A Light in the Dark

Chapter 2

-17 years later.--

Lyra hummed as she weaved her long gold hair between her fingers and braiding it around to the back of her head, repeating the same on the other side and tying it off to the back. She jumped when the door to her room opened with a heavy clack, her small teacher garbed in her usual loose robes came in, carrying an empty basket, she looked at Lyra and let out a small, half-offended scoff.
"Oh, your grace! I could have done your hair for you!" She said as she sidled into the room.
"Thank you, Septa, but i can handle it. I like to do my own hair." Lyra stood from her vanity and crossed the room, placing her gold and diamond earrings in her ears, resuming her humming softly.
"Are you ready to meet your betrothed? You must be excited." her Septa said, plucking Lyra's bedspreads from her tousled bed.
"Honestly, Septa? I'm not. I hear the Prince of Wales is a pig-headed boy with the face of a rat." She scrunched her nose up and slipped into her white and gold-trimmed dress that fell in rose petal-like tresses around her legs. "I'm more interested in marrying a man who is at least a little attractive.." Lyra muttered, flopping down on her bed, pinning the light sheets under her. Septa tsked.
"Now girl, you know better than to be like that. A man's appearance counts for little in politics. It's his mind and and soul you must fall for. But i digress, for i do agree with you. Now get up! These sheets won't wash themselves!" Septa flicked the bedsheets under Lyra, who grumbled and rolled off the bed.
"Your father waits in the throne room, i suggest you hop to it." Septa half-hummes to Lyra while she gathered the sheets.
"Yes, Septa." Lyra mumbled with discontent. She slipped on her golden heels and walked with elegance and grace from her room. The guards who stood at her door smiled and greeted her with cheer,
"Good morning, Princess." The first guard said, smiling at her.
"Good morning, Gerath. How is Myrella? And Mercay?" Lyra smiled and Gerath grinned,
"Both well, Mercay starts her lessons next week. Her Septa is on the road to King's Crossing now."
"That's lovely to hear! Mercay is turning 6 now, isn't she?" 
"Indeed. Her namesday is in a month, I'd be honored if you'd attend her celebration." Gerath bowed respectfully,
"I would be pleased to show up!" Lyra smiled and waved to Gerath,
"I must go, i have to meet with my father now." She took a step away and Gerath nodded.
"Of course, best not to keep the King waiting!" He laughed and waved her goodbye. She giggled and turned on her heel, she kept her pace as she made her way to the  throne room, her father's booming voice could be heard at the doors.
"I will NOT have her shipped off to another realm, she is MY daughter, i dont care what kind of deal my Father's father made with that psychophant, Zander. He can keep his blood frozen away for the next century if he must. She stays in King's Crossing." Tydus growled as Lyra stepped into the room, a worried look on her face,
"Daddy? Is everything alright?" She asked, approaching her father timidly, her mother sat in her throne behind Tydus, she gave her daughter a reassuring smile.
"Ah, Lyra my light! Yes, don't worry your sweet head. Just a pesky messenger." He cast a solid glare at a scrawny, oil-haired boy. His skin was unnaturally pale, like moonlight, his eyes were a neon blue. He stared at Lyra hungrily, his eyes drifting up and down her body. His stare unsettled her.
"King Tydus, my Lord Zander requests an audience with you, face-to-face. He figured you'd deny his demands, and sent me to broker a deal, if you meet him he will drop his prioritized demand." his gaze flicked back to Lyra.
"Tell your tyrant that if he meets with me he will destroy that infernal gate. Never come back after he leaves." Tydus narrowed his gaze at the page, he nodded slowly.
"Yes, my lord. He will arrive in a month's time." The page bowed low to the ground, a taunted gesture, and proceeded to leave the castle.
"Daddy, what was that about? Who was that boy and why did he look so......strange?" Lyra asked softly, she turned to see the neon blue lines that crossed the page's neck.
"Don't worry my light, that will be all you will see of his kind." Tydus muttered with great disdain.
"His kind?"
"Twilight dwellers. a far less sophisticated and more savage specie from our own. His "king" sent him." Tydus growled and turned away, sitting on his throne and resting his chin on his fist. Lyra frowned, looking at the ground.
"Lyra, my girl. Come. Sit next to me." her mother said softly, patting the empty throne beside her own to her left, Lyra's throne. The crest on the back of the tall guilded throne was the crest of the Goddess of Light, the one she was named after. She sighed and took her place beside her mother, who gently ran a hand through her hair.
"Your hair looks lovely. Did your Septa do it?" Addriana asked lovingly.
"No, I did." Lyra smiled at her mother, who was admiring the braided crown that wrapped around from her temples to the back of her head.
"Good work, it suits you." Addriana smiled and kissed Lyra on the head.
"Thank you, Mother." She smiled and closed her eyes, relishing in her mother's gentle touch.
"Announcing, Crown Prince Tanner of Wales!" a loud voice called as a slightly fat boy no taller than 5 feet waltzed in, tousling his carrot-red hair; his pale features made him look sickly. His beady brown eyes lingered on Lyra and blushed a deep crimson. He walked to the bottom of the stairs that led up to the thrones and bowed, hos eyes never leaving Lyra.
"Prince Tanner. We are pleased you made your journey here safely." Tydus said, his voice reverberating through the room.
"As am I, I am honored to make the acquaintance of the Royal Family of Ender, especially to the Princess." He blushed deeper and his gaze lingered over Lyra, drinking her in. She blushed and folded her hands in her lap.
"I....am....pleased, to make your acquaintance as well, Prince Tanner." Lyra said softly, she looked down at him, and he gulped.
"Take yourself and settle into your own room, you must be exhausted." Addriana said, the Prince nodded, bowing again and removing himself from the room.