The Seasons Heart

Chapter 1

"Happy birthday to you!" Everyone sang. How lucky am I to have my birthday on Oktoberfest!? Later I'd get to see Tyler on the battle field. Now he's in the teen tournament. To bad the tournaments are for men only, because to Tyler's shame, both me and Jenna can kick his ass. But it seems no one else in the village can seem to do it. Well who are in our age group at least. Lord Smith could take us all in a land slide.
"Open the present!" Jenna begged. I opened it to find a dress. A very odd dress. I knew it was from Morgan and Jenna. Morgan was a master of weaving and Jenna is the best at embroidery. The dress was the color of the sand, with snakes going down the side, a giant flower in the center, and who knew what the rest was. As odd as it was Jenna and Morgan always want their dresses to be as odd as they can be.
"The oddest one yet." Was the only thing I could say. It was my only present but that was fine by me. An Oktoberfest birthday made it fine. But doesn't it always seem to go that when you are having the most fun, that is when the killjoy comes just to ruin it. For everyone a killjoy may be different. For me it is Alexander. Alexander is just my age, he's of the livestock district is tall, full of annoyance and nothing he says ever makes sense. And some how he is popular with the other males. And one more thing he's looking to pursue me as a wife for four years now. The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because I have refused to marry him until he could beat Tyler in one of the tournaments.
" Ali, Morgan, Jenna. The tournament is going to begin in an hour." Alexander said completely skipping over Tyler and co.
"We are kind of busy right now." Morgan said annoyed
"Well you are going to be a little busy watching me kick half wit over there's butt."
"Did he just call me half wit?" Tyler said on his last nerve already
"And I'm going to beat you so hard that I'll knock the other half right out of you!" Alexander yelled
"Why you filthy son of a bi..." Tyler started to say.
"Alexander, can we step out for a moment." I said with what ever manners I had left. Despite interrupting Tyler he seems used to it. Both me and Alexander step out of the hut and I asked:
"What the hell do you think your doing."
"I think I'm rousing up the competition."
"Why?"
"I found out a few minutes ago that I'm facing Tyler first. If I get him angry now then the more humiliated he'd be when I beat him. After that I get both you and bragging rights for a year." Alexander explained. Classic Alexander; he still didn't get it. The last thing you want to get Tyler before you fight him is angry. The only times he has ever one against me is when he was angry. Tyler fights with anger not strategy. He'd leave himself open to a few attacks simply because he was to careless to defend in those areas. Make him angry and he will fight with twice the power. And honestly I just turned fourteen this is obsessive.
"Do you realize the issue in your strategy?" I asked trying to have him figure it out for himself.
" there is no issue in my strategy, I'm just going to give the old bang bang chicken." Honestly why do I bother. I would rather go drown in a river than marry him. It's not even like I'm the only girl who Alexander could go for. There is a girl from the fruit district named Mackenzie who actually likes him. An she is as good looking as I am. Also I talked to Alexander and he agrees that he likes her. The only reason he won't go for her is she has a small problem. She can't see object more than a meter away. You would think that wouldn't be a big deal. If you stand within that meter Mackenzie would recognize you immediately but for some reason Alexander has an issue with it.
"Well there is an entire hour until the tournament." I said "so if you would like to come in..."
"Are you kidding?" Alexander replied " an hour is barely enough time as it is." What could he possibly be doing for an hour? I just went inside completely ignoring that Alexander was still there.
"Tyler I know who your facing first."
"Should be simple" Tyler said understanding I meant Alexander. After that we all ate and had a grand time. Then ten minutes before the tournament was about to begin (Alexander gave us a count down every five minutes) we went down to the arena where grown men would usually fight vicious beasts. Now it was time for teen tournament to start. After this the adult tournament. The winner of each tournament will face eachother. I spotted Mackenzie sitting in the viewing area and I went to sit next to her.
"Hello Mackenzie." I said
"Hello Ali," she said
"You ready for the tournament?"
"Well I can't see what will happen anyways." Jenna sat next to me.
"We'll tell you what happens." Jenna said to Mackenzie.
"Personally I just can't wait to see Tyler kick Alexander's ass until he looks like a bloody fleshy rug!" I said.
"Oh don't say that it's bad luck, besides my heart couldn't stand the thought." Mackenzie cried.
