Augusta winks at her. Good luck she mouths, a stupid grin plastered on her face as she watches the love of her life take her place at the ceremonial altar. She should be up there as her lover is chosen by the sun, make history and just be close to her. But Augusta was shoved into the crowd, apparently only the heirs and blessed knights could stand up there. Outdated in her opinion. She takes a deep breath as the ceremony starts, her lover looks like a goddess herself, her beauty making her speechless as her eyes watches her like a hawk.. Sun watch over her she prays, smiling wide as the roof is opened to let the light in. The confident smile she had directed at her lover falls as gasps erupt in the throne room at the sight in front of them. The gasps turn into screams. The screams turn into chaos. Some cower in fear at her while others stand in anger, trying to push past the knights to get to her and others trying to leave the room. Very few bow their heads in worship. They are almost instantly struck down by the crowd. There is no sunlight streaming onto her face, no golden glow eclipsing her body. There is on Claude, it reflects off his crown into her eyes like it had for so many monarchs before him. So many others were chosen by the Sun. But her, there is a glow on her but it is not the suns. A shimmery white glow that reflects off her eyes. She looks otherworldly. Terrifying. No It's moonlight. And the moon is not welcome in Orna. Claude is yelling at her, grabbing at her shoulders and pulling her out of the room along with the council members. Augusta starts to make her way towards her lover, there must be some mistake, she has to be chosen. She needs to protect her, they'll get through this. Shoving past knights she calls out. "My love!" Suddenly a hand is on her arm, she turns around to pull it back but sees it is her mother. "Augusta, do not take another step, leave.""No! Mother, there must be a mistake," Augusta pleaded, her voice trembling. "The moon chose her. This can't be right!""The gods do not make mistakes, Augusta. Leave now." Her mother's grip was iron, but the words felt like a dagger in Augusta's chest before she was pushed towards the exit. Augusta descends out the back through a servants passage, as bile rises in her throat. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. No, the sun was supposed to pick her. Everyone knew. Everyone favoured her. Oh my love what did you do? What did I do? Only one chosen. A voice pounded into Augusta's head, making a gasp escape her lips as she leans against the wall. Who is that? She looks around the passage finding it empty. Protect my chosen. It booms. Augusta yells in agony, her head feeling like it is going to split in two. Her heart is pounding in her ears, is she going crazy?. My love? NOT HER. HIM. No please Augusta begs. Please, I love her. I am loyal to you. But I am loyal to her too. NOT HER. No Augusta cries, clutching her head gripping at her hair. NEVER HER Stop. she yells, her head burning, blazing. Her skins on fire. CLAUDE. My love! OBEY YOUR GOD. Augusta screams, falling to her knees. Her god, The Sun, has spoken to her leaving a jumble of emotions thrumming through her. Awe. Fear. Sadness. Confusion. Anger. Hot blazing anger. As if the floodgates had opened, this all consuming beast enters her body burning through her veins like molten gold like she was possessed. She grinds her teeth reaching for her sword. Her forehead is dripping with sweat as her feet thunder towards the council room. The council members look up as she enters, her mother is a part of them, her face stoney as she takes in her daughter. Augusta's eyes are blazing. She looks at her lover, beautiful her, her anger wavering for a split second before that voice returns. DECEITFUL. "Who do you swear your loyalty to Augusta?" One of the members says. "We have to kill either Claude or her, lest we want a war between gods. For the balance, the good of the realm." they urge seven pairs of eyes on her. TRAITOR. Augusta clenches her hands as she turns away, avoiding her lover's eyes making her way towards Claude. KNEEL. And kneels. "I swear my loyalty to Claude, the one true King. Sun's chosen." Sentencing her lover to death. "I swear my loyalty to Claude, the one true King, the Sun's chosen." Thus, sentencing her to death.