The ceremony was over faster than I thought. Apparently, Murtagh wasn't that crazy to give our enemies better chance to attack us. Now I was truly Murtagh's wife. It should have made me very happy, but I was worried. I just couldn't stop thinking about the danger around us.

People were coming to me, congratulating and doing some strange moves. It took me few minutes to realize they were bowing to me because I was the queen now. I probably looked like the most nervous and unfriendly queen ever. Or maybe I just didn't know what queens usually did and how they acted.

"Amarantha." Murtagh finally came back to me, after talking with many different people. I didn't care who they were. Murtagh was smiling, enjoying the moment. I sighed.

"Can we go now?" I gave him a pleading look.

"Oh, Amarantha, my love!" he laughed "Don't be like this! Enjoy the party!"

"Right." I smiled bitterly "Can we go?"

"If you insist." he didn't seem too happy about it.

"Yes, I insist." I grabbed his arm and pulled him with me. Four guards followed us through the crowd. I went faster, trying to lose them. But they were too good at what they were doing. Great.

"Whoa, what's going on?" Murtagh asked "You're almost running."

"I just want to get out of here, ok?" I rolled my eyes. When we reached our room, the guards were still behind us. I got really really mad. I didn't want them to follow us so suddenly just because we were officially ruling the country.

"Go away!" I yelled at the guards who looked puzzled.

"Amarantha!" Murtagh pulled me into a hug "Calm down, honey. They're here to protect us."

"I don't care." I said "They weren't protecting us before. Why now?"

"You know why." he said quietly "Now everyone knows about us."

"So?" I raised an eyebrow "You wanted this. Now protect us."

"Come." he said and we entered the room. Murtagh closed the door and I went to the balcony. It was getting dark outside and I could still see people partying. How nice. They were celebrating my wedding, even though I didn't. Murtagh came behind my back, putting his arms around my waist.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked "I don't understand why you're so…pissed off."

"Don't you see?" I said "This is a show for people, not a wedding."

"Don't think about it. You're my wife now." he whispered, kissing my neck "Aren't you happy?"

"Yes, I am." I said, feeling a bit better. Murtagh was right. I was being silly. I took all this too seriously and it was just something that had to happen. I was Murtagh's wife and nothing else mattered.

"Just forget about everything that is going on here." he said "I'll take care of it…"

"Right." I smiled "It's just that I feel so…I don't know…annoyed by everything…lately."

"Don't worry." he said "I love you."

"I love you too." I turned around to kiss him. He smiled at me. The night was already getting better than the whole day.


The next morning everything was back to ordinary. Maids were cleaning up the rests of the wedding party and Murtagh had already left before I woke up. I just found a note saying that he would be back by noon.

I decided to check on the kids. I got to their rooms, but they weren't there. For a moment I panicked I got lost again, but then a maid told me they were outside. That was strange, because being outside was supposed to be dangerous.

Elisabeth and Max were running around the castle and Gerald was watching them. I got closer and realized they had small wooden swords in their hands. I frowned.

"Hello, my Queen." Gerald smiled at me and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm still the same person." I said "Don't you too annoy me with that queen thing."

"As you wish." he said.

"Good." I said "What's going on here?"

"I'm teaching your kids some basic sword fighting." he said.

"What? You're kidding me, right?" I stared at him. He didn't look like he was joking.

"Don't worry. They won't get hurt." he said.

"Whatever you say." I muttered. Kids finally saw me and ran to me.

"Mommy!" Elisabeth jumped into my arms, almost hitting me with her sword. Max took my free hand and smiled at me.

"Wow, did you miss me?" I smiled at them.

"Yes!" Eli moved away from me a bit "Mommy, look what I can do!"

I watched her jump with the sword and point at invisible enemy. She swung her sword around few more times and smiled at me.

"Umm, great, honey." I forced myself to smile. She was good actually, considering that this was just a child's game.

"Your daughter has a natural talent." said Gerald as Max and Eli ran to fight each other.

"Talent?" I laughed "For what?"

"One day she will be a good fighter." he said.

"No." I said "Not my daughter."

"Don't you understand?" he looked at me "Your daughter has a chance to change things. She can have a better life."

"I don't understand what you're talking about." I said "What better life has to do with fighting? You mean her death would be better than this life?"

"No, no!" he said "I didn't mention death. Why do you put death together with fighting? It doesn't go together."

"But it comes together." I said "If my daughter ever gets to fight anyone, she will die."

"Don't be so sure." he said "That's why I'm teaching her how to beat her enemies."

"But that's stupid." I said "It just won't happen. My daughter won't be a fighter. You'll realize it soon."

"And you prefer her to have your life? Your faith?" he said.

"What are you talking about?" I frowned.

"Do you want her to be helpless? Do you want her to feel scared like you do?" he said "Don't you wish you didn't have to depend on Murtagh?"

I stared at him for a moment, completely shocked. My life was a mess and I did wish I could defend myself, but I never thought about it like that. Everyone made me believe I couldn't do it and I knew I couldn't do it, but maybe if I practiced…maybe I really wouldn't be so afraid all the time.

