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“You cannot contestant for Eira’s hand,” Gareth responded. “It’s not right.”

“The royal decree called for all nobles who deem themselves worthy of the princess’ hand,” Isabella responded firmly yet respectfully. “There was no mention of specific genders, so I am well within the law your majesty.”

Gareth turned to one of the royal guards who shook his head in response. “I’m afraid she is correct your majesty, as council man Roland and prince Jeffrey’s daughter, she is a noble and can contest for princess Eira’s hand.”

“But the list was already verified,” Gareth responded. “The only way someone can be added is if a lord of Gavaria or a member of the royal family vouches for them.” Gareth turned to look at Isabella. “Are your fathers aware of what you are doing Isabella? Is it them who vouched for you?”

“I vouched for her,” a voice called out from behind the king.

Gareth turned around and saw Damien who had stepped forward. “Damien? You?...”

“I vouched for her as well,” Zhelimir added on. Making the elven king even more perplexed.

“But why?” Gareth questioned his two nephews.

.....

“You’ve always told us to look out for Eira like she was our own sister your majesty,” Zhelimir spoke. “Our decision was based on that, you may not understand it now, but this is for the greater good, so please,” Zhelimir bowed respectfully. “Allow Isabella to stand as a suitor.”

If there was one thing Zhelimir was right about, it was that Gareth did not understand a single thing that was going on. But the rules were the rules, he had already gone back in his word once, he didn’t want to make a habit of it.

The turned to Isabella and sighed. “Very well, I will allow you to contest Isabella.”

“Thank you your majesty,” the blue eyed lycan woman responded with a curtsy.

“All rules apply to you as well,” Gareth added on, “you get one hour with her, and you are not to put her in harms way.”

“Understood your majesty..”

Gareth then looked down at his little princess who was as surprised by Isabella’s stunt as he was. He wanted to pull her close and apologize for putting her through all of this, but he knew it would take more that just an ‘I’m sorry’ to mend their relationship.

“Eira-”

“I should begin father” Eira interrupted the man. “I did not get enough sleep last night and wish to get today over and done with so I may rest.”

“Of course,” Gareth responded with a sad smile. “I will see you at dinner princess.”

*

The inside of the carraige was awkwardly quiet. Isabella sat on one end of the carraige, while Eira sat on the other, both not knowing what to say to the other.

“You look very pretty today,” Isabella mumbled making the redhead roll her eyes.

“Small talk and jokes aside Bella,” Eira responded seriously, “what in the world are you thinking? What is this? What do you plan to achieve but doing all of this?”

“I’m trying to help,” Isabella responded.

“By trying to marry me?!”

“When you say it like that it sounds absurd!”

“Well is there anyway I can say it that doesn’t?” Eira asked her friend sarcastically. “And what about Leonard? Does he know of this?”

“Yes I told him everything,” Isabella responded casually, confusing Eira even more.

“I don’t understand, what is really going on? How is you standing as one of my suitors going to help me?”

“I am not standing on my own behalf,” Isabella explained. “I am standing on behalf of your bloodhalf, on behalf of the man I know you truly wanted to show up today..” Isabella looked up at the princess whose face was now painted with shock. “I am standing on behalf of Elric.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Eira responded. “If he wanted to be here he would have been, clearly he doesn’t and you’re just wasting your time.”

“Eira I know you’re emotional and angry right now,” Isabella comforted her friend. “But you know it is not easy for him to just show up here, try to see things from his perspective. The parents of the woman he loves, and half the kingdom hate him and think he’s some evil man, how do you expect him to just waltz in and sweep you away? Your father would have him hanged.”

Eira looked away and folded her arms. “And how are you so sure? He didn’t even try...”

“I’m sure of it, trust me..” Isabella moved to where Eira was sitting and rubbed her shoulder gently. “Only someone who has experienced the bond of mates can truly know to what lengths one can go to to be with the one they love. Just give him time, I promise you he will come.”

“But time is what I don’t have, you read the decree, in eleven days I should be bethrothed.” The princess turned to look at Isabella with teary eyes. “What if he does not make it in time, then what do I do?”

Isabella took both Eira’s hands and gave her a hopeful smile. “He will, if Elric is as stubborn as my father says he is, believe when I say he will be here, just don’t lose hope. And besides, I will hold his place for as long as I need too, that’s what friends do.”

Tears flowed down Eira’s cheeks before she moved in and hugged her friend tightly. Through sobbing eyes and a heavy heart, she thanked Isabella, no one had ever done something so selfless for her before. For the past weeks Eira had felt like she was so alone, she had felt like everyone was okay with her not being happy. But Isabella had just reminded her that she wasn’t alone, and that there were people who were looking out for her.

After her sobs subsided, she wiped her tears away and looked up at Isabella. “So, where do you plan on taking me for the next one hour..”

Isabella chuckled and leaned back on the carraige chair. “Do you want to go to my house and tell me about how handsome you think Elric is?”

Eira blushed and shoved Isabella slightly, “only if you bore me with how breathtaking you think Leonard is..”

“Which he is,” Isabella responded, making both of them laugh.

For this first time in a while, Eira felt the little ambers of hope set alight again, and it was all thanks to her hopeless romantic of a friend.

*

Zhelimir walked out into the palace garden and smiled broadly when he saw Janis sitting on a bench near the patch of flowers covered in snow. She was using her magic to melt the snow away and making the flowers bloom.

“Janis..”

The elven woman looked up and smiled when she saw the tall handsome hybrid walking towards her. After the ball, Janis had started seeing Zhelimir in new light. He was no longer timid and awkward around her, now he asserted some sort of male dominance, but also a gentleness that tugged at her heart strings.

It would be an understatement to say she had a bit of a crush of Zhelimir, in truth, she had a crush on him a long time ago, but was a little put off but how timid her was around her. But now, those little bubbles of affection blew up once more and burst into mutual attraction.

Janis stood up and walked towards the blonde who immediately held her in his arms. He looked down at her with an intensity that made her blush and look away, he always looked at her like he couldn’t believe she was real, no man had ever looked at her in such a way, so it always flustered her.

“I have missed you,” Zhelimir spoke softly while lightly turning her face towards his.

“I have missed you too,” Janis responded honestly. “I’m sorry about all that is going on, my brother can be a bit of a nuisance sometimes.”

“It’s alright, as long as you are here now,” Zhelimir responded and then led the woman to the bench where they sat down next to each other. “How is he doing now, is he still very upset.”

“When it comes to Eira,” Janis explained. “My brother loses all sense of logic, I don’t know if he is merely obsessed or maybe-”

The blonde put an arm over the beautiful elven woman, “or maybe what?”

“I don’t know,” Janis responded nervously. “I know this may sound crazy, but I really do think Jacob is in love with Eira.”

“Are you certain of that,” Zhelimir responded. “Because from where I stand it looks like a bad case of infatuation.”

“No, infatuation doesn’t last years Zhel,” Janis responded. She held his hand with both of hers and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Please help my brother Zhel, help him end up with the woman he loves.”