Quick A/N: ((points to category)) Omg! The category is angst! What trickery is this? (cough) Yea. Someone has to flame me for this chapter.

I updated sort of fast (for me, anyway). Please make sure that before reading this you have read chapter 6… Otherwise some things won't have as great of an impact. Thank you.

Hope

Chapter 7: Shattering

Saturos was already waiting for us in front of the bakery. To be completely honest, I was actually glad that he was. Standing alone with Isaac would have been an awfully uncomfortable situation. Neither of us had completely recovered from the past events. Isaac's cheeks contained a mild tint of red, as did mine.

Saturos must have not noticed. He was occupied with staring at a list, muttering unintelligible words. The two of us went unnoticed until we were literally beside him. After Isaac had tapped him on the shoulder, Saturos folded the piece of paper and looked at us. "Ready?"

I thought that I'd never be completely ready, but I couldn't just say that."I think so." I forced myself to speak. I had to get my thoughts off past Isaac… and Alex. Oh, who was I kidding. Alex might have shaken me up, but Isaac had knocked me off my feet. A dreadful silence came between all of us. Saturos seemed not to mind, but Isaac and I were practically drowning. "Is there anything else that I should know?" I finally forced myself to say.

Saturos shook his head. "Just do what we do. You'll be behind me when we walk in the throne room. King Hammet might ask you a question… If he does, just answer normally. And if you have to use his name, address him by King or Master." Well, there was no chance that I'd call him Master.

"Alright…" I took a deep breath. Calming thoughts. What was I afraid of, anyway? What was the worst thing that could happen? Concubine. Oh, shut up. That won't happen. "I'm ready."

"Right," Saturos replied, although he did not move. We stood there for a few seconds, and I gazed at Saturos in question. Saturos in turn glanced at Isaac. Isaac was staring at the wall. "…Wasn't there something you wanted to say before she left?" Saturos hinted to Isaac.

"Huh?" Isaac snapped back to reality. His eyes met Saturos's, before shifting to meet mine, and then went back to Saturos. Isaac just shook his head.

Saturos arched his eyebrows, obviously amused, although he chose not to pursue it. "Right," he repeated. "Well, anyway," Saturos turned to me. His red eyes sparkled and he showed his fangs (smiled) at me. He placed his two arms around my shoulders, and my eyes widened. I was unable to return his casual demeanor. "It was nice to meet you," he began. All I could recall was how we had met, and also how Saturos had literally dragged me away from my brother. The Slate's hands clasping my shoulders did not bring back fond memories, to say the least. "I hope you'll do well. After this, it's goodbye… Assuming that King Hammet will take care of you."

"Um… goodbye," I nodded my head, forcing myself not to fling Saturos's hands off of me. Saturos did retract his arms by himself after I spoke, however. When he had done so, I turned to Isaac. "Goodbye, Isaac…"

Isaac refused to look me in the eye. "Bye…" He said softly. I noticed that he refrained from saying 'good' bye.

Part of me was glad that Isaac did not want me to leave. The other part of me was angry that he was not even giving me a proper sendoff. If he wanted me to stay, why didn't he say something to Saturos? Perhaps that was what Saturos was hinting before. If so, he would have surely listened… Then again, maybe I'm assuming too many things.

The three of us began to walk towards the palace, which was not very far away. I was both apprehensive and excited. It seemed strange that I was to meet Yalak's ruler…

The palace was huge. Well, of course a palace would be, but it was larger than what I expected it to be. The bricks were purple and gold, which clearly stated royalty. Two guards, one on each side of the entrance, were completely expressionless. Their faces were forward, and their eyes did not meet ours. However, we passed through them without an incident, so I assumed that Saturos had informed them of our presence. Isaac had mentioned his friend was a human guard, but these defenders were definitely Slates.

We passed through numerous hallways. Each one was huge and gave more space than what was required. There were a few Slates passing through the halls. Each Slate always stopped in their tracks and turned to stare at us; or rather, me. I thought that perhaps they had never seen a human before, or maybe it was rare for a human to enter the palace. But if that was the case, why did they not stare at Isaac? It made me very uneasy…

At last we came before a golden double-door that had been wrought by giants. The dull noise of talking could be heard from the other side. Saturos paused and turned to the two of us. "I'll go in first," he whispered. "Then when I call for you, both of you come in." Without waiting for our response, Saturos pushed the doors open, as though they weighed nothing more than a feather. They closed behind him, and I merely got a glimpse of the other side. It seemed as though there were a great deal of humanized Slates in there, but I did not have enough time to see everything in the room.

