“She wears blue and silver, not red and gold as is tradition?” Was the first whisper Kazia heard as walked into the cathedral. She felt the eyes of hundreds on her but she could not turn back now. Slowly she walked down the aisle, her feet stepping on ruby red rose petals mixed with the petals of poppies and rues. She approached the front and knelt before the Archbishop, who placed a crown of rue and poppies on her head.

“Princess Kazimiera Aistė Jolanta Ramunė Jagoda, you come before Pandievas to be anointed and granted the Twin Crown of Yuva-Herztany. Normally I would inquire what made you think yourself worthy of being his elected ruler of our fine people but considering our Holy Arrow, one of the few divine artifacts in existence, is now holy dust in the wind, that question may be redundant.” Kazia bit the inside of her lip, feeling guilt that such a priceless artifact was gone now and possibly in her bloodstream. The Archbishop continued.

“You have spent the past two years working towards the goal of being a ruler Pandievas can claim. Before anointment, it is tradition to sacrifice a personal item as an offering to Pandievas. Princess Kazimiera, give onto Pandievas what you will sacrifice in His name.” Kazia stood up and pulled out a pair of scissors. Very messily, she hacked her way through her braid as everyone gasped in shock and horror as uneven hair fell around her face. She threw the severed braid into the holy flame and watched as it rose viciously. It cycled through holy colors before settling on pure white. The Archbishop smiled.

“Pandievas has not only accepted the gift but has declared it holy! Not just holy but He has accepted it as a great sacrifice.” Whispers roared to life around the church as Kazia watched. She had a feeling Pandievas would accept the hair as a sacrifice, as well as her crystal clip, but she did not expect it to this extent. She had figured something personal would work best and her gamble worked. The Archbishop gently led her to the stairs. She knelt, silent, with her head bowed as the Archbishop began the anointment.

Kazia felt the oil seep into her hair as the Archbishop prayed over her and gave a sermon. Kazia stayed still, praying to herself to be a good ruler. Once the sermon was finished, Kazia stood and quietly walked to the throne brought out just for such occasions. The solid gold and ruby throne showed delicately carved scenes from the beginning of the union of Yuva and Herztany. Gently she was handed the scepter of Saint Yuri the first King. She held it tightly in her left hand while the Globus Cruciger was placed in her right hand. She stared out into the crowd, and looked at all the faces staring blankly at her. The Archbishop gently lowered the Coronation Crown of Saint Ivan onto her head.

“By the Grace of Pandievas, I crown you King Kazimiera the First, of the Jagoda Dynasty.”