But no this would be happening in front of all the guests, which would consist of the head person of each village in my parents land, but since the other ruling family would be here the leaders of their villages would be attending as well. My brother probably didn't mind much, but I had a feeling that if Mae knows how this is going down that she probably would feel the same way I do. Something like that should be private and romantic, but more like hey here we are standing in front of a whole bunch of people who are only really here because they have to be, or how else are they to know the ones whom they will one day answer to, but hey don't worry about that, here's a ring that has been passed down in my family to every first son when it's his time to marry, now I offer it and myself to you what do you say………. Yea no thanks, I would prefer much more for something like this to be a bit more romantic, maybe I should talk to my mother…… Maybe that would help, not sure if she will listen, or even whos dumb idea it was to do it infront of close to thousands of people.

Once we reached the ball room I pulled away from my brother's side and went in search of my mother. After searching for what felt like hours, I finally spotted her at the other end of the room, near where my brother and I had entered. I wondered if she had been there the whole time and I just hadn't noticed. I quickly made my way over to her. “Mother, I wish to speak to you about something.” I said as soon as I got to her.

“Yes darling? What is it?” She asked me. Now reading this you may think that she was being rude, or treating me as if what I had to say wasn't important, or that she doesn't have the time to listen to me. That's not how it is at all, that's just the way she talks.

“I wanted to talk to you about tonight. More specifically when the guys are supposed to present us with our rings.” I started, and as there were no other people around us I didn't need to worry about anyone listening in.

“What about it dear?” She asked, smiling.

“I don't feel that the guys should present us the rings and everything else that goes with it in front of everyone. I feel that something like this should be special and private. Just between the two couples." I paused for a moment to gauge her reaction. "It should happen when each couple is alone, and the guy should say what he feels rather than what his parents want him to say, and honestly I feel if done the way I feel it should be done that these unions will mean more than just our parents pairing us together, that this way we may try to fall in love with them. I don't know what Antonio thinks about having to do the ring ceremony in front of thousands of people, but I can bet Mae would want it private as well.” I said.

“You couldn't be more right. I absolutely hate the idea of having the ring ceremony in front of people. It should be a private thing. I would love to hear how Antonio truly feels about our union.” A soft feminine voice spoke from behind me. I turned and faced the girl who was to marry my brother, and I could see that he would love her and she him. She was taller than me by maybe two or three inches, petite with long ash blonde hair, but it was the eyes I noticed first, one was an emerald like green while the other was an ocean blue.

“I'm glad you feel the same as I do.” I said truthfully. 

“I was planning on talking to my mother about it myself, and then I saw you over here and got distracted by thoughts to come say hello and introduce myself to my soon to be sister in law.” Mae said.

“Well if you both feel this way, then I guess it can be done that way. Do you girls want to plan the place where it happens?” My mother asked.

“No!” Both Mae and I answered at the same time, then laughed at our reaction to the question.

“What I mean is it would mean more coming from the guys.” I explained.

“That's very true.” Mae agreed. My mother smiled and nodded.

“I’ll go talk to your parents Mae and then call the boys to let them know there has been some changes for tonight.” My mother said then swiftly turned and headed off to find the guys and Mae’s parents.

“Well I'm glad we don't have to be in front of thousands of people when we are presented our rings. When my mother told me that part I was horrified.” Mae confided.

“I was too. I couldn't believe that I was going to have thousands of eyes watching us closely to see if any mistakes are made. I didn’t like the idea at all.” I replied. The two of us talked more, about what was going to happen later this evening. We even shared stories about our brothers with each other. I'm sure the guys were doing the same, in fact I can guarantee that at least my brother was telling stories about me, I just hope he wasn't telling any of the ones from when I was playing pretend…..I already told you about that I believe. Before today none of us had met or had any contact with each other, and Mae and I wouldn’t be meeting our betrotheds until the ring ceremony that was set to take place at high moon. My mother found us after a few hours and told us that our idea for how it should be done would be done, and that it would still take place at high moon as is tradition, but that the boys were planning an evening we wouldn't ever forget. Mother even said that the guys like my idea better.

