You are my most precious thing,
my source of life.
What I feel for you,
is unspeakable,
because I'm no good with words.
But this bond,
bounded by love and blood,
can never be broken to pieces.
You are mine, now and forever,
in eternal darkness.
But will you let fate keep turning and twisting your life,
or will you take things in your own hands?
Will you give up what you want the most in the whole universe,
through all of eternity,
just because someone says so?
I won't.

For you I will...

"It was real nice to finally get to see that friend of yours, Eira-san."

Feeling the hand which stroke his pelt getting slightly stiffer, Chopper raised his head and sleepily waved his ears as he watched Eira bit at her bottom lip and look at a flower arrangement at the windows with slightly furrowed brows. But at the same time, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and a light he had missed very much shone in her eyes. Still, as she answered the older woman, she was strict and courteous.

"That's good to hear, Robin-san."

"Oh, drop the titles would you two? It's only we girls here, well, except Chopper of course, and we're all friends, right? So there's no reason to be so polite!" The sudden outburst from the orange haired girl brought smiles to the others faces, the blond Ice Devil even giggled at it, but carefully, so that she wouldn't start coughing.

"Now, Eira, tell us more about your friend, please."

"Nami-san! W-what are you saying?" Chopper turned his head to watch the bluehaired princess stare at her friend, her cheeks burning red. Was she starting to get ill because of the cold climate?

"Vivi, stop being so shy. Those two obviously has an interesting past."

"But Eira-san is going to get married, it is not proper to talk to a Bride about other men than her groom!" Hearing his proprietress sigh at her cronies' talk, the reindeer gently rubbed his head against her hand to show her his support. He didn't like it when she was sad, the way she had been these past months had pained him very much.

Still, now that she had met Zoro again, thought about him and had the opportunity to talk about their relation, she seemed really happy. So he wanted her to do that, so that she could smile and laugh as she used to do.

"It's okay, Vivi, really. I can tell Nami if she wants to hear."

"Oh, do you want the rest of us to leave then?" The oldest woman in the room smiled her usual smile, but Chopper guessed that her tone said that she was just joking. But he wasn't really sure.

"Stay if you want to, dear Robin, I trust you all to not gossip about it." The tone in which Eira talked he knew pretty well, a sad and somewhat grim one. It was the way she talked when she hurt inside, when she curled up beside him and hid her face in his fur, but said that she just was a little cold, even if she is an Ice Devil.

"We would never betray a confidence, Eira, and you know that. But please tell us now." Sighting at her crony's persistence, the Ice Devil scratched under Chopper's chin.

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"Oh, everything! How you met, what you've done and who he is!"

"Well, he came to the North as a political hostage during the latest quarrel between our Hells nine years ago. Father taught him swordsmanship, I used to watch when they trained." Her tone became almost dreamy, but the look in her eyes were sad, memories flooding her mind. A little absent smile played over her lips and she didn't really see the birds which flew past the window.

"But who is he, do you know that?" Speaking in her calm voice, Lady Nico brought the Bride back to the present, watching her averting those piercing eyes from the outside to the woman who had spoken.

"He is... Mostly a High Noble, but I'm not really sure of how his Coeden Deulu looks." A lie. Spoken with slight hesitation, the older woman knew that the girl sitting with her pet in her knee actually did know about the family of that Fire Devil. But why did she lie about it? "He is skilled with the swords, and as far as I know from what he told me at the party, he is a close friend to the Portgas brothers."

"The Portgas brothers!? Wow, then he really must be something important..." Looking at the other woman with wide eyes, Nami taped at her chin with her right index finger, thinking about possible option. A friend to two of the most powerfull youngsters in the Blazing Hell, then he couldn't be just anyone.

"Well, I did see them together earlier today." The somewhat calm voice of Kaya made the reindeer close his eyes and relax, the sound was so soothing that he almost wanted to sleep. But a knocking on the door made him raise his head again and look at the old Demon who entered the room.

"Eira-himesama, the preparations has been done, we are ready to start your cleansing ceremony now." Moving aside so that she could stand up, the look on his mistress' face made him freeze inside. Her eyes went cold, the light in them gone as she addressed her friends.

"Ladies, could you please take care of Chopper for me, since I can not take him with me now?"

"Of course Eira-san. We'll-we'll see you later then." Watching as the other princess left the room, Vivi placed her hand over her mouth and mumbled, scared of how the other girl's facial expression had changed so drastically. "Why does she do this to herself. If she doesn't want to marry him, why-"

"I'm sure she has a very good reason for it. But now we have to go and get ready too, or we'll get late to the ceremony." Also she alarmed by the other female's acting, but not letting it show, Robin stood up. So did Kaya and Nami, since now they had to dress in their most beautiful dresses in honor of the marriage between two of the most powerful Devils in the Freezing Hell.

