This is for the wonderful SunRise19,

I'm sorry it took so long, and yes this is just the first chapter there is indeed more coming.

Breath in... Breath out... Breath in... Breath out...

This has been her mantra for the better part of the day, ever since the rest of the ladies around

her arrived to prepare her for this. Breath in.

She isn't ready, not for this. She takes it all in stride, she will not breakdown, she has forbidden herself such a lowly action. But it has not been an easy task especially when everyone around her seems so cheerful and she cannot bring herself to share her true feelings with them, she has a duty, and complaining or disappreciation, would be equivalent of failing. She has committed herself to this after all and there is no looking back. Still, when she looks at her mother, she cannot imagine that the older woman does not sense that inside her daughter there is a great deal of anger and indignation waiting to crawl out. Yet, her mother looks so happy. Breath out. She needs to keep calm she will not burst into tears or start screaming and ripping her clothing apart, running off to ride her dragon to a far away land. Not that she hasn't given it some serious thought. But she is a knight, sworn to do her kings bidding no matter how difficult the task, or of what nature.

And so is he. She has yet to decide whether this a comforting thought.

Is it truly better than a stranger? Yes, she supposes... She knows the old saying that the devil you know is better than the one you don't. It just seems that her mind refuses to find any solace in any part of this, she seems to be becoming bitter already. Breath in.

"There Jane, oh, you look lovely." The voice is reverent and it takes Jane a moment to realize that someone has spoken to her, and its difficult to figure out who. She looks around, all the ladies dressed in their own finery seem to finally be done with her as they take a step back and seem to admire her, or more likely; their handiwork. She does not recognize everyone's faces and today she simply is not willing to care.

"Jane, would you like to see?" This time it's Pepper that speaks. Her friend picks up one of Jane's shining shields holding it high with both hands. Jane had polished it to a perfect shine and it shows her reflection better than any small hand mirror. Jane takes a look at herself, and feels like she is looking at someone else. She feels alien, and not because of the bit of distortion brought on by the shields slight curvature. But by the elegant knot her hair sits in, the lace that curves up her arms and onto her chest and neck and the pearls that adorn there, the constricting corset around her middle. By the fact that she has not a speck of dirt or grime on the long white dress she is wearing. Most of all by the tears that run silently down her face.

She takes a deep breath, difficult to do in the stifling material. She reaches up to wipe at her face, turning away from rest of the women. She hears murmuring from them hardly takes in what they say about it being normal to be emotional on your wedding day. Her mother puts a hand on her shoulder but does not embrace her. She won't want to crease the delicate material of Jane's dress.

Jane takes another breath making sure the tears have stopped before she turns around letting her mother's hand fall from her shoulder. "Can I have a minute?" She inquires of all the ladies in her room. When a couple seconds pass and no one moves Jane adds, "Alone?" She keeps her voice soft as not sound impatient or unappreciative.

The ladies file out one by one, Pepper throwing her worrying look but Jane reassures her with a nod of her head and she promptly walks out with rest, leaving Jane alone with her mother at the door. "I'll knock for you when its time dear." Her mother cups her cheek and for a moment she feels the urge to burst into tears again, so she nods to her mother as well and after a moment she is alone.

She takes a look around her room, taking in the small details and memories that it houses, the small suit of armor that no longer fits her, her prized shields and weapons, a beloved tapestry of Dragon, the welcoming books that liter her small desk, and her bed. She sits on it, its small meant for one person, she won't be sleeping on it today or seemingly ever again. Another piece of her independence that is lost to her. Tonight she will be in a new home, one that will be shared. She has seen it from the outside, but she refused to go inside before, something that seems absurd to her now that she will have no choice. She still cannot fathom tending to a home or no longer having her own bedroom.

She leans back laying on her back not caring about wrinkling her dress. Thinking about when she first moved into her tower room. She was ten. First time away from her mother and father and newly appointed knight's apprentice. She would never admit it to anyone. but she had been almost more scared than excited. With her room so far and away, the darkness just outside her door, and the thought of no one near by were enough for her to ask of Dragon that he stay a top the tower and keep her company. He did a few nights, just for her, but she could tell that he missed his cave. Having been a great friend to her for staying and with their friendship so new, Jane began to feel guilty for being selfish and insisted that she would be perfectly alright if he went back up to his cave. While the first night was certainly frightening, she soon found that if anything came for her she would be able to defend herself. She could grab her dragon sword and fight for herself, as she would in the future for others, as she would in the future for her king and country.

She had grown to to love it so, and filled it with memento's of her ambitions and her duties. Reveled, in the promises it brought her of knighthood and independence. Only now it was being taken away from her for good.

She stares at the ceiling taking in all the details of it, half wondering if she should take any of it with her. For just as she had refused to go into that new house she had refused to perturb this place, her place. It made her feel like everything was normal no matter what was happening outside. Only now that luxury was gone, the day was here staring her in the face and wrapped around her in the guise of lace.

She doesn't move, absently memorizing the ceiling, until the inevitable knock at her door comes. She takes on more breath and forces herself to get up and out, without glancing back.

Yep, so let me know what you guys think! Reviews make for faster updates!