Aerin almost fell multiple times while his mother pulled him through long corridors of white marble. 

His feet were dragged so violently along the floor that flaring rashes started to appear on the soles.

He looked up at the ceiling, he saw how the perfect marble turned into glass,  and how the already bright room turned even brighter as the sunlight entered freely now.

They reached a large door, the same door that lead to the room where his own wedding had been planned without his knowledge.

His head started to hurt with a sudden overwhelming feeling, one that sent him a wordless message.

Don't go inside.

Run.

Aerin shook his head and looked at his mother, who he expected would knock on the door like before.

Instead, his mother opened the door as soon as it was within her reach. This action sent him back to the change he'd noticed in his mother, the last time they met the last members of the royal family she looked unsure and nervous, but now, a sense of pride and confidence surrounded her, which for some reason, lightened a weird sense of fear inside Aerin.

She pushed the doors and entered the room while swaying her hips unnaturally, Aerin frowned.

Inside the room were the king and the prince with Rowan and Vienna, who was smiling contently.

Everyone looked in their direction when they entered the room, Aerin saw Vienna's smile fall, as if she was displeased.

Rowan for some reason turned red as if the room was hot, Aerin shrugged, he thought it was quite cold actually.

His eyes trailed to the prince who was smirking at him and shivers traveled through his spine, he gulped.

The king for some reason sighed and shook his head when he saw Aerin's mother.

Haleth walked up to the empty seats in front of her and sat, crossing her legs while looking around as if she was studying the people in the room.

Aerin followed her and sat to her right while only looking at Rowan, afraid to see the expression Vienna had.

"There's no point in holding this meeting longer than necessary", the king said, "Aerin, sign here", he said while sliding a paper towards him.

Aerin frowned and took the paper, ignoring the ink that was also placed beside it.

He held it with both hands as he read through it.

~~~
The Union of the Eight Kingdoms accepts the marriage proposal made by the Royal Family of Arda.

The Consort Witches of Evior welcome Aerin Sinyra as an apprentice and teach him the necessary skills that Arda has demanded with the condition of leaving Evior after 3 months of studies.

The union between Aerin and Garrett will be held as soon as he arrives in Arda.

If for any reason this contract is not respected after signing, the 3rd punishment will be held.

- First Witch and Lady of Evior, Gajik Zullir

~~~
Aerin frowned, witches.

Why would the king be interested in him learning from witches? Aerin knew everyone hated them, especially the king and his son.

He didn't hate them, but he didn't like them either, not after they had killed so many elves and been praised after doing so.

What could he learn from them? How to slaughter and curse other kinds? 

He looked up at the king who was also looking at him expectantly.

"I don't want to sign this", Aerin said.

Vienna smiled and looked at Rowan triumphantly, confusing Aerin.

Confusion soon turned into a weird sense of pride, Aerin crossed his arms and spoke.

"I take that back, I'll sign it", Aerin said quickly.

He didn't even process what he'd just said, the only thing that had invaded his mind was the thought of him not wanting to please Vienna in any way.

And he was right, Vienna's sudden burst of happiness died as soon as Aerin had said those words, she quickly turned to glare at him and slumped in her seat.

Aerin blindly took the pen from the king's hand and wrote his name, he then slammed the paper on the table, making Rowan flinch, who tried to cover it by leaning on his hand quickly.

Everyone was silent for a moment until his mother spoke.

"Well then, since everyone agrees..."

The king nodded.

"Aerin you can go pack your things", the king said, "it'll be better for you to leave as soon as possible".

Aerin frowned but stood up.

"I'll go with him", Rowan's voice interrupted his departure.

Rowan stood up and walked toward him, he took Aerin's hand and pulled him outside the room.

Rowan sent Aerin a smile as they stepped out of the room, Aerin opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say was interrupted by someone who rushed past them and into the room.

The person that'd rushed inside had moved the doors slightly closer together, making Rowan and Aerin not very noticeable to the people still in the room.

Aerin looked through the gap between the doors as did Rowan. The person that'd rushed inside was a knight, and one of the most trusted ones of the king.

As the knight knelt before the royal family, Haleth and Vienna stared at him with strange looks, he started messily started speaking.

Among the word mess that the knight was blurting, the most important thing was understood by everyone.

"Miss Mara Amamion isn't in the dungeons anymore".

Aerin's eyes widened and Rowan's hand tightened around his.

Haleth stood up abruptly with a furious look.

"I want her dead!", she screamed at the knight, who nodded at her," she risked my son's life, she deserves a slow painful death!".

Aerin couldn't believe what he'd just heard. His mother had never really been a soft, warm mother, but her words still surprised him immensely.

Rowan pulled him to his room, running through the castle to avoid the possible suspicion their presence outside the door could provoke.

That's not "Haleth", my mother, Aerin thought and remembered how his mother usually referred to witches, that's a heartless monster.

I only hope Mara isn't in the castle anymore, Aerin thought even if deep in his mind he knew Mara wouldn't be able to escape whatever had been planned for her.

"Rowan, can we please take Mara with us?", he asked as they ran up the stairs, his heart beating loudly inside his ribcage, although he thought it'd stopped moving completely as Rowan spoke.

"I'm sorry Aerin, we can't".