The Wind Is Quiet , When You Are Gone .

Chapter 11

The Darkest Hour Has Only Sixty Minutes

As she walked towards the window, her mind drew back to the day she met Goyo, right here. The room wasn't empty as empty as then. Now, it was filled with people she has never seen of. Who where these people? She tried to ignore the eyes staring her down and looked at her husband-to be. She hated the look on his face as she walked towards him. The eerie organ music echoed through the giant hall as she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. She thought of the people she was doing this for. Dahlia, Celtic, Ukipae... Haruko. And all the innocent people standing on the shadows while she was deciding what would happen to their world. She didn't know the details but she felt a connection to the land. 

They were telling the truth about Goyo. She felt it. She could hear the time running in her ears as she looked up at the beast she was about to marry, and behind him, behind the beautiful glass window, Ukipae. His eyes glaring at Chihiro. He was flying above the forest, he was floating so far away she could hardly make out what he was doing. She looked away from Ukipae to notice that she was so close to Goyo , she looked back at her dragon with fear in her eyes. Ukipae shook his head in agreement, turned and flew away. Chihiro was left alone. She shook back to reality and realised that Goyo was now holding her hands and staring deep into her emerald green eyes. His hands were as cold as ice. Just like his dreadful glare. She could have sworn she felt his ice catching her eyes, and covering the emerald green with ice blue.

She shivered involuntarily but it was barely noticeable as she was draped in so many layers of white silk. The minister who was officiating the wedding was speaking but it sounded like he was a million miles away. Then suddenly Goyo's voice rang out clear in her head. "My queen," he spoke almost threateningly, "Now you will know real power." She felt so cold that the silver wedding bands almost burnt her skin. Everybody was oblivious. The veil hid her changing hair and dazed face well. No wonder he had requested she wear it. It wasn't for beauty it was for maintaining illusion. He then smiles viciously and started to speak,                                                           "I promise to share in your power and greatness, and always believe in your strength and leadership. I promise to be the King to your Queen till death do us apart." Chihiro swallowed nervously trying to compose herself enough to remember the vows she has spent days learning.   "I promise to always put our country first, and take care of all our citizens, today I become your Queen, and the Queen of the Nation, for better or for worse. I promise to be the Queen to your King till death do us apart." Chihiro rushed the words but forced herself to speak to them as clearly as the circumstances would allow.

She continued to shake as the icy cold rushed through her, transforming her as it went. Her once sallow complexion became white as snow and glittered wherever the sun caught her. The minister still continued and Chihiro tried her best to listen. But her mind was filled with questions as to what was happening to her. Then the hall grew quiet as Goyo moved her veil and pressed his frozen lips to hers. All of a sudden, the ceremony was over and everybody cheered.