Chapter Summary: Elena deals with the emotional aftermath of coming to terms with the idea of an arranged marriage alliance with Malvara. With the help of her friends, she reaches a decision and presents it to the ambassador.

Silence.

The council chamber was utterly silent after Esteban's shocking announcement. Mateo, Gabe, and Naomi's jaws had dropped as their eyes widened with shock. Luisa's eyes were still downcast, but clearly conflicted while Francisco looked sad but resigned. Esteban was practically bouncing on his toes, grinning at Elena as if he believed he was giving her a fabulous treasure. Elena was staring at her cousin, lips parted slightly in shock –– her mind reeling from the bombshell he had just dropped on her.

How could this be happening!? I can't, I just can't! Mateo, my Mateo, my love, my soulmate. How could I marry anyone but him? How could I let a known enemy get that close to me, let alone touch me? But Malvara is a serious threat, and if I refuse… I can't even think about what would happen! He's right, it's for the good of the kingdom, just not in the way he thinks. I must do whatever it takes to protect Avalor! Though, this might just be my undoing…

Mateo, for his part, managed to maintain a rather stoic expression once the initial surprise wore off, though he could feel his heart breaking slowly as the implications of Malvara's requirement slowly unfolded in his mind. She would be married to an enemy who wanted her so badly as to send a trained assassin to harm her and steal her away. She would be torn from him –– and that was the heart of the matter. They truly loved each other with a deep and lasting passion. The two of them were irrevocably intertwined –– heart, soul, and mind. How could anyone move on from having that kind of trauma inflicted on their very soul?

Elena's heart was a swirling tempest of emotions –– fear, anger, sorrow, despair, panic, and so much more. She couldn't separate one from the other, they eddied around her so quickly. She stared down at her hands, clasped upon the table, through eyes glazed with tears, as she struggled to reign in the whirlwind of emotions from within.

Mateo could sense the intense build up of magic growing, could see the evidence of it beginning to manifest –– a light, circulating breeze spiraling out from the princess rustled papers on the table, and seemed to be slowly building in intensity.

Mateo knew that he needed to get her attention and calm her down before she accidentally did something that she would regret, but he didn't want to draw attention to her by leaving his post. Quickly thinking through the available options, an idea came to him. Looking at the distraught princess, he subtly raised a hand and conjured the tiniest orb of light –– no larger than a firefly –– just above the tabletop within Elena's line of sight. He knew it had caught her attention when she flinched slightly, which was his cue to send the tiny orb bobbing back towards him. Her eyes followed the orb until she was looking in his direction. With a subtle flick of his fingers, the orb vanished and he was gazing into the silverlined eyes of the girl he loved.

Everything is going to be ok, mi amor.

Oh, Mateo! I can't bear to lose you.

Don't worry, I'm with you. To whatever end.

She nodded as she took a deep breath, knowing that she would need to save her emotional breakdown for a little later –– when the rest of her council wasn't watching –– she pulled herself together as she smiled tremulously at the gentle soul she loved, and willed the magic around her to dissipate.

Thank you, mi querido. I'm ok now. I'm sorry that I nearly lost control.

It's ok, you're still learning and that was a huge shock to all of us –– I'm surprised MY magic didn't react. He grinned crookedly at her.

She returned the grin with half smile of her own. That would have been something to see. Just know, that I love you, no matter what.

And I, you.

Elena, pretending that nothing out of the ordinary had just happened, cleared her throat, and said in the calmest, most confident voice she could muster, "I will consider this request and let you know my answer tomorrow."

Esteban frowned, "You don't understand, Elena. This isn't only your choice to make. The council must assist you in making this decision. We get the final say."

"On the contrary, cousin," Elena countered smoothly, a glint of steel in her eye, "First, I will have come of age and will be queen by the time I am to marry, so this is a decision I will be making as if I were queen. And second, this is an extremely personal matter that will affect me deeply for the rest of my life. I do not care what the law says. No one will make this choice for me. As my family, you should respect my decision."

Esteban pursed his lips as he considered her words, his eyes softened a bit as he nodded his agreement.

Luisa's eyes were brimming with tears, her features etched with sorrow from the situation they had put her granddaughter in.

