Upon the cold light dawn covered when Kalian had started that early morning with slow steps. She had laid awake crying tears for she believed that Morzan would now despise her and that no man of this realm would ever have her as lover or a bride. When she had arrived few friends of hers were here but upon entering the upstairs chambers of hall of fallen souls which was built from ruins of the previous royal palace.

Her gaze noticed to elves that stood there. They were both already brides to some elf but they had hatred for her. Many a year since her childhood they had both teased and tormented her with there words. When they both noticed her they said to each other “look it is her” “she who the king despises” Kalian stiffened. Recently though Naruon had been making an effort to be pleasant towards her but she tried to ignore them. Looking at her over a shoulder before saying “look at her if she was an elf then the only man who would marry her I one armed troll” Kalian heard there laughter as she entered the chamber in front of her.



Upon entering the chamber she noticed that Tariel was waiting for her. Greeting her with a smile she said to her “greetings my princess, Naruon asked me to get you prepared for he would not trust anyone else with this task. What troubles you?” Kalian blushed slightly for Tariel was not that into the fashion trends of the realm but she did know some of them. “the words of the women who have envy of me for being the princess over them” before she could say much more Tariel smiled at her “Rilien was teased by some for his unnatural powers over bark magic and the fact he seemed to be blessed by death now since the tale of what had happened to him in Fallean. He says to them that few could survive what he endured for all that time made him stronger. Tell those maidens that when you are officially a member of the royal family you will send me upon them” Kalian smiled at her.

She embraced Tariel. Apart from Lucia until recently she had been one of the few friends she had. Rilien unlike his brother was reserved when it came to her though she had asked him how he survived from the torture but he had not told her. Ignatia was friends with her also though she never took that when Naruon was around for the king was hard for her to predict his actions.



Realising her, Tariel escorted her to a dressing table. A few times her mother along with her had made sure that the appearances of the queen and her two sons was designed to show them as some of most beautiful beings of there people when the occasion demanded it. Kalian though was not truly looking forward to the ball that coming night for she knew that no one would truly happy to see her and no one would dance with her.



Time passed almost though it had not seemed to Kalian to be slow and unmoving. Standing she looked at Tariel who smiled at her. Sadness seemed to be deep within Kalian from what happened between herself and Morzan. Upon noticing this Tariel looked into Kalian’s eyes seeing to clearly “what has happened between you and Morzan must have proven to me that your feelings for him are strong” she gave a small smile “I have no feelings for him.”



Kalian blushed slightly as Tariel hugged her “listen to me, if you need me any a time for my words of wisdom and comfort you know where to find me for we will now live in the same place now” Kalian smiled feeling silently glad that Tariel did not ask for any of her details of her feelings that she had tried to hide from them. Questions she did not know how to answer to Tariel who had known since she was a small child were best unasked.

Tariel removed her arms from around her. Thinking that she would talk of this more with her after the ball but she thought that maybe that would unlikely. Putting those thoughts out of her mind she left Kalian alone while she herself went to go and get her dress for the ball that night. Now alone Kalian thought of her gown that lay inside a chest in the room and if her memory served her right it was sapphire blue with silver trim. Soon the ball would began and to enjoy the dancing that she would watch for would dance with the human ward of the king.