I arrived at Fauna the morning after and didn't even bother to dress myself up nice before entering the camber that held Stefan. "Stefan, cousin it is I, Angelina. I came as soon as I heard the news. How are you?" I bent down and kissed his cheek, surprised at how old he looked. Wrinkles that weren't there a month ago, his hair turned completely white. He mumbled something and I leaned closer to hear him. "Angelina, sweetie, I'm sorry about your father. He told me that. that you were to wed Shand. I'm so happy to hear that. He is a nice boy." Stefan started to cough and did that for a minute. His nurse was hovering around, and his counselor was sitting in the corner of the room writing everything that the king said, so that no foul play could be done. I poured some water into his patched lips, and he started talking again. "You were always my favorite Angelina. For you, I leave you Flora, and I want you to have a big wedding and be happy. I will leave you a big dowry, so that you will never need to worry about money. I love you my little sugarplum. Please take good care of." He coughed again and wheezed. I waited but his chest didn't rise again. Tears came down my face, and I thought why me, that I should have to see another I loved so much die in such a short time. The nurse closed his eyes and led me out of the room, into another room that at first I didn't recognize, but then realized that this was my room. The room that I spent my summers in, the room that I first became conscious that I loved Shand. But it was different. I looked around and saw that my animal toys weren't in there anymore. But there were grown up things like ivory brushes and mirrors (I was never allowed any for I broke on once) and the room had roses everywhere. I flung myself on the bed and buried my face in the pillow and cried. I must have slept for hours because it was dark when I woke up. I heard commotion outside and walked over to the window. It was opened for some reason, unknown to me, for it was a chilly night. I wrapped my arms around myself and looked down into the courtyard. Shand was there directing people in different places. There was a carriage with bags all in it and men taking them out. Shand looked up, saw me and waved. I moved away from the window and pulled on a red velvet cloak. I walked almost in a daze thinking about everything that has happened to me. I thought about the last conversation I had with my father. "Angelina I need to talk to you. I need to tell you about Vagnone, and why I fought with him." I walked closer to him, and saw that he was extremely worried. I sat down in the chair next to him and took his hand. "Vagnone was your mother's cousin. He wanted to marry your mother, but such close family could not, must not marry. He grew jealous when your mother refused to run away with him and married me. He said that he would curse our family as long as one of us lived. He was banished by my cousin Stefan forever. We forgot all about this, and we had you. But then your mother died suddenly. And that is when I received a letter from Vagnone saying that he would kill you and I if I didn't give you to marry him." I gasped and looked up at my father. "No daddy! I won't marry him. You promised that I could marry Shand." Daddy put his finger to my lips. "Hush child, I would never give you to that horrid man. No, you will marry Shand and live till you are an old woman with many great grand children running around. No to save you, Vagnone said that I must give myself up. I am willing to die to save you." I started to cry and shook my head. "Daddy, you can't do this. I don't care about myself. I won't lose you like I did mommy. I'll give up myself to him. Just don't leave me." He stood up and smashed his fist against the table. "Silly child! He will make you his slave and wife. I will not let him win. I will not. You will go to Stefan's were you'll be safe, but you must not go outside for a while. You must keep yourself hidden, just for a little while. If I give you word by the Feast of the Magi, then know that I am gone from this world. Vagnone is not so evil as to not give you my body so that you would be able to get me a funeral and bury me with my fathers." He had tears in his eyes, and when he looked down to me, his face softened. He stood me up and hugged me tightly, and I put my head on his shoulder and cried. "Daddy please. Please." He shook his head and stoked my hair with his hand. "Child, I must do this. Don't bother to argue because I made up my mind. You will lie low until it is safe, and when you turn sixteen you will marry Shand and have beautiful children. I love you my precious angel."