"Of course we'll respect your decision, mija," Francisco said. "I am not entirely comfortable with Malvara or this arrangement. However, one way or another, Avalor needs this alliance. I urge you to consider this request and our options with wisdom. I have a feeling they will not accept rejection kindly, and I can't shake the suspicion that they have an ulterior motive here."

Esteban rolled his eyes.

"Of course, abuelo."

Esteban still looked slightly perturbed, and said, "I do not understand the problem. You should be honored that Malvara finds you worthy to marry –"

Naomi couldn't hold her tongue any longer. "What is that supposed to mean?!" she demanded, "Malvara finds her WORTHY? As if that was ever a question! I think that is one of the coldest, most condescending things I've ever heard you say. And I've heard you say a lot of cold, condescending things regarding my own worth. Personally, I don't think Malvara, in general, is worthy to make this demand!"

Looking down his nose at her, Esteban said coolly, "I do not expect you to understand the intricacies of inter kingdom politics, Miss Turner, howev–"

"That's enough," Elena said firmly. "This meeting is adjourned." She rapped the gavel on the table and stood.

"But–" Esteban started.

"There is nothing that can't wait until tomorrow. We are done here," Elena said firmly, and gestured to Naomi to follow as she swept from the room along with Mateo and Gabe.

The four friends walked quickly and silently through the halls of the palace, making a beeline for Elena's suite. They passed several servants in the hall who made little bows and called out friendly greetings to their princess, but they all seemed to understand from her expression that she needed to be left alone and respected her wishes. They had just rounded the corner leading to the royal family wing when a deeper, male voice spoke from behind them.

"Your highness, I require a word."

Elena froze at the sound of that voice, it was the Malvaran ambassador. She turned to face him, stepped between her guards, and said in a low voice that wasn't quite her own, "I'm sorry Lord Ambassador, I am not feeling well and am retiring to my room. We will speak tomorrow."

Mateo and Gabe were both standing at the ready, Gabe's hand was on his sword, Mateo's fingers were itching to pull out his tamborita while Naomi stood there, arms crossed, glaring at the ambassador.

"I require a word with you, now," he said more firmly in a tone that had Mateo and Gabe tensing to defend the princess.

"I have already told you, Lord Ambassador, that I am not feeling well and am retiring to my room. Good day." She turned to leave when his hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm, jerking her back around. She gasped in shock at the force with which he used.

"Hey!" Gabe shouted angrily, drawing his sword.

"Get your hands off of her," Mateo said in a low, ominous voice. "Now." He had drawn his tamborita and was pointing it threateningly at the ambassador, spell at the ready. Mateo didn't anger easily, but seeing someone threaten his princess was a sure way to trigger it.

Elena glared at the ambassador, and said in her most commanding princess voice –– the one she typically hated to use, "Who do you think you are? You will remove your hands from me at once before something extremely unpleasant happens to you and you jeopardize your precious marriage alliance."

He grinned malevolently and spoke in a low, quiet voice, "I know you've been snooping around, little princess, and you should know that it is a futile effort. The only thing you should be worrying about is that marriage alliance. If you wish to keep your people safe, I suggest you think long and hard about who matters most, your common lover–," he said with disgust as he shot a look of utter disdain at Mateo, "–or your people." Mateo narrowed his eyes and glared at the ambassador, nearly shaking with rage at the implied threat and the insinuation that Elena's reputation was anything less than respectable and pure.

Apparently Elena felt the same way. "Is that a threat?" she asked with narrowed eyes as she imagined her skin thrumming with energy, like lighting.

"No, it's a fact," he said, tightening his grip on her arm.

Elena grimaced, as she willed the electricity into reality and gave the ambassador a nasty shock. He jumped back with a yelp as she said matter-of-factly, "I told you something unpleasant would happen to you, ambassador, if you didn't remove your hand. Be thankful my guards didn't get a chance to attack, it would have gone a lot worse."

The ambassador's lip curled as he growled, "You will regret this." He turned on his heel and stormed away.

"Are you ok, princess?" Gabe asked urgently, having gone into high alert, royal guard mode.

Elena replied, her voice shaky, "I'm perfectly safe, thanks Gabe." She placed a hand over her racing heart as she tried to keep her balance on trembling knees which felt a bit like jelly.

Mateo put his tamborita away and stepped closer to the princess, gently examining the spot where the ambassador had grabbed her arm. "Are you really ok?" Mateo asked quietly.

