(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ee/Midori.jpg)<br/><br/>Midori sat politely between her father and her future husband. Her mind was frantically trying to sift through all the information she had been given regarding her betrothed, and discovered she had more information on Lao Fang than she did on Shun Tai. She let the conversation buzz around her, paying half attention to it.<em>Shun Tai. Son of Emporer Bue. Known for bringing peace to his lands, increasing trade, and being fair.</em><br/><br/>Her head snapped up as her father's words registered.<em>"If it is not an intrusion, Tai, then I would wish that the wedding be done within the hour." </em>She blinked. Was she to be married in her traveling uniform then?<em>"Fang, can we make everything ready for a wedding within the hour?" </em>That was it. She may be nothing but a pawn to her father, and would probably be little more than that to this man who was to be her husband, but if she were to be forced into marriage, she'd be damned if she were going to do it in dusty, sweaty traveling clothes.<br/><br/>"No," she said, loudly and firmly. "It is not possible for this to happen." She thought quickly not sure for a moment how to proceed. It was useless to try to get her father to understand, so she turned to Shun Tai. "Please, My Lord," she adressed him, head bowed in respect, eyes lowered (she had yet to look at him directly). "The clothes I wear are unfit for a marriage to one such as yourself. and there are certain rituals my religion requires me to perform to be, " she swallowed, color filling her delicately boned face, "to be purified before entering the wedding bed. Usually I am given four days, but there are shortened rituals.  The soonest I could be properly ready to wed is four hours, and that is only if I begin immediately."<br/><br/>The explanation was given with utmost respect, the voice soft and even, her bearing strong and regal. But the look in her eyes when she glanced at Ethan, begging for help, told him the truth. Midori was frightened.  Scared and trapped, left with no options.  She needed time to adjust. If the man standing beside Shun Tao saw that look, saw that weakness in her, she was unaware.<br/><br/>(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/86/Ethan.jpg)<br/><br/>Ethan took comfort in the hand Master Tai placed on his shoulder, but the fear of being sold off remained. He listened closely to the conversation, all the while studying this woman that threatened his position. He gave the Golden Fighter a quizzical look when demanded the wedding within an hour, but it quickly changed to a look of stunned hurt when Tai agreed.<br/><br/>It was the woman's words that he clung to, especially after that look of pleading. She didn't want this marriage any more than he did, and if she needed time to find a way out of it, he would give it to her. Hell, he'd give her all the help she needed! "She is right, Master," he whispered to Tai. "She needs time to prepare, as do you. Your clothing is not of wedding finery." He stood quickly, stepping away from the throne. "I will find my new Mistress a proper maidservent to assist her," he announced, giving Master Tai no choice in the matter before bowing to Midori and taking off.