Goodbyes are hard.

Arriving at home the aroma of a hearty beef stew fills Hana's nose and her traitorous stomach rumbles in want. Though she'd rather go to her room and be by herself she is starving. Reluctantly she takes her seat at the dinner table where her parents eat in silence. She follows their example and focuses on eating while her thoughts began to drift to thoughts of the Grand Stone Kingdom.

She has heard many things about the place and it's people, a majority of it being negative. Such as the people there were more violent and brutish. She remembers her dad referring to them as savages when she was a child and he recalled fighting them in the war.

Hana had heard they had strict curfews and laws that anyone who defied the king's orders were beheaded without a second thought. That thought makes her hand unconsciously rub at her neck.

"Glad to see that you've calmed down now Hana. A security detail from the palace is supposed to be here with in the end of the week. We will pack up a few chests of your things during our wait for them and you can say your goodbyes to your friends. The journey there takes about three weeks. Unfortunately I have another mission coming up and your mother needs to keep things in order here so we will not be able to travel with you. We hope you will make us and your kingdom proud and behave like a proper lady". Hana only nods in response to her dad's information. There is no use of arguing since it will change nothing.

After everyone has ate she take the dishes outside to the water pump and wash them as night begins to takeover the sky. Blue slowly fading darker and darker till a blanket of obsidian hangs overhead and the glittering stars begin to sparkle like diamonds bejewling the sky.

Home has never felt so perfect even though she had planned on leaving it just hours ago. Now the thought of leaving and never returning makes my insides twist uncomfortably. Would her parents visit her? Would she be able to visit them? Is the Grand Stone people as bad as she's been told? She hears something rustling in the bushes nearby and her rambunctious Australian shepherd puppy Luna darts at her wanting to play. She hopes they know she is coming with her she refuses to be soley on her own and Luna will give her some comfort in that terrifying place.

Picking up the clean dishes she walks into the house and calls Luna to follow knowing she is terrified of the dark. Her parents bid her goodnight and the long night of tossing and turning followed.

The next morning her mother wakes her to begin packing up some of her belongings. Being restricted to just three chests she has to pick and choose carefully what to bring. Her mother picks out the most beautiful dresses she has while talking joyfully about how she will be wearing queen grade material from now on. She can't manage to bring a fake smile to my face so she continues to look through her belongings without sparing her mom a glance. They fill up the chests quicker than she thinks they would and her mom leaves the room to go to the village with her dad while he is home.

It feels so weird that they just left Hana and didn't invite her knowing she will be gone soon but maybe she is being selfish again. "Come on Luna you can go to town with me to say my goodbye to my friends", she says to her loyal friend as she squats down beside her petting her belly as she wiggles around excitedly.

Luna barks at a few squirrels as they walk into town. There is very few people she really knows and consider friends though she has lived here her whole life. The weapons merchant's daughter Alessandra was a friend from childhood. Their dads had worked together before so she would often come stay with Hana's mom and herself when their dad's were away. She felt more like a sibling than just a friend.

Arriving at the weapons stall Hana sees her childhood friend selling her merchandise effortlessly. Her long blonde hair and startling blue eyes seem to draw people in with ease. Her sweet nature and easy going personality made her easy to befriend and it was a miracle in Hana's opinion that the girl hasn't married yet with as many admirers as she has.

When she turns her head noticing Hana for the first time her eyes brighten and she tells her father to take over for her before running to her and throwing her arms around her friend. Hana returns the embrace wondering if this will be the last time she receives a hug from her. Ally notices Hana's less than cheerful countenance and her smile drops instantly. "Hana what's wrong", she pleads

So Hana tells her the news that she received last night and she shares the same fear and thoughts that Hana does which make Hana feel a little more understood. She assures Hana that she will keep in touch sending her letters every month which makes her feel grateful for her friends caring heart. Knowing that she would still have a friend in her was a relief.

The only other person she planned to say goodbye to was Jackson. He was special to Hana and honestly she caref for him more than she would ever admit. When her parents had refused his proposal she was upset. She had pleaded for her mom to reconsider but she had told her that the proposal would not be considered and to bring up her feelings to him would just be cruel and leading the boy on. Walking into the store a feeling of sadness and finality strikes Hana and the urge to cry almost takes over.

Seeing his tall form she walks over with the coins she had gotten from her dad to finish paying Jackson. His warm affectionate smile greets her and she does her best to return it though it feels more like a grimace.

"Here's the rest of what I owed you Jackson, dad came back last night." She drops the coins into his hand and fights the urge to hug him tightly. "The kings arranged a marriage for me in Grand Stone and I'm leaving at the end of the week, I wanted to tell you goodbye and that I will always appreciate your kindness and friendship".

He stills and she glances up to see his eyes water up a little. She quickly looks away knowing if he cries then she will as well.

"Hana don't go. We could leave the village tonight, travel farther into the country. I'd keep you safe and cherish you the way you should be cherished. Grand Stone is a dangerous place and we both know that I'm hopelessly in love with you. I know you feel something for me to so please let's run away together", he pleads holding to her arms tightly.

Although his plan sounds enticing it's because she cares for him that she can't do as he wishes. To not only put him in danger but their families as well would be extremely selfish. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she caused someone else's death.

"My duty is to my kingdom first. We both know that if I do as you say that our loved ones and friends would have to pay the consequences. Thats not something I'm willing for them to face. I hope your health remains well and you find someone who can cherish you the way you deserve Jackson. I will always be happy for you and wishing you well". He reluctantly let's Hana's hands go and she turns to leave. "Goodbye".

Despair fills her entire body and right when she feels a few tears ready to escape Luna nips her hand affectionately demanding to be petted. A tearful chuckle escapes Hana's mouth and she leans down giving the demanding hound a hug. "Let's go Luna, I've nothing more to do here."

They travel home to see her mom standing with a new cloak she purchased for her as an early wedding present. She thanks her and takes the dress in trembling fingers. Its the finest material she had ever held in her hands. It felt like silk and its the most beautiful Lavender color she'd ever seen. She folds it carefully and places it in one of the chests because hermom tells me its to wear when she first meet the prince.

She helps her mother cook and they eat one last time as a family before her dad sets off for another mission. He guves Hana one last hug and requests her to make him proud. In the morning she will be leaving as well and it makes a peaceful sleep all but impossible.