Chapter 1. The Arranged Marriage & First Meeting
The date was December 14th, 1451. I was sadly meeting my husband to be. I begged my poor father to let me reside home and practice sword fighting with my eldest brother, Alexandru. Father protested my interests in swordsmanship, he also denied my skill. "A woman belongs in bed or taking care of the children, not swinging a sword around, believing she is a warrior!" My father would always scold me with the same line, over and over. Father, Dmitri, (Dee-me-tree.) thought that an arranged marriage would shock me into the reality of being a woman.
What he neglected to tell me was that I was marrying the Prince of Wallachia. Vlad Tepes. I sneered at my father who grasped my wrist tightly in his large hand. He looked at me with a sense of forlornness. "Just like your mother." He whispered sadly. I could see the tears in his eyes. He didn't want to let me go. Then why was he doing this!? I was only 16 for gods sake! How old was the prince? 20? 21?
"Parinte, va rog! Nu poti face asta!" I yelled ripping my wrist away in astonishment. Tears spilled from my ice blue hues. He couldn't make me...he wouldn't! Of course my mother wasn't going to stop him, unless she came back from the grave! I was stuck in this awful situation..
Arranged marriage. At 16. To a prince, no less. I wasn't in the correct social class to do this! "Father, you will explain to me in the carriage ride there. Know that." I said with a harsh look in my eye. I grasped the drivers hand and he pulled me onto the soft cushions of the carriage. Father followed in after me.
"I thought that an arranged marriage would please your mother...and maybe show you the role of a woman-"
"I do not want to!" I cut my father off. He held a hand up, immediately silencing me.
"Roanne Antanasia! Do not interrupt me!" My father thundered. Through a small opening, I could see the driver wince. I sighed and rested my head on the palm of my hand. My red satin dress billowed over the floor, the golden lining sparked in the dim sunlight peeking through the window. I just stared there while my father scolded me. "Are you listening to me!?" My head snapped up to face my father, but inky black locks cascaded across my face and into my eyes. I brushed my hair aside and blinked at my father. For a split second, we stared at each other and then burst into laughter.
"So like your mother." My father brushed my hair out and smiled at me.
Yes, exactly like my mother..
Same long, black hair.
Same ice blue eyes.
Same height & weight.
Same face. Pink lips. Dark lashes. High cheekbones.
We were like twins.
My father loved me, but he hated how much I looked like her. Since she passed away, all I am is a distant reminder of her. I am forced to live in her shadow.
"Will we be arriving soon?" I asked sadly. My father nodded slightly, paying more attention to the scenery. I sighed and let sleep overcome my overly stressed body.
"Roe? Roe! Roanne!" My head shot up and slammed into my fathers. We both toppled over and fell on to the carriage floor.
"We're here." My father said quietly. I nodded my head, fixed my hair and dress and stepped out of the carriage. I looked around the castle and what I saw made my stomach knot. Bodies upon bodies with shoved through them. I knew that he was the impaler prince.
I just didn't know he was this dangerous.
My father grasped my hand and pushed on through the dead bodies and forest of stakes. I didn't bother looking up, some people were still alive on the stake. I could hear their moans of agony.
"Don't pay attention to it. We're almost there." The hundreds of guards protecting the castle thought my father and I posed a threat, each one prepared themselves. Standing in their attack stance. I stood my ground with a blank stare. Each one was surprised I didn't show point blank fear. I felt my father shiver next to me as the impaler prince walked from the castle doors. I dared not show any emotion. He looked at his men, then followed their gaze to me and his eyes widened slightly.
"Who's the goddess?" One of the younger guards asked. An elder guard quickly silenced him with a slap upside the head. "That's the prince's soon to be wife." The younger guards instantly hushed their quiet whispers. Ignoring the stares, I slowly backed away and broke into a sprint, running for the carriage. I pulled a sword from the ground and swung at the first guard to try and stop me. Of course, I knocked the sword from his grasp and kept running. I took one glance behind me to see the prince chasing after me with a smirk on his face. Frightened by his face, I tried to run faster. Which to my dismay, failed, because of this stupid dress. I almost stepped on the velvet fabric of the dress. Luckily I fell back into step. I grasped the sides and pulled them up.
The carriage was almost in sight. I smiled and tried to run faster. I looked behind me to see the prince directly behind me. His arms came around and grasped me, pulling me into his strong chest. I gasped and tried to push away. The way he held me, showed he would never let go. I pouted and looked up at him. We had stopped running a few moments ago. After we both stopped, he threw me into his arms bridal style and walked back to the castle happily. I sneered at the chuckling guards and tried to shove myself away. This only made him hold me tighter.
"Finally, someone that can tame her!" My father said cheekily. I snarled and kicked the prince trying to get out of his iron grip.
"That won't help you princess." He whispered in his deep baritone voice. I looked at him surprised he talked to me. He stared into my eyes for quite some time and kept walking. I turned my head and laid it against his chest. If he wont put me down, I might as well get comfortable. I started playing with the silver locket my mother gave me before she died. It held a picture of her, my father and brothers, and my future husband. I had never bothered to open the locket till now. I just stared at the pictures the locket held. I closed the pendant with a snap and laid my head back down. I was curious as to why it was taking so long to get back to the castle. My father had stopped the prince and told him to be gentle with me. I rolled my eyes and asked the prince to set me down.
"Only if you don't run away." He said to me. I nodded and walked towards my father. This would be a difficult goodbye.
"Father...remember this was you decision." I said sadly. I hugged him tightly and wiped my tears away.
"I know. It was for the best my daughter. Please, remember to visit me if you're granted permission. I did this to keep you safe. We are at war. I am trying to keep you safe." He said. He kissed my forehead and was escorted back to the carriage. That was the hardest goodbye I think I have ever had to give to my father. In the pit of my stomach, I knew I'd never see him again...
