Chapter Three

After the two girls finished getting Ashelynn ready there was a knock at the door. Dorthe went to open it and after conversing with the person outside she returned and informed Ashelynn that the Emperor had returned but the meal was still being prepared.

"Lord Vayne requests your presence in the palace gardens." Dorthe told her.

"I don't know where that is." Ashelynn replied, sounding more confident than she felt. Truth be told, her nervousness only heightened to the point where her stomach started hurting. After Dorthe offered to show her the way, Ashelynn had to will her legs to walk. Her heart was beating so rapidly and so loudly that she was sure that Dorthe could hear it. But to her credit, if she did hear it, the maid said nothing. As they got close enough to see the gardens, Ashelynn was so nervous she froze. Dorthe placed a hand of support on her shoulder and Ashelynn smiled at her gratefully and continued walking.

They walked into the gardens, then Dorthe bowed politely and started to leave.

"Dorthe?"

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Thank you." Dorthe looked surprised.

"Is something wrong?" Ashelynn asked.

"It's just that no one has ever thanked me before."

"Well they should. If I didn't have you to help me where would I be?" Ashelynn laughed, temporarily forgetting her nervousness.

"Thank you, My Lady."Another bow and Dorthe was gone. It was then that Ashelynn remembered why she was there. Trying to calm her nerves, she turned back around.

Vayne Solidor stood watching this scene slightly amused. His future bride was definitely going to win people's loyalty if she treated them like that. Perfect for a wife of House Solidor. She would be the softer side, the compassionate side, to his law and order.

As Ashelynn turned, she saw him. The view made her lose her breath. She unknowingly clasped her hands tightly in front of her in nervousness. He was . . . well she didn't really know how to describe him. He had finely structured cheek and jaw bones. And a perfect square chin. She glanced at his finely shaped, full lips and wondered how they would feel pressed against hers. Then there were his eyes. Deep blue, but that wasn't what drew her to them. It was the carefully guarded look in them. The intelligence behind them that gave her the feeling that he saw and understood everything. Despite the guard, or maybe because of it, she somehow knew that there were many layers to this man. It was the combination of all this plus the aura of authority that just seemed to emanate from him that made her realize she was looking at the most attractive man she had ever seen. He smiled at her and the breath she had just managed to get back was gone again. He walked towards her and all she could do was stand there and stare.

"Hair dark as night, skin pale as the moon, eyes the color of a blue crystal shining in moonlight*. Such are the words used to describe Bhujerba's Midnight Beauty. But those words could not have prepared me for the stunning beauty of the lady before me." He walked up and bowing slightly he took her gloved hand, brought it up to his mouth and kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers. Ashelynn felt as if her knees would buckle. Her heart had stopped momentarily and was now racing. The effect this man had on her made her breathless and she could barely think. She somehow managed to regain some composure and blushed, looking away.

"Thank you." She said shyly. "At first I was not very pleased with the idea of an arranged marriage but after meeting you I feel it may be better than I thought it would be."

"I hope I may prove to be what you wish me to be." He said. Ashelynn looked at him thoughtfully. His words were simple but he stated them so elegantly. He watched her studying him.

"And may I prove to be what you need me to be." She replied. He took a mental note that she had said need instead of want or wish and wondered if that had been intentional. She smiled at him.

"Lady Ashelynn, there is more to you then meets the eye. Though the eye is not left wanting."

"I could say the same of you, Lord Vayne." was the reply with a blush. Vayne was intrigued. He would enjoy getting to know this woman both mentally and physically.

* The color of Ashelynn's eyes are a sky blue but to go with the theme of the midnight beauty I had to come up with a different description pertaining to night. Though it may not be entirely accurate using the color of the blue save crystals in moonlight was the only thing I could come up with.

Thank you for the review. Please keep reading and reviewing. As always the next chapter will be coming in the next day or two. Enjoy!