When Mareena came to wake Amaya in the morning, she was already awake. She didn't sleep all night.
"Are you alright, Miss?" Mareena asked her.
"I'm just a little nervous," Amaya replied.
"Everything will be fine, Miss. You'll see." Mareena reassured her.
"Maybe I'm a little scared of the wedding," Amaya admitted.
"You have nothing to fear. Prince Ciaran likes you. Perhaps his majesty, King Mael has evil intentions, but the prince will protect you. He cares about you."
"Do you think I'm making the right decision?" Amaya asked her.
"It doesn't matter if it's the right decision or not. The only thing that matters is if you like Prince Ciaran," Mareena replied. "And you obviously like him. You came back for him."
Princess Neila burst into Amaya's chambers like a whirlwind. She hugged Amaya tightly. So early in the morning, the rush of energy was too much for her.
"I hope you feel full of strength today," Neila told her. "I'll be your guide through all day. Of course, after the ceremony, it will be Ciaran who will accompany you but for now, I have to be enough."
"Can I see him?" Amaya asked.
"Why?" Her question caught Neila by surprise.
"I need to talk to Ciaran," Amaya said.
"I'm sorry, but you can't. You are not allowed to see each other until the ceremony," Neila replied. "Tradition."
"It's not my tradition," Amaya said heading towards the door connecting her and Ciaran's chambers.
When she came in, they yawned at the emptiness. No one was there. The bed was still made.
"Ciaran!" Amaya called out.
Only silence answered her.
"Where's Ciaran?" Amaya asked.
"My brother is getting ready for the ceremony. There are certain things he must undergo before he can marry you," said Neila.
"Another tradition?"
"My brother doesn't really like traditions either, but this time he has to follow them. He is even interested in participating in them."
"And where is he right now?" Amaya demanded.
"Amaya, don't do it," Neila asked her. "They say you ran away. Although Ciaran denied it, everyone was sure of it. It's a miracle you're here," she said. "Don't back out of that wedding or Ciaran will pay for it. He does not deserve father's wrath."
"I ran away, but I came back because of him," Amaya admitted to her. "I don't want Ciaran to die. I just need to talk to him."
"So all the time he said you weren't feeling well..."
"He lied."
"But you came back because you like him."
Amaya nodded.
"I'm sorry, but you can't see him now," said Neila. "You'll meet at the temple."
Amaya didn't object anymore. She knew there was no point.
Mareena and Ciaran's sister Princess Neila were preparing her for the wedding. The ceremony was approaching dangerously fast, but at the same time time was passing unnaturally slowly. The seconds dragged on for hours and the hours seemed to last for days.
"Does he belong to you?" asked Neila, pointing to Mathias.
Amaya ended up in his arms. Mathias hugged her tightly.
"You look beautiful," Mathias told her.
They dressed her in a gorgeous dress. The wide, white skirt was so big that it might not fit through the door. She was wearing another top skirt with a long train, made of golden feathers. The bodice was decorated with gold ornaments. She had jewels tangled in her hair.
"I envy whoever will be waiting for you at the altar," he said. "We can still escape."
"Nothing like that will happen," Neila said, pulling her away from him. "She already has a fiancé and he is already waiting for her. And who are you anyway?" she asked. "You sat with her at dinner."
"This is Mathias." Amaya introduced him. "Son of the commander of the royal Amorite army."
Mathias smiled sarcastically.
"Why is the son of the commander of the enemy army here?" she stared at him in disbelief.
"Because he's my friend," Amaya said.
"He doesn't look very friendly," Neila said.
"That depends on who I'm in the company of," retorted Mathias.
Neila opened her mouth to say something, but Amaya silenced her before the words escaped her lips.
"I don't want any arguments," she said. "I'm already on my nerves enough from this whole day. You two don't need to make it any harder for me."
"Even as a child, you walked in the forest and hunted dark creatures. You can't be afraid of one prince," said Mathias.
