Hey! Sorry it's been so long since I updated this, but I have been really busy. But since it has been so long, I'm going to make a double post, so be sure to check out the chapter after this one. I hope people are still reading this and enjoying it, I still have plenty to go! Please drop me a review to tell me what you think, productive criticism, questions, and comments are always welcome! Enjoy.

Chapter 13

When Jaina woke the following morning it was to an empty bed. Glancing around the room, she could not see her husband anywhere. Slowly, Jaina climbed out of the massive bed and began to dress in one of the many custom made gowns she now owned. The finishing touch was a grand tiara that was now securely placed on her head.

As Jaina left her room she decided to go find Jag Fel before he left to return to Csillia. She found him in one of the staterooms that had been assigned to the different wedding guests. As Jaina knocked on the door she began to wonder why she was there. After all, she had just gotten married and it wasn't like she could just walk up and start flirting with him anymore. But as soon as the door opened and she saw him clad in just a pair of worn-out sleep pants, she remembered why.

"Jaina," Jag spoke with surprise. "What are you doing here, your highness?"

"Cut the 'your highness' crap, Jag. I just came here to see you before you left to go back home. I wanted to say goodbye."

To her disappointment Jag pulled on a shirt over his bare chest as she spoke. "So how did last night go?" he asked playfully.

"Oh, it didn't. Isolder told me we could wait until I felt more comfortable with him and the fact that we are married. Believe me, that was a relief."

"So what are you going to do when you can't put it off any longer?" he questioned.

"File for divorce," she joked back. "Seriously though, I don't know what I got myself into. Right now I just want to fly away from here, maybe go to Csillia with you."

"Then why don't you?"

"What! I can't just leave like that." Walking over to sit on his bed, she looked up at him. "I have responsibilities now, not to mention a husband."

Jag walked over next to her and sat down. "But you're a queen now, so you can do whatever you want. I think for once in your life, you need to do what Jaina wants."

Turning towards him, she softly repeated his words, "Do what I want." And then without even thinking, she leaned down and brushed her lips against his. While he at first melted into her kiss, Jag suddenly stiffened up and pulled away.

"I can't do this Jaina. You're another man's wife. You shouldn't even be here in my bedroom like this and I should not have let you kiss me. This is wrong… and I need to go. Good day your highness and I wish you and your husband the best of luck." With these words Jag stood up, grabbed his few belongings and left a rather stunned Jaina in his tracks.

Slowly, time began to pass and after what had seemed a lifetime, Jaina and Isolder's one week anniversary came up. The couple still had not yet slept together, nor were they communicating well. Jaina cried herself to sleep on a nightly basis and Isolder was quite often up all night because of the stress brought on by his recent marriage.

How could he be doing this to the poor girl? She obviously did not love him, nor was she warming up to the idea. Isolder could see the pain he was putting Jaina through and it reminded him of a trapped animal. He had to do something.

On the night of his one week anniversary, Isolder arranged for a private dinner with just himself, Jaina, and his daughter. There he would bring up the current situation the three of them were in and what they wanted to do about it.

As the time of the dinner approached, Isolder escorted his wife and daughter to the private event. Once there, he brought up the question at hand. "Ladies, the reason I brought the two of you here tonight was so that the three of us could discuss every thing that has happened in the last couple of days. Jaina, I know you cry yourself to sleep every night and that rips my heart out. You are a beautiful, amazing young woman who has so much to offer a man and I believe that you deserve to be with someone you love who can love you back. And so I am going to offer you a suggestion. Maybe we should get our marriage annulled so that you can go find someone you are happy with. Is that something you would want to do?"

Jaina was sitting at the dinner table in a state of shock at hearing these words. "Can…can I sleep on that suggestion? Oh, and if I step down from being queen then who will rule Hapes?"

"I will," spoke up Tenel Ka from her seat at the table. "It is time I accept my destiny and take some responsibility. The only reason that you are in this situation is because I was to selfish to take the crown to begin with. I am truly sorry for my behavior and I want to make it up to you; both of you."

"Thank you my daughter. I am proud of your decision today and I think your mother would be too. But still, I will give Jaina a night to consider the proposition."

"Thank you," Jaina replied graciously.

That night Jaina did not get much sleep. After tossing and turning all night, she finally came to a decision: she would turn the crown over to Tenel Ka. Once Jaina decided to break up with Isolder, a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders and she laughed out loud, not considering her sleeping husband lying next to her.

Having been woken up by his wife's cry of laughter, Isodler rolled over and asked "What is it, Jaina?"

"I've made a decision. I have to leave you, I'm sorry. It's just…this isn't right for me. But thank you for being a great husband and understanding that I needed some space; I appreciate that more than you will ever know."

"Good for you Jaina. I wanted for you to be happy and I know that you weren't here. I only hope that you can find someone who will make you as happy and love you as much as I loved my wife."

With all of that said, the two fell into a blissful sleep.

The following morning Jaina woke early in order to begin packing her bags to leave Hapes. She was going to meet up with her parents at the base where they were now stationed to give them the news of her and Isolder's split. Hoping that she was doing the right thing and trusting in Tenel Ka to gracefully take over the throne, Jaina left later that evening after an emergency press conference that had been held to announce that Queen Mother Jaina was stepping down from the throne that she had held for merely a week.

As Jaina walked out to the ship that would be dropping her at the base where her parents were now stationed, she turned to say her goodbyes. "Tenel Ka, I know we haven't gotten along really well since the Myrkr mission and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so harsh towards you. You're one of my best friends and I don't know what I would do if I lost you too; will you forgive me?"

"Friend Jaina, I am the one who should be asking for forgiveness. I should have taken the throne after my mother's death, but instead I let you suffer in my place. I am ashamed of myself and can only hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me."

The two young women embraced briefly and then Jaina turned to board her ship. She was free and now only the future was waiting.