Slayer [revised]

Chapter Two

          I wake up with a pounding headache and my stomach growling. I stumble out of bed and get dressed before heading down the stairs to the kitchen. I find it empty so I head over to the dining hall, which is also empty except for Savvy who is scrubbing down the table with a rag. "Morning honey, looks like you just missed out on breakfast, lucky you. I'll go get you some porridge." She winks at me as she hurries off. She returns with a steaming bowl of porridge, a tall glass of water,  and Dad. I sigh, staring down at my porridge as I swirl my spoon around in circles. "Sorry about this, I know how upset you are," Savvy whispers in my ear before straightening up. She nods to Dad before hurrying out of the room.

            Dad pulls out the chair across from me and plops heavily down. "Ellie, I know you are angry with me but there was nothing I could do. I mean if I went against Lemming I would really have to come up with some sort of amazing prize, and let's face it, nothing is better than becoming king." His voice is full of sorrow, yet I refuse to look at him. I take a few spoonfuls of porridge but instead of making me feel better, it makes my mouth feel like it is being cemented shut. I gulp down some water as Dad clears his throat.

            "Look, honey, you know I love you and want nothing more than for you to find your own true love and grow old together, but sometimes life isn't like that. This isn't a fairy tale, sometimes you have to compromise your happiness for the happiness and life of others. If we don’t get rid of this dragon problem soon we aren't going to have a castle left. Its fires has scorched the majority of the country side and it is striking closer every time. We have to do something soon." I look up at him, expecting his ego and heroism shinning in his eyes, but instead I see the look of defeat. Long, dark rings hide under his eyes and the skin on his face looks stretched and worn. He slips his big hand through his short brown hair and I begin to see little silver threads through it. All the fight that I have gets put out, like water over a small fire. 

            He sighs one more time before pushing himself up from the table. His sad eyes meet mine before he walks off towards the door, his posture nowhere near his usual confident stride. Fear locks into my stomach; if Dad knows his isn't a good idea then he must know that Lemming will cheat his way into winning. My heart sinks, taking my appetite with it, so I push aside my bowl and head off to the main doors.

            Instead of the wide, empty corridor that I'm used to, the hall is crowded with people and several long tables. As I get closer I notice that there is several different lines behind each table, which all seem to be filled with men. Walking slowly behind the tables I examine the men. Men of all ages gather round, from thirteen year olds with no muscle and high testosterone to men with curved spines and white hair. I scan quickly for the odd forest boy, but don't see a trace of him. Instead someone calls out my name and I watch as every head swivels and millions of eyes catch sight of me. Some chant my name in happy cat calls while some, the older and the more peasant looking ones, glare at me with huge distaste.

            "Doesn't it just take your breath away to see this many men lining up to have you as their own? It's like you are the perfect wife that anyone would just love to die for." I spin on my heels and find Lemming a sickeningly few inches away from my face. 

            "What are you talking about?" I spit as I take a few steps back.

            "Are you really that dim? Well I guess you got lucky enough to be pretty or else you would be stupid and hideous." I glare at him furiously, ready to rip his head off but he cuts me off. "You see, all these men are here to sign the contract for the contest. Once they sign, they will have a week of training before the ceremony party begins and then it's off to slay that pesky dragon." My jaw drops and I turn to look behind me. All these people wanted to marry me? They want to risk their life just so they can be rich and powerful. My throat tightens up as my eyes shift from one person to another, until they finally rest on a glaring elder man. My skin crawls as I watch him bore holes into me, not understanding his loathing for me until his eyes shift to the left. I look that way and see Lemming, his eyes bouncing around the crowd, almost like he is counting.