At last, you see the towers of the palace.

Every step you take is a step closer to marrying the man that lives there.

And despite your arms, face, and body being covered in blood and mud from the journey, you continued. Despite the small shorts and shirt you were wearing, you continued.

You clutched the late King’s crown firmly in your hands, the spikes digging into your fingers and as you entered the palace and headed to the ballroom, where the court, the Prince, and Derek’s attendants, brother, and mother, were, awaiting your arrival.

You opened the doors, not bothering to knock and have the Chamberlain let you in.

Every person in the room gasped at your arrival.

The conductor and the Prince’s attendant, Lord Rodgers, dropped his orchestra stick. The Chamberlain just gaped in shock, as did the court, the Prince’s mother, Queen Uberta, and his brother, Prince Parker.

Derek just grinned, looking slightly different from the last time you’d seen him. His brown bobbed hair was shaggier and swished as he moved forward.

You descended the staircase, every person in the room watching.

They were shocked at your small outfit and that you were wearing it in front of Derek, who just stood there grinning as you finally reached him.

He smiled warmly down at you, hand reaching out to take yours. You were still getting used to his palm - it was significantly larger than yours and was warm with sweat clinging to it. You could tell from the pack of arrows on his back that he’d just returned from playing archery.

His tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth, a habit he often did when concentrating.

He took the crown from you and his voice sounded throughout the ballroom.

“He has completed his Trial,” His voice booms. “He is one step closer to marrying the man in front of him.” He pauses before cracking a joke. “I’m the man.” He chuckled and everyone laughed, but were still gaping at your small outfit.

He places the crown on top of your head. “He is one step closer to marrying the man in front of him,” He repeats, voice warm. He was still grinning.

There were two Trials left: in the Second, you’d travel to the next over kingdom of Tando with Derek’s brother, Parker, where you’d go by boat and flourish trade with the King. And all you knew about the third was that it was a test of Brutality; one that would be in the Bowl.

A fight to the death.