Dance To The Music

The celebration of their union had lasted for what seemed an eternity. Gaelin's family was kind and sweet, if not a little too lovely. Lords and their acquired companions came and gone offering their best wishes. Some lingered for what seemed an age. Lund stayed on one side of the ballroom, mostly speaking with the Elden Council members and a few select High Court ministers. Who had been nothing but polite and caring so far?

" It was a beautiful celebration, Your Grace!" a woman's voice broke her thoughts.

Iris sobered up and smiled " Thank you for joining us!" a delicate smile split on her lips, and the woman returned it and bowed.

" We hope you have enjoyed it as much as we did!" Gaelin added and smiled at the woman. It was a new face, along with all the others whom Iris had never met before.

" This is Lady Velindre Mossdale!" Gaelin formally introduced the woman in front of them with one hand on his chest, right over his heart. Lady Velindre was a captivating woman, tall, with dark blue eyes and dark hair, and her skin had a certain glow. Lady Velindre was eyeing Gaelin with a very familiar look. Lustful.

" Pleased to make you acquaintance, Lady Velindre!" Iris bowed and smiled at the woman, somewhat out of sorts. Gaelin didn't lack contenders for his hand, so why did it have to be her?

" Oh, just call me Veli! I must go now, but I'm happy that you've finally found each other!" Lady Velindre smiled, bowed, and took her to leave, looking slightly pale despite her earlier glow.

Most of the people had already left. There was just her, Gaelin, Lund, and the servants left in the ballroom, which busied themselves clearing up around the grand room.

" You must be tired! I walk you to your chamber!" Gaelin waved his hand for her to go first. The gesture was a little over-exaggerated, almost mocking.

Iris smiled and nodded " Thank you, Gaelin!" she said as she moved her feet past him and through the door into the corridor.

" No need to thank me! I'm your husband, after all!" Gaelin paused " I hope that with time you'll see that I'm indeed a good match for you!" he praised himself, not letting anything on. He remained evenly measured throughout the celebration—skin crawling, unsettling behavior, emotionless.

Iris nodded but didn't reply as they walked along each other in the corridor in silence, more like two strangers rather than husband and wife. Looking ahead without uttering a word about the union or the celebration. Gaelin was one way to leave Zandar. He wasn't her husband. Ian was—a means to an end.

" We are here!" Gaelin broke her thoughts, and she turned to look at him. Impassive and unaffected by his presence. Nothing other than a stranger.

"I will take my leave! Have a good night, Gaelin!" she politely said, refraining from smiling at him. Even though, according to Zandar customs, they were married. It made no difference—still a stranger.

Gaelin didn't reply, and for the first time she had met him, something shined in his eyes. His grip on her tightened, and he took a deep breath " I understand that you're going through a difficult time, but we are husband and wife, now! You certainly don't expect me to sleep in a separate chamber!" his tone betrayed him a little in his attempt to sound measured, calm.

Iris frowned and gulped. Now what? They will be sharing a bed! Sooner or later, Gaelin will expect her to bed him. If she said no, would he become suspicious and discover that she had no intention of staying in Zandar? Until now, she had played along and danced to their music, mainly because there was no other choice.

" No, of course not!" Iris sweetly smiled at him. It was a weak attempt to placate him" But I would appreciate it if you'd be kind enough to give me some time before we take on our role as husband and wife!" she added with a little more vigor in her tone.

" How long?" Gaelin shot the question. She didn't even get a chance to take a good breath.

Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath in " One moon!" her answer was brief but definite, and she slowly peeled Gaelin's hand off her waist.

Gaelin nodded, and the same shine she had seen earlier in his eyes flashed again. It was lust, but Gaelin controlled so so well that it was bearly noticeable.

" Very well! As you wish, Khiah! One moon, then! I look forward to fulfilling our union!" Gaelin smiled, a little averse to letting go of her waist, taking a step back. Eyeing her from head to toe and nodded to himself.

" Tomorrow, I would like to visit the lands if it's not too much trouble," Iris asked in a subdued tone, gently placing her hand on his shoulder, furthering her attempt to coax him into agreeing with her request. A sly effort that seemed to have worked since Gaelin nodded.

" Of course, my beloved!" Gaelin took her hand in his and kissed the back of her hand. It was the first time he had touched her that way, and Iris recoiled but steadied herself and smiled.

"I must bid good night for now! I will see you when the yellow sun rises!" Gaelin leaned in, but Iris leaned back. Galein gave her a pointed look, and Iris acceded after a brief moment offering her cheek.

" Good night, Gaelin!" Iris said hastily, pushing the door to her chamber open and scurrying inside as fast as possible.

As soon as the door closed, she leaned in and let out a heavy sigh of relief. Now, she had less than one moon to find a way out of Zandar. The books that Lumd had taken. She needed those back, A prize possession, a key to bringing Ian. Lund hadn't returned them as he said he would. Iris pushed herself off the door and slipped out of her dress. She assumed the lack of handmaids was because they thought she and Gaelin would consume their marriage. She grimaced in disgust at that little thought.

Looking around the room, despite the dark shade of red on everything, the chamber was spacious and had everything one could want. She couldn't deny it. Life in Zandar would be a comfortable one. From what she had gathered, the realm didn't lack riches and abundance.

Heaving another heavy sigh, she slipped into her night dress, put out the candles lit around the room, leaving the one on the nightstand, and plopped herself on the bed.

" You promised me!" she sniffled. A tear streaked her cheek, and she felt her stomach curl into a bundle.

Iris buried her face in the pillow and cried her eyes out, hiding the sobs in the pillow. She didn't know who would listen, nor didn't want anyone to know. She knew she had to be careful if what she had in mind were to work.

Ian was all she had in mind. She missed everything about him. And that thought made her muffled cries echo in the chamber.

She had found herself forced to wed a man she had known for a day. Her father wasn't exactly behaving as a father would. He was a tyrant. And Gaelin was hiding behind his tactful smiles and well-thought mask. Waiting to find out who he wasn't her plans. That thought was a little scary