Before we entered the city of Medolina, a cavalcade came out of the city to join us. Their carriages were eborate, colourful and gilded. Many members of the city guard came to our side to march and ride alongside us and protect us from the masses in the city. They told us that the citizens were very excited to see their future queen. To see me.

  The uniform of the city guard was golden and engraved with complex patterns. The uniforms of my travelling party seemed grey and dull in comparison. Still, I could not see any face more handsome than that of Sir Alvar among the guards. They wore rge gold helmets with feathers, which revealed their faces fully. My guard wore practical grey helmets that could really shield their faces from blows.

  The city stretched out far beyond the city walls. The outside parts were mostly low houses, some of them being decent houses with nice gardens, others little more than hovels. The people came out of the houses to look at us. The people squabbled loudly over my presence, and when I peered out of the curtains they shouted and pointed excitedly.

  Although these areas could not have been the most wealthy ones, the people in them wore vibrantly coloured clothes. I had hoped that my most beautiful dress, which was an emerald green woollen dress with embroidered silver thread, would be at least somewhat prized here. I could see now that it was only a few steps above a peasants garb in Medolina.

  I was also wearing my best silver jewellery, crowned by my beautiful silver diadem, which my father had made especially for me. My hair partly held away from my face with a braided hairstyle that my dies-in-waiting had done for me, but otherwise it flowed down to my waist. I was always considered special back in Havermark for my beautiful raven-bck hair. Most people there only had blonde or brown hair. In the southern areas most people had bck hair, but none of the women wore it down.

  When we passed through the city walls music started pying! Men carrying instruments joined our procession. A man from the city guard came towards us and told us that now was the time to open the curtains. I didn’t know we were supposed to open the curtains.

  When I opened the curtains I was greeted by a huge crowd. Some of them cheered, some shouted. The city was huge and bustling. The smells of the city, smoke, shit, perfume and sweat mingled with the smell of the nearby ocean. Many people seemed excited to see me, but in the crowd I could definitely see some sour faces. Maybe they didn’t want their crown prince to be in bed with the enemy.

  It was all so overwhelming, but as I looked slightly behind me I could see Alvar. My Alvar. It was a calming sight, in spite of everything. As we proceeded through this terrifying crowd I felt that even if everything were to go wrong, Alvar would protect me.

  As we travelled further into the city the buildings became more grand and the people became even more striking. They wore such beautiful clothes that all the people in the cities before paled in comparison. The closer I came to the castle the quieter the people were. They were not cheering or jeering, just looking at me in anticipation.

  We drew up to the castle, which was pced at the very centre of the city. The castle itself was not as rge as Greenhill Castle, where I had grown up, but it was twice as tall. Greenhill Castle had also contained vegetable gardens and livestock. I supposed that Medolina Castle did not.

  The procession filled the small courtyard of this otherwise very impressive castle. A few naughty children had tried to come in with us, but had been firmly pushed out by the Medolinan guards.

  To greet us there were only a few courtiers. One old man spoke:

  "Greetings, your highness, I am Baron Rangon, welcome to Medora. The rest of the court awaits you in the great hall."

  I nodded and followed him. The only people that were allowed to come with me were the other noble folk. My dies-in-waiting and Baron Silverin. I gnced at Alvar, how I wished I could take him with me.

  The hallways of the castle were splendid. Paintings and tapestries covered every wall that did not have windows on it. The windows were very rge and lustrous, many made of stained gss. It was clear that in Medolina you did not have to heat your castle in winter. Colourful statues lined the hallways, many of them depicting nude people. I blushed. This would not be considered appropriate in Havermark.

  I wondered if my companions found this pce as strange as I did. The lords and dies of my retinue were all older, and no doubt knew more of foreign courts and castles. The old Baron led us down a hallway, and in to the most glorious grand hall I had ever seen.

  It was full of people. They wore incredibly beautiful and extravagant clothes and splendid jewellery. It was such luxury that I hadn't even known could exist. The variety of colour and pattern was overwhelming to me, and the only thing it could remind me of was a field full of wildflowers, but the flowers would pale in comparison to this grand room.

  Both the men and the women wore incredible styles, but the women were particurly impressive. They wore huge skirts, padded with yers and yers of fabrics and ce. Their outfits had eborate patterns and embroideries and were topped with beautiful glittering jewellery encrusted with gemstones.

  They all stopped and stared at me as I entered the room. I felt naked, even in my most beautiful dress. It was so simple, with a slim skirt taken in by a silver belt. How I wished that I could bring Alvar with me.

  The crowd parted and at the head of the room I could see the man I was going to marry. Prince Virtus.