The meal went fairly well, save a few minor incidents. Attaly did her best to avoid the king, but he didn't seem to have the same idea. One time, early on in the meal, they both reached for the same glass of elfish wine. Their hands touched, and Attaly drew away quickly, refusing to look at him. With a quick glance around, Attaly saw that her family had not seen the sudden retraction. As the meal drew to a close, they left the room they ate in to talk in a seating room. When Attaly sat, the king sat next to her. Whenever Attaly tried to move over slightly, Raleigh closed the distance between them. When she at last reached the edge of the small seat, she pushed herself all the way against the arm. Most of the talk traded was between her father and Raleigh. At one point, though, Raleigh turned the topic to the two sons.

"So – Griffith and Cal, is it? – Are you heroes of my realm yet?"

"Yes, sire," replied Griffith. "I am a warrior of your first guild."

"And I have joined your wizarding guild, my lord." Cal replied. At the word "wizarding", Raleigh's grip on his wineglass tightened, and his eyes narrowed. He overcome the emotion quickly, and smiled.

"I wish you long and happy lives defending my realms." Turning so he could look at Attaly as well, he said, "Perhaps you three should go to bed." He looked at Cadafan. "I have something to discuss with your father."

Cal and Griffith chorused, "Yes, sire." Attaly said nothing, but stood and, waiting for her brothers, walked out of the room. She had no desire to stay next to the king as he talked with her father. A nagging feeling at the back of her stomach told her that something was wrong, something she would not like. But, then again, she had felt that way for the past week.

Still in the seating room, Raleigh got down to business.

"Cadafan let us spare the casualties. I wish to marry your daughter."

Cadafan was silent a moment. Then he said quietly, "But she is only fourteen – fifteen now – don't you think she is a bit young?"

"In the city, lads and lasses are married as young fourteen. She is a year older then that. Besides, I would not marry her now; the people would cry out against a fifteen-year-old queen. But, when she is seventeen or so, I wish to marry her. With your consent, we will be engaged. Besides," Raleigh added slowly. "If your daughter was to be queen, you would never need to worry about money again."

After a moment of thought, Cadafan looked up. "Very well." He said. "You have my consent to marry my daughter."

"Wonderful" said Raleigh. He took a piece of parchment from his breeches.

"If you will sign these…" they were papers, giving Cadafan's consent. After signing his name, Cadafan said, "If you don't mind, Highness, I will talk to my daughter tonight. With your leave, I will go."

"Of course." Raleigh stood, and bowed slightly to Cadafan. As he left, Raleigh looked at his papers, and suppressed mirth overtook him.

A knock came on Attaly's door. At first, she wouldn't answer, but then a voice accompanied the knock.

"Attaly, it's your father; open the door." Attaly sighed relief and went to open the door. Her father walked in, taking a seat. He motioned for her to do the same.

"Is there something wrong, Father?" she asked.

"No, no, there is nothing wrong. But there is something I must talk to you about."

"Yes?" she asked. The nagging feeling that something was wrong hit her in full force.

"I have just spoken to the king." Attaly waited for him to say more. Cadafan seemed unwilling to say it.

"Yes?" Attaly persisted.

"He asked my consent for your hand in marriage."

Attaly said nothing. She stared, her mouth slightly open. When she spoke, her voice was unnaturally high, and shaky. "What? He asked what? What did you say?" Attaly held her breath; she was afraid of the answer.

"I told him yes."

Attaly couldn't breath. She couldn't move. "But," she managed to gasp. "I'm only fifteen. I'm too young! How can I be a-a-a queen?"

"He said that he was not going to marry you now. He said when you are seventeen or so."

"But-"

"No buts. I have signed papers, and you are to be engaged. Within two years you will be married."

Attaly looked away. Cadafan patted her shoulder.

"You will be queen, daughter; just think! You will rule this land, you will have power!"

Attaly would not look up. Cadafan sighed and left, closing the door behind her.

"I don't want power. I don't want to rule. I want to go home. I want things to go back to the way they were." Burying her face in her pillow, she cried.

Something's not right, she thought. Raleigh shouldn't want to marry me…Why is everything so confusing here?