Chapter 7

The next week was filled with sorrow. Katsa felt crumbled. Po was devastated. His whole kingdom wept for their loss. Why did he die? Why… Katsa's thoughts seemed to repeat over and over again. She was like a broken record.

One day Katsa's misery turned into a powerful resolve. She decided she wanted to grasp at the things in life she hadn't wanted before, because who knows how she'll feel until she tries it. She wouldn't have known how someone can so suddenly love something, and how suddenly that love can be destroyed. The first thing was marriage; marriage to her beloved Po. Katsa tried to hide her thoughts; she didn't want to spoil the surprise. She called to the servants and arranged for a special dinner. Though they insisted on her wearing a dress, she refused.

Po was a bit worried. The servants seemed to be frazzled with their busy tasks. Katsa clamped down on her thoughts when ever Po was near. What was she planning? The thought nagged at his brain, always at the edge of his thoughts.

As dinner approached Po grew more anxious. He fiddled with his thumbs as he sat at the head of the table. He focused on Katsa, he could hear her thoughts, they were primarily focused on him but they were fuzzy. He couldn't focus on the exact thoughts; it was like trying to see through a thick fog. You can see the light, but you don't know what it means.

Finally Katsa arrived. Her hair, which surprisingly she hadn't cut yet, was pulled back with clips. It was odd that she still had hair; usually her hair was cut so close to her head. Her face was radiant. She was dressed in a fitting silk shirt and matching shorts. It clung to her body in the perfect way. Her tore his gaze from her delectable body and looked into her eyes. She was his love, and he hopped to always have her.

He was glad to see her happy. Before the baby she was a mess. After the baby, she had been a mess filled with sorrow. There was no winning, but now a secret smile lit up her face. She carried herself with utter confidence. It was a well-welcomed change.

"Po, I must tell you something. It is of grave importance." Katsa's tone was serious despite the playful look in her eyes. "I would like to be your wife." She pursued her lips it was the first time she had said this aloud.

Po stared, in utter shock. He ran up to her, he couldn't believe what she had said!

"Katsa, I believe you are ill, the baby's death must have done something," Po's voice was strange, he wanted more than anything to marry his love, but he always knew that she would never want that. He had been happy has her lover. To marry her was mind boggling, and the fact that she had suggested it made his head spin.

"Po I have thought, and thunk, and thunk and thought and this is what I want to do. When the baby did I realized that there is things I'm missing out on. Things that I might actually like. I have never wept over someone's death as much as I did that baby. I didn't want it, but when I had it and lost it I realized just how much I craved it. I think getting married to you might be a good idea too. Although I was so opposed earlier, I think…I think I would like to be your wife," Her words tumbled out of her mouth in such a fast rate that Po had a hard time understanding them. Katsa toke a deep breath and continued on, an almost teasingly superior smile on her face, "I hope you do not except me to do as a wife should. I will not make our bed, or be merry for our guests. Oh, and I will certainly not grow my hair any longer than this or wear fancy dresses all the time."

Po scoffed, "Of course Wildcat of course. Now when exactly do you want this wedding."

"As soon as possible Po, I don't want it to be grand. If you must invite your parents and your brothers so be it, as I will invite Raffin and perhaps a few others. No more than that! I expect to see all the faces of those I hold dear and not ones of curious strangers." Katsa rambled on and on as if she already had this all planned out.

"Six months time then, it should give the others a chance to get here." Po smiled at Katsa, why would Po think that he'd have a say in their wedding? He chuckled at the thought.

"Let us go somewhere more private to work out the rest of the details Katsa, and we will have your wedding."

Hope you enjoy, I'm kinda trying to piece together these jumble of ideas. There is more to come! Please keep reading. Your comments are appreciated!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Graceling.