"I'm ok, really, I wasn't expecting such a confrontation," she told him with as much of a smile she could summon. "Come on, I need to get to my room before–" Mateo could see that she was on the verge of that emotional breakdown and put a comforting arm around her shoulders as he ushered her down the hall to her suite.

Once they had entered the suite and shut the door, Elena leaned her back against it as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before sliding to the floor, her frame shaking with sobs. Mateo rushed to sit next to her and pulled her across his lap and into his arms, trying to comfort her. Elena clung to him desperately, as if he were her salvation. Naomi sat next to the pair and patted her best friend's back comfortingly to let her know she wasn't alone. Gabe sat beside Naomi, feeling powerless to do anything useful, so he did the best that he could by sliding an arm behind Naomi's shoulders and placing his hand on the princess's shaking shoulder –– offering his silent support.

No one said anything, knowing that the best thing to do was to allow their friend to cry it out. Mateo just held her in his arms and let her tears soak into his robe. He leaned his cheek on her hair, breathing in her scent, as he allowed a few tears of his own to fall. He would miss her and knew she would leave an empty, hollow hole in his heart if she was forced to leave him. Mateo knew that he would love her forever and that there was no one else for him. She was his perfect match in every way. Now that they've had this short but blissful time together, and knew what it was like to be free to love her, he wasn't sure that he was strong enough to stay and watch her marry another, have children with another, or grow old with another. But, conversely, he wasn't sure he was strong enough to go away, for leaving her would be physically painful.

His mind turned down less pleasant paths –– if that was even possible. He understood that grieving the loss of his true love to another man was unnecessary, for he was certain that Malvara had darker plans for Elena and this was just bait to get the council to hand her over, so to speak. He knew that her accepting this agreement would be very a dangerous thing to do, though not accepting it would have serious consequences that only time would reveal.

The four of them sat in silence, aside from Elena's heartbroken sobs, each lost in their own thoughts about the events of the afternoon.

Soon, the sobs began to fade and slowly subsided to silence. Still clinging to Mateo, she raised her tear stained face to look at him and, glancing over her shoulder at Gabe and Naomi, said, her voice raspy from the crying, "I'm sorry you all had to see that."

"Of course we had to see that, we're your best friends and we're here for you. No matter what!" Naomi said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

"Yeah, we'd be pretty upset if you had purposely shut us out," Gabe said.

Mateo gently caressed her cheek and said, "We are all here for you, please don't ever think that you have to carry these burdens alone. Even if there's nothing we can physically do, there's no reason for you to suffer alone. We all love you," he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "Some of us more than others." He pulled back with a roguish grin which elicited a small smile from her.

"It's just– I should be stronger than this. I should be able to take news like this and keep how I feel to myself. My parents never behaved like this." Her eyes lowered in disappointment with herself.

"No," Naomi said, "you shouldn't. I never knew your parents, but just because you never saw it, doesn't mean that they didn't behave like this behind closed doors the way you are doing now."

"That's true, maybe you're right, Naomi."

"Besides, you found your soulmate, the person you were ready to spend the rest of your life with and now you've been placed in a terrible position where you have to choose between a life of love and happiness or Malvara's 'assurance' that your people will be safe if you accept their terms. Though I'm not sure their assurance is worth much."

Gabe added, "We know that Malvara is up to something, and the ambassador's behavior today tells me that everything they've ever said to us is a lie. Seriously though, there's no way you should agree to this. Your life will be in danger if you let them that close to you."

Mateo simply sat there quietly holding his love close in his arms, trying to comfort her as he sorted through his own conflicted thoughts and feelings.

Elena wasn't ready to discuss losing Mateo, though she thought, selfishly, that losing him was the absolute worst thing that could possibly happen, so she gave a final sniffle and said, her voice still hoarse from crying, "It seems that I have a lot to think about. I don't know if the marriage alliance is even real. They've lied so much that I think it could be a trap. I know Esteban means well –– for the kingdom, anyway –– but he's put me in a really difficult position. If it was simply a friendly alliance with any other kingdom in the world, and had I been included in the talks, I would have found another way and stopped the idea of marriage ties before it became a real possibility. But this– I feel like there is much more at stake than a friendly alliance. I feel like I'm gambling with the future of our kingdom and I cannot fail. Everyone's lives depend on me making the right choice, even yours." She looked each of them in the eye as she spoke.

