Handfast
- When Graceful sees the Uplanders riding toward her house, she can't help but stare at them.
- But the real surprise comes when she sees who is riding with them: Cam. She can't believe he's with the lord and everything.
- There's lots of nervous energy when they finally arrive and introduce themselves. The men go off to talk business, while Graceful stays behind and wonders why there are Uplanders in her house.
- When the meet and greet is over, Graceful's dad and stepmom pull her aside. Her stepmom wants to keep everything hush-hush until it's finalized, but her dad insists on bringing Graceful into the loop.
- He tells her that she will marry Lord Dorn-Lannet's son, which shocks her since he's an Uplander and all.
- She sulks for days, and as she does, everyone tries to cheer her up by telling her that this will bring peace and be good for the nation.
- Gyaar really isn't so bad. He's well respected and liked, though when Graceful hears this she just tells her dad to marry him if he likes him so much. Oh, snap.
- Her dad offers to bet her about it. The stakes? She'll be happy, or he'll buy her a new silver belt like her stepmother's.
- Graceful refuses the wager—she never wants to make one with her dad again. Ever.
- Cam also tries to cheer her up by singing Gyaar's praises, particularly pointing out that he could have killed Cam but chose not to.
- Then he asks Graceful if she ever sees his sister. She's a little ashamed to admit that she never goes to the village without her dad, so she doesn't really know what Pin is up to.
- Graceful can't sleep for days, and she's down in the dumps. The rain pouring aside doesn't help cheer her up either (though it does perfectly mirror her mood).
- When Gyaar, Lord Ryuu, and their posse finally scram, Graceful keeps on sulking—she knows she has to marry him, but that doesn't mean she has to like it.
- Her dad tells her the wedding will be in spring, and she begs for him to push it back to summer. She really doesn't want to marry this guy and hopes to delay it as long as possible.
- A little while later, Graceful goes back to her dad. Remember that bet he offered? She'd like to take it now. If she has to get married, she might as well get a shiny new belt out of it.