by: gamorasquill

"Your Majesty!" 

 Hashirama turned away from the flowers he was tended to see a servant quickly approaching him. They held a letter in their hands and a wave of anxiety and excitement crashed over the monarch. 

 "News from King Madara." They replied, falling to one knee and presenting the letter to him. 

 With a polite declaration thanks the King quickly accepted it and nearly tore it open, eager to see what the contents held.

 Hashirama, 

 Your offer brings me great joy and I am more than pleased to know that I am not the only one who longs for peace. I will happily accept this proposal and marry you to bring our kingdoms together. 

 However...there are many matters to attend to before we are wed. Since I have never met you before, I am eager to look upon my future husband's face before we marry. Also there is always the question of who would leave their kingdom to live with their spouse and many more things that I hope we will speak of in person. 

 Since my kingdom would be...less than thrilled to have you here, I will come to you and my younger brother and a small entourage of mine will be accompanying me. We shall arrive there in about four days time. 

 Sincerely, 

 Madara Uchiha 

 Hashirama gasped happily. Madara had accepted...they were to be wed, well after they had arranged a meeting of course. A shaky hand came up to cover his mouth and he turned his gaze to the servant. 

 "Summon my council! Do it now!" 

 As they scrambled back into the palace the King read over the letter once again, an elated grin quickly curling his lips. 

 ............... 

 "You summoned us brother?" Tobirama inquired as he entered the palace garden and found his sibling sitting near the reflecting pool. His eyes were running over a piece of paper and his lips were spread in an elated grin, which made the Prince highly suspicious. 

 "Yes." The King stated happily, looking up at his court. "King Madara has responded to my offer." 

 "And I assume that the unbreakable smile you wear now means he said yes?" Hiruzen replied with a chuckle. 

 Hashirama nodded, resisting the urge to let out a hearty laugh. He just couldn't help his joy. Soon this senseless violence and death would be over and the two kingdoms could start on a new path together. He knew it wouldn't be easy and there would be high tensions and distrust on both sides, but it was a start!

 "Yes...he accepted, but he would like to meet before we are we'd and discuss some rather important matters." The King explained, reading the letter once more. 

 "Well, I hope he does not expect us to go to him." Danzo nearly growled. "We will not send our King to some barren wasteland."

 That broke the euphoric air around the King and Hashirama frowned. "For your information Danzo, he wants to come to us and don't worry...you won't be here when he arrives anyway." 

 "I beg your pardo--" 

 Hashirama held up a hand, silencing him. "I don't want you here when Madara arrives, because of your immense hatred towards the Uchiha. I would send my brother with you, but he would never go...even if I did command him to but you don't have a choice." 

 "My King, you cannot do this!" Danzo exclaimed, face reddened with sheer anger. 

 "I can and I will. I understand that you all are less than happy with my decision, but all of you need to realize that I'm doing this for peace. A peace that has been a long time coming, and I will not tolerate anymore of these ignorant comments. If you cannot handle your hatred then I will simply spare you the pain of meeting the people you've come to hate so easily, even though you know nothing about them." 

 Danzo grit his teeth and balled his fists. Thankfully, he kept his mouth closed and remained silent. 

 Sated with the angry man's silence, Hashirama continued. "He wants to meet me before we're married of course and discuss more of the important matters in person. They'll arrive in about four days." 

 "They?" Tobirama asked, a brow raising. 

 "Well, you certainly don't expect him to travel alone do you?" Mito replied. "He is a King after all." 

 "He said his younger brother would accompany him, along with a small entourage as well." Hashirama explained, resisting the urge to look over the letter again. 

 Mito smiled as she watched her King though a storm was brewing in her heart and mind. She truly was happy that all of this was bringing him such joy, she just hoped that it wouldn't turn sour. He was putting not only his life in the middle of all of this but his heart as well, and she wouldn't forgive the Uchiha if they hurt him.

 .................. 

 "You told him WHAT?!" Izuna nearly shrieked as his brother calmly watched his servants prepare his things to travel. 

 Madara simply raised a brow at him. "Did you say something?"

 Izuna stomped his foot, face flushing an angry red. "Have you lost your mind?!" 

 "No, I have not. We are simply going to visit Izuna, that's all. They are so many things we need to prepare for, the ceremony being the least of our worries." Madara explained calmly, taking a seat on his bed with a soft sigh. He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. "I honestly don't understand why you're blowing this out of proportion." 

 "Because you're going into the heart of enemy territory! This is not just some pleasant trip you're talking about, this is the Senju kingdom we are talking about! How can you act as if this is some normal--" 

 "Nothing is going to happen to me Izuna, besides should anything happen you will be right there with me. Everything will be fine." 

 The young Prince scoffed and crossed his arms. His brother was being ridiculously foolish and it was going to get them both killed. He knew that of course the two monarchs had to meet eventually but going to their kingdom to meet with him? His brother didn't even have full proof that this wasn't some sort of trap. What if they went and were met with an army? Or if they decided to assassinate or poison Madara while they were there? Izuna shuddered at all the possibilities... 

 "This isn't wise." He finally muttered, looking at his older brother with pleading eyes. "Please don't go." 

 "I have to. It's just a risk that must be taken, and they will not kill me if that's what you're thinking. Have you met the people we rule over Izuna? The Uchiha are vengeful and determined. If they found out that their King was killed while in Senju territoy...the backlash the Senju would meet...it would destroy them. I have no doubt of that at all and you shouldn't either." 

 "Yes but--" 

 "We are going and that is final. If it gives you any peace Hiashi and Tsume are going as well and you know they will never let anything to us." Madara replied replied, casting a smile at his younger brother. 

 Izuna felt some of his tension ease away but not all of it. He still had his doubts about this but he knew that his brother would not be moved. He walked over to him and sat next to him, leaning against him and smiling when an arm wrapped around him.

 "You're crazy...you know that?" He mumbled, burying his face in the crevice of his brother's neck and inhaling the spicy fragrance he always wore. 

 "Well...you're not entirely wrong but you also have no room to judge." Madara retorted with a smile, looking down and planting a kiss on the top of his head.