To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 1

It had been four years since the tree climbing incident and it was yet to be forgotten. Every now and then Jared would bring it up for a good laugh at my expense. He would ask me if I had been in any good trees lately then mimic my surprised scream as I fell. There was nothing to do except accept the abuse.

Jared had been the one who had scooped me up in his arms then rushed me up to my room through the servants quarters. He had stayed with me while the doctor arrived. Then when I was confined to my bed for two weeks Jared visited everyday. When the doctor finally said I could walk again I did with Joseph and Jared on each side of me to catch me when I stumbled. Jared had always been there whether I wanted him or not.

"Eve?" Lila asked as she knocked on my door. "Your mother wants to speak with you."

I stood up from the window seat and put my book in its spot on the shelf. I thanked her as I walked by. How things had changed. The once decorated walls were bare. The land below that had been covered in crops was brown and dead. The halls were cold and drafty. The halls had once been filled with the giggling voices of maids were silent. Even my boots on the floor didn't make a sound.

I sighed at the door to the throne room then shoved it open. Inside the room was cold the old roar of the fire was long forgotten.

Mother sat in her throne wearing an old dress that hung off of her skinny frame. I was surprised to see Joseph enter the room behind me. Mother smiled when she saw the two of us standing next to each other. Her smile broke when she started coughing. Her maid rushed forward with a handkerchief. Mother thanked her then addressed us.

"My children," She began looking at both of us. "You are both aware of our financial standing."

I shifted my weight. We were broke. Before he died the king had a rather large gambling problem. Along with his spending patterns we were deeply buried in old debt. The kingdom was dying. The people were dying. There wasn't any food to feed the families of our people.

"We are broke." She said with a sad smile. "There has been a possible solution presented to us."

Joseph took a hopeful step forward.

"What is it?"

"A union." She stated looking at me. I shivered.

"Mother." He started moving to stand next to me.

"No let me finish." She said gently holding up her hand. "King Theo has made an offer. He has two children a boy and a girl. He only wants one of you."

Joseph looked at me with a surprised look that mirrored my own.

"Why would he want to save us?" I asked remembering how father had always said Theo was a selfish king.

Mother took a breath before she continued. "He has agreed to save our kingdom. He will provide the funds to cover our debts and begin new crops. But he will be our king. We would combine our kingdoms and he would rule them both."

Joseph sucked in a breath. He had been born to be king. Not be ruled by another man who was looking for an opportunity to expand his lands.

"Mother." I said but she held up her hand again.

"I don't want to do this. Trust me I don't." She said staring at Joseph. "I think this is the only way that we can save our kingdom. This is the only way to survive. I don't want this for either of you." She rubbed her temples.
Joseph and I were silent looking at each other. Mother was right it was a solution to our problems.

"I will do it." Joseph said.

"No." I told him. He didn't have to do this. I was the one who should do it. "I will." Mother smiled at us. As much as I wanted to deny it I was the one who should be used for the gain of the kingdom. Maybe we could buy our freedom from Theo and somehow Joseph could become a king again like he deserved. "When do I leave?" I asked.

"Tomorrow." She said with a sad look.

§

I swiftly walked outside towards the training fields. What had once been lush green grass was now prickly brown weeds. I marched with a vengeance. My mind was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't hear Jared approach.

"Eve." He said grabbing my shoulder but I shrugged off his grasp. "Hey" he said trying to talk to me. I didn't want to talk I just wanted to hit something. Right now that closest something was Jared. When he reached out to grab my arm agin I swung on him.

He easily dodged and the fight began. We were a well matched team. Even though he towered over me and outweighed me by at least fifty pounds I could handle him. Partly because I was angry. And partly because he went easy on me though he would never admit it.

He dodged left as swung at him. With each punch I threw that he dodged I became even angrier. I landed a lucky blow to his stomach that barely caused an "oof" sound as his breath left him.
He started deflecting and swinging on me with blows I could easily block.

With a fancy step he forced me backwards and knocked one of my knees away. I lost my balance and caught myself on my palms in a bed of thorns. I didn't even notice the pain as the sharp points pierced my skin.

Kicking my legs out I swept his feet out from under him he landed next to me just outside of the bed of thorns. I rolled to sit on his chest pinning him but he outweighed me. He jerked to the side throwing me off. I landed on my back and he was on top of me. His body hovered an inch above mine while his hands locked my wrists above my head. Hot tears were silently pouring down my cheeks and I refused to look at him. He held both of my hands above my head with one of his then reached down to pull my head over forcing me to look at him. I shut my eyes and his hand remained on my chin.

"Eve." He whispered and I wept. A loud sob shook me and he released my wrists. I don't know what startled him more me trying to fight him or when I burst into tears. Jared had only seen me cry a few times since he had known me. He sat up and I leaned against his chest crying like a child. Jared held my hands in his and picked the thorns out of my palms. His strong arms wrapped around me as my shoulders shook with sobs.

When I had cried myself to the point of exhaustion I looked at him forcing myself to be brave. His shirt was soaked where my tears had fallen but he didn't care. He waited patiently for me to talk.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." I whispered with a cracking voice.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"I'm getting married." Then I stood and returned to the castle. When I reached the entrance I turned to see Jared sitting exactly where I left him in a field that was dead just like my dreams.