Chapter 16: An Uninvited Guest

Karigan stood behind the King as he awaited his bride. Even though he was not facing her she could tell his king's mask was in place from the rigid way he was holding himself. She sighed, neither of them wanted this. This is what is best for Sacoridia, she reminded herself; the feelings of a single Green Rider would have never been enough to change that. She could see Lhean out of the corner of her eye and noted the half-smile on his face as he stood next to Karigan representing the Eletians interest in the matters of Sacoridia. Together the grooms' party watched the King of Sacoridia await his bride.

The room quietened as Neff announced the Bridal party. The party was large and comprised of not only Estora and most of her female relatives but many daughters of the Lord Governors all seeking Royal favour. The entire party was dressed in the colours of the Courte clan each with a broach depicting the cormorant. The Queen seemed to glide slowly down the aisle between the rows of guests, Karigan could not help but admire the workmanship of the Queens's gown as it seemed to float around her body making her look like some sort of goddess. Estora's blonde hair was dressed in a complicated fashion held in place by many clips and silken flowers. She looked beautiful.

I cannot compare, Karigan sighed. But then there never was any competition she is a beautiful noble woman, I am a mere Green Rider consigned to do the King's bidding. Estora looked nervous Karigan noted, but then it is not every day one gets to wed the King of Sacoridia.

As Estora reached Zachary's side, and the moon priest stepped forwards to begin the ceremony, she looked straight at Karigan; Karigan froze and met her Queens's gaze. She was surprised to see Estora pale a little before looking away. Does Estora know my feelings? Karigan wondered, we were once close friends and now we stand on the brink of something unstoppable. She is queen and I shall soon enter Blackveil one last time. She let her mind dwell on what it might mean, after all despite the mask she was forcing, the fact remained that having to stand and watch the man she loved marry another was killing her inside.

Karigan felt a single tear run down her cheek as the Royal couple stepped towards the priest. There never was a hope for us, she reminded herself. Estora really did look beautiful the light shone on a yellow ruby around her neck and made speckles of light dance on her skin. Estora looked like a Queen Karigan decided sighing.

Estora raised a hand nervously to the pendant Lord Amberhill had given her she took comfort in the soft golden glow it emitted and smiled slightly. She had missed him these past months while preparing for the wedding, she had always enjoyed her conversations with him, but now she was Queen she seemed doomed to lose her closest friends.

She steeled herself and gave Neff a slight nod in order to let him start the introductions. The mob of various relatives and the daughters of the Lord & Lady Governors behind her straightened up several of them straightening their attendants dresses one last time before the door to the Grand Hall opened allowing them to see the full crowd of guests for the first time.

Had she not been court-trained since the aged of six Estora might not have been able to keep her composure. Hundreds of faces stared at her as she made her way slowly down the aisle hindered by the vast skirts of the exquisite dress her mother had ordered to be made. She could not look at her husband as seeing Karigan standing dutifully behind her monarch made Estora's heart wrench.

She shook herself. A bride should not be walking down the aisle full of regrets. Especially a bride who had a way out, she scolded herself mentally for not standing up to her father, I should have noticed before, I knew Zachary was in love, why was I so blind to the truth. In truth she knew she had not had a choice, without F'ryan she had given up to her father's will in hope that she would at least have a marriage of respect.

As she reached Zachary her gaze slipped and she found herself looking Karigan in the eye. The strong willed Rider stared back, her face a mask of determination, but Estora knew what Karigan must be feeling. She had been lucky F'ryan had died, for Karigan the man she loved would always be before her but never attainable. Guilt washed through Estora, I was lucky enough to love another after F'ryan even if he does not love me back, Zachary respects me. Karigan may not be so lucky. She pulled her gaze away from Karigan and back on to the moon priest.

Karigan shivered as the couple in front of her clasp hands. She could feel something cold spreading through her body and then a voice front her blackest nightmares spoke to her.

"I will offer you only once more, join me and..."

The scene in front of her dissolved and she saw herself clasping hands with Zachary before a moon priest. The Zachary in her vision smiled down at her with warm brown eyes and gently placed a kiss on the back of her hand just as he had that morning, she shivered. She looked more closely at the vision of herself, she was wearing a long fashionable gown in the blues and purples of her clan and upon her brow rested a silver circlet.

