Chapter one...
She stood as a statue might, her expression firm and resolved. She was making the ultimate sacrifice for us, and she was doing it without hearing any opposition from us. She simply refused to let us continue fighting as we wanted to. She would end this war, she said, in the calmest way possible. Our princess Nyala; she was too strong at times. Her blue-black braid fell down her slim, pale back, looking almost like a whip.
Her burning amber eyes were the only thing that reveled her turbulent emotions, and her small, powerful form stood steady in the snow. Forever durable, the Sha'at warriors -including the queen and princess, who stood side by side- wore their usual war-time garb, even in the snow. We found that it did not effect us as much it did the Balvedarians.
"Ari."
The princess smooth voice broke the silence, and for the first time, Ari felt a true chill since they had started out of the safety of camp into the thick snow. Stepping forward assuredly, Ari raised an eye brow at her princess and loong term friend in question.
"Ari...what do you think of this whole business. I have so far been yelled at by everyone but you. Do you have an opinion on the matter?"
She asked suddenly, her eyes on the first sign of the Balvedarians to arrive in the clearing. They had decided to meet here to finish the marriage negotiations and Ari gave her friend a long-suffering look. She couldn't have picked a better time to ask?
"In all honesty Ny?"
She asked, breaking formality for the first time in ages. Nyala nodded her head, not turning around as she eyed the now large group of male warriors that started towards them in a three-man line procession. The show-offs.
"I think you should make them prove that the man they've chosen for you can handle you. I've seen him, and I don't like him. If he were as good looking as his brother, it might not matter all that much, but when that is hovering over you at night, you'll certainly wish you had pressed the matter."
She replied dully, raising both eyebrows now as she watched the 'royal' family stop in front of them. The king and queen were both nice enough, but their eldest son was a pig in every respect. His younger brother was a much better match in Ari's opinion, and if she obediently went along with the elder son, Air fully planned on torturing her about it for the rest of their lives.
Nyala made no reply, though she did seem to get stonier if possible, and only nodded to the royal family as everyone made their hellos. Before Ari could move back to her position silently, Nyala turned to her again and spoke in a low tone.
"If you leave me now, I'll toss winter snakes in your bed every morning before you have a chance to get up."
Ari scowled at her princess unhappily. She would do it too, mostly because she knew that snakes were the only thing Ari wouldn't be able to take. She remained in place, drawing unnecessary attention in her opinion, and Nyala spoke to start the negotiations.
"I would first like to say that we do not approve of your choice of husband for me."
Everyone in the clearing was quiet, and Ari found that she had to cast her gaze to the snow and cough to avoid seeming rude. The queen said nothing, though she looked relieved from what Ari saw, and the warriors behind them all chuckled. The royal family however, looked slightly upset.
"Why? What's wrong with Ferry?"
The Balvedarian queen asked innocently, Ari smiled then and caught Nyala eye instantly. She made sure to speak in her language, and she waggled her eyes as she spoke.
"Yeah Ny, why? I'm sure you could train him to obey without question."
Nyala shook her head at Ari quietly, obviously fighting laughter before she responded to the queen.
"To put it simply? He is weak. The Sha'at value strength, and he is not strong. He is like a young girl that has yet to come into season. I don't feel like marrying a young girl, so if I am to marry at all, they must not only be string, but they must be able to defeat my second, Ari."
Those last few words caught Ari off guard, especially when someone shoved her forward slightly, and she scowled at Nyala unhappily. She sent the princess a long, scalding look before she turned to the royal family completely and lifted her chin at them in greeting. She was a full head taller then Nyala, and that made her as tall as the king but taller then both the eldest prince and the queen. Both looked at her with wide eyes, and she felt a small surge of pride. She knew that she was something to look at. Where most of their women were all muscle, Ari didn't look even a bit toned, unless she was moving. Her own slim body stood firm in the snow, and she was sure that to most of them men, she looked even more terrifying because of the long scar that ran from the area above her right eye down the side of her face and along her neck, all the way to her collar bone. It was a wide, soft looking scar, and she was proud of it.
"It will be my pleasure proving that none of your men are worth their weight in metal."
She announced, her voice accented lightly with a drawl as she smiled at the royals. They frowned at her, obviously unsure what to think before the Sha'at queen spoke, breaking the tension.
"Well then, why don't we set up a stage and let the young battle it out. It will be a battle of fists since someone will probably die if they use knives, but why not let the young battle it out? Whoever beats our Ari will then fight Nyala. If he's any good, he will then gain the right to be her husband."
She announced, seeming happy about the arrangement for the first time, and Ari scowled at her. When she glanced back to the rest of the warriors, all of them looked highly amused and she scowled even more. Why was everyone always using her for amusement? Sighing, she watched as a wide circle was formed in the snow, and when it was done, they somehow talked the first prince, who had originally looked terrified, into the ring. Scowling, she again glared at Nyala then stepped into the ring slowly. The poor fat boy looked like he actually though he had a chance.It wasn't going to be a very long fight, though she felt that the one after it would be...
