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Menna flinched slightly as Rokan pressed the blade against her neck. Her old teacher had often scared her without ever touching her. This was downright terrifying. She did her best not to show it, but she doubted she succeeded. It didn't help that he revealed he knew exactly who'd been in her room that night. "Threaten me all you like, you of all know my limits." Her voice was slightly shaky, but she pressed onward. "I keep my own skills whatever body I'm in. You want another you, you're speaking to the wrong person."

The idea of Oban dying scared her. She didn't want Skyron dead either, even though she didn't know him as well. She watched as the man left, falling back on her pillow. She closed her eyes, her hands fisting in the blankets. She took deep breaths, trying to calm down. It wasn't working, but the exhaustion of the day finally took it's toll and she fell asleep to nightmares of Rokan's hand around Oban's throat.

The next day dawned to a tired Menna. The ultimatum of the night before had her head spinning. Should she tell Oban? No, Rokan would find out. He could be anyone around and learn about anything. It was what made him so valuable to Doko. It was also what made him so dangerous.

Her line of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. Elle opened the door slightly, smiling. Menna gave a tired smile back as the maid walked in. She was certain Rokan wouldn't be playing the part of the maid. Elle was too low on the ladder, restricted from almost everything. Still, she would have to be hesitant of who she took into her confidence from now on. She was so lost in these thoughts that Elle asked her several times what was wrong as she readied the princess for her first wedding. This one was to be grand and elegant, with her father watching on. "It's nothing." She said with a forced smile. "I just didn't sleep very well." Elle took that as an answer and stepped back, motioning for Menna to look in the floor-length mirror in the room. She did, and smiled. With the dress and the family resemblance, she looked a lot like the wedding portrait she'd seen of her mother. I hope you're watching over me today. She thought.

Awaking to the sun's rise, the young lord removed the coverings to his bed, taking each of his feet and placing them upon the wooden floor which had become somewhat chilled in the cool summer night. Grabbing hold of the day's garbs, Oban began to make his way to the armory where his royal armor waited for him, polished and readied for the wedding which would occur this day. He would be wearing it for the majority of the time he spent awake, for he would first accompany Skyron to the false union as his best man. After the ceremony would be held within the midst of the city's citizens, he would wear it once more for his own wedding...the actual wedding.

For once, Oban felt that all had turned in his favor, giving fortune to the heir of Garnoff rather than his brother. As he walked down through the halls however, he stumbled upon a rug coated with shattered glass. The pieces dug into his feet, forcing him to flinch for just the moment before he continued. Curiosity overwhelming him, the young lord stepped to the window to view what had caused the destruction. Unfortunately he spied something which did nothing to help settle his stomach.

Through the window's view, he spied a group of men clad in the armor of his own city, some were standing, some were lying down, and others carrying...for those who lied down would have their final rest. Blood dripped from a few of the corpses, but for others... all that was of their blood had already drained from their form. Shocked at the sight, Oban roared from the opening to the men bellow demanding to know what had brought about such a tragedy.

"What happened here?!" Came his call, filled with concern as he recognized the men who he'd lost. The lord had visited the men of the Silver Knights many times before, and though it would have been a challenge for most, Oban recognized the vast majority of the thousands among them. He spied upon Terigard a man who's children held hair as red as the sunset yet neither he nor his wife held such locks. Then there was Woshton, the man who tried to convince the other that his wife had broken their vows with another, yet Terigard insisted that her grandfather held the same color hair before her. Kirstad, Rolland, Ashrin, and Crottius...all gone.

"We had an intruder last night sir!" One of the men shouted in reply, "He took ours by surprise. We are increasing the guard as we speak." The words did not help the prince, for they may increase the protection for the royal family, but those men before him were already dead. Turning on his heels without a word to take from his time, the heir to Garnoff took a detour from the armory, taking the time to head towards the Soaring Fortress, a portion of the castle where masters of dengen within Garnoff resided. There he would obtain a group of men to act as sensors in order to remove any more casualties from occuring. Oban's stride was long and swift, as he made haste towards the men of the Soaring fortress, ignoring all the pain of the glass shards which still dug into his feet.

((Sorry for being slow, I'm at a different house with limited internet...I have to prioritize and I chose advertising the guild yesterday, as well as other threads waiting on me.))

As the sun began to rise high into the sky, reaching further towards mid day, a subtle clattering could be heard making it's way down the halls. Soon, as the noises approached, the sound of glass grinding into the floor echoed through the corridors of the grand castle. The maids rose their heads, their ears catching the sounds from afar as well, but soon as they began to realize it's sorce, they continued their work as if nothing would appear. As the clatter vanished, soon a new abrupt noise arose from the silence, the clashing of medal upon wood.

"Your highness...it's time." Gallion announced from beyond the future queen's quarters. The men of the elite guard stood behind him, well trained and precise, the remained so unmoving that one would think them decorations placed about the castle to embelish it's appearance. "We of the Silver Knights have come to escort you to the city's center, where the ceremony shall be held before the people." Gallion nodded towards the men behind him, reminding them of the proper behaviour as if they could have forgotten after their years of training.