The talking immediately grew silent. I strained my ears as I heard Saturos begin to speak – thankfully in my own language. "My lord," Saturos began. I cast a side glance at Isaac. Why did he say nothing to me?

"I wish to congratulate you on the victory against Weyard…" Our planet may be gone but its people are not. So long as we live there is no true defeat. Until our spirits are crushed there will be no victory against us… dang it! I really shouldn't have been thinking such thoughts at a time as this…

"…and to remember this event, I would like to give you a present." So, I was right. Saturos and Isaac considered me nothing but a present to give to Hammet. Grr…

"She is one of the Adepts of Weyard. She is pure, and has remained untouched." I'll say. If the King thinks he could make me into a concubine, he'd better think again. "Her beauty is practically unrivaled among her people. The same goes to say even within our community." Truly? I had no idea Saturos thought that. If I did become a concubine and bore a child, what would the child be? Human? Slate? Something in-between? I shudder to think…

A hand touched my shoulder and interrupted my musings. I turned my head to see its owner. It was Isaac. He was smiled slowly; sadly at me. I returned the smile in the same way.

"May I now show you… Jenna, of Weyard," Saturos finished.

Isaac opened the doors, so that I could walk through. There was a red carpet on the floor, and the only other one standing on it was Saturos. Slates lined each side of the carpet, and my eyes shifted from each face in the crowd. Finally I lifted my eyes forward, seeing to whom I was walking towards. There, upon a throne, sat Hammet. Unlike the other Slates I had seen, Hammet had brown hair and eyes. He also possessed a very long mustache… I couldn't help but wonder if the mustache remained on his face if he were to turn into his dragon form.

Next to Hammet, on a smaller yet similar throne, was his wife. She also defied the classic Slate, for her hair was red. However her eyes were the same red demon eyes as most Slates. She was surely oblivious to my thoughts, as her eyes rested upon me. They were angry eyes… I did not know why she was angry. I tore my gaze from hers, and instead my eyes fell upon the plaque attached to the pedestal of her throne. It read: Lady Layana, most beloved wife of King Hammet.

I shifted my eyes to Hammet, and found that he was staring at me, too. He was not angry, like his wife, but he was still staring nonetheless. Unable to take such attention, I returned my eyes to the line of Slates, but they were staring at me, too. My heart began to pound in my ears. Was I doing something wrong? Surely I had offended someone… or something… someway or another… Why were they all staring?

Finally, when I thought I was close enough to Hammet, but was still some distance away, I stopped walking. I lowered my eyes respectively, unsure of how to act, but quickly raised them again in curiosity.

"Wow…" Hammet breathed. He grin suddenly overcame his face, and he turned to look at Layana. She returned his glance in anger. Immediately Hammet removed his smile, coughed, and turned his head back to look at me again.

A second of silence passed between everyone, but the sound of a boy's voice interrupted it. "Master Hammet." It was nothing but a child's voice. Everyone turned their heads to the source. Not far from Layana, stood a Slate child. He had pale blond hair, and purple eyes befitting that of his kind. In Weyard, he could have passed as someone only ten years old, although since Slates are older than what they appear, he was probably older than me. His eyes were riveted upon me.

"Master Hammet," he repeated again, this time loud enough so that even those towards the entrance could hear. "I want her." Strange words. What could he mean?

Evidently Hammet was thinking the same thing. He coughed, before speaking. "Ivan..." He began, and I noted that this was the one whom Isaac had told me to watch out for. "She is not a plaything."

"I know," he replied. He began to shake his head. "That is not what I meant. What I meant is…" he hesitated a second, before coming out with it. "I want her… as my wife."

I gagged at the same time the crowd became a roar. The entire court went insane. I turned around, not caring that I might offend the king. In the midst of all those in the room, my eyes locked with Isaac's, and I saw only him. His eyes were wider than what I had ever seen. He had not expected this to happen, either. I called out his name, but my voice was drowned in the sea of noise.

In the midst of the chaos, Hammet called out, "order. Order, I say!" And the Slates finally quieted down. I turned around back to Hammet, just in time to see that he was looking at Layana again. My eyes met hers also, and I finally understood why her eyes blazed so. She was jealous. Hammet knew this too.