Mateo could see that old fear of failure bubbling to the surface as he watched the wheels turning in that beautiful mind of hers. He brought a hand up to brush a tear from the corner of her eye and said, "Whatever happens, don't try to take this all on your own. You are the crown princess, not a god. You can't do it alone. A burden this heavy will crush you, don't let that happen."

She looked wistfully into his eyes and said quietly, "I won't. Thank you." And then, more loudly, she continued, "We have to tread very carefully. The last time a single sorceress invaded our kingdom, it ended in forty-one years of misery for Avalor. This time, we have a kingdom full of dark sorcerers trying to do, what? Invade? I don't know what they really want, but if it involves tormenting our people, stealing precious heirlooms and trying to seriously injure the sovereign ruler, then it can't be anything good for the kingdom of Avalor."

–––––

Hours later, Elena, Mateo, Naomi, and Gabe had adjourned to the much more comfortable seating options, and were still discussing every detail they could recall regarding Malvara and their intentions towards Elena and Avalor. They had lost track of the time when the door to the suite opened and closed. Isabelle poked her head into the room with a grin, which quickly turned to a frown of concern when she saw Elena's terrible attempt at pretending all was well.

"Elena? I just came to see if I could walk with you to dinner, but what's wrong?"

"I could say 'nothing' but you'd know it was a lie," Elena said with a half smile in an attempt to keep the conversation lighthearted.

"You could, and I would. So, let's skip that and you can tell me what happened."

Elena sighed as the others lowered their eyes to the floor, not sure whether they should speak up or not. "Isa, come here," Elena patted the seat next to her. Isa sat on the couch next to her sister as Elena slid an arm around her little sister.

"Does this have anything to do with the grand council meeting earlier?"

"Yes, actually. The short answer is that Esteban and our grandparents have been discussing terms of an alliance with the Malvaran ambassador while I was away and Esteban decided that the best thing I could do for both kingdoms is to marry a prince of Malvara."

Isa gasped, hands clapping to her mouth, "Elena! No! You can't! It's too dangerous!" She looked at Mateo and back to her sister, eyes filling with tears. "I'm so sorry!" Isa threw her arms around the crown princess and hugged her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Elena smiled and patted Isa's hair affectionately, "I wish there was, but for now, just be my sister. I might be using that talking invention you built for me more often," she said with a small smile. Isa returned the smile and said, "You'll have to tell me more later, I want to hear all the details and tell you what I think about Malvara," she said "Malvara" like it was a bad taste in her mouth, "but now it's time for dinner."

Elena was still feeling emotionally fragile, but had managed to pull herself together on the outside –– though anyone taking the time to really look her in the eye would see that not all was well with their princess, which meant that she was the picture of serenity and contentment to most. Mateo, Isabelle, Naomi and Gabe, however, weren't fooled for a second –– they could see that she was a mess of emotions on the inside.

Mateo offered Elena his arm as they walked to dinner, which she was all too happy to accept. Once Isabelle, Elena, and their entourage of friends entered the dining room, the two princesses took their seats, Elena at the center of the table with Isabelle and Naomi on her left and her grandparents to her right. Luisa wasted no time in taking Elena's hand in her own. "Oh mijita!" she said quietly, her voice full of emotion, "I'm so sorry! Are you ok?"

Elena squeezed her grandmother's hand and said, "I'm ok for the moment, abuela, but why didn't you warn me that this was coming? Half of my reaction was from the shock of Esteban's announcement."

"We wanted to but when we spoke, Esteban was still in his meeting with the ambassador. We knew that the ambassador was insisting on the marriage agreement but we had asked Esteban to try and find a compromise. We were hoping that Malvara would change their mind and we didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."

Elena gave her grandmother a small smile. "That's understandable, and I do appreciate that. But, abuela? I don't understand why the alliance discussions were even happening while I was away. Naomi and I should have been a part of that discussion!"

"I know, mija. It wasn't our plan. The ambassador approached us as soon as you left, and insisted that we all needed to talk immediately. It was odd, almost as if he was waiting for you to leave. But as soon as the four of us sat down, he started laying out Malvara's requirements for the alliance agreement. Your abuelo stopped him for that very reason. But I have a feeling the ambassador isn't used to not getting his way–"

"That's an understatement," Elena muttered darkly.

