"I don't know why he called to have this meeting in the throne room." Alvaryn mumbles as he adjusts the lapel of his coat.

"Of course you do, he wants us all to see him as King, not just our brother, he wants to lord it over us and remind each of us that his word is law." Aeris replies dryly.

Alvaryn scoffs. "I know he can be conceited but surely he wouldn't go that far."

"No? Then what other reason would he have to call us here, of all the places we could have met in the palace, hell in the kingdom, he chose the throne room where we would have to stand below him as his subjects, lesser." Aeris returns and I could hear the lack of sleep and constant anger in his voice.

"He won't say no, he can't, he wouldn't be so stupid." Alvaryn says confidently.

"So sure brother, I think it could go either way." Aeris replies.

"You truly think he would just let us leave? That he would refuse our terms and accept everything that comes with it?" Alvaryn asks, his voice becoming further away.

"I just know we shouldn't rule it out. He is an arrogant asshole and even more so now he wears that crown." Aeris answers.

"Dae?" I hear Alvaryn first.

"Dearest?" Aeris is next.

They both stop and turn around seeing that I had stopped walking in between them.

"What is it?" Aeris asks coming up to me and touching my face.

"Is something wrong?" Alvaryn asks concerned expression looking over me.

I shake my head, eyes staring straight ahead, seeing nothing but the doors to the throne room. They were impossibly tall, white and gold they glittered when the sun hit them just right.

How many times had I walked through these doors? How many times had I stood before them reminding myself to breathe, to keep my head down, to smile? Of all the times and the fear and the struggle this was so much worse.

"Dae, you're not blinking and your heart is racing." Alvaryn says seriously.

"She's terrified." Aeris says quietly, the back of his fingers grazing my cheek like a whisper.

"You need to say something Dae." Alvaryn says touching my shoulder.

I blink, taking in a shuddering breath.

"I can't," I whisper.

"What do you mean?" Aeris asks.

"I can't." I shake my head taking a step back. "I can't go in there."

Alvaryn puts his arm around my back stopping me from stepping away and Aeris places his hand on my face, cupping my cheek he turns me to look up at him and he smiles, dark eyes warm and comforting.

"Dearest, it's alright, we will be right beside you for every moment we are in there. Nothing bad will happen." He says confidently.

"How can you say that? How can you say nothing bad will happen?" I ask, eyes finding the door again. "He could say no, he could be angry at your ultimatum, he could refuse you out of spite."

"And if he does then he will have made his choice and we make ours. Either way we will have a future together." Alvaryn says quietly, hand soothing my back in calming circles but it doesn't ease the fear racing through me.

"Come on Dearest, there is no point in standing out here wondering what he will say and what will happen. It is best to just go in there and hear what he has to say." Aeris says kissing the top of my head.

I want to believe him, want to believe it is easier to get this over and done with, but my feet don't want to move and my heart won't stop beating out of my chest.

"Come on love." Alvaryn says taking my hand, threading our fingers together he squeezes my hand, standing at my side.

Aeris takes my other hand, our fingers twined together.

I take a deep breath wishing I had their courage.

The sound of the grand doors opening makes me jolt and Alvaryn squeezes my hand again as we walk towards the throne, reminding me that he is there with me, they are both here with me.

There he sits, just as Aeris had said, on his throne, his crown on his head. He wasn't just Demwyn anymore, he was other, above.

We stop in front of the dais, I expect them to let go of my hands but they hold tight. I remind myself to breathe as I meet Demwyn's eyes. His dark green eyes boring down into mine and I can't help but shrink back. He held our future in his hands and he knew it, I could tell he knew it, just in the way he sat in his throne, elbow on the arm of the throne, propping his chin up as he looks down at us.

"Brothers, Miss Daella," He nods at each of us.

"Demwyn." Alvaryn and Aeris nod in reply.

"Your Majesty." I whisper, moving into a low curtsy, the same as I had done for the King.

I stand up, feeling Alvaryn and Aeris watching me but I don't dare take my eyes off Demwyn.

"You have been called here today because you have all made a decision, you have made the decision that you cannot live without one another." Demwyn begins and his words send a shiver through me. "My own brothers have threatened to renounce their crowns and leave the palace and Wyndelle if I do not agree to their terms."

I know they would all be able to hear my heart beat and I will it to slow down, to be quiet but still it races, terrified and waiting for relief.

"Daella, you were bought here, given to us in the offering. During the course of your stay you have managed to form a relationship with not just one, but both of my brothers and now they have given me an ultimatum." He continues painfully slowly. Does he expect me to explain, to defend myself? What was there to say? I had no plan, no intentions. I never expected anything like this to happen. How could I explain something I was still struggling to understand?

Demwyn sighs heavily, straightening in his throne as he sits upright, the crown on his head catching my eye as it reflects a stream of sunlight and the gold sparkles softly.

"While I do not understand or agree to your reasons for the decisions each of you have made, I know that I cannot afford to lose my brothers." The words reach my ears and I blink, is he saying what I think he is?

Aeris hand twitches against mine as Alvaryn's tightens.

"I will agree to your terms and allow both of you to marry Daella when the war is over."

My heart stutters, then starts again, beating even faster than before, how is that even possible?

