Emerson the Merciless

One

Annalise
I woke up hearing the panic of the town, why's the king here? He collected taxes last week.
"Ann, wake up sweetheart. We have to go to the square. Hurry please."
I stood, pulling a skirt over my long night shirt, and laced my belt quickly. I rushed to the living room, all my brother had knives on their hips and my mother was visibly shaking.
"Someone probably under paid, it's all right."
"He's going to kill someone Annalise, this isn't going to be all right."
My eldest brother, Archer, spat forcing me to look to the ground.
"Let's go kids, we need to get there quickly."
We rushed to the square, I felt my heartbeat in my ears as we neared. I hated when the king arrived for something aside from taxes.
"Annalise, you need to stay next to Asher."
I nodded, the brother that's youngest but still older than me.
"Hey mom, where's Father?"
"Hunting, he won't be back for a couple more days."
Great, even the man of the house is absent. Let's hope the king doesn't see it as disrespect. I grabbed Archers arm as we went to the square, gathering in the front. They weren't here yet, that's never good. Them arriving the day of a message, means something is wrong. I grabbed Anderson's arm, older than Archer, and kept him close. When the arrival bells chimes I felt a strong cold chill rip through my body, this can't be good. My four brothers stood taller as my mother kept her stature tall in front of them. Atticus and Archer, being the oldest, always stood behind our parents. Then Anderson and Asher with me between them, with protection at all corners.
When the knights, carriages, and a guillotine strolled my stomach churned. He's going to kill someone, or use it as a symbol. Our king loved to give people slow deaths, and slow they were.
"Kneel for the King!"
We did as instructed, only were never asked to rise. So our heads raised as he exited the carriage and stared upon all his subjects.
"Well hello my people, you have done something very wrong. So stand, and the Beckett family needs to step up to me. All of you."
Why does he need us? My mother led and my brothers tensed further.
"In a line, now."
Mother, Archer, Atticus, Anderson, Asher, then me. Perfectly aligned, yet the pit in my stomach grew in fear. He paced behind us, then in front, stopping in front of my mother.
"Where's your Husband Danica?"
"Hunting, not to be back for a couple days your majesty."
I watched him smirk, then walk to a small compartment in the carriage. Pulling my father from it, and tossing him to the ground. He was completely slashed up and was to weak to move much. Gasps spread across the town, seeing our main provider nearly dead, my father nearly dead.
"So, he came into my kingdom and attempted to steal one of my livestock. I know you have some here, as well as deer, squirrel, and rabbit to hunt. So why, is this man attempting to steal my hogs?!"
He screamed at all of us, I only stared at the ground. Trying to contain the tears threatening to fall.
"Archer, what's wrong with your pigs in town?"
"Some contracted a disease, your highness. My fathers paranoia must've made him think all were sick, but we stopped the spread. We have hogs and there bare to grow still."
The king's jaw clicked and he stared at my father, watching him writhe in pain.
"Well, he's obviously paying for what he did. Yet, I do not feel satisfied with the punishment."
He stalked around us for what felt like forever then stopped in front of me.
"Miss Beckett, look up at me."
I stared up slowly, watching him look across my features slowly.
"You are quite beautiful Annalise."
"Thank you your highness."
I whispered, keeping my stare to his eyes not wanting to die.
"Guards stand by her brothers please."
I watched them panic, and I glanced at Asher.
"Don't look at them, look at me. They can't help you, eyes up here."
He gently moved my sight back to him with a nudge of my jaw.
"I'm taking you as compensation for your father attempting to take my hog."
My eyes widened, mouth went dry, and I froze in place.
"No, hell no."
Archer screamed and attempted to fight.
"Oh, so you'd like me to kill your father and take her? Oh okay."
He walked to my father and pulled his sword out. My body moved before my brain caught up, before I knew it I was standing in front of the king.
"I'll... I'll go, p..please let him live."
I whispered and something shifted behind his cold stare, but it didn't last long.
"Fine."
He sighed out and walked to the carriage.
"Come on Annalise, before I change my mind."
"Ann, you foolish girl. We've protected you for years. This is betrayal."
I turned, standing in front of my family.
"Father lives, I go. He dies, and I still go. This is how it is, he's salvaging father if I go peacefully. So stop, and deal with it."
I turned before they could rebuttal, getting into the cart with the king. Seeing his smirk led me to think his pleasure was with himself, to scare a family that much. I trembled in his presence, hating the power he gave off.
"Are you cold?"
He asked lightly, and touching my hand that rested over my thigh.
"I'm okay, thank you your highness."
"Call me Emerson, it's no longer your majesty or highness."
"W-why?"
I stuttered out, staring into his eyes trying to read him.
"Why would I have my future wife call me anything but my name?"
I felt my body numb again, forcing tears to fill my eyes. He's a monster, and I have to marry him.
"Annalise, I'm not going to hurt you. You're going to be my wife, I wouldn't ever hurt you."
I turned, facing the window and felt him lean back. Him saying wife makes my skin crawl, makes me nearly sick. How could I possibly marry someone that kills for fun.