Of Eggs and Marriage

The inner walls were made of glass, but outside of them a the vast expanse of the dark blue sky opened up in front of them. The outside was kept as such by something that was colloquially known as a Glitter Exciter. As the name implied some matter was excited and what was visible to the naked eye was the occasional glitter across the excited mediums axis. 

All in all it was a fancy way of saying that ships could pass through it without having to worry about pressurization or breathable oxygen for the people inside. 

Nelly and gang arrived just in time to see the loud bird arrive. It was the size of a conventional bus, without its engines activated it looked more like two large eggs of different birds connected together. Some thought it resembled a spider with its limbs ripped off, but the ones that claimed so hadn't seen it in flight. 

The loud bird, as its name implied shook the glass panels with its pulsating roar as it drew near. The energy that propelled it formed two red gaseous tendrils on each side, when in action it looked like a perpetually diving bird with wings of magical energy. 

They ground crew gave each of them a pair of noise-canceling headphones as they approached. The seagull doors opened upwards and the commanding officer gave salute to Nelly. They all sat down in cramped seats and the soldiers made sure they were all well tied down, before near instantaneous liftoff. 

Nelly's stomach lurched as they fell further away from the building to gain enough space to blast it at high speed to their destination. Yellow had a nauseous look to her, reminding Nelly she should have let the poor soul take the long route. Yellow had a gnarly history with military flying vehicles. It was another tally added in the apologize and show appreciation to Yellow column.

With the capable hands of the military unit, they made record time and arrived at the 2000th floor with ten minutes to spare. Inside the base another shuttle was commandeered, this time everything on this floor was hers, so there was no need for money to exchange hands. They did leave Yellow behind to recover, after reassuring her Nelly wasn't disappointed.

Five minutes till the meeting, when she saw Green at the door waving at her. Green ushered her in to a waiting room beside the throne and Nelly was secretly glad she didn't have time to think about what was about to happen, with the storm of clothes and last second showtime makeup whirling around her. 

One minute left and Nelly stepped in to the throne room from behind the throne, an entrance only allowed for the ruling family. The Empress was already seated, gave Nelly a quick nod and motioned for her to stand beside her. Took a second for Nelly to register that she couldn't sit on the heiress chair, because she wasn't supposed to be an heiress in this moment. 

Just as Nelly got her feet planted at the appropriate place the grand entrance doors opened and a honor guard carrying small but stately steel blue flags with the Walsh Inc logo entered. Nelly looked around the room and made sure the presence of Arbore soldiers was significantly larger than the intruders—to her contentment their presence was fourfold that of the usual. 

The procession kept entering, it totaled some ten honor guards, the family head and Gideon. He looked just as fine he had on their wedding day, sculpted perfection, there wasn't nary a thing Nelly would change about him. Other than that they would still be together. 

Gideon was being helped by one of the honor guard to be able to walk properly. Every step looked a bit pained and Nelly couldn't lie to herself, she wished for nothing but to be able to embrace him and apologize. An icy cold grip on her heart didn't let her, the shotgun marriage painted such a horrific possibility. She tried her hardest to convey all her feelings with her eyes. 

"We greet the Empress Dana Arbore, the heartroot of the Arbore glory." The head and Gideon said, but not showing any signs of submission. Every time prior they had bowed their heads, ever so slightly, but enough to show respect. Now that too was gone. Not to mention the deliberate silence as they didn't address Nelly at all, neither as heiress or the daughter by blood given of Arbore. 

"State your business, as you have so rudely demanded a meeting." Empress Dana said and glared at them from her throne. Nelly was cheering on her mother in her mind, get them mom! 

"We have come to request that the Arbore's annul the marriage" Gideon said, speaking with a voice so steady you could balance the world on its shoulders. Nelly knew those words would come, but it ripped and teared through her insides. She tried her best to keep a straight face, but wasn't sure how awful her expression was. 

"Then explain how you wished to circumvent imperial tradition and had Gideon marry another even before the echoes of their vows had died down in this hall." Empress Dana said, her the previously white crystal on her brooch now swirling with a crimson luster. 

"You'd think this daughter of yours would gladly annul this marriage, with how she tried to annul my dear boys life." Joseph Walsh, the king, said. He didn't budge even a bit under the powerful eyes of the Empress.

Nelly could feel the bile at the back of her mouth, this whole affair was such a revolting experience. She couldn't help but stare at Gideon, but other than a hint of tiredness in recovery he looked quite the same before. Had Nelly imagined the warmth in his gaze all these years, or what was the meaning of these eyes that gazed back at hers. 

"By law and my decree it is my daughters choice." Mother said and turned to look at Nelly. She didn't see mother, but could feel the vampiric energy she was exuding—the rage, an anger Nelly wished she had at this moment. 

"Why?" Nelly said her voice breaking halfway through this short word. She gathered herself but her voice channeled all the grief inside. "Why would you marry Lalage, we were sworn to each other. Sure divorce me because I am a violent monster, but why in all hells are you marrying someone you don't even know."

Everything she had held inside her came out in this moment, it was an impossible task to stay upright, but a strong pair of hands caught her before her knees touched the ground. Paco was there, his oaken eyes unsteady and wet. He truly did care, how come she hadn't noticed it earlier. Her attention wavered to Gideon as he started laughing wildly. 

"Just like your guard, mine has had feelings for me for years." Gideon said, buckling over double from laughter and pain from the wound. After he gathered himself, he unclasped the full cover helmet of the guard that had supported him.

Everything happened in slow motion, the helmet falling, luscious locks of ashen brown hair cascading. The spell broken by the helmet clattering on the ground. Lalage.