I do not own Skyrim, if I did I'd more likely than not be the happiest girl alive :D

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Breuin did not speak with her after that, and whenever they saw each other in The Blue Palace, they would quickly turn from the other. And if they did have to speak, it would be brief and curt.

Mya would spend more time speaking with Ria, and helping her with her duties than with any of her family in the few weeks leading up to the announcement of Breuin's engagement.

Ria had protested at her offer of help to begin with, but when it became clear that the princess would not be swayed, the maid gave in and let her help with her siblings.

Mya soon figured that Ria was Imperial, but had Breton in her somewhere, because she could cast a spell as easily as one.

She sat there, holding Ria's youngest sister, Jessa. Bouncing the toddler on her knee, she thought that mayhaps this is what it felt like to be a mother. Ria had taught her how to hold a young babe, and how to feed and wind them.

Jessa let out a tinkling baby laugh, and Mya found herself smiling. She knew that if she were to marry Breuin, that she'd have to give him an heir; whether the child was a boy or maiden it did not truly matter, she knew. But male heirs were still more preferable to female. Girls were traded and promised like gifts, while boys got to rule their own Holds or towns.

"Ria?" Mya asked and set Jessa on the wooden floor. The little girl toddled off down the hall to her room. "Yes, my lady?"

"If I were to run away, would you come with me?"

She saw Ria's surprised expression out of the corner of her eye. "Wh- I mean, pardon?" She asked, and Mya turned around to look at her friend. "I do not want to marry Prince Breuin." She said. "He is my cousin. Not that distantly related at all! I grew up riding horses with him, now I do not wish to ride because the engagement has ruined that as well."

Ria leant against the door frame, and thought it over. "If my lady wishes it." She said after a moment.

Mya knew then what had to be done.

Her mother had seated Mya next to Breuin, and they both looked to be slightly uncomfortable. Mya knew what was going on, what was going to be announced.

So she sat there quietly and sipped her watered wine as Joric the High King announced the Mya was to wed Breuin.

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