As it got later into the night Mae and I were dancing together since we could not dance with another man, I noticed the man next to my brother first. Whereas my brother is 6’3” the man walking next to him was at least three inches taller. His body was athletic, and his muscles were obvious without him needing to flex, but they weren't huge, or looked disgusting. His skin was tan like his sister's, but his blonde hair was three shades darker than hers, and for the first time I noticed that their eyes were the same two colors, but while her left eye was green and her right blue, his were opposite, their eyes matched our clothes. I somehow did not notice until now seeing Niklaus for the first time, that he had his sister wore clothes the color of Antonio and my eyes. I couldn't help it. I started to laugh. I was so preoccupied that I didn't even notice when he approached me.

“May I ask what you find so funny?” Niklaus’ deep voice came from in front of me, he sounded amused not offended.

“I'm sorry." I looked up at him. "I couldn't help but laugh when I realized that our parents dressed us not to match each other, or even complement one another, but they dressed us to match each other's eyes.” I replied, still laughing. Niklaus looked at each of us and started to laugh himself, like his voice, his laugh was deep and rich. I loved the sound of it. 

“Well then, shall we head on to our dates?” Niklaus asked, he and my brother offered us their arms. Mae and I looped our arms through theirs and headed off in separate directions. I couldn't wait to see what Niklaus had planned for the night. With the knowledge that he had planned the way he would be presenting his ring to me, I must admit that I got a little bit excited. I was already falling in love with him. It was hard not to. He made me laugh, a real laugh not the fake ones I use when I have to be civil. Before the night was even half over, I knew that I would be happy with him. No matter how hard our lives became. I could tell by the way he looked into my eyes, and the way his eyes shined every time I laughed, that he was feeling the same. I hoped that my brother and Mae were feeling the same as we were right now.

“Have you been enjoying our evening together?” Niklaus asked as he led me to one of the trails that led to the beach.

“Yes I truly am, this is better than anything I could ever dream up. How did you come up with picnicking on the beach?” I asked.

“I asked your brother many questions about you. Even more when we were told that instead of a public ring ceremony it would be a private one as requested by you girls. Antonio and I loved the idea of being able to plan this night out how we would have done it if we hadn't been Royalty, but I guess Royalty can have it anyway we want. I just never thought to ask." He paused and smiled "I'm off subject now, I asked your brother where your favorite place to be at night was. He told me you love coming to this beach and to lay under the stars all night. So I chose to set everything up here. I hope you like what I have done, and what is to come.” Niklaus said.

“I'm sure it will be better than I could ever picture it.” I answered blushing. Niklaus tilted his head to the side in question. “You know this is embarrassing, but when I was a young girl I used to play pretend and I would make believe that you were my betrothed even though I had never met you, and I had no idea what you looked like I pretended that I did. I envisioned the whole ring ceremony the way I thought it would be when I was a little girl.”

“My sister did the same thing, you two are a lot alike, but most definitely different in many very good ways.” Niklaus said. For the rest of the night we shared stories about ourselves, and the trouble we would get in with our siblings. Each of our stories were funnier than the last and we kept topping each other's stories. We finally just ended in a stalemate. When the moon was finally high in the sky Niklaus stood and helped me up. He led me to a beautiful spot that I haven't seen before. It was somewhat an enclosed space, there was a small pool of water that was reflecting the full moon. This is where we stopped. He stood me center to the pool so that the reflecting moonlight was surrounding me.

He then pulled the ring box from his pocket and held it looking at it. When he finally looked at me again his eyes were shy. “I tried and tried to think of the right thing to say while giving you this ring, but I couldn't think of anything because I had not known you at the time, I did not know how to word anything. But now I do. Annabelle I know now without a doubt that I will love you until we take our dying breaths. When I first saw you dancing with my sister I had hoped that you were you. I don't know how hard life will get but I promise you that I will stay by your side no matter what is happening. I will never leave your side, and I hope you will say that you will stay by mine no matter what.” Niklaus opened the box and held it out to me. Inside was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. The band was thin, but not so thin it could be easily broken, and instead of a gem adorning the white gold band there was a gold rose. I looked away from the ring and looked into his eyes. I covered the hand holding the ring box with my own, and stood on tippy toes just to press my lips against his.

“I will gladly and happily take this ring and be by your side for all time.” I stared right into his eyes as I said it, to let him know I meant it with all my heart. He took the ring from its box and slid it onto my finger.