"You were a hunter?" Neila said in surprise.
"Warrior," Amaya said. "I grew up among soldiers."
"Women are forbidden to fight here," said Neila.
"Not in Amorite," said Mathias.
"Ciaran doesn't really mind either," Amaya remarked.
⸸
A carriage decorated with flowers and ribbons brought Amaya right in front of the temple. The servant opened the door for her and Amaya hesitated. When she saw the mighty walls of the temple rising to the heavens, when she saw all those people coming to see how she and their prince would become one, she became uneasy.
The servant offered her a helping hand and she accepted it. She managed to get out in those clothes. But as soon as her feet touched the ground, she stepped on her big skirt, staggered and lost her balance. King Mael caught her.
"You should be more careful," he said.
"That's because of the dress," Amaya said.
"Now you're in Deira, you should get used to it. Here, women know their role," said King Mael.
"I was never good at following the rules or what was expected of me. Maybe that's why I got into trouble so often."
"Well, the only time you were expected to break the rules, you didn't."
"I said I'm bad at meeting expectations." Amaya grinned mischievously.
"I already found out what a big disappointment you are," said King Mael.
The temple of the sun was breathtaking. It acted as a ruin, but also as an intention. The walls were decorated with images of gods. Creepers of plants stretched through the cracks. The temple had no roof. Turquoise skies towered over their heads. The sunlight illuminated the entire temple with its golden light. At the end of the temple grew a huge tree. Its green leaves flickered in the gentle breeze. Lanterns were hung from the branches. A large, stone altar stood between the tree's roots sticking out of the ground.
And before that altar stood a priest in his golden robe, and by his side stood Prince Ciaran. He was dressed in a suit that matched Amaya's dress, white with gold trim. He looked at Amaya as she walked by his father's side down the aisle towards him. She was beautiful. She looked like an angel. He could hardly believe that she would become his. That she chose it herself. He smiled fleetingly. Their eyes met. Amaya's heart warmed when she saw Ciaran looking at her like that. As if he could like her.
King Mael gave Amaya into the hands of his son. Prince Ciaran took Amaya's hand in his. He felt himself trembling. She tried to hide her nervousness, but he could see it. When Amaya took a closer look at the prince, she saw his bruised face. She looked at him confusedly with worry in her eyes. Ciaran silently told her not to worry.
"Today, in front of all of you and the eyes of the gods, we have gathered here to unite these two young people," the priest spoke up, his voice echoing.
He put a laurel wreath on Amaya's and Ciaran's heads. He took a golden chalice filled with red wine from the altar. Ciaran and Amaya each had to grab it with one hand. The priest was saying something, but Amaya wasn't really listening at all. She was in a different reality. She was out of her body. Her body involuntarily followed all orders, but she was not aware of it at all.
At that moment the priest took the dagger. He sliced Prince Ciaran's palm open. Drops of his blood fell into the wine and merged with it. Amaya suddenly recovered from her nervous stupor. Ciaran calmed her down with a look. Amaya suppressed her panic and allowed the priest to cut open her palm as well. She dug her nails into the wound to prevent it from healing. Drops of her blood mixed with the wine.
"Put your hands together," ordered the priest.
Ciaran took Amaya's hand in his. His was still bleeding, but there was no sign of her wound.
"Let their blood unite them!" said the priest. "Let them become one!"
Ciaran took a sip from the wine and Amaya repeated after him. She could clearly distinguish the taste of blood from wine. She could clearly distinguish her own blood from his.
Her shadow began to awaken at the taste of blood on her tongue. It adored blood. It longed for it. It craved it.
However, this was definitely not the right place where she could lose control.
The priest took the chalice. He placed it back on the altar. He tied their joined hands with a red ribbon. He threw a translucent veil over them. It was like they were in their own little world. Amaya and Ciaran looked deep into each other's eyes. There was a connection between them.
