Another arranged marriage? She would have thought the last one's disastrous results would have calmed her mother on the marriage front. Having to marry before she could inherit the throne that was her's by birthright was ridiculous. She stormed through the doors to the throne room, the guards scrambling to open them in time. "Mother!" She called out angrily to the woman on the throne. Queen Cabin looked up at her incoming daughter and waved her hand to dismiss the advisors talking to her. Only one man stayed behind, taking his seat on the smaller throne to the right of the Queen's. Queen Cabin wore a simple cut blue dress, made of the finest fabrics the kingdom had to offer. Her ornate golden crown, embedded with sapphires contrasted beautifully with her dark hair. The man on the other throne wore the same shade of blue as his Queen but his clothes were less expensive. He wore no crown, as he had not been named King when he married his Queen.

Shaking slightly with her anger, the Princess stopped in front of the stairs leading up to the thrones. "What's this I hear about another arranged marriage? After what happened last time you tried to marry me off?"

"What happened last time was a freak accident." Queen Cabin stayed calm as she spoke, "We didn't know he was the leader of the rebellion. He hid his tracks well."

The Princess glared at her. "He almost killed you, Mother."

The Queen stood slowly, looking down at her daughter. "And yet he didn't." For the first time, the other man stirred. He moved to stand next to the Queen, a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I will never let anyone come that close to hurting her again." He took a deep breath before continuing, "Listen to your mother. She knows what is best for you."

Princess Sky just stared at him, open contempt on her face. She took a deep breath before spitting out "You. You are not my father, you have no say in any of this."

"No, he's not. Nor am I your mother. Or have you forgotten how I took you two in and raised you as my own?" The Queen spoke sharply, anger flavoring her calmness for the first time. She stepped forward as her consort's hand dropped back to his side.

"But-"

"Your father has been missing for years. It's time you accepted what I was forced to accept years ago."

"If it were you missing-"

"If I were the one missing, this kingdom would not be standing still!" The Queen's voice echoed around the throne room. She waited for it to cease before she spoke again. "I loved King Winne, I still do, but he's been gone for too long. The entire kingdom can not be put on hold because of one man, even the King. Without the support of the Isle of Foxes, we would not still be here."

"Why the Isle of Foxes though? I've never even met Princess Eryn. Why can't I marry Prince Hollow or someone I've actually met?" She knew that pouting was unbecoming of a Princess but she couldn't help it. To be married off to a stranger from some far off land that she'd never even seen was insulting.

"You know as well as I do that King Rage is not interested in marrying off his sons. Besides, we have no need to strengthen our relationship with them at this time." The Queen smiled at the man beside her as her calm demeanor returned. He smiled back.

"One of these days, I'm going to run away to live with Uncle Carry." Princess Sky muttered under her breath as she finally calmed down. The Queen just laughed. She knew that her daughter would never join The Watch since it meant giving up her claim to the throne. "It's always about duty for me. You got to marry for love, why can't I?"

"Because sweetheart, I believe that you two will be good together. That you could fall for Princess Eryn."
"I can't marry a woman I just met!" The Princess protested. She took a deep breath, "Fine. I will meet and woo Princess Eryn. But if she's terrible, I blame you for the fall of this kingdom." The Queen just rolled her eyes as her stubborn and dramatic child swept back out of the throne room.