"but when Tyler wins then you have another chance to be with Alexander." I pointed out.
"As true as that may be I don't want him to get hurt!"
" and he won't." Jenna pointed out. "There is a no killing rule. The challenger must pin his opponent to the ground."
"I wish they could be killed." I said. "I also wish women could compete just imagine how much ass we would kick if we could."
" Oh well," Jenna said. The matches before Alexander and Tyler's seemed to go on forever. When Tyler and Alexander first came out it seemed like relief. I knew this match would be quick. The bell rung. They clash at each other and they seemed equally matched. Then Tyler was able to push Alexander to the side. That gave Alexander the chance to aim for the stomach and Tyler nearly fell
"Oh shit." I udder under my breath. Tyler seemed unable to go and get him back so Alexander went for the chance to knock him down.
"And the winner is, Alexander!" Lord smith yelled. The rest of the audience roared with applause.
" I think I'm going to be sick!"
"Ali your so lucky!" Mackenzie told me. But Alexander doesn't love me! Sure I have yet to find someone who does but that's the point! This is the end of my life as I know it. I never wanted to marry Alexander so I told him to do the impossible and beat Tyler. I didn't think he'd actually do it!
"Ali, are you okay?" Jenna asked. It was only then I realized the tears streaming down my face. The day had been so bad to me. This was supposed to be the best day ever. And what worse Alexander with his foot on Tyler's chest blew me a kiss. I've had enough.
"FUCK THIS SHIT!" I yelled. The applauding audience silenced and I stampeded out of the arena and went towards the hut. My father was there with his friends.
"Back so soon?" He said to me
"I'm not in the mood." I cried. I went to the bedroom and I collapsed on my bed. How in the world did Alexander win? It made no sense to me. Tyler was always stronger. I bet that's why Jenna loves Tyler so much. They're practically ready for marriage. Me? I bet I was destined to be an old maid. I don't want a man who'd talk back, I want him strong sure, but most of all I want someone with a heart who would care for me no matter how silly the issue is. I've never met a man who could fit that description. And the last person who would fit the description would be Alexander. If he has an issue with Mackenzie's sight than he wouldn't understand any of my problems. I gave my word four years ago that if he won one of these matches than I would marry him. Now I can't just back out. I must keep my word. Just then my father came in.
"What's wrong Ali." He said
"It's terrible! Alexander won against Tyler." I cried
" Alexander would make a brilliant husband Ali." What side is he on?
"But he's vile and..."
"That may be so but..."
"You wouldn't understand the half of this. You loved mom! Alexander doesn't know the first thing of that."
"Even if that's true you did wait to long for this. A Souter must be made if it must be Alexander than best now than later."
"But Mackenzie..."
"Mackenzie will find some one else." I couldn't think of what to say. I just fell over on my bed and before I even knew it tears fell out again.
"Alexandra," It is rare whenever my father calls me that. When he does he is usually serious about what he is about to say. "I know that now it seems bad now, but I'm sure that you'd learn to love Alexander." My father didn't understand. I can't love him even if I try. My father just walked out of the room. Before I even knew it Jenna, Morgan, and Tyler were home.
"How the hell did that asshole win?" I heard Tyler say threw the wall. It made me feel a little better someone actually agreed with me.
"Who knew he had it in him." Morgan said.
"Ali is furious that he won." Jenna said.
"More like livid," Morgan corrected. "You heard what she yelled didn't you?"
"She had a right to say that. Who would want to marry that dick?"Tyler said
"Mackenzie would."
"Well she's blind and Alexander sure is blinder." Tyler said
"Perfect match I'd call it." Jenna said. Just then there was a great pound on the door. I went over to the door between the rooms and saw Morgan walking over to the door. She opened it to see Alexander was there.
"Ugh! It's you!" Morgan said closing the door in his face but Alexander held out his arm to keep it open.
"Haven't you done enough already?" Tyler yelled "you got your trophy, bragging rights for a year, AND Ali! What more do you want!?"
"I would like to see my wonderful wife." Alexander answered
"She's not here!" Jenna exclaimed "After the tournament she drowned herself in a river." Jeez she really thinks I did that? At least it's great to know the kind of faith Jenna has in me.
