~The Arranged Union~

Chapter 3:~The Arrival~

In Gwadrien's castle, the court started storming out to welcome The Princess of Westrose and Chandara.
Prince Francesco walked down the stairs to welcome his future wife and one day Queen. Stopped at the beginning of the stairs and glanced up at his younger half brother Sebastian. He gave him a nod and Sebastian smiled and went after his brother who continued walking down the stairs.

Outside, the court was gathering and Melodiana's carriage reached the people that stood on the sides in a row all the way to the front entrance of the great stone castle. The ladies appointed by King Theorem stood by the carriage, waiting for Melodiana. Melodiana stepped out of the carriage and glanced aside and the five young ladies smiled softly towards her. Melodiana stepped out of the carriage and the ladies walked over to her. "Princess Melodiana, your hair," The Lady Lena said and pulled back Melodiana's hair. A salute sounded and a man shouted: "His Majesty, King Theorem!," And the King showed up. King Theorem was middle long and he had dark short black hair and brown eyes. He wore a small golden crown on his head. Beside him, a woman with dark brown hair dressed in dark blue showed up. "That's Josephine Parisa, The King's Mistress," Lena explained. And a long young man with dark brown hair, blue eyes and light skin dressed in brown leather came walking. "Who is that? Is that the Prince?," Melodiana asked gently. Lena shook her head. "No, that's Sebastian. The King's bastard. Josephine's son," Another salute broke the silence and a man shouted: "Presenting, Her Majesty, Queen Atheina!," And a woman with a dark golden blonde hair and blue eyes showed up. She wore a long green dress with golden details. "That's Queen Atheina," Lena explained. Melodiana bit her lip nervously and then looked up. Before her, a long young handsome man with dark golden hair dressed in black leather clothes showed up. Lena and the other ladies curtsied before the Crown Prince and Francesco walked over to Melodiana. He bowed before her and Melodiana bowed her head slightly in respect. Francesco faced her with a kind smile. "Your Grace," he addressed her in greeting, looking at her kindly. Melodiana smiled and shook her head softly. "No, call me Melodiana or Melody, please," she said carefully. Francesco smiled softly. "Francesco," he answered her kindly. Melodiana swallowed nervously and Francesco held out his hand. "Shall we," he asked and Melodiana smiled and they walked together into the castle.

Melodiana walked up the dark wooden stairs of a part on the west wing of the castle. She wanted to explore her new future home since in only a few weeks, she would be marrying Francesco and she would become Crown Princess Of Gwadrien. When it came to humans, she knew that for them, her highest duty was to produce an heir to the throne which she hoped she would fulfil.
She walked slowly down the corridor and over to a door that stood half open and she glanced into the room. Inside stood Francesco making swords. She smiled softly and Francesco looked up at her. "Melody?," Francesco said confused. "Francesco," Melodiana smiled in greeting, "I...," Francesco looked at her. "What are you doing here?," he questioned. Melodiana shrugged lightly. "I was exploring," she explained, "My temporary chambers felt lonely so I decided to take a round in the castle," Francesco sighed and shook his head. "No one comes up here," he explained. Melodiana gave him a sly and teasing smile. "Except you," she pointed out and then noticed his work on the table inside the room. "What is that," she asked and walked into the room over to the table. "Is all of this yours?," she asked interestingly. She gently grabbed a silver sword handle. Francesco shrugged and put away the cloth in his hands. "I make swords and knives," he explained, "At least I'm trying to learn," Melodiana smiled softly at him. "To be a blade smith," she stated, "That's such a requirement for future kings now," Francesco smiled softly at her. "When you point it out like that, it sounds ridiculous, yes," he answered. Melodiana shook her head quickly. "No, I think it's fantastic," she insisted, "Back in Westrose, I often practiced with my father and his knights. My mother is a real warrior, you know. My father learned me much about how making swords and knives," Francesco looked at her. "I will one day be King but... I can't help to think that every man, even a King should have some kind of skill," he explained. Melodiana smiled at him. "Well, you're going to be a great ruler someday," she explained, "Isn't that enough?," Francesco looked at her. "I meant like a real skill," he continued to explain, "One that I didn't inherit, wasn't given to me and can't be taken away," Melodiana watched him as he continued. "My younger brother. My half brother Sebastian," Francesco continued, "He has so many. He wants to learn something, he does, he wants to go somewhere, he goes. With our father's blessing. They don't worry about him so much that they don't let him live," Melodiana gave him a knowing look. "Because he will never be King," she explained and looked down. She took a deep breath before looking up at him once again. "I have magic and is good with sword and bow," she explained and Francesco gave her a gentle smile. "I explained that my parents were real warriors," she added. Francesco sighed and gave her a smile. "Impressive," he said, "I hope I get to see it sometime,"

