Karigan sipped her tea and enjoyed the rare quiet morning in the common room. The room was dim in the early morning light, the fire low and crackling. She let her head fall back against the chair. It had been a quiet few days. Her father had just left after spending a happy few days and for the first time in a long time Karigan felt their relationship wasn't strained.

The door clicked open to the common room and shut with a resounding thud.

"Karigan," Mara's voice filtered through the empty room, "are you in here?"

"This early?" Karigan muttered and lifted her head. "Yes, I'm here."

"You know what meeting I just came from?" Mara snapped at her and sat opposite her in an old arm chair. "Why weren't you there? You were supposed to be there."

"It's early." Karigan grumbled. "And it's not as though I don't already know what was being shared in the meeting."

"Karigan."

"Mara."

Mara glowered at her, but she couldn't maintain the frown. A smile erupted on her face and Karigan matched it. "He's announcing today…you…. Karigan, you're getting married!"

Karigan chuckled. "Not yet. It's only the engagement."

Mara puffed a breath through her lips. "Same difference."

Karigan chuckled again and sipped her tea. She'd directed Mara to hold all Riders back from errands for the last few days. She hadn't been told why, but Karigan suspected Mara had an idea. Court had been assembling slowly these last few weeks and nearly every Lord Governor or Governess was in attendance. Rumors and speculation had been filling the castle of an announcement. Many believed it would be an engagement, but so far none had guessed who it would be to. Court would be called, the announcement made, and then Zachary and Karigan would speak with the Elatians.

Karigan had adamantly refused inviting them to the announcement but Zachary had insisted. "We need to make it painfully obvious to Prince Jametari you do not belong to him." Zachary had said. "And we must right the wrong he did you, after Blackveil."

The anger in his eyes when he had spoken of that wrong, of what they had tried to do, had made Karigan shiver. They still didn't understand what had happened to Zachary or why he had this power, but that power had been in his eyes that night.

"Karigan?"

"Hmm?" Karigan pulled her attention back to Mara who was staring at her expectantly. "Sorry, what?"

"I asked, why are the Elatians back? I was told they are back and you'll be meeting with them?"

"Yes. After the engagement announcement the king and I are meeting with them."

"Will I be attending this meeting?"

Karigan set her tea cup down. "No. The king and I will do this alone."

Mara glanced at her and her tone but Karigan left it. This was something they needed to do themselves. Distantly, Karigan heard the chimes and stood.

"Where're you going?"

Karigan just glanced at her and smiled. She slipped out into the still quiet hallways and worked her way to the king's private rooms. Faston quirked a smile at her as she slipped inside the room.

"We're going to have words if you keep up those looks," she whispered at him as she passed.

Zachary didn't notice her entrance. He stood with his back to her, hands on his hips as he stared into the fire. She slipped in behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest. Zachary startled only a moment before gripping her hands.

"What are you doing in here?"

Karigan hummed and nestled her nose in the crook of his neck. "Saying hello. Mara just found me after her meeting with you so I knew you had a few moments."

Zachary chuckled and she felt it in her chest.

"Are you ready for after?" Karigan asked and rested her cheek on his shoulder.

Zachary sighed. "Are you?"

"I actually think I'm more nervous for speaking with the lord governors than I am the Elatians."

He turned around in her arms and ran the back of his fingers along her cheek. "You will do fine. I have royal heirs, I have more than enough support, you are a respected and admired. You have nothing to worry about."

Karigan smiled.

"Don't you need to be getting ready?"

She looped her hand around the back of Zachary's neck and pulled him down for a long, slow kiss. "Yes," she said after finally pulling away out of breath. "I should leave I actually don't have much time but," she pulled him to her again. "I wanted to see you."

Zachary smiled again and before Karigan could become even further distracted, she stepped away. "I'm leaving now."

"Uh hu."

Karigan finally did slip back out of the room and returned to her own. Mara helped her into the gown, Hillander colors with a dark green satin belt, for the announcement. Mara was helping her tie the last of the ribbons when she paused.

"What's that?"

