Shirayuki tried to force a smile as she looked at herself in the mirror. It was strange, she wanted more than anything to be Zen's wife- why don't I feel happy? She looked at her white dress and shook her head- this isn't what we promised! Zen isn't himself. I feel like I am forgetting something important! Shirayuki had spent the last couple of days in a daze, she was happy that they were going ahead with everything but it all seemed rushed. Things were definitely strange yet when she tried to piece her mind together nothing would connect! Why am I so confused?
She closed her eyes as she recalled her favourite memory. She was sat with Zen in her flower garden, she loved this part of the castle because it was her private place- no guards or maids or any of the castles inhabitants were permitted to enter. She laid back against the grass and looked up at the sunny sky. Zen watched as her hair sprawled out messily below her- he loved her this way; carefree and relaxed. She was just like he was, always restrained by stupid rules that they had to follow only because they were born as royalty and yet just like Zen she wished she could live free. He moved his hand on to hers and she flinched and moved it away suddenly "Zee, what are you doing?" his face became red and he grinned "We will be married one day isn't it natural to hold hands?" he laid next to her and she offered her hand to him with a smile. He glanced sideways at her when did she start looking so beautiful? She moved her head so that she could see him better and smiled shyly "your acting weird today Zee" he shook his head and laughed "I have realised how lucky I am Shiri, I am fortunate that my arranged marriage is to my best friend. Do you remember what you said? You promised we would have lots of fun" Shiri laughed "of course we will! Even our wedding will be fun! We won't wear anything boring or normal! We will wear whatever we want and have all of our friends there!" Zen sat up with enthusiasm "yeah! And for a whole day there will be no rules- we wont be a prince and a princess! We will be just Zee and Shiri!" Shiri sat up too "and Zu!" Zee laughed and nodded "of course! Zu will be my best man!" Shiri frowned "what about Mitsuhide?" Zee grinned widely "of course! No rules remember! I can have as many best men as I want! We won't even get married in a boring church or castle- we will get married somewhere fun!" Shiri giggled playfully "hmmmm where would it be fun to get married!" Zee jumped up with a boyish smile "I guess it doesn't matter where- as long as its you I am marrying it will definitely be fun!" Shiri nodded in excitement "we can play hide and seek like we used to!" Zee frowned a little "won't we be a little old?" she shook her head quickly "no way! that's just what boring people say to stop us having fun! We will have fun forever Zee with no stupid rules tee hee!" He dived at her and began tickling her "hehe well there are no rules that say I can't tickle the princess- that's something fun" she collapsed in a giggling heap under his tickle torture. He stopped and allowed her to regain her breath. Her eyes were bright with excitement, her face was flushed and her hair was really messy "Shiri, I can't wait to marry you. Dad said I have to formally propose to you when your 18 at an important event. Truth be told I don't want to do it for the entertainment of others, it should be our own special moment!" He had realised that he was still hanging over the top of her and without thinking he bent down and kissed her gently on her lips "I know this is lousy but it is not often we are aloud alone now that we are 15, it will be that way until we are married. I want to do it now when it is just our moment so Shiri...will you marry me?" Her eyes widened in surprise but a joyous smile soon followed "it is so lousy a proposal Zee that it's perfect! Yes!" he grinned and kissed her once again "My dad has given me a ring to give you once we are engaged- but I can't give you it until your 18. Just don't forget that even though you don't have a ring yet- your mine okay?" She nodded and sat up "we better get back before they send everyone looking for us" They heard a laugh and looked up "not everyone, just me" Zu jumped down from a nearby tree with a smirk "hey lovebirds! I have to admit it your wedding sounds fun- count me in!" Zee's face became annoyed "oi Zu! If your there then say something! I have to have a do-over now!" Zu bent over laughing hysterically "nope, you didn't know I was here so it still counts. Besides what if she says no this time?" Zee playfully hit him over the head "she wouldn't do that!" Zu was rubbing his head as he laughed harder still "she could if she wanted to! Right Shiri?" she had been sat smiling in amusement at the two of them "that's true, if Zee's proposal isn't perfect again I might be tempted to say no this time- besides I have no problem if its only Zu who saw it" Zu put his arm around Shiri and squeezed her into him "yeah I am Shiri's favourite cousin after all!" Zee sighed in exasperation "that doesn't say much- your her only cousin!"
Tears emerged on Shirayuki's face as she once again looked at her boring white dress. This isn't fun! My dress is boring and Zu isn't here. Zen and I were supposed to have fun at our wedding! She wiped her eyes hastily as the door opened "Princess! Your crying!". Shirayuki hid her face and laughed "everyone cries at weddings don't they? Besides, Today I am not a princess" Ellie frowned "what do you mean?" She stared blankly at the mirror in front of her and removed her Tiara "we promised..." Ellie opened the door "it's time...Shirayuki" Shirayuki glanced glumly one last time at her reflection before leaving.
Izana paced outside the door stopped as It opened and Elliana stepped out "Have they awoken yet?" She shook her head "I am sorry they have not yet awoke- their condition has drastically improved though" Izana began to panic we're not going to make it! He looked back at the others who were all gathered waiting to go- all looking at him evidently with worry in their eyes. He looked down thinking hard "we have no choice; we must go before it is too late" Elliana opened the door "do what you must to save her- I will see what I can do to speed up things here" he nodded and turned away before pausing "Elliana, is it really true that you and Lythias are my ancestors?" she closed her eyes and smiled "yes, I am your 'way too many greats' Grandma" Izana grinned in response to this "what was your Son- the founder of Clarines like?" Elliana gently raised her hand to Izana's cheek "he was much like you Izana, although he had Zen's mischievousness" Izana closed his eyes so that he could picture this man if only I had Zen's Mischievousness too! "it must have been hard on you- having to watch him from afar all that time" she smiled kindly with an air of pride "you must know, you have watched Zen from afar all these years have you not? You are his brother yet holding the title of 'First Prince' and the heir to the Throne made it so that you could not be close to Zen like you wanted to be. Didn't you hate the rules just as much as he did? Because it prevented you from being true brothers. All you wanted to do was play 'don't touch the lava'. Your title prevented you from being allowed to stay by his side" Izana's heart ached a little from nostalgia. Zen was always asking to play that game and Izana loved watching him play it because each time he would aim higher and challenge himself- Izana wanted to encourage him to see life this way too. "I was satisfied watching from afar because I knew that even without me by his side- he was and always would be- a brother I could be proud of" Elliana nodded in approval "exactly, I have lived a privileged life because I got to watch the great man my Son became and then watch over his children and their children with pride. You and Zen are no exception. I have watched you both proudly- The Kingdom of Clarines and The Kingdom of Tanbarun could not ask for finer Kings" a small laugh escaped him "Thank you Elliana for your kind words, I shall be off now, I think I should make it in time for the 'I do's' we need to convince Shirayuki to say 'I don't' although I'm not sure how, I guess I will have to think of something on the way!"