Princess Arisanna relaxes as her smile grows. She turns her eyes to Tharios. Is she ignoring Cerian?
“I’d also like to introduce Viala, my son Tharios’s binding partner. His wife, as you say.” Father gestures to Cerian’s sister-in-law as Tharios reaches for her hand with that cloyingly obnoxious smile he often wears around his future queen. “She is the youngest daughter of the King of the Lothlesi. I believe you call them the mountain fae.”
The humans conversing nearby go silent as the faces of the royal family swing toward Cerian’s father. Princess Arisanna’s skin blanches, and she looks in danger of fainting. The human prince frowns and glances toward the human king.
“What is the meaning of this?” King Gerault asks. “Prince Tharios was to wed my own daughter. Was that not the bargain we struck?”
Every muscle in Cerian’s body tenses at the king’s words as Cerian looks from him to the princess and then to Father.
For once, Father is speechless, and Mother sways. Cerian rushes toward her to steady her as she clings to his arm.
What in the Wildthorne Woods is going on? Princess Arisanna can’t bind with Tharios.
She’s heartbound...to Cerian.
A Misunderstanding
Episode 3
Arisanna’sheartbeatserraticallyas she tries to process the elf king’s words. Tharios is married...to a fae princess? That doesn’t make any sense. All her life, Arisanna has been destined to marry the future King of Lostariel. It’s why she was born. The entire purpose of her existence.
Why are they even here if not for a wedding? Unless...surely they don’t practice polygamy in Lostariel? Her stomach roils at the thought, but she dismisses the idea as absurd. She’s never heard of an elf having more than one wife. Elves are extremely loyal. Even more so than humans. She’s studied enough of elven culture to know how highly they esteem the binding of two souls for all time.
No. Something else is going on here.
She glances uneasily at the younger son. Cerian? Was that his name? But he wasn’t even born when her parents struck their bargain.
Of course, neither was she. Is it possible the elves were agreeing to a marriage between two future offspring? Did her parents just assume the elf king meant his only existing son at the time he signed the treaty with them so many years ago?
The younger elf prince looks as confused and appalled as Arisanna feels. At least he’s not glowering anymore. Starsabove, is this the prince she’s meant to wed? Prince Tharios seems pleasant with a ready smile. It was a relief when she saw his cheerful demeanor.
But Prince Cerian.
Arisanna takes a deep breath. Whatever is expected of her, she will do to protect her kingdom and her family.
“I fear there has been a misunderstanding between our peoples,” King Lorial enunciates in clear Nunian as if he’s afraid his language skills might be responsible for the mistake. His command of the human tongue is perfect, though. He barely has an accent.
“I think that much is clear,” Father says.
Arisanna watches as Prince Cerian holds his frail mother steady. What happened to her? Arisanna’s elven history lessons always portrayed Queen Nestraya as a fierce warrior elf.
This woman is little more than a specter. At least Prince Cerian is kind and gentle with her. Hopefully, that bodes well for Arisanna’s future if he is her intended.
“The terms of our agreement stated that my future child would marry yours,” Father continues. “We assumed that meant your only son at the time of the treaty would marry our future daughter.”
“I see.” The elf king’s brow furrows. “There must have been a mistranslation between our versions of the agreement we signed. The Elvish text says my future children would bind with your future children.”
Children? Arisanna’s eyes snap to the elf king before swinging toward the elf princess. When Arisanna glances at her brother, Rominy pales before her eyes.
And then she turns back to Prince Cerian.
The man she is to wed.
This long-awaited day has definitely not gone according to plan.
Steady.Steady,Rominy.Don’tfaint.
Rominy struggles to keep his expression neutral at the elf king’s words, but his knees wobble. Surely King Lorial isn’t suggesting Rominy is treaty-bound to marry as well...is he?