"Why do you say that mija?" Luisa asked curiously.

"We met him in the hall after the council meeting earlier, and he wanted to speak with me. I told him 'no' and he became rather forceful. I thought Mateo and Gabe were going to take him out right then and there."

"He didn't!" Luisa gasped, starting to look angry. Elena knew that mama bear look –– the ambassador may find himself in the wrong end of Luisa's temper if he wasn't careful and that was scarier than any dark magic.

"Yes, but I taught him a lesson he won't soon forget. It'll certainly make him think twice before touching me again."

"He grabbed your arm? He should not be touching you!"

"Mateo and Gabe told him as much. I gave him a warning before I gave him a shock."

"What did you do?"

"I shocked him –– with my magic."

"Oh, mija! I'm impressed! You have been working so hard, I'm so proud that you can use that to defend yourself, mija!" But he better hope we never meet alone in the hall because no one attacks my familia and gets away with it!" she said fiercely.

"Thank you, abuela."

Elena had much to think about, but was having trouble focusing with so much activity going on around her. The mask of serenity she had put on before leaving her room was starting to wear thin –– the stress of not knowing how to best help her kingdom, the fear that she would make the wrong choice and fail everyone, the fear that she may be in grave danger, and sorrow from even the slightest possibility of losing Mateo –– each thought was vying for her attention.

Suddenly, she couldn't take it anymore, she had to get out of there –– alone. Looking around, she could see that anyone who would be watching her was busy eating. She took her chance. Drawing the magic from within herself, she imagined her body, hair, clothes –– everything touching her –– becoming invisible. When thought she had a good visual in her mind, she took one more look around to make sure no one was watching, and, once the coast was clear, she willed the image into reality and vanished.

Wow! I wasn't sure it was going to work. I could get used to this.

Silently slipping from her chair, Elena crossed the room as quietly as a mouse, and ghosted out the door, no one the wiser for her departure.

She hurried through the palace towards her personal sanctuary –– the secret garden. As she sped down the meandering garden paths, her heart was given a reprieve from the turmoil as a calm, that only her nighttime walks could bring, washed over the princess. She also realized that it was her first time alone outside her bedroom in months and felt herself breath the freedom in deeply. It's not that she didn't love Mateo and Gabe's company, no, it was just that she was an independent spirit and enjoyed the peaceful solitude that only being alone afforded her. It was funny because while she relished the opportunity to be alone with her thoughts, she couldn't get enough of being around Mateo –– it was a very complicated feeling.

Once she had slipped through the curtain of vines, she felt another layer of burden lift from her shoulders as she sat on her swing –– she had made it to her secret world, though her heart clenched when she remembered what had happened the last time she'd been there –– she had made the decision to cast aside old traditions and follow her heart –– she shared her first kiss with Mateo. She had gambled with both her heart and his, and it looked like there was a good possibility they both would lose. Though in spite of the pain and heartbreak, she couldn't bring herself to regret the choice. The past weeks with Mateo had been the substance of dreams. Lately, her heart had been lighter, her smile brighter –– being with him felt a lot like coming home. He was home.

Elena could feel the tears building as her swirling emotions threatened to overcome her once again. It was a much quieter sorrow, this time. She swung gently as the tears began to silently trickle down her cheeks. She thought about what it would mean to lose Mateo and knew that it would be exceptionally painful –– he was her soulmate, her other half. Tearing him away would be like tearing her heart in half. How could anyone survive such trauma?

Maybe I don't have to lose him. What if we stayed together –– in secret? Then we would still be able to enjoy an occasional stolen moment of peace in each other's arms.

She sighed, No. that wouldn't be fair to either of us. He is far too important and precious to treat like a cheap toy. No, I couldn't do that.

With Mateo, I want everything. I want him heart, mind, and soul. If I'm being honest with myself, she thought with a blush, I want him physically too –– when the time comes. Though the physical aspect is a such a small insignificant thing compared to the whole of what what we could have together. But, more than that, I want marriage, children, and a life of love, laughter, and happy memories –– like my parents had.

She thought about all that she had dared to dream in this short time together with him and felt her heart breaking all over again. It wasn't just her discovery of true love being threatened, it was the dream of an entire life slipping through her fingertips.

