It was an awkward walk after the incident outside the council room, both Kim and Pie were silent until they reached the Waterfall Bridge. “Wait here.” Kim said to Pie as she walked further to the other side of the bridge and checked the surroundings, she then signaled Pie to come closer. Kim spreads the curtain vines and pushed the stone wall until it opened, they then went inside then Kim closed the wall. She handed Pie a simple dress and a brown coat. “Change into these.” Kim said. “Why?” Pie asked reluctantly as she examined the clothing. “It's my surprise.” Kim finally smiled as she turns around and removes her coat and tunic. “H-h-hey, w-w-hat are you doing? Why are you taking your clothes off?” Pie asked as she blushed. “I'm changing too.” Kim smiles and then turns away from Pie. Pie starts to take off her dress, she then found herself staring at Kim's back. Kim was almost from the top except for her white binders, it revealed the healing wound on her left shoulder and her thin yet muscular arms. Pie's eyes were examining Kim's body closely, then a thought hit her hard on the head. The issue of that struck her like a bolt of lightning as she looks at Kim's body, she started to feel nervous. Pie never thought about such things, before, by the time Pie was aware of what is happening to her, Kim was finished putting on her inner white shirt and faded black tunic. “Hey, you need help with that?” Kim asked Pie as she folds her other tunic. Pie shook her head and signaled Kim with her hand to turn around. After a couple of minutes, she was finished. Kim folds her dress and puts it above her tunic. She then holds Pie's hand, grabbed a torch and led her to a winding staircase. “Don't let go of my hand.” Kim said. They then started to descend into the staircase, it was long and dark, the only source of light was Kim's torch. After five minutes, they reached the bottom. Kim pulled the stone door and the beam of the sun temporarily blinds Pie. By the time Pie recovered her sight, she found herself on green grass covered with snow surrounded by trees taller than castle pillars. Kim then covered the stone door with curtain vines, and led Pie to their horse. Kim assisted Pie on mounting the horse then she mounts it herself, sitting behind Pie. “Cover your head with the hood.” Kim says to Pie as she takes the reins of the horse. They started to ride, Pie noticed that they were descending the mountain. At the very bottom, they reached a thick forrest with a stone path on them, then someone suddenly called out. “Hey! We're here!” It was Zee, and he was with Jane, Puey and Yam. Kim approached them their horse. “So, we'll continue on foot from here?” Zee asks Kim. “Yes, it's best we leave our horses here or they'll get stolen like last time. Hehe.” “Where are we going?” Puey asks and Pie, Yam and Jane at stared at Kim and Zee for answers. They both just grinned and ties the horses on the tree trunk. They started walking the stone path, Pie whispers to Jane “What is Yam doing here?” “We asked her to join, she will be left alone there with the old lords and ladies.” Jane replied. “Besides, I think Zee likes her.” Pie gave off a sort of evil grin and Jane notices.

After a ten minute walk, they reached the city gate and a city guard told them to halt. Kim then walks toward the guard and showed him something, then the guard started to stand properly and addressed them politely, the other guards noticed that and they all stood properly and opened the city gates. “What was that?” Jane asked Zee. “Kim showed his ring to the guard. Me and Kim always sneaked to the city before we were sent to war. We always told the guards to keep our presence a secret, we don't want any attention when we visit the city.” The Dhiratvanian capital, City of Hiranya was a blooming place. Traders from across the continent and around the world were selling their goods like cloth, fruits, meat, fish and metal work. The city was filled with people from all walks of life, Vitharian merchants are now seen in the streets as well. The group walked around the city and looked at the jewelry and clothing that the merchants were selling. They watched a play about the legend of the sun and the moon in the square. Later, they went to the top hill of the city, there stood a lone white tree with golden leaves. “The Tree of the gods.” Kim said, “they say that if you wish under this tree during the fourth eve of the winter solstice, your wish will be heard by the gods and they will grant them.” Zee then exclaimed, “Today's our lucky day boys and girls. It's the fourth night of the winter solstice. We can wish!” Kim looks at Pie with a deep feeling, then held her hand and bowed on the tree. Pie looks back and bowed as well. Zee comes closer to Yam and gives her a sort of awkward smile. “Let's wish?” Yam asked Zee and Zee nodded. They all bowed their heads and wished silently. After a few moments, they all went to the foot of the hills and sat down on the grass. Zee bought a bottle of warm honeyed milk and crusted bread from the nearest inn. The sun descends and the quarter moon rises, the snow starts to fall again. “These things, they're so amazing. We don't have these in Vithara.” Pie said as she catches a snow flake on her finger tip. “Thanks for the surprise Kim, I really had fun.” Pie said to Kim as she hugged her arm. “Well, it's not yet over Pie.” Kim points at sky as a blazing star ascends swiftly, then a sudden boom! It was a firework. Pie's eyes were delighted to see the colorful explosion. Then more blazing stars ascend and numerous explosion of colors constantly filled the evening sky. Kim and Pie have both forgotten about the incident with Van and they both sat shoulder to shoulder, their arms wrapped around each other. Yam saw this and felt a bit of sadness in her. Zee noticed this, he then took off his coat and wrapped it around Yam. “Honeyed milk my lady?” Yam accepted Zee's offer and drank the warm honeyed milk. The friends enjoyed the rest of the night telling stories and laughing. The next day, they were all busy preparing for the wedding which will be in two days. The throne room and courtyards were decorated by the sewn banners of the royal houses. The security has tightened, the king has doubled the royal guards around the palace. The bride and groom are busy with the final touches of their clothing as well as the members of the royal family. How fast the days pass, it was the night before the wedding. Kim and Pie were sleepless, they both thought about each other. Kim got out of bed, wore her fur coat and went down to the dining hall to get a goblet of wine. As she walks along the hall, she saw a small hint of light on the corner. She walks silently and carefully. She saw her father looking at her mother's portrait that hangs on the main hall. He was smiling yet a hint of sadness showed on his face. Kim walks toward her father and spoke to him:

Kim: “I miss her too, though I really did not know her more than I had hoped to.”

King Anapan: “She would have been proud, Kim.”

Kim: “That her daughter will marry another woman? Hehe..” Kim chuckles

King Anapan: “Yes, she loved you the moment she laid her eyes on you until the moment they closed. You were more like her, always caring and gentle.”

Kim: “I wish she was here.”

King Anapan: “I wish it too..” King Anapan puts his arm around Kim's shoulders.

They stared at the late queen's portrait and bowed. They both walked back to their rooms as Kim takes a quick last glance at her mother's sweet smile. She smiled back, she then entered her room and laid down. She whispered a short prayer for her mother then she closed her eyes. The full moon is starting to take shape as the lovers sleep under its grace.