Bethari Kulawanit, Queen-in-Exile of the defunct Kingdom of Suhendra, was in great pain. She had lost her husband, her status, her riches, her home... but right now, most of her pain was caused by two babies struggling to push themselves out of her uterus. She knew that birth was painful, but birthing twins? Well that just was not fair.

Finally, after a two-hour labor period, she held her baby boys in her arms. She looked upon them, filled with all the overwhelming love of any new mother, and began to cry. But for the first time in almost eight months, they were tears of joy.

After some feeding and routine checks by the healers, Bethari returned to her home in the compound of the King of Manggar. An old friend of her late husband, King Khamti showed unusual kindness by allowing her, her then-unborn children, and a few servants refuge on his island kingdom. He would watch them closely, but felt duty-bound to honor the remaining family of his good friend, so she and her decedents would be welcome in his compound as long as they treated he and his family with respect. And so she stayed, came to turn, and gave birth to her beautiful baby boys, Budiono and Trintawat.

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Bethari knew that her sons were twins - she had given birth to them herself eight - but they seemed so completely different. Budiono, who went by Budi, was filled with energy and excitement to see the world and gain its treasures, constantly playing by the docks and talking with merchants and sailors passing through. This, of course, lent itself to a number of more violent situations when other children his age had "treasures" he wished to make his own. This got him in trouble more times than Bethari could count, but at least King Khamti found it amusing.

Trintawat, or Trin as he preferred, was much the opposite. He was no fighter, he preferred to spend his days talking to the different scholars in the compound, learning many different things about the world and how it worked. He would also watch with interest as the King went about his day, watching how he would rule on decisions, delegate responsibility, and forge partnerships with other states. He would train with the guards and become proficient in the use of swords, spears, and bows as well, but he much preferred his other studies to fighting. King Khamti enjoyed Trin's presence quite a bit, feeling almost like the son he never had. That is probably why he had Trin start playing with his daughter and only child, Piyapat. They became close friends, and from that point forward were seen together constantly.

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King Khamti regretted that move now, eight years later.

Trin and Piyapat had become close friends very quickly, and that friendship only grew stronger over time. Now at 16, she had reached marrying age, and he wished to marry her off to another royal family, one with money and land. Trin, of course, had neither of those things. Khamti wished he had been more like his brother Budi, joining the first merchant vessel that would take him at 15 and setting off to make his fortune, but Trin instead stayed in Manggar, with Piyapat. He knew he had to do something. That is when he had an idea, and called Trin into his chambers, alone.

Trin bowed low before the King, always a gentleman. "You asked to see me, my King?"

Khamti chuckled. "Now boy, you are a Prince. I always tell you there is no need to bow before me."

Trin quickly stood. "I am sorry, my Lord."

The King nodded and continued. "Trin, I have always looked after you and your family fondly, and I have truly enjoyed your presence around my Palace. Truthfully, you have been like a son to me. I have also not been blind to the affection between you and my daughter. That is why I would like such things to become permanent - and would ask if you would marry Piyapat."

Trin, struggling to keep himself composed through his overwhelming joy, managed to say, "It would truly be my honor, my Lord."

Khamti smiled. "Good. Now unfortunately, it would be a bad look for me to simply give you my daughter among so many other vocal suitors, so we will have to be smart about this. And luckily for you, I already have a plan."

Trin looked at the King in anticipation.

"Far sunwards, among the Islands of the Man-Eaters, lies a monstrous Giant. He wades into the sea, grabbing my merchant ships like rice cakes and eating my men as a snack. So far, nearly ten ships have been lost to this beast."

Trin nodded, he had heard of Kuwvag the Man-Eating Giant.

"In five days time, I will make the announcement that whoever can bring me the head of this Giant will receive my daughter's hand in marriage. My hope, by telling you with enough time in advance, is that you can make it there before them, slay the beast, and return home before they have finished packing their ships. In this way, no one can doubt your right to marry Piyapat. But you must head out tonight with all haste, lest foul winds keep you from making good time."

Trin grimaced, but nodded. He was no fighter, but he needed to win Piyapat's hand. So with hardly another word, he ran to his room, grabbed his things, and took a small ship out towards the Islands of the Man-Eaters.

Unfortunately for Trin, Khamti had no intention of making such a proclamation. Instead, he went to Piyapat, who Trin had not even had time to say goodbye to, and told her with a smile that Trin had left on a month-long merchant voyage at the last minute, and wanted him to tell her goodbye. She smiled and nodded.

But when one month became two, Piyapat began to worry. After three, worry turned into dread. After four, dread turned into sorrow, because whatever the reason, Trin would not be coming back. After six months, sorrow turned into acceptance, and her father began to search for a suitor.

Bethari, however, continued to weep, for neither of her sons had returned from their voyage, and she began to fear they never would. She spent days at a time, praying and sobbing in her room in the King's compound. A year later, the King announced that the Princess was to be married in one months time.

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The entire island seemed to come to the capital for the wedding festivities. Nobles from Ayamerah, Doebi, and everywhere in between ventured to the island to pay their respects to the new couple, and sat down to watch the proceedings.

Princess Piyapat walked down her side of the chamber, looking as gorgeous as ever, and carried her torch to the center. Her husband-to-be started at the other end, and walked towards the center with his torch. They surrounded the large unlit bonfire and turned towards the Priestess of Iarare - the Goddess of Love - who began her normal speech.

"Dear friends, family, and of course the two beloved - thank you for joining us in this most holy of ceremonies. We gather here to celebrate two fires of life becoming one - that of Princess Piyapat, and that of Prince Raharjo..."

There speech and prayers continued for another ten minutes, before the fateful words emerged. "Now, unless any would stand in the way of these two souls joining for eternity, let your fires be cast into the pile, and together become a whole greater than the sum of its parts."

But just as they got ready to toss their torches into the bonfire, the doors burst open. The entire chamber turned, and gasped. For now, striding towards the center of the chamber, were Trin and Budi, carrying a large sack. They walked past the couple and straight to the King's table. Guards lept to their feet, but the King just sighed and told them to stand down. He met the eyes of Trin, and spoke.

"So, it would seem that you live after all."

Trin betrayed no emotion. "I live," he stated, "but Kuwvag does not."

Then, to the shock of everyone, he threw his sack to the King. Khamti spilled its contents onto the table, but there was only one item inside - the massive head of Kuwvag the Giant. The King stared at the head, and smiled. "Despite my lies and lack of faith, you have prevailed. I am proud of you Trin..."

Trin, however, did not seem to care what Khamti was saying. Instead, he turned to sadly look at the couple standing by the bonfire. He looked at the woman who he had loved for almost a decade, and turned to go.

"Wait!" Piyapat cried out, and walked over to him. He stared at her face, watching as she tried to process exactly what was going on. Her eyes flashed from shock, to confusion, to anger, to sorrow, but finally to relief. She dropped her torch and embraced the man that she too had loved for so long, who had been lost to her, but now, miraculously, had been found.

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Prince Raharjo took the news about as well as anyone getting left at the alter bonfire and returned home to find himself another noble wife. King Khamti accepted Trin as his son, and gave his blessings for the real marriage to be. The next day, seeing as everyone was gathered for a wedding anyway, Prince Trintawat Kulawanti and Princess Piyapat were wed, and Trin became a Prince in every meaning of the word. King Khamti would die less than a decade later, and Trin would rise to become King, just like his father, and the Kulawanti dynasty was born.

(At some point in the future, I will be writing another epic about how Trin survived an insane journey to kill the Giant and return home, as well as some other adventures from later in his life, so be on the lookout for that)