Abditory

𝓢𝔀𝓪𝓷 𝓤𝓹𝓸𝓷 𝓛𝓮𝓭𝓪

I emerged down the ridiculous grand staircase that faces the dining room.

Below the staircase, my father, king of Hyrath, stood beside a younger looking clean cut man.

My father had an old crooked smile on his face as he watched me descend the stairs.

"You called for me" I said uninterested

He clenched his jaw and grabbed me by my arm, pulling me in front of the tall foreign man.

"Say hello to our guest Calenthe" he gritted out

I had to crane my neck to look at the pale man in front of me. He looked down at my small form and gave me a gross smile.

"Hello" I said quietly.

The man bowed his head at me and offered his arm so he could walk me to the table.

My father gave me a dirty look as if to warn me about what would happen if I didn't take his arm.

As he led me to the table and pulled out the chair for me, I noticed Keir and my father's 2nd command seated at the table.

Keir's jaw clenched at the sight of me with the random man my father had invited to dinner.

I took my seat and the man took the one beside me.

"Greetings all, I am so glad to host you in my home this fine evening. To those who don't know him, I'd like to introduce Kane. He is the prince and only heir of our neighbouring community, the Selith people." 

I thought back to my world map. 

Selith, Hyrath, Eldoran and Melora made up the four corners of the earth. 

I looked at my father curiously. He kept the same stupid smirk on his face. He then turned to Keir.

"Kane, this is Keir. Keir is the captain of my guard and one of my most trusted soldiers. I assume that you two will be working together."

Keir bowed his head as a sign of respect.

"I gathered you all here today to announce a union. The Selith people have agreed to aid us in our great war in return for an heir." My father announced.

I looked at him confused.

"Calenthe my precious daughter will marry Kane, and with the aid of Selith, Hyrath shall reign its power again"

The breath felt like it was knocked out of me.

I came to my senses soon enough only to find the whole table looking at me.

I turned angrily to my father.

"You are not seriously thinking of selling me off to this random man father?!" I yelled.

"Do not raise your voice at me girl! You apologize for your outburst at once." He commanded back.

Daggers were flowing freely from my eyes, straight into that of my father.

I stood up abruptly and fled the scene.

My eyes were stinging, my throat was burning and all I could hear was my father roaring my name as I ran away.

As I made it up the stairs and through the hallway I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned around and was face to face with a furious-looking Keir. 

He viciously grabbed my arm.

"What are you doing Calenthe?! Running away from your father like that is only going to make it worse." He exclaimed.

"What was I supposed to do Keir? Sit there and let the man sell me off just so he can go out and kill the people I love?!" I cried.

Keir pulled me close and I sobbed in his arms. He ran his hands through my hair until I stopped crying so hard.

"Calenthe, I know you don't want to hear this but the Eldorians are breaking this kingdom down piece by piece. By the time they're done with it, Hyrath will be gone." Keir said softly.

I pulled away from him shocked that he could side with my father.

"So what Keir? You want me to marry that freak!? You want me to have his grimy little children so that my father can slaughter my Eldorian people? Your willing to give me up for that?" I yelled.

"Hyrath is dying. If this is the only chance we have then I'm prepared to make that sacrifice."

Before I could respond I heard a deep voice behind me.

"My own daughter, giving her support to the same people who are trying to kill her family." My father said as he crept up the staircase, Kane in toe.

"You need to get the crazy idea that Eldorians are your people, out of your silly little head! You should be punished for speaking like this girl." My father turned to Kane.

"Since she's going to be your problem, I think it's fair that you see what is to be done with the girl. That's fair is it not Keir?" My father must've overheard everything that just went on between us.

My heart felt like it had a hole ripped through it as I turned to Keir.

"I agree your majesty." He whispered.

Tears started to escape my eyes as my father went on.

"Ok Kane, she's all yours now."

My father snickered at the look of pure heartbreak on my face.

My lover and my own father so easily abandoned me.

"Calenthe" Keir croaked as if he was as pained as I.

"Don't you dare." I spat.

Before I could make it past Kane, he grabbed my arm.

"Be ready for me tonight dear, I'll have someone go fetch you for me later." He said while grossly licking his lips.

The tears continued to fall as I ran hopelessly back to my chambers as if they could provide me with any type of security.

I slammed the doors shut the second I made it into my room. My legs felt too weak to keep me up so I ended up sliding down the length of the door, onto the floor.

I sobbed and sobbed until all that came out of me were shallow heavy breaths.

My head hurt from the intense betrayal I felt.

No one loved me. No one will stand up for me.

I am the only one who is capable of doing that for myself.

I gathered all my courage and stood up.

They thought they could own me, keep me caged up and useless like a little bird.

I'm about to break free from my cage. There is nothing keeping me here and there's nothing that will stop me from leaving.