Cry of Cassandra

12 | Cassandra

Since I hadn't eaten much, I made my way down to the kitchens first to fetch some food.  I grabbed a goatskin, filled it with wine and took out a wicker basket.

I filled it with a soft goat cheese, dried fruit, almonds, bread and cubes of goat meat as quickly as possible.  Once done, I placed a cloth over the basket to help protect it from the heat and sun and left the stiflingly hot, noisy kitchen.

I made my way outside, pulling my shawl over my red waves as I made way way first through the garden, then the groves attached to the kitchen.

The emerald green grass gently swayed in the breeze, scented with an oncoming rainstorm.  Thunder sounded overhead as I made my way down to my usual spot by the river Scamander.

I settled myself down on the grass, only to have the calm silence interrupted my a strangely familiar voice.

"So you're Cassandra," a deep baritone rumbled.  "Your brother said you might be here."

"Who are you," I demanded.

"I am Prince Thutmose VII," the man said.  "And you are my betrothed."

"My what," I demanded.

"Your betrothed.  Did your mother not tell you?"

I eyed him in open disdain, from his shiny black waves like a starless night to the burnished copper of his skin to his gold eyes that almost seemed to glow.  He wore a pleated shendyt made of white linen and had a golden leopard's pelt draped over his shoulders, as well as a lion's tail, which hung from his belt of woven gold.

His large, golden eyes were rimmed in kohl.  He had a broad necklace made of gold, coral, pearls, diamonds, lapis lazuli, obsidian, garnet, emerald, rock crystal, and carnelian.  He had a gold armband designed to look like a cobra wrapped around his large bicep with emerald eyes which match the crown he wore in his dark hair.

"We'll just see about that," I hissed as I angrily flounced away to see my mother.

He stood there with a lazy smirk as he openly eyed me, slowly looking me up and down as he eyed me hungrily.  I shivered under his heated gaze as I warily eyed his hand which was casually placed upon the bronze, gold, onyx and emerald dagger at his belt, his sword at the opposite side no less ostentatious.

"You do that."

"I will.  This is obviously some sort of misunderstanding; you must be engaged to one of my sisters."

His eyes danced as he eyed something over my shoulder as he bowed deeply.  "Why don't we ask Queen Hecuba then, shall we?"

I slowly turned around, dread bubbling in the pit of my stomach.  She wouldn't...would she..?

"Ah, there you are my dear, excellent.  I see you are getting to know your fiancé.  A wonderful match despite you, if I do say so myself," she preened.

"Mother," I whispered.

"Why don't you breakfast with Prince Thutmos," she cooed.  "Oh, I almost forgot!  Here's some wine and treats to go with whatever you brought.  

I stared at her in horror, unable to process what she had done as she prattled on even while she fixed my hair and adjusted my clothes.  "Go on now," she said as she shoved the basket into my free arm.  "The river is simply lovely this time of the year.  Well," she said as she clapped her hands together, causing her gold bangles to tinkle softly.  "Off you go."

By the time I managed to open my mouth, she was halfway up the hill and heading back to the palace.

With a quit sigh, I turned back to Thutmos.  "Hungry," I asked weakly as he smirked down at me.

"Starving," he groaned as he eyed my lips.

I cleared my throat as I awkwardly shifted my weight from one foot to the other.  I held out the baskets as a make-shift shield, as if they would protect me from his gaze.

"How silly of me!  Here darling," he said as he took both baskets.

I sent him a weak smile and murmured a quiet thank you as he led me down to the river bank, hand curled around my back.  We settled ourselves on the emerald green grassy banks as I kicked off my sandals so I could dip my feet into the sparkling blue-green water under the olive tree we had settled under.

Thutmos began to pull out the jug of wine and food after setting out the cutlery.  When everything was out, he raised a fig dripping with honey to my lips.

"Here, try it," he murmured as if I hadn't eaten figs before, didn't know how to feed myself.  "You'll love it."

He ended up feeding us both as he talked about himself.  The.  Whole.  Time.

"I have many sisters and brothers, as well as half siblings back home.  My mother is my father's Chief wife.  He has sired twelve with her, other than me of course.  You'll love my twin sister," he droned as he tilted the jug of wine towards my lips.  I took a small sip before he pulled it away, wiping some stray wine from my lower lip with his thumb.

"T-that's nice.  What---"

"You shall have to move to the palace with me of course," he continued.  "Not to worry, I'll see to it that you receive anything your heart could possibly desire.  You'll never want or need for anything."

"Thanks...but what about my family?  I can't just---"

"Your family will be welcome guests of course.  What kind of wedding were you hoping for?  Both of our families shall be there.  I had your mother send your measurements so the seamstress back home can use the design I made to create your dress in our absence."

"I don't want that!  I don't want you," I finally cried, fairly bursting with indignation.

"Is that so, he hissed, amber eyes dancing in amusement.  "We'll just have to change your mind than, won't we," he murmured as he leaned towards me.

"What are you doing..?"

His lips crashed against mine as he pulled me closer with one arm, the other angling my head, fisted in my ruby red locks.

A/N: Who do you think the man is?  What do you think will happen next?  How do you think this character relates to the story?

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