Author's Note: I don't own FMA, the Dark Jewels trilogy, or their characters. This is a AU fusion with Anne Bishop's Dark Jewel's trilogy. It is set during Jaenelle's reign of Ebon Askavi.

Descent into the Dark

Roy approached the alter slowly. He knew the coven and the court were gathered outside. Last night had been the end of his childhood, and this was the final step. He would make his Offering to Darkness and join his sister's court. And it would take him another step further from his witch.

Riza was in that crowd. Despite the fact that she did not wear the jewels, his craft teacher's daughter had been the most important female in his life. Roy was worried how his joining the court would affect her. It would mean he no longer would live in the village they had grown up in. Riza had few friends there, but she would not leave. Not right now at least. Her father was ill, and she would not leave him.

He worried about how they would manage without someone to support Riza, and he worried about how he would manage without one of his closest friends. Maes Hughes, a green jeweled warlord prince a few years older than himself, would be at court with him, but honestly, Maes wasn't quite the same as Riza. They hadn't grown up together, and he didn't quite feel comfortable sharing all his secrets with him.

And as a member of his sister's court, there were obligations he could be asked to fulfill. Riza was at least three years away from her virgin night and five from her majority, and Roy knew that he would be expected to associate with the ladies of the court. His sister, the province queen, would probably want him to marry someone from the first or second circle of her court.

It wasn't going to happen. Roy would only ever marry Riza. There was no one else he was willing to spend his life with. She might not ever wear the jewels, but Riza was the only woman he would ever be willing to have a permanent relationship with. That was if she was willing to accept him. For all he knew, Riza might decide that she wanted a life where the Blood weren't always looking down their noses at her. He hoped not, but he didn't know.

Looking down at the uncut jewel that had come to him, Roy couldn't help being startled. It was a soft burgundy, almost the same color as Riza's eyes. He smiled, clutching the jewel in his hand. His status might change now but not who he was. He was still the little boy who had defended a little blond girl against the taunts of the other young witches in their village, and she was still the young woman who had encouraged and challenged him over the years. That wouldn't ever change.

When he emerged wearing the red, the court and coven made much of it, but none of their accolades compared with the quiet smile full pride Riza sent his way.

Theme: Hourglass