Kiada sat in one of the beautifully carved oak chairs that flanked both ends of the three gilded thrones. wondering why she was even there or why she trusted Nuala she did look like a bride and Lady Annaliese knew it. She stayed at Nuada's side most of the night, much to the dismay of Nuada it looked like, subjecting Kiada to the sight of her prince dancing, most elegantly, with someone who didn't even care.
She felt someone squeeze her hand and jumped at the touch.
"It's okay, just me."
"I can't stay here."
"What?"
"I can't watch anymore of..."she nodded towards Nuada and Annaliese, "That. Not after what you"ve told me about her."
"It's sickening, I know but you promised him a dance."
"Yeah? And how is he supposed to dance with me with her monopolizing his time?"
"Well...I have time now."
Suddenly, the air froze in her lungs as she slowly turned and saw Nuada standing over her. His golden eyes glittering as he brought her hand up to his lips and softly kissed the backs of her fingertips. Kiada closed her eyes trying to imprint the sensation of his lips on her skin.
"Dance with me?"
At that moment, he could have been asking her to step of the roof of the castle and she would have done so without a second thought. He led her to the center of the gleaming marble dance floor. She hung on to his broad shoulders as he wrapped his hands around her waist, "What's wrong?"
"Dancing is not one of my strong qualities."
"Has anyone told you that you worry too much?"
"Recently?"Kiada asked as Nuada kicked the toes of his boots under hers and began to glide across the floor even though now he was towing a less than graceful elf in arms.
"So where's Lady Annaliese?"
"Do you really want to talk about her, now?"
She sighed, "No,I don't. I just would like to know what kind of argument I'm in for when she finds out that I am dancing with you."
"She's dancing with her father." He paused for a long moment and appraised her dress, "I see my sister helped you get ready this evening."
"Her idea."
"I'm glad."
Kiada smiled.
"You know, you're most beautiful when you smile."
She was? The complement drew the last breath from her lungs, She was beautiful to him?
"Thank you, My Prince."
He rolled his eyes but smiled.
As they danced Kiada felt him slowly pulling her closer until she was looking over his shoulder at Nuala. Nuala had a wide smile glued to her face as she pointed at Nuada's back and then her shoulder ad mimed sleep. She got what Nuala was getting at. She wanted Kiada to lay her head on Nuada's shoulder but she was apprehensive about that she'd never done that before, not that she didn't think about it all the time.
She took a deep breath and gently laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Soon she could feel something lightly brush the back of her head but she was too afraid to look up at him to make she wasn't wasn't dreaming it.
She was as close to him as she ever dreamed of being. She could smell the sweet lavender off his skin and heard the beautiful sound of his breathing. She felt him gently take her hand from around his neck and press it at his chest and she felt his heart steadily beat.
"Kiada?" His voice was serious now,"I need to speak with you."
Kiada's eyes snapped wide open as she quickly raised her head from his shoulder, "I sorry, I know that was highly inappropriate of me."
"No,no,no." He soothed her and kissed her hairline,"You've done nothing wrong. I just need to speak with you privately is all."
Oh hail the Gods,he kissed me, not on the lips but he did kiss me, was all she could she could properly comprehend at that moment.
"Kiada?"
"Oh...yes of course, My Prince"
He escorted her out to the adjoining balcony. The night air was still cool, but not cold, winter had not encroached on the weather, yet as fragile leaves crunched beneath their feet as they walked to the stone railing. He let her go as he leaned against it and after along moment of silence he began,"Sometimes,"He sighed, "I wish the Humans could just kill me."
"What," She was taken aback by his admission,"Don't say that. I don't ever want to hear you say that, again."
"My marriage to Annaliese is going to happen whether I want it to or not." He continued choosing to ignore her, "I'm supposed to give this to her." He explained grabbing something from under his golden sash, around his waist, and held a golden egg between them.
"It's beautiful."
"It was my mother's." He smiled, "Watch." He whispered.
Kiada did so as the egg opened and played a musical tune.
"It's a music box?" Kiada said in wondrous awe, "or music egg."
"I can't give this to...her." He sighed and closed the egg in mid-tune,"I mean, I'll make her queen, isn't that enough?
"Why do you have to give it to her? Why do you have to do anything?"
"Tradition, Father gave it to my mother as his father gave it to his bride, as did his father and his father and so on back though the Family Line."
"Wow," She said with new reverence for the small egg, "All of those years and it still works?"
"It's been fixed over the times."
She smiled at herself, "Of course."
"I want you to take it."
Kiada began to shake her head.
"Take it. Take care of it and never let Annaliese get her hands on it."
"My Prince, I don't think" She began to protest the idea but he pressed it in her palm.
"Please Kiada," He whispered thickly,"How many times...must I...ask ...you...to call...me...Nuada?" His eyes became dreamy as his face neared hers.
"At least...once...more." She answered closing the gap but just before she touched those glorious lips something bright caught their attention as it flew above their heads and bounced off the stone walls of the castle."What was that ?"
"An arrow."
"Arrow
"The Humans are attacking." His eyes were wide as he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back inside.

Nuada ran to his father's side. As the music and the revelry died away Kiada noticed a blanket of arows showering down on them before she got the doors closed.

"Kiada'"She heard Nuala's panicked cries for her.

Kiada certainly, did not want Nuala to come into harms way so she immediately ran to her. When Nuala saw Kiada her arms instantly grabbed her clinging to her neck.

"Thank the Gods, you are safe."

"I think it's a bit too early to be thanking the Gods for anything."

"What do you mean?"

At that moment, the thumping on the oak doors and Kiada knew the blanket of arrows were making contact.

"Nuada," King Balor's voice was so deep so commanding,and so sudden that she jumped and turned and that is when she saw Lady Annaliese laying her act on thick.

Lady Annaleise clung to Nuada with her arms encircling his waist; her head against his chest everything about her read fear except for her eyes which starred daggers into Kiada as if they were still Younglings fighting over a toy both of them wanted then all of a sudden something changed and her eyes became a mirror reflecting the sheer panic around her.

Nuada's attention was on his father's instruction,"Yes, Father." Nuada peeled himself from Annaliese's grip and handed her off to her father.

"Nuala, what's happening?"

"The Citadel is going to war."

"And Nuada?"

"Readying the warriors."

"Oh no," She started to run after him but Nuala grabbed her arm, "Where are you going?"

"No one can stop Nuada from fighting but I can't let him face them alone. Go to your father."

Kiada knew it was pointless Nuada would just send her back but there was something to be done. She just wished she knew what it was. She found him clustered with as many warriors as he could find.

"Nuada!" She called and his face filled with horror as he looked at her tearing himself away from his small band of warriors and came towards her.

"Kiada, go back to my sister and my father." He commanded me.

"No, My Prince," I protested, "I will not leave you."

"Kiada, you want to help go and protect my sister."