Black Magic Woman

What Began It All

She walked over to the man who tried to be rid of her. When Rowan noticed her it startled him... that couldn't be Ezra could it?
"Hello darling" she said to him.
After noticing the surprise all over his face she gave a dry laugh "You thought you could get rid of me so easily?"
He shuffled uncomfortably and spoke shakily, "You're.. You're supposed to be- to be dead.."
She merely smiled at this and with a wave of her hand the young king was tied to a chair in his lavish chambers.
"You see.. " Ezra whispered into the kings ears, "..I possess power beyond your own feeble imagination."
Rowan began to shake. He was terrified. No one should have been able to survive it... But she did. He trembled before her, his blindfold too tight to shake off, his binds too tight to move around in.
This time she spoke softly to him, as if he was just a child.
"Here's what we are going to do my love, you will tell everyone an assassin from Indrian killed the king, and that we are to be wed again. Once everything is all said and done you will be removed from the equation, you understand darling?"
She raked her long, sharp nails along his chin and jawline while she awaited her answer.
His voice shook and his lips trembled yet he managed to get a quiet "Yes ma'am." Out of his mouth.
The story never started here of course. It started when Ezra was chosen for the prince's arranged wedding. She was from Valeria, a small kingdom above the prince's. Coranthin was much larger than Valeria considering their booming population. It made Prince Rowan quite upset that he couldn't choose his own bride.
He would always mutter under his breath "Curse these old tedious traditions. " He never was one for following the rules like his father King Alexander. Nor was he bright like his sister Princess Indigo. Maybe that's why he ended up with Princess Ezra. She was quite a sight, intelligence trumping all other qualities. Her wits were always about her, no matter the situation.
"Please father.. " She pleaded with him, "Don't make me leave home for this boy. He will not want me anyways.." She rambled on about all the reasons she should not leave. The king was always persistent.
He spoke softly, but sternly to his daughter, "Ezra you must go, we've been over this a million times already. You are to go marry him, I don't have much of a say.. We are so small compared to them. I would keep you here if I could, but alas I cannot. Please accept it and move on... "
It was that day that she decided she would start living 3 steps ahead of everyone else. Always on her toes, always thinking faster than the others. By the time her leave came, she was prepared for any occurrence. Her bags had extra coins packed tightly away with the rest of her things. Ezra was prepared to meet the prince. She had heard much about him.
"He's hard headed. " Said one woman from her town.
"Oh yes, he's quite stubborn is he not? " Said another to her friend as Ezra rode away in the carriage, headed towards Coranthin's palace. She'd heard of his temper, his fiery gaze, his pickiness in his women... Yet there was one thing she wasn't prepared for. She had heard of how handsome he was, however seeing him in person simply made her blush furiously. He was so very handsome, with strong arms and a jawline so sharp it could slay his enemies. His dirty blond hair was swept up in tight curls and a low bun. When she exited the carriage Prince Rowan's deep, ocean blue eyes were on her, studying her every move.
The king welcomed her lovingly, inviting her inside the palace.
"My dear Ezra, it is so enchanting to finally meet you. This is my son, Prince Rowan", he said gesturing to the boy next to him, "He'll be courting you at the ball tonight. "
Rowan bowed low as Ezra curtsied. He put out his arm as an offering for her to hold it with her own. She took his arm in hers.
He smiled at her with big, a little crooked, white teeth, "I'll be showing you to your room." He said quickly. Something was off, she could feel it. He was giving the impression that he was excited, but she knew better than to trust the front someone puts on. Valeria never had many people, but she always knew how to read them like open books. She was taught the art of her powers by her late mother, Queen Diraya, before she passed.
"Well, let's get a move on then my dear, shall we?" Rowan spoke, seeming a bit irritated.
"I do suppose we shall" Ezra spoke softly and calmly, opposing his tone.