Mikoto loved to talk, Sakura quickly found out.

The woman did not stop - not for a moment. Sakura couldn't even tell you what the current conversation is about at the moment. She found herself half-heartedly listening to the woman as her body rocked with the movement of the spider beginning its journey. She found herself wondering how they were going to get back to the castle. They had to cross the DarkGrove, she knew that but what about the Fae Forest? It isn't like the Daemons and Faes had bad blood per se but it wasn't necessarily good either.

Sasuke had eventually joined them in the Awning and Naruto sat just outside acting as a guard.

She wanted to punch the smug look he had off of his face. His unfortunately attractive face. She hated him. Still, with every glance she stole in his direction, she couldn't help but find him familiar somehow. Like she has seen him before all of this.

It was driving her nuts.

"What do you think, Sakura, dear?"

Sakura's head snaps to - looking in the direction of the Queen. Her confusion must have shown on her face because the Queen just sighs.

"I know, I'm so sorry, I talk alot when I get excited. I was just asking what colors you were thinking for the wedding? Obviously we have the Uchiha colors but we want to make sure we incorporate you and your history into it all as well. It is only fair." She gives a smile and maybe it would have been comforting if her teeth were not razor sharp and thin-looking.

"Oh, no I'm sorry, I should have been listening," Sakura forces a polite smile. "I'm just a little.. Distracted and overwhelmed."

Mikoto gives her a sad look.

It feels like a punch in the gut to Sakura. How dare she look at her like that when it is her and her family putting Sakura through this?

"Not to worry, it is alright. It will all be alright." Mikoto reaches towards Sakura and the pinkette almost backs away but forces herself to hold still as Mikoto's long finger tucks a stray hair behind her ear. "We can talk about this when we arrive and you settle in. No need to stress yourself out right now."

Silence fills the awning after Sakura mumbles a soft thank you.

As it drags out, she almost would have rathered all the chatter. Now, she was left alone to her thoughts and the fact that she has no idea how to get back to her village from the castle. She would be stuck there with no one she knows.

She lets out a soft sigh.

The gentle movement of the spider and the quietness of the forest and grove caused her eyes to feel heavy. She gives into the feeling.

. . . .

"Hanako!"

Her eyes looked around wildly. There was so much going on at once. She couldn't make sense of it!

"Quickly, everyone inside! You must get to safety!" She didn't recognize her own voice amongst the crowd of people all rushing around her and into the doors infront of her. She didn't quite understand what was going on, though the urgency spoke numbers to her. "Hurry!"

"Hanako!"

She looked around to find the one calling out for someone. She couldn't see anyone but the last few stragglers trying to get inside the door. As she moves to join them inside, she feels someone grab onto her wrist and pull.

"What-"

Her eyes widen as she turns around.

. . . .

Pain blossomed in her chest as she jerked awake.

She could feel hands reaching towards her and she struggled to get further away before she calmed down. She could hear Mikoto and Naruto trying to soothe her with gentle voices. Her breathing was rapid and eventually the pain in her chest subsided.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, she was asleep one moment and then screaming the next."

"We need to hurry and get to the castle then. There is no telling what her scream alerted."

She was asleep once more. This time dreamless.

. . . .

The next time she woke up, she was being gently shook by Mikoto. The woman gave her an apologetic smile.

"We have arrived. It is very late, however, so someone will show you to your room. Tomorrow, we will arrange for a tour and you will meet my older son, Itachi. We will go into more detail about everything tomorrow. For now, please get some rest and we will speak soon."

The Queen gave Sakura a gentle kiss on the forehead which made the younger girl freeze. She couldn't make sense of everything. She didn't understand why Mikoto was being so nice when her son was an asshole. How did he come from her?

"Thank you." Sakura calls out to the Queen as she is helped down the spider. Mikoto disappears into the castle. Sakura is helped down next and she doesn't move an inch as she takes in the castle. It was huge.

The stories did not do it justice. It was beautiful - dark, twisty, and spikey. It did not look inviting per se but it certainly was ethereal. It looked like it did not belong to this world.

"Come along now, my lady, we must prepare you for bed."

Sakura didn't know how she was going to sleep with everything going on. She still went though.