I looked at Elisabeth. She was smiling and she seemed so happy. But will it be the same when she grows up? I used to be happy too. And I still was, just part of me was always worrying something could happen. There was no complete happiness.

"Alright." I said "We'll see what will happen in future. Teach her whatever you want. Time will show who's right."

"You know I'm right." he said "And you think that too, just your brain refuses that thought. You already saw that life isn't what you thought it was few years ago."

"Yes, well…" I sighed "What my mother taught me about life isn't even close to this. But then again, my mother never thought I could become a queen."

"Does your family know about this?" he said.

"I don't know. I haven't had any contact with them for a long time." I said "Do you think they found out?"

"Probably." Gerald said "Or they will find out soon. There were people here from whole country yesterday. Someone from your village must have come."

"If my mother could see her granddaughter right now, I think she would go crazy." I laughed "She would prefer I taught my daughter how to cook!"

"Well, why don't you?" he laughed.

"Maybe when she's older." I said "Right now I probably wouldn't have the nerves to do it."

"You have time for that." he smiled.

"I hope so." I said, looking at the blue sky "I really hope so."

Suddenly I felt the ground under me shaking. Something was wrong. I looked in front of me and the scenery was getting darker and darker. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't move. Heavy dark clouds were coming at me and some strange feeling went through my body. I couldn't breath, I couldn't see. The world just went black.


I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Murtagh's worried face. I smiled. I couldn't count anymore how many times I've been in this situation. But Murtagh was still serious.

"What's…" I wanted to ask but my throat felt dry and sore. I swallowed hard. What the hell happen to me this time?

"You'll be fine. Just stay still and point where it hurts." Murtagh said and when I did, he used magic to heal me. I immediately felt better. I managed to sit up in the bed and saw Gerald sitting on a chair in the corner of the room.

"What happened to me?" I asked, getting up from the bed. I felt dizzy at first, but it passed.

"You mean you don't know?" Murtagh was surprised.

"I'm not sure." I said.

"You stared at the woods like you saw a ghost and then you fell down and hit your head on a rock." Murtagh said.

"I just fell?" I was a bit shocked "But what about the earthquake?"

"What earthquake?" both Murtagh and Gerald stared at me in confusion.

"You mean there wasn't an earthquake?" I said and they kept staring "Oh."

"Does that mean there will be an earthquake?" Murtagh looked at me.

"Umm, not sure." I said "But I saw…I saw darkness coming here and it was horrible. I had this strange feeling inside me. I was so afraid."

"Did you see who it was?" Murtagh said "It must be one of our enemies."

"No." I shook my head "In fact, I believe it's not a person."

"You're joking, right?" Murtagh laughed nervously "It has to be a person. Or it was just a moment of your crazy ideas."

"My crazy ideas?" I frowned "I know what I saw! I'm not crazy!"

"No one is saying you're crazy." Gerald said, frowning at Murtagh "We're just trying to understand what happened."

"I don't know." I said "I just know that something is wrong. Someone or something…is against us and it's coming."

"You sound like one of those crazy women who pretend they can see the future, but in fact say nothing." Murtagh rolled his eyes.

"What?" I got really angry. What was his problem? How could he call me crazy?

"I'm just saying that you're telling us all this because we are expecting to hear something." he said "And I'm sure nothing happened. You probably just fainted."

"Do you really think I'm lying?" I got closer to him, staring deep into his eyes. I wanted him to realize I was serious about this. He looked at me for a moment.

"You're serious." he sounded surprised.

"See, I told you so." I crossed my arms "Can you see what I saw too?"

"No." he said "That part of your mind I can't reach."

"Oh, ok." I said "I just can't believe you thought I was lying."

"I'm sorry, my love." he tried to hug me but I moved away.

"Anything you say now won't make it right." I said "I'm your wife! You know me! And you don't believe me…oh, I think I can see the darkness already. And it's right there in your eyes."

"What?" he looked at me "It looks like I'm right too, so let's forget about this. You're probably just confused and tired because of the wedding and everything. I should have known this would be too much for you…"

"No!" I said "I'm not crazy and I'm not…hm, actually I am tired."

"Come with me." Murtagh said "I'll take you to our room."

"I can find it on my own." I said coldly.

"What now?" Murtagh said "You're still mad at me?"

"Yes." there just wasn't a reason to lie.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" he smiled seductively. I stood there, trying hard to keep an angry face. I failed after two seconds. He was just irresistible.

"Uh-huh." I smiled. He took my hand and this time I didn't complain. But I couldn't get my vision out of my head. Something was wrong and I couldn't figure it out what. Maybe it was really nothing or just my imagination.

Murtagh was right; only another person would want to harm us. But even though I hadn't seen a face, it didn't mean there wasn't someone behind this. Maybe I just received a warning to be careful. I had no idea. But this wasn't the right time to worry about it because Murtagh was with me.