Marinus threw Emperor Casimir’s letter into the fire as Theanore was crying silently. He went and hugged her, and she hugged him back.

“I don’t want to marry Cassius! I want to marry Mari!” Screamed the little nymph.

“Oh, Thea.” Said Esmer as she watched the letter burn. They didn’t need it anymore. They had its content memorized. “Think of all the lives that will be lost. On both sides. The Emperor is a snake, but not a foolish one. He saw your dragons and offered this deal. We have no choice but to agree.”

“I love Thea! Is there no other way to stop this war?” Asked Marinus. He was rubbing gentle circles into Theanore’s back as she sobbed.

“Not without bloodshed. Marinus, I understand Theanore succumbing to her emotions. She is a baby. But you are older. You should know the way of the world.” Said Crassus.

He, too, didn’t like this. But his daughter would get to keep her life. And as long as she did so, there was the chance she would find happiness. Perhaps even with this Cassius.

“This is all the Emperor’s fault!” Said Marinus, tearing up.

“It is.” Agreed Crassus. “But this is the way the world works. The strong dictate and the week nod and smile. Marinus, you are a duke now. You are as responsible for the lives of your people as Theanore is. If they were merfolk, and you were a chieftain, what would you have done?”

“I…would have…” Marinus bowed his head. “I would have agreed to the marriages. But I wouldn’t have been happy about it.”

“So, you do see?” Asked Esmer. “As long as there is no war, your happiness doesn’t matter. Theanore’s doesn’t either. Neither does mine nor Crassus'. I am sure the Emperor is not happy with this either. But the alternative is death on a scale so great you will hate yourselves for letting it happen. No love is worth this much blood spilled for it.”

Theanore sobbed louder, but she was nodding too.

“I don’t want people to die for me. Or my dragons. They just want cookies.” She said, and Esmer couldn’t be prouder of her daughter now.

“I will come with you to the palace.” Said Esmer. “To protect you. Nothing will happen to you. You will wear pretty dresses and have a tiara in your hair. Your shoes will be shiny, and you will have many friends. You find friends everywhere you go.” Said Esmer with a gentle smile.

“But Mari won’t be with me.” Said Theanore between sobs.

“No, I think he will be raised by duke Orlock. He is marrying the man’s daughter, after all. But I am also certain that he will be allowed to visit.” Said Esmer. She approached the two children and embraced them. She looked at Crassus, and he came to the hug pile.

“And I will make sure everything runs smoothly here at the grotto. That the children have everything they need. I may not have much mana, or be able to use it to conjure up stuff, but I can still make mana crystals and write you three. We will be fine.” Said Crassus. He hoped he was not lying.

The week ended faster than it had the right to, and soon it was Bonfire day. Theanore got into a white dress with a veil, but if one would look beneath the veil, they will see how sad she was.

Marinus was in red and cold costume. He had imagined his wedding more than once. Under the waves with a nice mermaid when he was younger. In front of the apple tree, fully grown, with Theanore these days.

Now he was going to marry Eliza Orlock. He was going to promise her everything he wanted to promise Theanore. What was worse, he would need to hold to his word. He would never be with Theanore, not unless he wanted to shame her.

And Marinus didn’t want that. He went to Theanore and his breath hitched in his throat. She was a vision. A true nymph, graceful and pure. If Cassius hurt her, then Marinus would make him pay.

They gripped each other’s hands, and no one had the heart to separate them. Esmer placed a calming hand on each of their shoulders and led them to the sled. It was courtesy of the Emperor. A lovely ivory sled with two red mares to tug it. There was a sled for Esmer and Crassus too, but theirs was more common. Of steel with purple velvets.

Marinus helped Theanore up the sled and the two horses galloped towards the nearby village where the Emperor was waiting with his son and the duke and the duke’s daughter.

Elmar and company had also agreed to come to the wedding, but they refused to go to the capital after that. Instead, they had asked for permission to make an expedition to the forest of plenty. What for, Marinus didn’t know, but it must be important for the three to abandon them now.

Elmar had made the elemental barrier as ordered, but he refused to put it down. He claimed this was all a trap and advised Theanore to be careful. He feared for the nymph’s life. Marinus did too.

“Thea, you look beautiful.” Said Marinus as the horses galloped ever forward.

“You look handsome, Mari. We are too small for this.” Said Theanore. It was the truth. Marinus wondered why they hadn’t gone with betrothals instead of straight-up marriages.

“We are, but our people need this. If we don’t go along with it, people will die, Thea.” Repeated the same old argument, Marinus. He was getting tired of it all.

“Do you think we can be happy? You with the Duchess and me with the Prince?” Asked Theanore. She moved closer to Marinus, both for warmth and comfort.

“If he doesn’t make you happy, I will bloody his nose.” Said Marinus with furrowed eyebrows.

“And if she doesn’t make you happy, I will take her favorite dolly and dye her hair pink. Bubblegum pink!” Promised, Theanore and Marinus smiled a bright smile.