She approached him with her guard up. The sword was mere inches from her skull as she managed to block it. The fight was becoming more grueling. She could see the fire in his eyes.

"I don't think so!" She screamed and kicked him in the back. With a turn, she attacked his stomach. Finally, to complete the attack, she buckled his ankle and kicked his left knee. He was on the ground in seconds.

"It looks like I'm just too strong for you." She smirked.

"I always knew you were stronger than me, Siela. I need more practice." Siegfried complimented. She helped him up and they landed in a kiss. She looked at him tenderly once they broke apart.

"You're beautiful. Now go change. I feel like I'm kissing a boy when I kiss you in those clothes." He patted her tenderly.

"Oh, psht, Siegfried. I just wish I knew what it felt like to kiss a boy." She teased back. Blowing him a kiss, she made her way to the castle. Avoiding her father, who would put a death sentence on her if he saw her in those clothes, she creeped to her bedroom and locked the door. Slowly she meandered to her closet. Opening the door, she saw the old painting she had drawn of her mother. She had not yet finished grieving her loss and still desired to find a cure for her tuberculosis. Shaking herself from the tears she could feel about to rise in her throat, she carried on changing.

Within an hour she could hear a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" She called, sweetly.

"Miss Siela, it's time for ye supper." Called her old Irish maid.

"Coming!"

The dining hall was perfectly decorated, as usual. Siela's father was standing before his chair. As custom, the Schtauffen family were providing company. Siela caught Siegfried's eye and smiled. He always looked so charming in his red royal uniform.

"Ah, there she is. Looking beautiful as ever." Com. Schtauffen greeted. Siela blushed. She never thought her mother's old blue gown suited her the way it did for her mother. Siegfried, however thought the same as his father, as he demonstrated with a silent wink. Luckily, the two families still knew little of their romance. The age difference would never appease them at this point. Siela had yet to come of age and Siegfried had two years since. She found her seat, casually, beside her love. Dinner was served.

A short while had passed and they were still seated around the table. Siela and Siegfried were constantly being lectured by their families for one thing or another. This had become routine for mealtime. Siela and Siegfried often took bets on who would be scolded first. It was either Siela's lack of interest in anything feminine as a young lady should, or Siegfried's lack of interest in finding a mate (to which his reply was 'I'm still waiting for the right girl' accompanied by a hidden squeeze of Siela's hand under the table). Tonight was slightly different, however. Most of the attacks were directed at Siegfried's supposed lack of training in the military.

"It's past time, Siegfried," His father retorted to some snide remark of Siegfried, "You're 20, boy! What do you intend to do with your manhood?"

"Father, I still have long to decide! Besides, I thought you wanted me to be married?" He questioned his father, reminding him of an intent his father had thrown at him for quite some time.

"First off, boy, look right in front of you. Is that not my wife? I'm in the military and married, don't throw me that. And second, how would you support your wife without a good, firm occupation to stand on?" His father retaliated, "That's why this autumn we're going to the Ostrheinsburg castle to see the Captain of the military. We're going to get you enlisted when he comes back to the city." Siegfried slammed his fork down. Without uttering a syllable, though he didn't have to as the anger was written all over his face, he pushed his chair back and stormed out of the room. There was an awkward silence for a few moments. Siela father was the first to break it.

"Well...Siela, dear..."

"Father, may I be excused?" She asked abruptly.

"Well...Yes, of course." He replied, stunned by her sudden interruption. She wiped her face with her napkin and delicately escorted herself from the now bitter, cold room. As soon as she shut the door, she could see Siegfried on the terrace tossing stones into the lake outside the mansion. He had the demeanor of someone who had suffered a great loss. She couldn't understand why. The military was a beautiful option. She couldn't imagine the power the two would have if he enlisted. She brushed her soft blond hair behind her ear and slowly approached her love. He seemed to hear her come closer and shifted himself so she could sit beside him.

"Hey." She said softly.

"Hey." Was his quiet response. She placed her hand over his. There was silence as they looked off to the sunset together. A raven passed by over the blue sky. Siela knew this would truly be a perfect way to spend her life. Being the queen of this castle beside her gorgeous and powerful lover, Siegfried.

"I hate him." She was about to decide where she would place the marble statue of the two when he startled her by breaking the silence.

"Siegfried, part of what he's saying is right." She tried to persuade.

"What are you talking about Siela? If I'm in the military, I'll never see you." He stared vulnerably into her blue eyes. She could see hidden tears deep within him. She'd never seen him like this. It made her almost afraid. Though, deep within her she knew he was passing up a golden opportunity for something she felt was hardly worth it. Love came nowhere near her top priority—power. She took his hand and brought it to her heart.

"Siegfried, no matter what, I am yours. I mean that. I would either have to die or...something inevitable tears us apart. After the military, we would have our whole lives together. And, we would be able to reign over this whole castle...Can you imagine how magnificent that would be?" She worked harder at persuading him. She kept his gaze for a long while before he sighed. He took her into a deep kiss.

"Sielatira, you are one amazing girl. I must be the luckiest man in the world." He smiled. She brought him back into the kiss.

"And I must be the luckiest girl. I love you..." She placed her head upon his shoulder and looked to the land which she dreamed one day was to be hers, with Siegfried by her side.