A peace summit with a neighbouring kingdom

For many decades our kingdom has been surrounded on all sides by peaceful neighbours, focused on their farms, their magic, their peoples prosperity and happiness. We were not used to war. Which is why it was so shocking when our neighbours to the south were conquered suddenly by a militaristic war mongering nation.

Suddenly our southern border was exposed, our direct neighbour had a large army, aggressive leaders, and a religion which urged them to conquer land in their name.

When the news came I was one of the last royals to hear it. I was the princess, a woman, which meant I wasn't really involved in matters of state. I was a pretty face to be ransomed off for alliances, not trusted with anything important.

I knew some bad news had arrived because of the sudden commotion and activity in the palace, but for me it was mostly another day of reading, painting and the other girly hobbies I was meant to practice to make myself an attractive catch.

At the time I didn't realise how much this event would fundamentally change my life.

One month later I was putting on my finest dress in preparation for a diplomatic conference. Our new neighbours from the Dominion of Malar had been invited to the palace to discuss trade deals. It was hoped we could woo them into friendship with the promise of wealth and a show of our own military strength.

My father had promised that my hand in marriage was not on the negotiating table. In truth he saw these foreigners as savages, dirty and brutal, and didn't think it was right to give his daughter over to them. He wouldn't say that to them of course, and I was expected to perform my usual duties, politely entertaining the guests and being a showcase of our nations beauty and elegance.

My maids were helping me get ready. we had received word our guests would be arriving within the hour. When the time came the last touches were applied to my hair and makeup, then I headed to the entrance hall. It was there that I saw the two of them for the first time.

As I said my father described the Dominion as savage, and that was partly because of their tradition of allowing women in the army. I had been told that there were two such woman likely to be arrived today. Two fearsome female generals of noble blood. I'd heard many rumours about them and didn't know which to believe. I'd heard that they were real sisters or former rivals, that they were witches, that they butchered children in battle, or most scandalous of all, that they were intimate with each other.

Given all this, I was expecting the two women to be ugly brutes. But when I saw them among the crowd... my heart leapt from my chest. I had lived a life of luxury and seen many wondrous sights in my life, but nothing compared to the two angelic woman who stood before me. They were beautiful, not like the pampered women of my families court, but rather they radiated strength and power. They were lionesses, primal warriors and leaders of their people.

My knees buckled. "fuck". I swore under my breathe. I... I tried to recompose myself. I... I didn't understand, but I had no time to think, I had duties to attend to.

I waited my turn and introduced myself to the group. Everything else was fuzzy, but I remembered the names of the two goddess. The red-head was Asta and the brown-haired one was Kristin.

After introductions there was a tour of the castle and grounds, which gave us a convenient view of the military parade going on outside. Then there was a lunch, and the start of the formal discussions.

A large table had been prepared for all the gathered dignitaries from both sides. I was slow today and most people were seated before me. I saw two spots on my side.

My father would prefer I sat near him, at the top of the table. But there was another space free, at the end of the table, directly across from Asta and Kristin.....