Her mind turned towards the reason all of this was even happening –– Malvara. They were up to something. She knew they had a darker purpose than some stupid marriage alliance.

Elena leapt to her feet and started pacing the clearing. Were they taking a page from Shuriki's book and looking for the easiest way to invade Avalor? Why were they trying to capture her? Why did they want the scepter? What would they do if Elena refused to marry their prince? What could she possibly do to stop them? Could she outsmart them? These questions, and more, hurtled through the her mind as the intensity of her pacing increased. What was she going to do?

–––––

Mateo had just finished eating his dinner when he looked up at the head table and saw that Elena's spot was empty. Turning to Gabe, he asked, "Did you see where Elena went?"

Gabe's head snapped up, looking at the empty seat between Isabelle and Luisa, he said, alarm coating his voice, "No! I didn't see her get up. Where could she have gone?" He scanned the room but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Lets check with Naomi and Isa before we jump to conclusions," Mateo said as he rose from his chair. He approached the head table, Gabe just behind him, and asked the girls, "Did Elena tell you where she was going?"

Both Isa and Naomi looked at the crown princess's, now vacant, seat and looked at each other in alarm. "No!" Isa said, "She was just here, picking at her food. I left her alone because she seemed so lost in her own thoughts. I didn't even hear her get up!"

Mateo was struck with a wave of panic, but caught himself as he focused his mind on thinking through the facts calmly and logically. He knew that she was still upset, and, knowing her, he understood that she was probably desperate for some time to process her thoughts alone. He wondered why she didn't just wait until she was back in her room, but then it clicked. He realized that she wouldn't consider her room a good place to think. To her, it would feel a little like a prison. She could leave whenever she felt like, but never alone. No, he knew exactly where she'd gone. He wondered how she'd pulled it off, though he had his suspicions.

"I know where she is!" Mateo exclaimed.

"Where?!" the other three said in varying states of panic and relief.

"I'll go find her, don't worry. I'm sure she's safe if she's where I think she is." he said quickly, as he turned and practically ran for the door.

He bolted through the palace and out into the garden, anxiety coursing through him at the thought of something happening to her when she was out of his reach. That combined with the jumbled mix emotions he'd felt since the council meeting, it was almost more than he could bear. He had hope that they could somehow work things out with Malvara, it was a tenuous thread of hope at best, but hope nonetheless. He hoped that she would refuse the offer and figure out another way to protect Avalor. Not just because he couldn't bear to lose her –– though he couldn't deny that was part of it –– but because he feared for her life and felt a desperate need to protect her at all costs.

As Mateo was fairly tall, he covered the ground quickly and soon found himself approaching the entrance to the secret garden. He slowed his pace and approached carefully, listening for any sign that his theory was correct. Sure enough, he could hear the soft rustling of grass and a soft, almost whispered, muttering. In spite of the situation, he grinned as he knew that she was definitely in there –– most likely pacing.

Ready to march in there and scold her for running off without telling anyone, he reached to pull the vines back, but paused –– the pacing slowed and the muttering stopped –– replaced by a deep sigh and a choked sob-like sound.

His heart in his throat, Mateo pulled the curtain of vines to the side stepped inside. From where he stood, he could see her standing in a pool of silvery moonlight, back to him with her hands covering her face –– shoulders quaking with silent sobs.

"Elena? Are you ok?" he called out quietly, as he slowly made his way towards her, "Mi amor?"

Elena gasped, not having heard his approach, and instinctively turned towards that beloved voice –– the voice that never ceased to warm her from the inside out. He was just a few feet away, looking at her with eyes brimming with love, concern and sadness. She stared at that dear face, and didn't think she was strong enough to do what needed to be done, realizing in that moment that she would put it off as long as possible.

With a half strangled cry, she launched herself into his arms and, cupping his face in her hands, kissed him urgently as she tangled her fingers in his wavy black hair. Mateo could feel the tears pouring down her cheeks and could taste the anguish and desperation upon her lips. The carefully constructed facade of strength he had been trying to maintain all afternoon –– for her sake –– came crashing down as he became caught in the tidal wave of heartache and grief. He responded tear for tear and desperate kiss for desperate kiss, until they were both clinging to one another as if each was the other's lifeline to safety on a dark and stormy sea.

