A/N ~ Yea! I finished another chapter! Go me!

Thanks to all of my (three) reviewers: charmgirl, scythegirl, and Miriam

A few months later...

Teressa sat cross-legged on her bed, her chin in her hands. She was lucky to get a moment to herself. She was constantly being pressured by her various relatives and advisors to get married. She had plenty of suitors; royal men from other kingdoms.

She sighed. She'd always thought that if she got married, it would be for love. But how was a queen ever to find love?

Already there was a dinner planned and all the suitors were invited, so that she could "find out more about them". Right. All she would find out was how wealthy they were and how beneficial an alliance with their country would be. She was perfectly willing to form an alliance. But not if that meant getting married.

Oh, whatever was she going to do? Wren would know what to do. At least she'd make it seem more bearable. But Teressa didn't even have Wren here for moral support.

Well, she'd have to go to the dinner, of course. But, she decided, she would not marry anyone she couldn't love. She wouldn't. She sat back, wishing she knew where Wren and Connor were. She got up and went to find Tyron, the one person left that she could really talk to.

The night of the dinner came, and Teressa started to feel faint. She had a major case of butterflies in her stomach. She didn't really know what she had to be nervous about. She'd been to diplomatic dinners and meetings before. Why should this be any different? She'd already decided that she wasn't going to marry any of them. She couldn't possibly fall in love tonight, could she?

She entered the room in her blue velvet gown, with her hair, now fully grown back, pulled in a braid down her back. She took her place at the head of the table, and the food was brought out. Throughout the dinner, she found herself looking around for Tyron, though she knew how foolish that was. He wasn't required to be here. Why should he come?

She managed to get through the dinner alright, and then it was time for dancing. She would be expected to dance with each and every suitor. It made her feel exhausted just thinking about it.

Her aunt led the first suitor to her, and the dancing began. She tried to listen and seem interested as they attempted to engage her in conversation. "Your Majesty," they'd say, "I have admired your strength in ruling your kingdom, and mine has always tried to assist in any way possible..." Teressa became more and more agitated. None of them cared a bit about her, just her kingdom, and land, and money.

When there was finally a break in the dancing, Teressa was just about to find somewhere to sit and rest, when her aunt found her and said, "Teressa, dear, I hope you are gaining valuable time with each of your suitors, and are considering your decision. We are all anxiously awaiting your announcement." She smiled and moved on.

Teressa could barely breathe. They actually expected her to announce who she would marry tonight! She stared wildly around the room. She barely registered it, when she saw Tyron across the room. She felt like she was suffocating. She needed to get out of the room. She headed for the garden.

A/N ~ I guess that was pretty short. Well, more soon. Review!!