Karigan tried to shake herself as the vision-Karigan fell in to the Kings arms. She knew that it was not real and could never happen yet she lingered watching Zachary. His expression was so tender and kind as he pulled the vision-Karigan closer. She blinked; suddenly she was inside the vision of herself. Hoof beats reverberated in her head as Zachary leant in to kiss her forehead. It was so tempting to give in and let Mornhavon have it all then she could be with Zachary. Except we wouldn't survive that long, she reminded herself.

"Join me Galadheon." The voice persisted.

"Never!" She growled softly the hoof beats giving her new strength.

The presence grew more tangible. He was here. Mornhavon had not waited for her to come to him, he had sought her out first and now he could easily hurt the King. She gasped and glanced at Lhean, the Eletian was grasping the hilt of his sword. Gathering up her courage she pulled Zachary away from Estora and put herself in between him and the presence. She would not let the King die.

From the corner of her eye she saw Fastion do the same for Estora. She held her sword tightly as she stood between the man she loved and Mornhavon determined to protect him no matter what. The Weapons had once commented that she had the mettle to become a Black Shield and she realised now that they were right, she smiled remembering how the King had said he preferred her in green. Now was not the time to be nostalgic, she pulled herself back to reality. She was going to die protecting Zachary.

Lhean watched the Queen walk down the aisle with little interest, she was said to be a great beauty yet he could not see it himself. Instead he amused himself with looking at Galadheon. She may have enough skill to fool her own people, but he could tell what she was going through, her shoulders were extremely tense. He would have pointed it out to her earlier but he knew he would have only earned himself an ear full of fire.

She was a strange girl even among the Sacoridian's yet there was something about her that seemed to gain her the respect of everyone around her. Fate is a funny thing, he mused, long ago her forefather joined with Ambriodhe to help stop Mornhavon, now the legacy of both great people has combined in the form of this spunky young woman. The thought made him smile, this mortal woman carried the fate of them all on her green shoulders and yet here she stood on the eve of her trip to Blackveil, watching the man she loved and would die for, marry another.

He was pulled out of these thoughts when a faint intangible presence floated on the edge of his consciousness before flickering away. He blinked, it had seemed familiar but perhaps he had imagined it by thinking of evil things. When he saw Galadheon stiffen out of the corner of his eye he realised he had not imagined it. Reality hit him hard. Mornhavon was here.

Lhean signalled to the Kings guard beside him before getting ready to draw his own sword. He noticed the others around the room dressed in black come alive moving silently forward invisible to the guests whose attention was fully on the moon priest and their monarchs. He counted the seconds in his head Karigan had been frozen for quite a while now, carefully he moved closer to her.

He was close enough to hear her whispered "Never."

Suddenly she seemed to snap out of it. Her gaze met his and he just nodded. They both knew what must be done. There were people who had to be protected. He was not surprised to see her step between the King and the presence he could feel manifesting in the centre of the room. As Fastion stepped in front of the Queen; Lhean took it as his cue to move forwards.

"Do not move." He announced to the assembled guests, "Mornhavon the Black is here."

The crowd seemed to be in shock as a soft laugh came from the far side of the silent hall. A Weapon Karigan did not know, but recognised from around the palace strode forward, his sword fully drawn, a look of hatred contorting his normally placid face. The Weapon laughed again in the voice of Mornhavon.

"Betrayer! Step aside; there is nothing you can do to hurt me." The words reverberated around the hall, "Ambriodhe cannot help you now."

She did not move from her position but she felt herself being pulled by her broach, here in another layer of the world she saw the body of the Weapon being overlapped by a young man, the hatred clear in his expression as he moved towards where she stood. He smiled at her, she tried to swing at him but she could not, her body was frozen. She tried to flinch away as he kissed her cheek.

Zachary watched in disbelief as the Weapon bore down on the woman he loved. He had to save her, he did not care that he was the King and that she was only a Green Rider, he had to do something. Yet he could not move, he watched as Mornhavon used to Weapons body to kiss her on the cheek. Rage built inside Zachary and yet he could do nothing it seemed like the entire room had been frozen by Mornhavon's power.

Why is it that can I never protect the woman I loved?