At some point, the couple had found themselves sitting on the large stone bench, Elena sitting across Mateo's lap, her head resting on his shoulder. She still had a hand tangled in his hair as she idly twirled individual locks through her fingers. Her ponytail had come loose sometime during her dash for freedom which Mateo was taking full advantage of –– gently stroking her long black hair –– as much for his sake as hers. They sat like that for awhile until Elena broke the silence.

"Mi querido?"

"Mmmm?"

"I think– I think I'm going to have to accept the agreement," she said quietly, her voice edged with resignation.

Mateo's hand froze and his posture tensed at this. "Wait, what? Why? You don't have to accept this!"

She sat up straight and looked him in the eye, explaining, "I've thought long and hard about everything, looking at every angle I could think of. I can't see any other way that doesn't involve all of Avalor, ourselves included, meeting a terrible fate. I have to protect Avalor! I have to protect you." Her voice broke a little on those last few words.

His heart was starting to pound with fear. "But, Elena! If you accept this, YOU will be the one in serious danger and then what's to stop them from 'accidentally' eliminating you, putting their prince on the throne and doing whatever they were planning for Avalor in the first place?"

"But this way, I can hopefully use their scheme against them and find more clues from the inside than I could fighting against them from the outside."

"No!" Mateo was starting to get upset, "Can't you see? You are sacrificing yourself for everyone instead of finding another way that doesn't involve Avalor's hope and future –– my hope and future –– handing herself over to the enemy."

"You don't understand!" Elena cried out in frustration, "I am the only one who can do this! If there was someone else who could do this in my place, maybe we could work something out. But Malvara wants me, so it has to be me. This is our best chance at success without inviting an all out attack from Malvara."

"How do you plan to find inside information? I'd be surprised if they allowed the wedding to actually happen before their master plan is revealed. You'll be putting yourself in unnecessary danger!"

"No, there has to be a way. I just know it!"

"Elena, if somehow, Malvara does allow the wedding to happen, I can't protect you while you're on your honeymoon!"

Eww. Elena couldn't bear to let her mind go there. "There will be no honeymoon. This is going to be a marriage of necessity, not a marriage of love and happy endings. I don't care if I have to appoint a distant Castillo relative as my heir, that prince will not be touching me!"

Mateo felt marginally better at that declaration, but quickly realized that wasn't the point.

She said, more quietly this time, "I'm sorry mi querido, this is the only way. Can you forgive me?"

He looked away, breathing heavily from his frustration with the entire situation. He loved this girl more than his own life and wanted her to be safe. He sighed deeply, looked at her, and said, "Of course I forgive you, this changes nothing between us. It certainly doesn't change the way I feel about you. I know you are in a really tough situation and, while I don't like it –– no, that's an understatement –– while I hate it, I see that you have very little choice. And–" he took a deep, resigned breath, "–my promise to stay by your side and protect Avalor, stands. To whatever end."

Once again, this declaration from the most selfless creature she had ever met –– and found herself fortunate enough to have found true love with –– filled her with a quiet, burning joy.

"Thank you," she whispered and closed the gap between them, embracing him with such ferocity, that Mateo was assured that, no matter what, her heart would always belong to him.

–––––

Elena called an emergency grand council meeting after breakfast the next morning. She had told nobody aside from Mateo what her decision was. Once she had called the meeting to order, she stood and got straight to the point.

"After much thought and consideration, I have decided to accept Malvara's request for a marriage alliance, on one condition."

The reactions of the occupants of the room ranged from glee, to acceptance, to sadness and anger.

Luisa and Naomi both cried out, "Elena! No!" in unison. Luisa's eyes were brimming with tears while Naomi looked ready to punch something.

Francisco and Mateo both looked resigned.

Gabe looked shocked and upset.

Esteban looked like his birthday had come early. "Excellent! I knew you would make the wise choice. I shall summon the ambassador at once!"

"Wait, just a moment, cousin. I said I had a condition."

The chancellor looked at her curiously and said, "And what, pray tell, might that be?"

"I will not sign any agreement or contract until the prince I am to marry travels to Avalor and meets with me in person."

"That–" Esteban paused, slightly surprised at the request, but realizing this was something he should have thought of, "– that is a reasonable request, and a wise one. I shall summon the ambassador immediately so that we may discuss this condition with him." Esteban hurried out of the room.

"Elena, no!" Naomi said, "I can't believe you are doing this! You can't!"

