• Anandera was sitting at her balcony window, staring out across the countryside of the kingdom, when Tallie quietly entered the room and approached her.

    "You summoned me, Princess?" he asked.

    Anandera looked at Tallie, feigned a smile, and nodded. Though the room was blanketed in shadows that hid Anandera's face, Tallie could sense that something important was weighing on her mind by the heaviness that filled the dark, quiet room. Anandera motioned to the chair sitting directly in front of her.

    "Please, sit," she quietly urged. "There is something very important we must discuss."

    Tallie nodded and took the seat in front of her. Taking her hands in his, he looked deep into her eye.

    "What is it that weighs so heavily on your thoughts, my love?" he asked. Anandera feighned yet another smile before returning her gaze to the countryside.

    "Tallie, dearest," she replied softly. "How much do you love me?"

    Tallie was visibly startled by the question.

    "More than any man should love a woman," Tallie replied, gently squeezing Anandera's hands. "I would gladly give anything, even my life, to give you happiness. It surprises me that you would ask such a question after so many years. Why does this bother you?"

    Anandera smiled sadly to herself.

    "I figured that would be your reply," Anandera said. "Father summoned me this afternoon after he returned from his meeting in Condor. It seems that the main topic of discussion was my upcoming sixteenth birthday and who I would choose to be my king..."

    "I understand that such a decision is of the utmost importance to your people," Tallie said. "Does it bother King Gwenadar that you and I are involved?"

    "Oh, my, no!" Anandera quickly replied, looking at Tallie with wide eyes. "In fact, Father favors you as high King. He said that your strength and high moral standards are just what the Sheshoshians need in a king. It is just that..."
    Tallie gave her hands yet another gentle, reassuring squeeze.

    "Go on, darling," he urged.

    Anandera paused to look out the balcony window once more before returning her gaze to Tallie, her eyes filled with an uncertain sadness.

    "I looked over the King's Oath not too long ago," Anandera finally continued. "In order to take the King's Oath one must forsake all other oaths and pledge to live for the good of Sheshosha and her people."

    Tallie's grip on her hands suddenly became very lax.

    "I see," he said softly. "I would have to forsake my life-long oath to protect you and, in turn, dishonor my family and the debt they paid by giving me to your family..."

    "Debt, Tallie?" Anandera asked. "What debt? Your family's debt has long since been paid in the ten years you have spent protecting my life with your own. Father has acknowledged that there is no longer a debt and said that you are free to marry me and become High King."

    "It is not the debt I am most concerned about," Tallie said. "To forsake a life-long oath is to do a great dishonor to my family name..."

    "Family?!" Anandera quickly replied, standing up in protest. "You call the people who gave up their own child, like property, as a slave to pay a debt your family? Tallie, when you were handed to my family as payment for the debt, we took you in a more than just a slave and made you a part of this family. While we fed you, clothed you, and gave you a warm, comfortable bed to sleep in, your so-called family never once asked to see you or speak to you. They abandoned you. We loved you like you were our blood and you choose to honor the people who abandoned you over the family that truly loves you?"
    By then, Anandera was unable to control her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her hands were clenched into tight, quivering fists at her sides.

    "Anandera," Tallie sadly replied. "I am sorry but...you must understand...I cannot forsake my oath..."

    Anandera quickly turned her back to Tallie.

    "I see," she said, a heartbreaking sadness gripping her tone. "Then you and I...have no future together..."

    Tallie quickly stood in protest. One could see, by the sadness that slowly clouded his eyes, his heart was breaking.

    "But, Anandera...!" he started to protest, his voice cracking.

    "There are no buts to it, Tallie," Anandera said, choking back a sob. "It is quite simple. You either choose me or your stupid oath and it would seem to me that you have made your decision. Therefore, we have nothing more to discuss, so please leave me for now. I need a few moments to myself."

    "But..."

    "I said go!" Anandera commanded.

    At that point, Anandera broke down and began sobbing quietly. Tallie put a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her, but she quickly jerked away. Tallie looked hurt.

    "Just go...just go..." she sobbed. "Just let me be alone..."

    "As you wish...Princess," Tallie quietly replied, bowing slightly.

    Reluctantly, he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him and leaving Anandera to slump back down into her chair and cry silently.