The Princess Of Othria

Chapter 3: Decisions

Andromeda woke to chirping birds and cries of laughter. She yawned, sitting up in bed. She stretched. She stood up and heard a knock on her door. 

"Come in!" She yelled sleepily. 

Thomasina walked in. She held her breakfast. "You've got a big day." She smiled.

A party was being held in honor of the wedding. All of the royals across the land were being invited. That included Percivil and his family. That meant drama which obviously makes the night interesting.

She walked out to her balcony and watched her many servants setting up for the ball.

She ate, and dressed in a baby pink dress. Thomasina did her makeup and twisted her hair into an updo.

Andromeda laughed slightly at her reflection in the mirror. "Not only can I not breath, I look like a cupcake. Not only that, I look like my mother." Andromeda grinned.

"Well, not exactly a bad thing. Your mother is quite beautiful." Andromeda turned to see her mother standing in the doorway, a beautiful smile on her face. Thomasina instantly bowed and excused herself from the room.

"You're excited I assume?" Her mother questioned. The queen was tan, with golden brown hair and brown eyes. Andromeda mostly took after her father when it came to appearance. Although she did have her mothers figure. "I suppose," Andromeda muttered. 

Her mother looked down. "I.. I understand. I went through a similar situation with your father. My parents set the marriage up. I was... unhappy at first but I learned to love him. I'm sure you will settle nicely with Stephan." Her mother smiled and got up, and left Andromeda with her thoughts. It had taken her hours to get ready and the guests would arrive in minutes. She stood on her balcony waiting patiently.

She noticed a carriage parked. She groaned, realizing Stephan would be waiting for her. More and more carriages arrived as she ran down the steps. She reached the ballroom and her breath caught. The scene was almost beautiful. The marble shimmered with gold finish and decorations. Giant boxes of gifts sat on table. Every sort of food you could think of covered the dining table. Her vision was ruined once she saw Stephan. Trumpets sounded and she snapped back to reality.

"Princess Andromeda!" Was announced from a butler. She curtsied. The hundreds of guests all bowed.

She glided down the steps as everyone watched and whispered. She met Stephan and he took her hand and gently brought her to the landing on the steps. 

Silence filled the room. She sighed, and put on her best smile. She took a breath and started her speech. "Thank you all for attending our ball! I'm so  excited to start this new chapter in our life-" 

She was cut off by Stephan. Her smile dropped. They weren't even married yet and she was already having her voiced drowned out. Her entire speech was full of lies and stuff to make her father happy. Stephan was going to take everything from her. Her eyes started filling with tears. She blinked them away. Stephan finished his speech and the music started up. She realized they expected her to have the first dance so Andromeda and Stephan did. 

Andromeda felt as though she was in a trance. She could barely smile. Stephan twirled her and lifted her. Soon, others joined in. Her eyes met with Percivil's. She felt dizzy. Percivil looked concerned. "Who are you looking at?" Stephan asked, anger rising in his voice.

"I'm... I'm going to use the restroom." She said, running off before he could stop her, up the steps. She ran to her room. She cried as she ran. That night Andromeda made a decision. She grabbed a bag and packed a knife, separate clothes, and lots of gold. 

She grabbed scissors off her vanity and cut the ropes off her curtains. Quickly she made a rope. She threw it over her balcony. She almost second guessed herself, but quickly pushed the thoughts away from her brain. "Now or never..." She jumped, and landed. Her dress teared.

She laughed, wiping away her tears.

And she ran.

She bolted as fast as she could and she made it to the woods. Everyone was too busy dancing, drinking and kissing to be paying any attention to her. A few drunks wobbled past her. 

She looked back at the palace as she ran, going faster and faster. She remembered every memory she had as child, the good and bad. She hated it there sometimes. She left a small letter for Thomasina, in a code only they would understand. She worried about her family. Thats when she slammed into someone. 

Tears flooded back. Her plan was foiled. She turned to see her mother. She had a confused look on her face. 

"Andromeda what are you doing out here?" Her mother looked at her bag, her tears, and her torn dress.

Andromeda didn't even have to say anything before her mother realized. "You... you're leaving." 

Andromeda could only nod, tears running down her face. "I can't stay here. I'll be miserable..." She choked out, "Go. You will not have my same fate of suffering in silence. I love you so much Andromeda. I know you will do great things." Her mother took off her necklace. 

She placed it around Andromeda. Their foreheads met, both of them crying now. "Don't forget me okay?" Andromeda sobbed to her mom. They laughed. 

"Thomasina will know how to contact me. Talk to her. I love you mother." 

And she ran into the woods, away from her marriage.