"Mija! You don't have to do this. It's not safe and I can't bear to see you go through life with a broken heart!" Luisa said.

"Thank you both," Elena said kindly. "I know it's a bit of a shock, but I honestly can't think of a better solution. This way, I hope to get information out of the prince when he visits that can help us figure out whatever their terrible plan is. If he thinks I'm on his side, it will be easier to get the information we need."

"Mija," Francisco said, "I don't like this at all, and, truthfully, I think this is a very dangerous game you are playing. However, I also think that it is the best solution we have with the information available to us. Which, unfortunately, should tell you how terrible this situation is. I believe you have made a wise choice."

Each of her family and friends looked at her with sympathy and reluctance.

"Look, I'm not happy about this either. I have, however, come to terms with it –– mostly. I will not lie and say that I'm happy, but I am determined. This is going to be hard–," she looked directly at Mateo who quirked an ironic eyebrow at her as if to say "Really? You don't say." She continued, " –both mentally and emotionally. I also know that it will be dangerous," she looked at Gabe who nodded in reluctant understanding. "I need my friends and family to support me in the coming months. Hopefully, together, we will come through this storm and find peace and safety on the other side. For now, however, we will be gracious and accept this arrangement, no matter how we feel about it, and we will stay vigilant and united."

Francisco said approvingly, "Well said, mija." The others nodded in agreement.

A moment later, the door to the council chamber opened as Esteban, followed closely by the Malvaran ambassador, entered. Elena had taken her seat as Esteban directed the ambassador to stand before the council table. Mateo thought the ambassador looked a bit smug. Once Esteban had taken his seat, Elena smiled and said, a bit formally, "Thank you for joining us on such short notice, Lord Tiberio, I'm sure you have a very busy schedule."

The ambassador smiled in an obsequious manner that didn't quite meet his eyes, and said with a little bow, "On the contrary, your highness, the honor is all mine." His tone was a bit patronizing.

Mateo's fists clenched at his sides and his breath caught in his throat as she continued, "Very well, we would like to inform you that we the grand council have considered your request and have agreed to form an alliance with Malvara through the bonds of an arranged marriage between myself, Elena Castillo Flores, Crown Princess of Avalor and the second son of the Chief Magus of the Assembly of Mages of Malvara–"

The ambassador grinned in triumph, and interrupted the princess, "That is wonderful news, your highness! I will inform–"

Elena cleared her throat loudly and said, "Excuse me, Lord ambassador, but I wasn't finished. We agree to it –– upon one condition."

The ambassador's smile froze, irritation flickering in his eyes, as he said, "Yes? And what might that condition be, your highness?"

"I would like to meet with my future betrothed before entering into an official agreement."

Mateo felt a sick sensation in the pit of his stomach at those words, "future betrothed". The couple had stayed in the garden, talking, late into the night and had both begrudgingly come to terms with the plan, such as it was. This whole agreement still felt wrong in every sense of the word and it took every ounce of self control that Mateo possessed to keep himself from cursing the ambassador into oblivion.

The ambassador gave Elena an assessing gaze and, coming to some unknown conclusion, nodded and said, "I'm sure that can be arranged, your highness. Please allow me to make the necessary preparations. I believe we can ensure a visit from Prince Alejandro in three months time."

Elena nodded and said, "Very well. Thank you for your assistance in this matter, Lord ambassador. We look forward to meeting your prince. You may return to your duties."

Raising an eyebrow at the dismissal, the ambassador turned and swept from the room, not noticing the young wizard eyeing him suspiciously as he passed. If Mateo read the ambassador's look correctly, he clearly believed that his "show of force" the previous day had taught the princess who truly held the power in this relationship. Mateo smirked, choosing to believe that, in the end, the ambassador would learn how very wrong he was.

Guys! I seriously love the thoughtful comments! It's so nice to know that I'm not thinking these same things about the story and the characters all by myself :) Thanks so much for joining me on this journey, I'm excited to see what comes next. I hope you are too ;-) Oh! BTW, I just posted a one shot called "Hope in the Darkness". It's a little offshoot from this story that just wasn't quite enough to make up a whole chapter, but adds some interesting ideas to the story. Plus its from Elena's POV and takes place sometime between this chapter and whenever that silly prince decides to come visit. Check it out if you'd like :)