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"That's not fair!" Faith yelled. "The queen should be allowed to choose who she loves. Besides...laws can be changed!"

"And I suppose you are better suited to court the queen?" Faith narrowed her eyes. She wasn't so trusting of Luferius as she was Damien. The arrogance of this man was at best picking at her nerves.

"Is that all you care about? Your lineage. Do feelings and personality mean nothing to you? Do not play around with love." Faith growled, wanting to lash out at him.

Ari blinked, coming out of a small daze. Luferius' eyes had a strange hold, causing her to see a field of roses in what appeared to be an ancient past. There was a dark figure as well, but she could not clearly see who this was. Whatever odd spell this was had vanished now. In her mind, she kept thinking that Ryn's words were something that her own imagination had twisted to play with her. Still, that didn't stop her cheeks from reddening as she endeavored to hide her face in her hands. Her thoughts were running rampant.
'Ryn loves me? Really? Is it truly possible?'
Snapping out of her thoughts, her heart sank at the sight of even more violence occurring.
"W-wait!"
Stepping between Luferius and Ryn, she hesitantly faced the vampire as the chains jingled with her movement as she pushed them back.
"I will return back to the castle. I know that I need to be a good ruler for the people of this land. I know also that Ryn has made mistakes, but I have come up with a solution that should help."
She turned to look at Ryn.
"Ryn will come back to the castle as well and carry out a sentence as a servant. That way he can work hard as penitence for his actions and others can keep a close eye on him. Is that a fitting punishment?"
She turned back to direct the question to Luferius and Damien.
"This is the best way I can think of not to cause any more violence or injuries."

Ari gave a tentative smile of relief, hoping that this was the beginning of things going better for everyone, and for peace to begin to settle upon the kingdom. She moved forward to begin returning to the castle, but stopped and frowned at the chain still tight around her ankle.
"Is there any way to remove this?"

Luferius frowned, not planning on giving up in the slightest. His hatred for Ryn had only increased during this brief revelation. Giving Ari a humble bow, he moved his hand up to the wound on his neck. "A wise sentence, my queen. I can assure you that he will be closely monitored. We should return you back to the castle, I am certain others are becoming worried over your prolonged absence. When we arrive, I will have Tuomas look over this peculiar chain. He may be better able to remove it." As the newcomer approached, he drew closer to Ari and took up a defensive position. "It is common courtesy to introduce yourself before delving into royal affairs."

Ari stepped forward, giving a polite nod.
"Please be careful, Ilyia. There was an incubus attack just a moment ago. I don't know if he is still there or not, or if others might attack."
She looked out at the surrounding trees in worry.

Ilyia's look shot from concern to alarm before it even seemed to move.
"Nyx?" She gasped, "The absolute of all things darkness, here?"
She bit her lower lip, lowering her head slightly in contemplation. Sudden hostility seemed almost an inevitability, though her rational mind dictated calm, and as such her face fell serene.
"You there," she indicated Ari, "You seem to know more of this place than has been told to me. If I might ask, who are you? What have I so stumbled upon?"