought it on. She hadn’t gotten more than a few sentences out of Prince Alexander, and now this? Just how long had this temper been bubbling inside, buried and brewing up hatred?

She wondered if he had this kind of hidden temper in all things. What would that mean for his wife?

@Mistress Dizzy@LostDestiny@bloonewb@Wolvena@Sanity43217
Prince Alexander glared at his sister. What had happened was that he had had enough. He was tired of Sarah being a spoiled brat and a selfish bully. He wanted to be able to be himself, but he was always so nervous and such around the princesses. Of course, he was tired of being scolded for that. He could not help it for pity's' sake!

"Now...please....be quiet....sister."
He tried to speak more calmly. However, Sarah looked ready to storm off.

The king blinked.
"..........."
He was ready to head over there to see what had happened.

Bella has somewhat recovered from her whole being kidnapped ordeal, but it still bothered her greatly. As everything began to get underway, the servants and handmaidens crowded Bella to help her get ready. As they got her ready, she couldn’t help but wonder what this other big announcement was, and it caused her to sigh heavily. When she had been dressed in a royal purple and gold gown and her hair styled where it was half up, they all stepped away from her warm smiles on their faces. “Lovely as usual, my lady.” one of them said. Bella gave a weak smile in return, then looked into the mirror.

Her eyes fell upon the bruise on her cheek. She brought a hand up and touched it as she closed her eyes, as the memory of how she got it played behind her closed lids. She sighed, then let her hand drop, shaking her head to rid herself of the memory. Opening her eyes, she looked back into the mirror, her eyes falling on her wolf ears on top of her head. She took it upon herself to hide them as she normally did from those she didn’t know. Then she slipped on a pair of gloves to hide the bruises on her wrists left by her bindings. Looking into the mirror one last time, she stepped away from it and headed out of her room.

She knew she had to go out and join everyone, even if she really wasn’t feeling up to it. As Bella walked down the halls to the ball, she breathed deeply to get herself in the right state of mind and to clear it. Once there, she put on the best smile she could and entered. She could feel many eyes on her as she walked in and greeted the nobles she passed warmly. She stopped in her tracks when she heard the outburst, wondering what could have caused it.

Annalise finally got a break from dancing when one of the Princes had a rather loud outburst. He had been the quiet one out of the bunch so she hadn’t exactly shown much interest toward him. He hadn’t shown much interest in her to be fair so it was a fair trade. She furrowed her eyebrows at the rather mean things he said to his sister. Sure she and her siblings had fought but it was usually in private. She remembered sitting through a dinner with a few of the Lords of the land absolutely furious at one of her sisters for something she couldn’t even remember anymore, but still, none of the Lords had any clue because she remained silent about it.

Deciding to take the shock of the nearby onlookers as a chance to take a break, Annalise found a seat to the side to rest her feet and legs. A servant came by and offered her a drink which she happily took, and gracefully waved away anyone that came to her looking to dance. At least for now, she needed a break.






Gil looked up from a conversation he was having, to the Prince who had the outburst. It didn’t really bother him. It was common in his country for him and his siblings to suddenly start brawling, weaponless of course, for little to no reason. So a dispute among siblings was common ground for him. His eyes landed on one of the Princesses who had just entered. Deciding it was time to ask one of them to dance, he handed the glass he had in his hand to Aldan and walked toward Bella. Out of the Princesses he had an interest in, he had not been able to speak with her due to the circumstances.

He walked up to her, the sea of nobles around her parting for the larger green skinned male. “Excuse me Princess, would you care to dance?” He asked her in a way that felt way too formal, even for him. Still he offered his hand in case she chose to accept. If he was being honest this country’s dances confused him but he had learned them nonetheless, although he was a little clumsy. There would be no fancy spins at least, just the basic movements. “After all, I haven’t had the pleasure of truly meeting you.” He added, waiting for her response, avoiding the subject of her previous situation as best he could.

@LostDestiny

Bella continued to look over in the directions of the outburst, her eyes falling on the prince that was angered and yelling at his sister. She sighed heavily, as she thought about some of the arguments she and her sisters have had, but nothing to this magnitude in public. She pulled her attention away from the two when she heard footsteps behind her and those around her moving away. She turned just as the prince made it to her side. She looked up at him with a warm smile as he spoke to her and gave a curtsy. She was about to answer his dance request when he spoke again, her smile slightly faded at his next words.

“Yes, and for that I’m truly sorry.” she said, trying to keep some warmth in tone, but it showed that the situation she had been in left its mark. Breathing in deeply, she forced the smile back on her lips, even though it hurt her bruised cheek a bit, and pushed what was bothering her from her mind. She couldn’t let herself think back on what had happened, otherwise she’d want to run and hide herself away from everyone. The one place she wanted to be right now was in the garden. It was her safe place and always made her calm. Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she focused back on Prince Gil. “I’d be delighted to dance with you.” She spoke warmly as she lifted her right hand and gently placed it in his hand.

Vyarin was shamefully unprepared for this particular event. These people of the south have a certain way of doing things that no doubt they have grown accustomed to, having grown up with these methods. However, he had never even seen such a display until just last year, and are still somewhat confused by its application. These nobles, dressed in their finery, have formed a tradition of standing in rows, walking circles about each other in pairs on their tiptoes until some point comes when the pairs break off to find new ones. It confused him to no end, these southern formalities and traditions, and Apura's seem the finest and most traditional of them all. His eyes darted about the participants, then towards the crowd of bards in the back playing instruments he'd never seen. None of them looked like the bardic instruments of his homeland; no serpent-tongues or steel-cords to be seen among them.

After watching for a little while longer, he began to recognize a pattern. The bardic group played and the participants followed. In his mind, everything clicked into place. It reminded him of the military drills his father loved so much to preside over. The bards, they were not so different from the wailing shamans or the banners with their blowing horns. This act they put on, it is not so indifferent to the lockstep formations and the mock-duel patterns, set to the command of shouting princes and their clansmen. Perhaps Prozdy and Apura are on similar ground, if the latter are so dedicated to drilling that it has become ritual, even in the highest levels of their society.

Armed with this newfound knowledge, he cast his gaze over the crowd again. There was Annalise, fluid and- Vyarin stopped himself. Look at someone else, anyone else. He was not going to play his father's game. There. As one song ended and another began, the green-skinned noble joined by a resplendent noble lady formed up to the line. Vyarin kept his gaze locked on the large fellow. They were not so different. Barring the hair, and the colour. What mattered was their similar dimensions. In his mind's eye, Vyarin could see himself in a similar position. Left here, right there, turn and follow . . . Vyarin whispered commands in Prozdy aloud to himself. Today, he was going to be his own drill commander. A small step forward when the other man did, a small step back, he slowly began to mimic the performance. He could learn this drill given practice.