A time later, Melodiana had been out gathering beautiful stones by the lake shore for Francesco's swords and she now stood by the doors to his chambers to deliver them personally. She carefully knocked on his doors and Francesco who sat inside signing an important document opened the doors surprised to see Melodiana on the other side. "Melodiana?," he asked confused, "What is it?," Melodiana held up her hand to show him the stones. "Eh, I brought you something," she explained, "To decorate your swords with," Francesco sighed deeply. "Now's not a good time," he explained. Melodiana looked at him confused. "Oh," she said, "I thought you...," "You shouldn't be here," Francesco explained interrupting. "Why do you sound so...?," Melodiana began, "Are you alone? Are you with someone?," Francesco shook his head. "Earlier today was a mistake," he explained, "Now listen, if you ever going to be the Queen of Gwadrien, you need to understand something. Kings do not answer to their wives!," And he shut the doors in her face. Melodiana swallowed and walked away down the corridor.
Francesco sighed and leaned against the doors to his chambers and sighed deeply, immediately regretting what he had said to his future wife.

The welcome feast for Melodiana was later held that night and the Princess of Westrose and Chandara took her chance to show up herself for the people of Gwadrien by dancing together on the dance floor with her appointed ladies. Queen Atheina watched the young Princess with a kind but sighing smile. "We've been overrun by an Eaglewood," she explained. Melodiana stopped dancing and glanced at Francesco who watched her with a smile.

A while later, Melodiana walked through the halls, looking for Francesco when she saw him talking with two nobles and she stopped and looked at him, waiting. Francesco noticed her and turned to the two nobles. "Excuse me," he said and walked over to Melodiana. "There's something I want to say to you," they both began. Melodiana looked up at him. "You go first," she said gently. Francesco sighed. "When you came to my chambers, I shouldn't have said what I did," he explained, "There was other ways of handling this," Melodiana looked at him shocked. "Other ways of handling what?," she snapped, "Me!? You do realise we're going to be married in some week, don't you," Francesco sighed and nodded. "Believe me, I know," he explained. Melodiana sighed deeply. "I understand you didn't want this either," she explained. Francesco shook his head. "It's not about that," he began, "It's just...," Melodiana looked at him angrily. "Don't you think we owe it to each other?," she snapped, "To our family, to our Kingdoms, to give it a chance! My father forced me into this! It's not my fault!," "It's not that simple!," Francesco snapped at her. "Simple!? Did you think I thought this simple!?," Melodiana asked shocked and angry, "This is all arranged by our parents's name, how awful must you find me to do this!?," Francesco shook his head. "Because I don't agree on any of this with my father!," he exclaimed angrily at her. Melodiana swallowed. Francesco shook his head. "It's not you!," he explained, "You're beautiful, clever and unpredictable. But it doesn't matter. Everything about this is wrong!," And Melodiana looked up at him hurtingly, tears welling up in her eyes. "You don't want to marry me," she explained, "You don't want this at all!," Francesco shook his head. "No. My father thinks this marriage will bring peace, I believe otherwise. I'm going to be King someday. Responsible for my people. What matters is my Kingdom. And right now, I think an alliance with Westrose and Chandara will destroy Gwadrien," Melodiana looked at him. "Your Kingdom?," Melodiana snapped, "But you aren't the only one with a Kingdom to think of," And she walked past him and Francesco sighed deeply and walked the other way.