"Hmm?" Karigan asked and pulled her eyes away from the mirror to look at Mara had pointed at.

"That. What's that for?"

Karigan saw the uniform Mara pointed out. It was a based on a Green Rider dress uniform, but altered for tonight's meeting with the Elatians in mind. The trousers were black, the dress coat a deep green but lined with black boarders rather than the Green Rider gold. She would not be just a Green Rider tonight.

"It's for the meeting with the Elatians," she said coolly.

"That isn't our uniform, though. Why is it black?"

Karigan met Mara's eyes in the mirror. "Because Death is black. And I'm not merely a Green Rider. It's time Prince Jametari recognize that."

Mara's hands stilled, whether it be from Karigan's tone, the anger in her eyes, or her words, she didn't know.

"Is everything alright? This meeting... it's not just a meeting is it?"

Karigan turned around and faced Mara. "No, it's not. Prince Jametari needs to know We are not pawns in his game. This is a show of Our power, and a little bit of a threat." Karigan slipped into the royal We so easily she almost didn't notice it had happened.

"Of course, your Majesty."

Karigan smiled softly at Mara. "I'm not a Majesty yet."

Mara looked at her with serious eyes. "Yes. You are. In all the ways that matter."

Karigan snorted. "If you say so. Now, let's go announce my engagement."

The announcement was a blur. They gave their prepared speeches. Zachary did most of the talking. The lord governors were shocked into silence for most of it but Corsa's lord governor beamed. The Green Rider whooped from their place along the walls. Even the Weapons cracked smiles. There were a few shouts of indignation but after a stern reminder there were two royal blood heirs, and stern words of support from the majority of the council, Mirwell quieted.

Karigan stood still in the Zachary's sitting room, her pulse still pounding in her ears. "I told you you'd do fine."

Zachary engulfed her in his arms and she sighed a breath of relief. She hooked her arms around his waist and sighed into his chest.

"The country is still standing. I am still king. The world didn't crumble around us."

"Yet," she muttered into his chest. She leaned back to look at him. "It did go very well, though. Didn't it?"

He smiled at her and kissed her nose. "Yes. And you look beautiful. I especially appreciate the color choice."

Karigan smiled. "The green sasha wasn't too much?"

He smiled and there was heat, and so much love in his eyes when he did. "No. I've always preferred you in green."

In that moment, Karigan was the happiest she'd ever been.

"Now," Zachary said and stepped away. "Are you ready?"

"I need to change."

Zachary nodded. "I'll meet you back here-"

"There isn't time," Karigan cut him off. The meeting with the Elatians wasn't happening in the throne room, or any of typical place in the castle. No. This meeting was happening in the tombs. Much to Agemon's furious disagreement. "I had the uniform brought here. I just need to change really fast."

"And I should..."

Karigan smiled at him with heat in her eyes, despite what they were about to do. "Help with the laces in the back and then turn around."

Zachary cleared his throat and set about untying the laces. His fingers ghosted over her skin as if he was afraid to touch her. She could feel his heat against her back and her own pulse started to race.

"We should be doing this on a different day with a different dress."

Karigan grinned at him over her shoulder. "Soon."

He kissed the back of her neck and she shiver. "I'm turning away now."

Karigan shrugged her shoulders free of the dress and let it pool on the ground. Quickly, she donned her new uniform. The black was drastic enough that the look was surprising. She pulled her hair into a braid, buttoned her jacked, and shoved her feet into the new polished black boots with practiced ease.

"You can turn around now," she said to Zachary as she grabbed her staff that was waiting for her in the corner of the room.

Zachary's eyes were hard as he took in her new darker uniform. "You're sure this will work?"

"No." Karigan was honest. She had a strong feeling their plan would work. But the gods have never been known to play according to plan before.

Zachary nodded once and led the way through the hidden door down to the tombs. The Elatians would already be there, waiting. Prince Jametari thought he would be speaking with King Zachary and Sir Rider Karigan but, as they neared the entrance to the tombs, it would be Death's Avatar and her Firebrand.

Sorry it's been so long! I'm taking some liberties with her avatar stuff and Zachary's berserker stuff.