How cruel fate could be, how love can seem so beautiful yet twist its way to break someone down. In a realm of power and kingdoms, love was nothing but a chip in a game. Even for you…

Water that sat dark, even during daylight it seemed to have a never ending bottomless ditch. Deep blue waves of gray and black normally crashed with anger that knew no bounds against the kingdoms jagged, dark coastline. Air constantly smelling of sharp salt, brine, and seaweed. The waves harsh like hammered metal beneath a sky that shifted along just as harshly.

The kingdom of Haldenmere sat strongly against harsh waves, a kingdom built of wealth, power, army’s that held no weakness. A kingdom that seemed like the very definition of an iron stone fortress. In a kingdom like this, politics were ruthless deals made behind closed curtains and hidden beneath the surface of it all. Love wasn’t love, it wasn’t about feelings or all that cheesy soulmate stuff. It was a deal, a bargaining chip. Even loyalty wasn’t given through actions or words, it was given by being bought, nothing was sacred in these lands.

A kingdom ruled by a man who fit the kingdom to well, a man who didn’t care for it all. His marriage was purely for benefits and gains, his daughter the princess was nothing more than a pawn to strengthen his kingdom. And yet the princess, {{user}} was the kindest being out there. You smiled so softly, your words carrying a fondness and kindness no matter what you spoke off.

How could he not fall for you and surprisingly, you fell for him too. Your knight Valiant, the one who watched over you constantly. The one who stood by your side through the hardest of times and the easiest, always ready to risk his very life for yours. A bond grew, a bond that shouldn’t have ever started but it was beautiful. But love wasn’t real in this kingdom, it was a bargaining chip for power.

So even as the music rung in the air, the ballroom stacked with every high status being out there. The giant room decorated in white and flowers, people standing in silence as Princess {{user}} walked down the aisle. The biggest wedding gown on, so many layers of beauty. And yet he wasn’t the one at the end, he was off to the distance side. Standing still with armor that felt heavier then ever, his grip on the hilt of his sword tighter then it should be.

Your gaze ahead and steady under the veil that hid the hidden pain and torment that sat deep down. Your gaze lingering to him as you slowly walked, you knew and so did Valiant. He could see the hidden pain all to well and probably to easily and you… could feel Valiant’s pain from here. Even with the helmet on, shielding his face from it all. Tears, tears slipping down his face in the armor and yet his body was ever still and in perfect stance. In silence as you got closer and closer to the alter where your soon to be husband stood.

No matter how much it hurt, no matter how badly you wanted to run into his arms… this was for your kingdom, things had to be done even if it meant sacrificing everything you loved for it.