She awoke to her mother's voice, calling her name. Just like it had been since she disappeared, three days ago. Biana swung out of bed and pushed open her balcony doors, facing to the forest. Like a dream, the moon's glow gave everything an ethereal quality. She heard a sharp breath, and looked down. A girl was standing at the tree line, looking up at her. The girl’s silvery hair looked like the moonlight had spilled over it, and added to her breathless, not-really-there image. Biana looked down. "Hello?"
~~a day before
"Are you bringing your boyfriend to the royal address?" Biana grinned, pushing her thick chocolatey curls out of her face.
"He is NOT my boyfriend!" Fitz looked adorably indignant. He was so in denial. Dex had been writing a song for him, and wanted to sing it for him on his birthday. If that wasn't relationship goals, she didn't know WHAT was.
Alden came in, and their laughing stopped. His gaze felt heavy, suffocating; even though he wasn't acting disapproving. "Are you ready to go?" His voice was steely. Calm. Controlled.
Biana nodded. Fitz took her by the arm, and together they went outside.
Biana squinted in the sun. Her father was winding up for his big announcement, the one he wouldn't tell anyone about. Then he was talking, saying “I decree that by law, marriage or even relationships between people of the same gender is strictly forbidden, and will be upheld as such.”
Everything blurred to an echo. Her father was still talking, but she couldn't understand what he was saying. She felt Fitz swaying beside her, and she caught him as he crumpled. Two attendants rushed over, and took him away. She wanted to follow, but she could barely stand up straight. Someone was screaming. "NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" With a start, she realized it was her. Her father's gaze fell on her, and she could feel his anger crackling through the air. But she couldn't shut up, and wouldn't. She stepped onstage. "We aren't going to let you do this." His cold gaze looked her up and down, the defiant princess in royal purple. "It's done, by order of the king." He motioned to the guards. When the guards came close, he told them, "Please escort her to her room." Then he turned to the crowd. "My daughter is confused, and suffering from the loss of her mother. Please pay her no mind."
Then one of the guards pulled out a striokespea, a flower used for anesthesia. "Please don't." She whispered. The guard held her gaze. "I'm sorry." Then everything went numb.
Cold.
Dark.