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"One more, we just need one more damn warrior and then we can do this!" Listening as his freckled friend muttered to himself when he paced around the room, the greenhaired male leaned his head in his hands, sighting. He had told them everything, about him and Eira and that he was ready to do anything to get her. He would never let her marry that man. Never.

But his only chance to do so relied on the fact that he needed one more strong fighter, he had nowhere near the political power it took to do it any other way. Unfortunately, both Johnny and Yosaku were too weak, even Usopp had stronger Magic that those two. And Saga was still in the North, he had stayed in the Castle and there was no chance whatsoever that he would be able to make it in time.

"Bloody hell Zoro, couldn't you have told us this a little bit earlier!?" Looking up at the older man who had stopped before him, he folded his hands under his chin and tried to contain the growing irritation and stress which hammered inside of his skull.

"I didn't know if she still wanted me. I thought that, if she really wanted to marry this guy 'cause she loved him, I would just let her go. But now... Now there's no way that I'll do that." Biting out the last words, he averted his eyes and stared at the floor, feeling how Ace's eyes scanned his face. Damn, he was slipping.

Anger rose up from the deepest of his being, his blood boiling with rage just he thought about his woman in the arms of another. He knew that it was damn wrong of him to think about her in that way, but he couldn't help it, his instincts practically screamed at him to just cut up the bloody bastard and take her back by force if that was necessary.

Rubbing his hand over his face, he forced his eyes back to their normal dark color, willed the claws to disappear and his teeth to even down.

"Damn, you really must be serious about her if you get like that..." Snapping his head up to stare at the door, he stared in shock at the blond Devil who stood there and casually leaned against the frame. "If it's a warrior you need, I can do it. But don't get the wrong idea, you shitty-marimo, I don't do this for you. I do it for Eira-sama." Watching how Sanji took a drag of his cigarette, the Fire Devil felt something strange come over him. Then, suddenly, he realised what it was, it was thankfulness against that ero-cook. He didn't really care how the other man had found the plan out, he was just glad that he was willing to help him.

"No problem, as long as you don't lose, you curly-eyebrow-freak." A twitch in his cheek, and he started to grin. Sure, the idiot was irritating as hell, but he was one of the strongest Devils Zoro had ever met and with him on his side, the chances of him winning this increased seriously.

"Yahoo! Now we finally can beat up those freaks!" Raising his fist up into the air, Luffy laughed out loud and cheered, wrapping his arm around his best friend's neck.

"Guh, Luffy, you're strangling me..."

"Ah, sorry Usopp! I'm just so psyched, those guys seems so strong! Oh, this is gonna be so much fun!" Listening as Ace laughed at his little brother's enthusiasm, the greenhaired male almost felt like laughing too. Seen from the younger boy's point of view this would actually be a lot of fun, fighting strong guys and advancing ones own abilities. Not that he doubted that the rubberboy would be serious and give his all when time called for it. All his old friends had grown up and matured, even if some traits never changed.

Luffy was still a glutton, even more now actually, and so was Ace. But the older man had become more friendly and open, smiling and laughing as if he had taken on some of his brother's personality. Usopp was a scaredy-cat as always, but had taken up the habit of lying for some strange reason.

Still, he wouldn't hesitate for one second before lying his life in their hands. And that was why he could ask them to help him fight this fight, why he entrusted them his future happiness. Since if they failed this, he didn't know what he might do...

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Looking at the beautiful white dress they had put on her in the mirror, she saw her father approach her from behind, carrying the black mantle with his Arfbais embroidered on it. Draping the heavy garment over her shoulders, he fastened it with a golden buckle in the shape of a hawk. Then he pulled her long hair out from beneath the cloak, letting it fall down her back in all its length past her bottom, his hands lingering on her shoulders and his eyes taking in the reflection of her slender form.

"You look just like your mother." The words were soft as a whisper, and made her heart ache in a very, very old way. It should have been her mother who helped her with the cleansing, who dressed her and made her ready for the wedding. Fighting back the nausea which welled up inside of her at the very thought of why she wore these clothes, she turned to look at her father instead. He seemed worried, an unfamiliar wrinkle between his brows and a strange look in his eyes.

"Eira, wh- No, are you sure that you have done the right choice?" Swallowing as unnoticeable as she could, she averted her gaze from his and looked at a spot on the floor instead.

"Yes father I am, I won't change my mind now."

She couldn't see it, but Mihawk grounded his teeth together, wanted her to tell him why she had agreed on marrying that man. There was no warm feeling between them at all, and she seemed more panicked than loving every time they touched. What had that bastard told her that time he had been alone with her in the library?

Her heart beating hard in an uneven rhythm, she took a deep breath to calm herself and call on that blessed numbness which had helped her through these past months. Feeling it creep through her body and mind, the pain ebbing away, she could speak without her voice quivering. Taking a step forward, she wrapped her arms around the man who used to mean the world to her when she was a child, boring her face into his chest.