"Very well," Hammet nodded his head, returning to the room. "Tomorrow at sunset, there shall be a wedding that binds both my firstborn son Ivan and Jenna of Weyard together." For you see, even a child can command a king, when there is jealousy in the king's wife.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Such a thing had never been heard of before. A human girl that would become a princess of Slates? One who had originally entered the world through slavery? It was unbelieavable.

It was even more unbelievable due to the fact that it was happening to me. I would have never guessed this. Not in a million years.

Felix had told me not to worry.

I had doubted him.

I was wrong.

But being with Ivan would mean I would have to bid farewell to anything I ever had with Isaac.

Perhaps this would offer someway to help my people, though. If that was the case, I should be happy… Right? I should... be happy… right, Felix?

I was to stay at the palace. Not as a slave… but as a guest. Tomorrow I would wed Ivan. Thank goodness the Slates provided me with a separate room. I don't think I could have slept in the same room as Ivan. He still looked like a ten year old to me… even if he was really older.

The sun was setting, and I found myself racing through each of the rooms and hallways, while at the same time trying to make it look as though I was not running. Most of the Slates had already left after they congratulated both me and Ivan.

I hadn't forgotten the promise Isaac and I made.

In the maze of a palace, I finally did manage to find the balcony that overlooked the garden. The sun was setting behind the palace, which made me realize that the sun went east to west in this world, too. This was good, for I could scan the area below me without trouble. As I intently checked every corner of the garden, I was shocked when I heard a soft voice behind me.

"Hi…" It was barely a whisper. I whipped around to find that it was my fiancé. "Are you… alright?" His eyes were soft yet piercing. I felt as though my very heart and soul was being searched. Isaac had mentioned that it was no use lying to this kid.

"I just need a little alone time," I whispered back, pushing the strange invasion feeling away. "I am… sorry."

"Alright…" The boy nodded his head and closed his eyes. "I understand…" And he turned around and left. For this, I was thankful. If he were to find Isaac…

Yes… Isaac. I turned back and began searching for him again. The sun kept going lower and lower, but I paid it no heed. My heart began to go down like the sun. It had become so dark that I could no longer see anything below me. Dejectedly, I turned around, and began to walk towards my room.

Isaac was just busy this day. It would be hard to sneak in after all that commotion at the palace today, anyway. I wouldn't be able to see him tomorrow, as the wedding would take place during the sunset. But after that I could see him.

Yes, I'd see him in two days.

I believed that. I had to believe that…

A/N: Hi. This is really a JennaXIvan fic. Yea, so, Ivan and Jenna are my two favorite GS characters, so I figured, 'hey! Why don't I make the two of them get hitched?' (cough) No, not really. Well, they are my favorite characters, but... all that other stuff was a lie.

Someone flame me for this chapter, pleeease? I'll flame myself otherwise. This chapter was sad. Ngh. Dang it.

But don't flame Ivan! Ivan is not evil. I love Ivan. Why'd he have to marry Jenna? Why'd I write it? Darn it. Oh well. I tried to warn everyone without giving away the plot. Oh, I guess technically they aren't married yet, huh...

Does IvanXJenna even have a name? I searched and no IvanXJenna things came up. ...Can I make up a name if there is no technical name? lol... If there is no name, someone tell me an idea, because I really would at least like them to have a name. Like Firestormshipping, or something, but that's long, so someone think of something else. ...Why AREN'T there IvanXJenna stuff out there, anyway? If there can be AlexXJenna or MiaXFelix and even WiseOneXGaret, there should, by all rights, at leastbe JennaXIvan stuff. ...I haven't even written a IvanXJenna fic yet. Maybe I should start a new trend. But I already have a different idea for a story, aw...

Oh, which brings up another question: what is KarstXFelix called? I think I'm gonna do something like that after this fic... You know, like each other in the weird, hack each other's head off, way. And Felix will die again! But he comes back. If I ever do that story.

Haha, this just goes to show you: Isaac is either evil, or gets a really crummy outcome in my stories. ...Oh shoot, I just ruined my surprise for Shadowed, didn't I? Oh well, no one reads it anyway.

Acknowledgments: Same thing, as always. Razorsoft and Sega own Slates, while Nintendo and Camelot own Golden Sun.