"But I have my own terms." He says leaning forward. "From this time going forward both of you will stand with me, you will be at my side for every council meeting, you will follow my lead and you will both let go of this grudge you hold on to."

Aeris looks to Alvaryn who nods subtly.

"I agree to those terms." Alvaryn says first.

Aeris looks down at me, fingers pressing against mine and nods once.

"I agree." He says turning back to Demwyn.

"And what about Dae's safety, her place here at the palace?" Alvaryn asks.

"She will be safe here with the other chosen, she won't be sent away or given to anyone else. She will be here waiting for your return." Demwyn answers with a heavy expression.

I am in shock I think, my mind isn't thinking like it normally does, still stuck on his words and what they mean.

"Thank you brother." Alvaryn says, his expression serious. "It wasn't a decision we made lightly and I am glad I won't be forced to leave."

"Yes, me as well." Aeris adds. "Thank you for agreeing to our terms."

Demwyn nods at both of them and then his green eyes turn to me.

My mind stumbles and struggles to find the words I am supposed to say.

I bow my head. "Thank you Your Majesty for allowing us to marry." I say quietly, knowing he would hear the words.

When I stand up I find his eyes again. There is no kindness there, no joy or happiness, but I didn't expect that.

Instead there was an expression of want, but it isn't for anything good, no, he looks at me like I am something he wants to be rid of. He studies me as if I am a thorn in his side or an enemy in his path.

I feel my shallow breath as I stare back.

I know he didn't want me here, he had made it abundantly clear more than once. But now he had been forced to accept me and allow our marriage and I know he resented me for it.

I feel a heat growing in my centre, anger bubbles inside of me in a way I am more than familiar with. I am angry at his resentment, at the way he stares at me. He blamed me for falling in love with his brothers, he would rather they choose someone else.

Let him be angry, let him sulk and simper over his decision.

If he couldn't see how happy his brothers are with me and be happy for them then that is his own loss. I won't pretend to feel bad, I won't bow and scrape and get on my hands and knees for allowing something we should never have had to demand in the first place.

Yes, let him be angry and full of his resentment, let him stew in it and be devoured by it. I would not apologize for finding his brothers, for falling in love, for choosing to be with them over all else.

"Dae?" I blink, hearing Alvaryn call my name and I turn to him as we walk outside. The sun is bright and warm overhead as the gardens come into view and I realise I had been walking with them and not even knowing where we were going, lost in my anger.

"Sorry, I was just lost in thought." I smile up at him.

"Well, we have something for you." He says, leading the way as Aeris holds onto my hand still, walking at my side, he bumps my shoulder.

"Are you alright? You look a little shell shocked." He asks.

I nod. "I guess my nerves were a little wound up." I answer.

I see the gazebo up ahead and as we slow down I step under it with Alvaryn and Aeris on either side of me.

"So, why did you bring me here?" I ask looking around.

"Well, seeing as how we won't have time to get you a ring made, we decided that we wanted to give you something else, something for you to have and keep while we are away." Alvaryn answers stepping in front of me, looking to Aeris who nods back at him in confirmation.

Aeris pulls a small box out of his pocket and holds it out towards me.

I look at the small dark red velvet box and then up at both of them.

Aeris smiles at my dumbfounded expression. "You are supposed to open it." He says taking my hand and placing it under the box.

I take hold of the box as they both stand waiting with excited expressions.

I open the lid and let out a small gasp as I see the pendant.

At the centre is a small flat round stone of a colour I struggle to make sense of, like white and silver mixed together it shines as the box moves in my hands. Around the stone is a gold pointed flower, delicate and beautiful with a gold chain at the top.

"It's beautiful." I say softly, staring at the strange stone in the centre as it changes colour against the light.

"It was our mothers." Alvaryn says quietly and I look up at him in shock.

"What?"

"We wanted you to have something that meant something to us. I know she would have wanted you to have it." Aeris says taking the box from my hands and pulling it out by the chain.

"I don't...it's too much..." I mumble as Aeris stands behind me pulling my hair aside and lowering the necklace over my head so it rests on my chest.

"You can, and it isn't too much." Alvaryn replies stepping in front of me. He touches the necklace and then cups my cheek. "It's moonstone." He says softly. "It's said to bless new beginnings and love."

I look down at the pendant again, touching the delicate gold flower around the stone.

"Thank you, I don't want to ever take it off."

Aeris laughs. "Don't worry Dearest, you're allowed to take it off. Now your wedding rings however are a different story, those will be soldered onto your finger and be there for the rest of time."

I can't help but smile at the gift and at how unbelievable sweet they both are.

I stand up on my toes, taking Alvaryn's face in my hand I press my lips against his.

"Thank you." I say against his mouth before stepping back and doing the same to Aeris.

"Thank you, both of you, this means so much to me."

"Of course, anything to make you happy." Aeris smiles down at me. "And as agreed, it is only the first of many gifts."

"I agreed to birthdays and anniversaries." I remind him.

"Yes, but you did say we could make up anniversaries!" He replies quickly.

"You can't expect us not to shower you in gifts Dae, we have both waited a very long time to find someone to spoil." Alvaryn adds.

I just shake my head still smiling.

A flicker of heat curls in my centre as I see Demwyn sitting on his throne.

Yes, let him be alone and angry.

I will not let him stop me from feeling every ounce of happiness and love that I get from his brother's.