"Now say your vows."
"I will love you like people love the moon. In all your phases. In darkness and in light. With all your faults." Prince Ciaran spoke first.
Amaya knew she would have to say something during the vows. A few simple words. But until that moment, she didn't know what the words would be.
"I will love you as much as my dead heart can," she said. "Thanks to you, it rose from the ashes and now beats only and only for you."
"Seal your union with a kiss."
The fingers of their bound hands intertwined and Ciaran pulled Amaya close to him. He grabbed her by the waist with his other hand and held her even tighter. With a look, he silently asked for her approval. And Amaya gave it to him. She kissed him.
It's strange that this is only their second kiss. Is it strange that she seems to really like Ciaran? She always expected her wedding to be just a strategic move, a bargain, and suddenly he found himself in her life. The fact that she returned to him was irrational and completely unreasonable, but she is still here. She is with him. Somehow he managed to make her feel something no one had ever been able to before.
And she didn't like it.
They felt a burning. Ciaran and Amaya pulled away from each other. A sharp pain overcame them. A symbol appeared on their wrists. It was a sign of the gods, but this one was new to Amaya as well. She didn't know it. Amaya and Ciaran exchanged worried looks.
"The gods have blessed this union!" exclaimed the priest.
Amaya was filled with terror. She had no idea what that meant. She didn't even want to find out.
Ciaran took Amaya's hand and they walked down the aisle together. The guests happily applauded them. Ciaran could feel the tension in Amaya's body. He knew something was wrong.
A lavish celebration was held in the palace. All the nobility from Deira gathered. Everyone celebrated the wedding. The music echoed through the walls of the palace. People were dancing and having fun.
"This is bad. This is very bad." Amaya showed her new sign to Mathias. "This shouldn't have happened."
"You've been telling yourself all along that human weddings don't mean anything. Yours is more than real now." Mathias grinned.
"That's not funny, Mathias." Amaya scolded him. "This is more of a punishment."
"What would the gods punish you for?" Mathias did not understand.
"Let's say I once did something they didn't like and I'm no longer in their grace," Amaya said. "But apparently, I never was."
"Amaya?" Mathias anxiously demanded an answer.
He thought he knew her, but in those few days in Deira, he found out that he didn't know her at all.
"It doesn't matter," Amaya retorted.
"Amaya, what have you done?" Mathias demanded.
Amaya was silent. She didn't answer. She didn't want to tell him. She wasn't planning on telling him. She turned her back on him and disappeared into the crowd.
"Could you look any less excited that you're now the Princess of Deira?" Ciaran told her when he found her in the crowd of people having fun.
"You don't understand," Amaya told him.
"Then explain it to me," said Ciaran.
"It's too complicated and I don't understand it myself," Amaya replied. "This sign that appeared on our wrists is bad. We shouldn't have it."
"Maybe it's because we belong together," Ciaran countered.
Amaya laughed. "No," she said. "Rather, it's a demonstration of what happens when I start caring about someone other than myself. I had a million reasons to let you die, but only one was enough for me to come back to you. Actually, it wasn't even a reason, just a stupid feeling." she rolled her eyes. "And it was a mistake to listen to it."
Ciaran wanted to say something, but before he could open his mouth, his sister, Princess Neila pulled them into the dance.
"I haven't seen you dance all evening. It's time to do so," she said.
Ciaran grabbed Amaya by the waist. He pressed her to his chest. They started to dance in unison. With a gentle touch, Ciaran turned Amaya's face towards him, but she immediately looked away.
"You don't choose who your heart will love," said Ciaran.
"I don't love you and I never will," Amaya shot back.
"You can lie, but you can't hide the fact that you have feelings for me."
"Even Arawn was saying that I had feelings for him. He thought he would use it to his advantage. And how did it turn out?'
"It brought you to me," said Ciaran. "Destiny."
Amaya was surprised by his words. She couldn't hide it.