It was widely known that the marriage of Ezran and Aanya was a mere matter of politics. After all, the bride and groom were little more than children: enough to convince even the traditionalist Opeli of the need to postpone the traditional bedding ceremony to a date to be set.

Soon, however, the two began to meet more and more often, and once the initial embarrassments were overcome, they became inseparable.

A very puzzled Callum tells us:

"I no longer recognize my brother. Was I the same in the days after my wedding? Rayla laughs and says yes, but I find it hard to believe. It is true what the wise men say, that women are far more dangerous than swords!"

Certainly the charisma of the new empress played a very important role in this sudden change of the sovereign. All sources, in fact, agree in describing Aanya as extremely charming, and certainly her personality was difficult to ignore even at that young age. Many at the time accused Aanya of having seduced King Ezran so as to bend him to her will and thus gain influence and power. In the eyes of her adversaries, who disparagingly called her "the Durenian", she was nothing but a foreigner: the fact that she surrounded herself with Durenian dignitaries did not contribute to make her loved among the most traditionalist of the Katoleans. Among her fiercest opponents we mention Lady Opeli, Colonel Gren-who remembered how the soldiers of Duren had escaped without practically fighting during the Battle of the Sand-and, perhaps the reader will be surprised, the High Wizard Callum, who feared the ambition and political ruthlessness of the empress. Instead, Aanya found an unexpected ally in Rayla, who like her had to move to Katolis after the wedding, and therefore well understood the queen's feelings. A deep friendship was soon born between the two.

However, it would be unfair to reduce Aanya to the role of cunning seducer.

Ezran in Aanya found, more than a wife, a confidante and, it may seem strange, a playmate. We must not forget that the two, although extremely mature for their age, were still children, both forced to carry a burden that would have crushed men far more experienced than they were. With all the other courtiers they were forced to wear the heavy mask of the sovereign: but when they were alone they could let go and spend a few hours of blissful childish carelessness.

I quote the High Wizard again: "Their Imperial Majesties ran out of the room as soon as the meeting ended. Looks like Aanya promised my brother she'd teach him archery. Yesterday Barius caught both of them while they were sneaking into his kitchen to steal jelly tarts. Poor Soren, they don't let him to rest a moment!"

The entire court, both the Katoleans and the Durenians, seemed to enjoy this newfound lightheartedness. After so much mourning, the castle returned to resound with songs and music.

And the bells rang throughout the kingdom when, on April 15th, the birth of the daughter of Prince Callum and Rayla of Silvergrove was announced.

Until now, cases of mixed couples having children could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and some even doubted that Elves and Humans could generate a progeny: that birth was then celebrated as a miracle. The child had both five-fingered hands and small brown horns, and was named Tiadrin in honor of the late grandmother.

Those were happy and prosperous days, but we must not think that the demanding private life of the royal family made the sovereigns forget the problems of the kingdom.

The war may have seemed stalled, but it was far from over.