The woman stood by the door frozen by the pain. He was still speaking, still trying to justify his decision. His words were like thorns, spears even, that sliced through flesh and found their way to the heart. The ring was glittering in his hand, reflecting all the dreams and hopes she had had.
- You do understand my reasons, don't you? Under the circumstances this is the best choice for both of us. Besides you're still young and beautiful, and will certainly find yourself another man.
He smiled that dashing smile that made you want to believe his every word. Bitterness filled her heart. She had believed his words. She had given her vows, had kept them, and had waited for the right time for them to marry. And now he was leaving him, like if she was a broken toy or a tool no more needed.
She didn't say anything, just looked. Her eyes were dark and haunted, her face expressionless. It was all she did and enough to make him turn away. Slowly, so slowly she started to take off her jewellery. Piece by piece she dropped them in her feet, not caring of their age or value. Murmurs and whispers in the reception hall were filled with astonishment – and fear. She undressed her beautiful over coat, took of her shoes and socks, dropped her gown off her shoulders and left only the linen chemise on. But she didn't stop there. She couldn't, wouldn't stop there.
The dagger, little silver thing she always had on her belt gleamed in the candle light. She reached for her head and cut off her hair, small amounts at a time. The man kept talking to the onlookers. He kept repeating the reasons for abandoning her, his back towards her. But the murmurs and whispers among the nobility grew stronger no matter what he said.Behind him she cut the last wisp of her hair. It glistened like gold, and fell in the ground, next to the others. He was still talking to the nobles, and didn't see how she threw her hair and clothing in the fire with the jewels.
Everyone could see her stomach, the roundness of it, now when she had nothing but her under shirt on. Everyone knew that she had been faithful and loving, had done everything the man had asked. So they said nothing, when she reached in the fire and took the glowing embers, marked her hands and face with the royal emblem. It was her right to announce to the world that she had been used by the king, abandoned by him – when carrying his child.
The silence of the nobles finally made the king to realize something was wrong. He turned just in time to see the queen spoil her beauty, mar her hands and face for all eternity. His jaw went slack from shock when he took in her appearance, realized what she had done. Her burned face was white but did not show other signs of pain and there were no tears in her eyes. He tried to talk, but no sound would come. She didn't spare but a glance to him before turning to face the nobles.
- I denounce my vows to this man, to this kingdom. I denounce my love to this man, to this land. I denounce his paternity to the child he has fathered, I denounce his rights to child he has sired. What has been conceived I will raise, what has been given I will take. I curse Bryan of Fermont for betraying his vows. I curse Marian of Thurn for laying herself to the hands of a man betrothed. But I bless their child, for she is innocent for what her parents have done. I bless her with gift of solitude: she will be their only child. I bless her with wisdom: she will believe no man. Her mother and father will teach her to mistrust every man, every woman, for the story of her origin will always be told.
Without saying another word, she left the coronation room, her own subjects following her lead and not only them. Half of the nobles whose king Bryan had been, left the castle never to return to their king or lands. Instead they followed the Queen of Coryn, who would have been their queen too, if the king could have been loyal, and married his betrothed.