"Thank you for taking care of me, father, and teaching me all about honor and responsibility. You will always be in my heart and I will never forget anything you've told me."

Holding her close to his heart for one last time, he answered. "Then I tell you this, never be afraid of asking me for help, I won't stop looking after you just because I give you away to your husband. Please be happy, my child."

Biting back the words she wanted to say, she just stood there and did her best to just live in this moment when she was protected by her father, pretending that truly no evil could touch her as long as he was with her. But knowing that that wasn't reality, she forced her arms to let go of him, to instead hold onto his left arm. The big clock in the corner showed at 11.45 and a serving Demon opened the door.

"Milord, it's time." Looking up at the man beside her, she smiled a little smile, hoping that she could fool him just a little more, that he wouldn't ask her about her resolve once again. Because as they walk through the corridors towards the chapel, she felt fear wearing down her defences and crushing her heart. It had been healed by warmth, but now cold dread broke it once again and that hurt even more than the first time.

Not letting anything show on the outside, instead taking on a mask of calm perfection and a smile she knew was hollow if you looked closely, she prayed to ever deity who existed that she would be able to do this. That she wouldn't lose it and fall.

But as they stopped before that giant door in black oak, she felt like she couldn't breath and her heart almost stopped beating. Lightheaded, everything around her seemed unthinkably sharp, every sound and impression assaulting her mind and sending her spinning. Trying to breath, she did her best to steel herself as the gate opened and they stepped inside of the hall.

All the sounds died down, conversations stopping as the Bride entered. Everyone looked at her, their eyes feeling as needles on her skin. She didn't want to let go of her father's arm, but it was a part of the ceremony. Forcing herself to leave him behind she walked up towards the altar, facing her Groom in front of it. He smiled that smile of his, showing of his teeth and looking almost insane. As she looked at him, she felt how something inside of her died. This was it, the final decision, there was no turning back.

Her hands didn't even tremble as she reached up and unfastened the hawk-buckle, symbolising that she stood there because of her own choice and that she left her family's name behind her. Listening as the priest who stood on her left side before the altar, started to mess in the old language and asked the two of them if they was ready to be joined in an unbreakable union, she didn't feel anything at all. She had resigned to the depths of her own soul to avoid all the pain which echoed inside of her, as she opened her mouth and answered "I do".

And so did the lavender haired man before her.

Then everything was done, and only some formalities remained. The priest spoke up again, asking if anyone was opposing their marriage. It was then everything was thrown over and twisted, forcing her to take a breath of the cold air which cut through her throat like sharp ice.

"Os oes unrhyw un yma yn gwrthwynebu'r undeb rhwng y ddau, gadewch iddo siarad yn awr."

"I wneud." Hearing his voice utter the same words she had just said, she couldn't help but turn around and stare at him. He stood in the middle of the path between the benches, his right hand resting on three swords which hung from his green belt.

"Her i chi, Spandam Lafant."

A Challenger... All around her, the people started to speak, muttering and whispering of his bravery and stupidity. But she didn't, couldn't, hear it as he looked at her, all his strength and confidence shining through those dark eyes of his. She felt her heart start to beat again, and it hurt as the wounds which had been torn up again started to heal. Unwilling, she started to hope, as that something inside of her refused to disappear. Like he was far away, she heard Spandam speak, but the old priest cut him off calmly.

"Who cares? Stop disturbing, you-"

"That is not for you to decide, Lafant-dono. The choice is up to your Bride, if she wishes to give this man a chance." Everyone's eyes were on her, but all she saw was that greenhaired warrior dressed in a long, black coat and a half open white shirt. The choice was up to her...

Before she could even think twice, she heard herself answer. "I accept." Then, the whispers grew to a crescendo and Spandam was about to scream something when she felt a cloak being draped around her once again. Looking up, she saw her father stand beside her with his arm around her shoulders. He looked at the priest and spoke the words he now should say.

"Then, I once again take my daughter under my wings, until her final Groom has been decided." The shivers finally breaking free from the restrains she had put on herself, she leaned against him and tried to hide from all the stares she got, didn't want to think about the gossip which would come. Since it surely would, as she was the first High Noble Bride to accept a Challenger in over five hundred years.

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Do-don~ The first chapter of 'For you I will' is here! You are allowed to do your happy-dance.
And gomen for all the 'Old Language', but there will be much more of it now that there will be ceremonies and such XP
Anyway, I hope that you enjoy it and review it!

Coeden Deulu - family tree
Arfbais - coat of arms
Os oes unrhyw un yma yn gwrthwynebu'r undeb rhwng y ddau, gadewch iddo siarad yn awr - If anyone here is opposing the union between these two, let him speak now
I wneud - I do
Her i chi, Spandam Lafant - I Challenge you, Spandam Lafant