4 Years and 5 Months Before the Construction of the Golden Army

It was the night before the wedding. Both royal families, along with most of their loyal subjects, were gathered in the dining hall of the Bethmoora castle for a pre-wedding celebration feast. After the feast, the bride and groom would be taken to separate rooms to rest.

The kitchen was crowded and servants were rushing around to prepare the feast. No one noticed the human prince place an apple in a bowl and leave.

Later in the dining hall, Prince Nuada and Princess Neva sat alone at a table slightly higher than the rest that looked over the other tables. An assortment of different food was placed all around the table and in reach of both of them. They barely talked to each other and instead talked to passing-by guests. Prince Galtero sat at a table not far away facing his sister. He was staring intently at a particular food.

Princess Neva was talking with Nuala when she noticed a bowl of fruit with the most delicious-looking apple in it. She reached over to the bowl and grabbed the apple. Galtero tensed in anticipation. Just when she was about to take a bite, Nuala asked her a question and Neva put the apple down on her plate to answer it. Galtero scowled in frustration.

Nuala, satisfied with the answer Neva gave, left her side and went to talk to her brother about being nice to Neva in the future. Neva laughed as Nuala lectured Nuada. A servant came to take Neva's almost-empty plate away and almost managed to take the apple away, when Neva turned, stopped them, and took the apple off of the plate. She laughed again at Nuala and Nuada as she moved the apple closer to her to take a bite. Galtero watched her closely. Neva was only milliseconds from taking a bite when Nuala commented how the apple was the same shade as Neva's lips. Neva brought the apple down, examined it, and agreed with Nuala. Then she took a bite.

The second Neva took that bite, the magic of the spell began to work. She dropped the apple and it rolled a few feet away from her. Her once-red lips turned as pale as her skin. Her black hair turned pure white from the roots to the tips. She began to fall off of her chair, but Galtero, who had waited the entire evening for this moment, rushed to her and caught her. He knelt on the floor holding her body. Neva's eyes were closed in her magic-infused sleep at this point, even her eyelashes had turned white.

"Neva!" Galtero shouted. The room went quiet as everyone turned to see what was wrong. "Neva! Wake up!"

"Oh god, Neva! Is she breathing? Is she alive!" Galtero shouted. He was playing his part of the concerned brother well. "What has done this to you, Neva!"

Nuala, with Nuada slightly behind her, knelt down next to Neva and Galtero.

"Stay away! I bet it was your Bethmooran magic that did this to her! You killed my sister!" Galtero forced tears out of his eyes.

King Lono and King Balor quickly rushed over to their children.

"What has happened?" Lono asked.

"I don't know. Everything was normal then Neva suddenly stopped and fell and all the color is gone from her!" Galtero lied.

"It was an apple. She bit into an apple-" Nuala began to explain.

"Lies! Nothing human-made could have done this to my sister! It must have been elven-made and you are lying to cover up your tracks!" Galtero interrupted her.

"You dare accuse Nuala of lying?" Nuada spat at Galtero.

"Well I suppose she would for you! I bet you did this to Neva! Your hatred for humans is well-known!" Galtero spat back.

"Now, Galtero-" Kingo Lono began.

"Father, you know whatever has happened to Neva is Bethmoora-made! Nothing from humans could do this to her! They have killed our princess and my sister! The treaty must be no more!" Galtero reasoned.

Lono stared at his son, knowing that he was right. He turned to King Balor.

"He is right. Someone in your kingdom did this to my daughter. And you must all pay." King Lono said slowly with a sad, hesitant face.

King Balor and his children all had shocked looks on their faces as Lono and Galtero, carrying Neva, walked out followed by their subjects.