That night I take a walk in the garden. This wedding is wreaking my mind. I wish this wasn't happening.
Or have I told you already? Oh well. But it's stirring in my stomach like a blazing fire, and burns my inside. I need to think. To be alone.
"Can't sleep?"
It's Lavertus. Wonderful...
"No. You?"
"Ah I was always a little bit of a nigh owl. Are you?"
"No. I just cant get something off my mind." I say sitting down on a stone bench next to a rose bush.
"What's wrong?" He asks sitting next to me.
"The wedding."
"Why the wedding? We are planning."
"It's not that. I-I don't,"
"Don't what?"
"I don't want to get married. Not now."
"My dear, only two days are left after today. Nothing can be re-arranged. I'm sorry."
"Well, Your the kings brother! Cant you get him to change the day?"
"No. Its tradition, and Laval will be king in just a year now. We cant move it."
"To the Gorge with Tradition! I never wanted to be here! I never wanted to get married either! But your nephew HAD to pick ME!"
I'm standing in front of Lavertus. Yelling, and he is just sitting there, eyes closed and a hard expression on his face.
"Crescent,-"
"I DONT CARE! I JUST WANT TO GO HOME TO MY FAMILY!"
He looks at me to see I'm crying now. He stands up and places his hands on my shoulders.
"My nephew isn't like back at your home. I've been there, I've seen how your were treated as a cub. It broke my heart. But, he looks inside a girl to find beauty.
Then looks at how pretty a girl is inside. I've know you for so little time, and you both got to replenish years of playing as cubs to marriage. He loves you, TRULY.
Just because you feel different, ugly or something no one wants to care about, MY nephew cares about you, no matter what those people back home say about you.
You ARE truly beautiful Crescent."
He wipes a tear from my face and gives me a hug. And whispers in my ear, "Only you can fix this, just let Laval in. Your eyes will see the truth I'm talking about."
And leaves.
I just stand there to process his words. How can I fix this letting Laval 'in'? What does he mean by letting him in anyways?
I leave for bed, dreading the day I'm given away.