As the young queen to be appeared through the doorway, each of the Elite Silver Knights took a knee, moving the same pace and seeming almost mechanical in nature. Gallion himself dipped into a bow, though he moved not so far as the others of the group.

"Very well my lady." The heroic knight addressed her, the armored men standing once more. "My men here are hand picked of the most loyal and strong warriors we have here in Garnoff, not even a mountain giant could breach our ranks." He assured her, the men of which Gallion spoke marching forth to encircle her.

As the group moved down through the hallways, who's ceilings reached two stories high upon every floor, Gallion leaned in from the head of the pack to speak with Menna.

"Something is going to happen near the end of the ceremony, we will need you to act surprised, but we wish for you to refrain from possible heroic feats as you had managed before with the elemental." Gallion left it uncertain what they meant by something but there was one thing that he maid certain it would be clear. "You'll not need to kiss your false husband, this the King has arranged for your comfort's sake."

The castle of the Shining City was quite large indeed, and the intended location for the ceremony equally so. Though the pace would be steady for the group, the distance of the march would have proven exhausting for most, in the light that they wore such heavy armor. Fortunately the men before the young lady had nearly lived inside their plated clothing since the day they joined arms with their fair city. Stepping out into the sunlight, the fierce warriors of Garnoff gleamed in the sunlight. The sky was fairly clear, though upon the horizon a storm could be spotted in the distance. The scent of the air itself seemed fresh and welcoming, lifting the spirits of the people ever higher as the party made their way through the streets towards the massive opening within the city where upon the broad raised platform the princess and the prince would make their false union.

As the escort parted, the wall of silver armor breaking away to make a path, the princess could step out from within her small fortress where Gashrious was awaiting for her arrival. Removed from the group she would be able to witness the grand city which she would soon rule in it's entirety, for the platform was upon a slope watching over the city almost like a balcony. A gentle breeze carried the storm clouds a bit closer, yet they kept their distance as if waiting for the end of the ceremony.

"It is a fine day for the wedding," Sir Gashrious spoke as the people of Garnoff cheered for her arrival. "Too bad they'll miss it." He smiled, nodding towards the crowds which had gathered. "Come my lady, I have been instructed by Doko to take his place in walking you to the alter." The priest's smile seemed to broaden further upon the mention, though of course he had not informed the young lady that he himself had implanted the idea into the tyrant king, for after all it was Doko's own decision to go through with it. Offering his arm to the future queen, the man seemed proud to have been given the honor.

"I'm afraid that I may not accompany you my lady, for though King Lucheston is quite wise, he knows me not well enough to lend his trust." Sir Gashrious sighed. His expression soon turned to a smile however, for he was not too disappointed. After all the woman he now would offer his arm to take to the alter was going to become the queen of a fine city indeed. The crowd roared with approval upon their sighting of the princess, for they had heard tales of her valor when facing the elemental as well, not to mention they were excited to have such promising suitors for royalty. Their excitement rose every higher as the priest lifted his arm to take the lady's, a sure sign that they were nearly ready to walk down towards prince Skyron to the alter.

Skyron stood awaiting next to the false priest, wearing a long blue and golden robe, holding assorted trinkets about it's threads. Women of lesser houses began to make their way to the front of the crowd, in order to get a better view of the man, and all of Garnoff seemed to be in good spirits. The ceremony would begin so soon from now....

"I'm proud of you and all your strength Princess Issimenna." The old priest proclaimed so quietly that only she could hear.

The ceremony neared it's end, as the false priest requested the exchange of their rings. Soon the two would be wed by a ruse over the entirety of the city. Onlookers seemed to hold their breath as they awaited the final moments where Skyron Sorrian would become husband to Issimenna Lotrius. Unfortunately they would never witness this outcome...

One of the Elite Silver Knights reach out his arm in a snap of motion before them, catching an arrow which seemed aimed towards the future queen. Not a moment passed before the entire squadron of her guard surrounded the two.

"You'll never take Garnoff as a weapon of Dokoro" A man roared from within the crowd. A collection of half armored men rushed forth, throwing aside the citizens of Garnoff with their faces half covered by worn cloth scarves. They seemed intent upon removing the lady from their presence as if to deny Dokoro's treaty with the shining city. With every breath the man who had spoken out continued to bellow insults and threats, a large number of citizens throwing assorted objects their way.

Meanwhile within the formation of protection, an Elite Silver Knight turned to address the princess.

"My lady, this is the event of prior warning, as is procedure we must take you through the escape route in this case leading to Lord Oban." As he finished his debrief, another night swept his leg in a semi-circle arch before him, the earth creating a rather large hole wide enough to fit two though not width wise. Taking hold of the princess, another Elite leaped into the opening, taking the young lady with him.

Inside the tunnel seemed endless, and was so narrow that if either of them lifted their heads towards the side, they would receive a rather discomforting scrape. "Try not to move my lady." The Elite instructed as they plummeted into the earth.