Anastasia froze at her words.

Seeing her standing like a statue, Ileus asked, "What's it Anastasia? What did she tell you?"

The young girl giggled at him. "Zar ne sna jezlek vila?" Doesn't he know fae language?

Anastasia blushed to the roots of her hair. She wanted an explanation. How come sthe girl was uddenly talking about her marriage? How did they know that Ileus had proposed to her? It was so mysterious and yet she felt butterflies in her stomach. "Ohnema," she said as her blush became deeper. No...

The girl smiled at him. She repeated her request and Anastasia bent, allowing her to thread the flower in her hair. She waved in front of her to encourage her to move forward. But Ileus became weary. He held her upper arm and asked, "What is going in, Anastasia?"

Before she could say anything, the girl held Anastasia's hand and tugged her further away. Anastasia giggled as more and more elf girls came with flowers in their hands and weaved them in her hair. By the time she was in the midst of the square, a crown of flowers decorated Anastasia's head. She was grinning to the point that her face hurt.

Ileus was extremely agitated by this activity because no one was telling him what was going on. Last time when he was here, they spoke in accented English with him and at least he could understand it, but now it was as if they all had conspired against him. Were they siding with his mate because she was a fae? Well then he was about to marry her!

With his brows furrowed, he looked at all of them as they giggled and laughed and talked with her. And why was she blushing till her neck? She looked lovely in the crown of her flowers on her head. It made her look ethereal. All of a sudden his gaze went to her ears. Did they twitch? Were they becoming pointy? While he was pondering over her ears, white sparks crackled in the air some ten feet away from them. When they dissipated, a woman almost as tall as him was standing in front of them.

Every elf in the square knelt and bowed their heads.

Beautiful like a delicate flower, with flawless skin, red lips and green eyes, she looked like an epitome of God's creation. Her long white hair was woven with gold threads over which sat a golden crown. She was wearing a long white flowing gown that pooled at her ankles. A golden belt was tied over it on her waist. She was wearing matching satin sandals.

"Queen Ilyana!" Ileus exclaimed and walked to her. He bowed his head. "What a pleasant surprise! I was coming to meet you." He was flustered. "I don't why but Haldir created a portal for us-"

Ilyana's lips tugged up and she said, "We know why Haldir has sent you here."

"You do?" he asked with a frown and doubt in his eyes.

"You have proposed to this little girl here," she said pointing at Anastasia. "And that's why you are to be wedded in Evindal."

Shocked as hell, his head flinched back slightly and he looked at Anastasia. So that was why she was blushing so heavily. His eyes went back to Ilyana. "How? I mean... why?" He could have wedded her in Yelgra too, but why Evindal? Everything was so puzzling. Why didn't Haldir tell him about his plans? And how did Ilyana know about Haldir's plans? Perplexed, he scratched his chin and opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Ilyana laughed and it sounded like a chime of bells. "Come," she said as she extended her hand to him. "We will talk while we walk to the palace."

"Okay..." his voice trailed off. He looked in Anastasia's direction and called her. When she came up to him, he introduced her to Ilyana. "This is Anastasia, princess of Vilinski."

Ilyana looked at her affectionately and took her hands in hers. "Charming," she whispered. She conjured a golden flower in her hand and threaded it in her crown on the right side. "Do you know that elves are ancestors of the faes?"

Anastasia bowed. "Yes, my queen," she replied, looking up at her, feeling mesmerized and awed in her presence.

"It means that someone in Evindal definitely shares the same bloodline as you," Ilyana informed her.

"Oh!" she gasped.

"That's why your marriage on the soils of Evindal is even more sacred as compared to your realm or his, princess."

And then it struck Ileus-Haldir had sent him to Evindal only so that his marriage was sealed forever. No one, not even Aed Ruad could break the seal unless-

"If anyone will try to break the seal, they will face severe consequences," Ilyana completed his thought process. "But that doesn't mean that the seal can't be broken. It can be broken if any of you want to free themselves of this bond."

Anastasia flicked a look at Ileus.

"I don't think that will ever happen," he said, looking at her with warmth in his chest.

Anastasia chuckled.

"Do you doubt it?" he asked, his golden eyes glaring at her.

"Don't be certain of it, Ileus."

Ilyana laughed. "She is feisty and I already like her." She turned to Ileus. "Come Ileus, let us go to the palace. According to our customs, we do not allow the bride to meet the groom for a week before the wedding."

Ileus' mouth fell to the floor.

Regarding how petrified he looked, she giggled. "Don't worry, in your case, Theodir has reduced it to a day. So you cannot be with Anastasia for that time. Your wedding will take place tomorrow."

He panicked. "But she is alone. Where will she stay? She can't take care of herself. What about Seashell? Anastasia is not well. She needs medicines on a regular basis." He said all that in one breath.

"What medicines?" Ilyana asked as she snapped her fingers. The next moment the two of them disappeared and Anastasia was left with a blank look on her face.

All the elves rose to their feet and girls who had woven flowers in her hair surrounded her. They tittered as they held her hand and took her to a bigger hut that seemed as if several huts were joined together. An elderly lady came out to receive her. She bowed to Anastasia and said, "Since you are the guest of King Theodir and Queen Ilyana, please don't worry about anything. We were informed yesterday that we will be receiving you two and that you will be wedded here." Saying that the old lady smiled and wrinkles of experience appeared on her face.

"This is all such a surprise," Anastasia said, still not able to believe. Was she dreaming?

The lady waved in front of her. "Anastasia, we have to prepare you for tomorrow. There are several customs and traditions you have to follow, so please come this way so that I may prepare you for the celebrations. This is going to be a private wedding but with all traditions."

---

Ileus found himself inside the palace, but he was uneasy as hell. All he could think of was how to go back to his Ana.