"Come now you're just hiding her. I know it. Who would kill themselves because of me?" Alexander replied
"Anyone who has a lick of common sence!" Morgan replied
"You're all just playing with me!" He said walking towards the bed room door. I backed off so he won't see me. "I bet, she's back..." The door began to open. "HERE!" The door slammed open having Alexander see where I was "See how I was right, you all are..."
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" I practically screamed.
"Why should I?" He asked. "After all we have an entire wedding to plan, future to talk about, kids to..."
"No way on earth am I having your offspring!"
"Okay yeah." He said calmly. "Only one problem with that. You are going to be my wife and therefore..."
"It's no secret your brother's dick is longer than yours." I replied. It took him like an hour to respond by saying:
"Joke's on you!" He said "I don't have a brother."
"No no the joke is still on you."
"Look here Ali even if you just listen to our names it sounds like we belong together," Not this again he says this every time he tries to flirt with me. "Alexander and Alexandra." He was getting uncomfortably close to me. "Besides," He handed me the trophy he won in the tournament. "You'd learn to love me."
"The day the sky turns green!" I tossed the stupid trophy right back at him.
"Your loss." Alexander said as he walked away. As he walks away he puts the trophy on the bed. "You knew this was going to happen one way or another didn't you."
"Give the girl a break won't you." Tyler criticized "She just found out no more than an hour ago that she had to marry an ass. I'd give her at least a week to simmer down."
"Fine one week." Alexander started. "But that's not going to stop me from sitting next to her at the feast." He walked out of the hut then back in just to say "you'll pay for that half wit." And he walked out again. A few moments after he was gone Jenna asked me
"Would you like me to push him off a cliff for you?"
"No every one would think I did it." I said. I grabbed the trophy off the bed. "Excuse me I need to go burn this." Even though I said I was going to burn the trophy instead what I did was I went by the near by lake were we get all our water and I threw it in hoping it would never wash up to the surface. Now that I think of it, it was a shame though. The trophy was made of pure gold. A something like that would be worth a fortune. After throwing it I sat on the shore. I must of sat there for the entire rest of the day because before I knew it Alexander came to me an said:
"The feast is starting soon. Come on, get up and let's go."
"Do I have to?" I asked
"Well it's not my problem if you starve to death." See! See what I mean!? A simple 'yes, yes you do,' would have sufficed.
"Fine." As we were walking to the feast he asked me a series of incredibly stupid questions; so stupid in fact I feel no need to repeat them. It seemed like relief when we finally got there. Imagine I have to deal with that for the rest of my life. Charming. I sat down next to my father and of course Alexander sat next to me. Across the table was Mackenzie, Jenna, Tyler, and Morgan.
"Congratulations young man." My father said. I almost was ready to flip the entire table and all the food over then get an axe and chop it all and Alexander to smithereens.
"Thank you sir." Alexander said. I knew he was about to kiss my father's ass and brag about himself in the same sentence. "It's a pleasure to know that someone around here knows the prime example of a perfect husband when he sees it." Now I was most definatly ready to flip the entire table and all the food over, then get an axe and chop it all and Alexander to smithereens. If I have to pick the thing I hate most in this world it's self control. If I had ignored it than Alexander would have been dead a long time ago. Right after Alexander said that Lord Smith started clinking his glass signaling us to be quiet. It was time for his speech
"This Oktoberfest we have much to be thankful for." He began "The food on this table, the strong and healthy youth, and all the newborn children that were brought into this world this year. May they grow to be as strong as the youth that fought today and may we have good health for the year to come. Now without any further ado let us eat." The crowd went into an uproar of applause quite reminding me of the crowd cheering for the victorious Alexander. I suddenly got the same sick feeling I had back at the arena. Not wishing to be rude I got a bit of pork and put it on my plate.
"Mackenzie pass the chicken won't you." Alexander said, Mackenzie passing the chicken.
"Ali please pass me the pork." Mackenzie quietly asked.
"Mackenzie hand it to me when your done. Okay?" Jenna said.
"Alright" said Mackenzie
"Alexander hand over the chicken." Morgan said
"Hand it to me when your done, Morgan." Said my father. Looking over at Alexander's chicken it did look a little pink.
"Father you might not want to eat the chicken." I started. "It looks a bit..."
"Oh, who cares how it looks? Sir this chicken is exemplary." Alexander interrupted with his mouth full.
"I second that." Morgan said. As conversation went on and as the night came to a close I couldn't shake the feeling that they should have listened to me.