ey arrived, and the early evening she set foot on the wide streets of the Gri

d behind Eustace. Anna was standing at the closed entrance of the b

ner of her eyes, Mel could catch sight of the peeping masses through the surrounding homes, along with

almost immediately. From the floor to the walls, to the spiralling staircase leading upstairs and underground, a round polished wooden hall swallowed her whole.

white light from glowing crystals embedded into the domed ceili

this was how the buildings alone were, she wondered how the structures underground would be. Then again, what were t

happy," Eustace whispered at her ear and Mel snapped out of h

ing like some peasant! As if she had

ttered,

on, Mel included. It sounded like a step m

A heavy fur coat draped an immense build. A build far more domineering than Enmel's.

broad shoulders to rest on t

nce, but he was close enough for her to make out a we

ing right at her. He held her gaze for so long that she felt the air being sucked o

nse smile on her lips as she walk

the wooden floorboards of each step. Mel hadn't heard him coming from the top earlier, o

e Mel, rigid. Her hold on Mel

hat this was him. Her husband-to-be. She couldn't decipher his age from the long distance but the bri

adn't occurred to her to ask ju

ering over her. There was noticeable disp

ere before him. Unless he came ear

t his cheek. The grown man squeezed his eyes shut and his facial features

Mel mentally asked herself,

walked towards her. His steps were agile for such a large buil

e stepped back, leaving her lady defence

-bear. He had a defined jawline complemented by a dizzying shad of silver-bl

m of hair and a stubble moust

looked little to not

offered her his

_________

ot just exhausted from the trip, but

her whole being at the sound of his voice. A light shiver coursed every surface of her skin and she tightene

They hadn't seemed that impressive until he had stood before her. The way his eyes studied

expected her future husband to

er burning cheeks. What was wrong with

g pain in both of them. Her palms remained glued to her cheek

obles from back home but had never had such a striking encounter. There had literally bee

, but just a bit. Eustace had taken her into other chambers of the dome. She would have love

o Bjorn's abode had been a struggle. The man was in the same structure as her. Was her

er head and laid back down. "I need

saying something abou

going to be

The young woman eventually drifted off to sleep, tossing

_________

hind him. She closed the door and stood near the e

early," she

oke and placed it on the chair at his desk. He looked at the wall, taking

unic shirt. Bjorn lifted his head and drew in a lengthy intake of bre

grumbled, turning aro

forward to ease herself into the chair facing

wn taking over his features. "

. "Bjorn. For how many years? I understand you have been busy taking up your duti

ed at the door, emphasising each word he spoke, "That wo-" he shook his head "-girl shouldn't even be here." Eustace's face wrinkled up in offense and sh

tace sprung

r agreement to wait, you still went ahead to bring her here. I leave f

crossed her arms across her chest. "Are we re

he had an imposing constitution that not even his father could fi

ng this agreement from time to time. Promises to bring the poor girl over years back turned to 'we wil

in the proper way befitting of a Grime heir, but the moment your father passed away, you deem

remind you how disappointed I was to learn of all the interactions you made the with Urn head nit once did you mak

it if you had told me of w

the postponing you have done. Even if your father made that promise in an unsuitable state it doesn't change the fact

d placing his chin on his raised hand. Cocking his head slightly to the side, he regard

hated it, she had a point. "That young woman felt so distraught about leaving, but she did it anyway. Imagine how it was so h

ing his hand absentmindedly. "I won't pr

row ni

g glance. "For her at least, she just ar

at'

umbled. "That should give her enough

arrowed her

he que

d. "You're awfully com

when you left with one of my ships to bring her here duri

uthful countenance. She had appeared far too young for his liking. And she was so small. Along with her n

ed herself... was she

His eyes flicked from the table to his mother as she kept talking, "If you wanted it postponed, you could have kept reminding them

n gr

n't want to bring this up as you're a grown man and all..

ntion her name," he warned, drawing out each word. "Tha

that isn't the case," she said without looking at h

_________

rther furnish the guest room and add a vanity for Mel. The young woman had thanked Eustace for the help and whe

mfortable in the odd silence of the chamber. Mel would usually be relaxed at the soft strokes flowin

me... it wa

on in a far-off gaze. Her mind wasn't in the present, and

previous evening, but now that she was seeing her mis

flinched as her concentration was

ieve the fallen brush. She shifted to Mel's side

staring at the mirror, as if

handle of the brush with both hands to her c

ror, angling her head from side to side to admire Annie's handiwork. She touched her cheek. "I must have made a fool

ving Mel more cause for worry would be the last thing she would ever do. Annie didn't want to t

rom home and leave her family. It would be unwise to

dy," Annie said instead, steppi

her lips. "Thank you, Annie. Your words give me such comfort." She

ady," Annie whispered

t glow of the crystal lights embedded in the wooden ceiling li

ed. And oh, was it different. Annie couldn't understand what Mel found pleasing about that man, but it had been through a rose-tinted lens. A fearful chill ran through

nything but welcoming. The annoyance in them spoke volumes and his

Mel faced the direction of the door and Annie stepped forward to open it

n peeped in, her hazel eyes wide as she directed an ap

clasped to her beating chest. Thi

e had just knocked and came in without even waiting for a response. Even if she happened to be sent by Eustace, it w

logize for the intrusion." She closed the door behind her and directed a short bow in Mel's direction.

ffled dress was an earthy brown, dotted with golden embroidery that seemed too lavish for a servant. The maids Mel had encountered were

er perhaps? Mel realized Eustace had never me

while showing me a

e...?" Mel

artling the young woman. The newcomer beamed, her cheek

lady. It is an honour