Rowans Choice

Chapter Five- Why her?!

I threw myself back onto my bed, arms spread and a victorious smile on my lips, so tight that my cheeks ached.

My chamber door was thrown open with rage "Rowan" came my fathers booming voice.

I didn't even flinch, if anything it was the cherry on the cake. In one hour I had made the two people who influenced my life the most, annoyed, angry, and as my father appeared above me, enraged.

"Get up now" he demands. "And stop smiling"

I sigh with satisfaction and sit up. My father paces the room, it is the largest bed chamber in the oak besides my fathers. I had been moved to this branch and wing of the oak when I had turned sixteen, in preparation for my grooming to take on the crown. My fathers pacing was amusing, but soon became boring as he passed me by a forth time, silently.

Silence was boring. I wanted to hear how I had disappointed him and ruined his day, his year, hell perhaps even his existence. Yes, that would be pleasing. At least he would be forced to think of and consider me. The same with Andy.

"Father, you are pacing like a demented feline. So just spit it out"

He stops and turns, his eyes widening "Don't you dare address me this way. I am still your king. If I wanted to I could put you in the roots with the servants"

I shuffle off of the bed, the ruffles of my underskirt fighting me as I try and wrestle myself into a standing position. I hated these formal gowns.

"My king" I say, bowing overly so in front of him sarcastically "Do share with me how I have disappointed you this morn"

"This morn" he laughs manically as I stand up straight once again. "You have disappointed me for an entire decade"

I tilt my head to the side and bite my lip considering that fact, and then I nod and look back to him "That's pretty accurate actually. I can't deny it"

He stands, hands on hips in front of me and looks me up and down as if I am the bane of his existence "why must you make things so hard for me. The counsel are meeting in an hour to discuss what you've just done to our family... to the oak. You've just ended your royal line Rowan, you know that don't you?"

I curl my hair around my finger, annoying him further by staying silent and staring back at him.

"You won't have children" he says angrily,like he wants to remind me, as if I am stupid and don't know that I would need a male to procreate.

"I could take a male whore... didn't you have a whole harem when you were with my mother" I say vindictively.

He grabs my wrist, which tugs my hair so hard I instinctively throw a fist at him.

His spare hand intercepts and blocks me, grabbing my fist in his large hand and squeezing it tightly whilst I wince with pain.

"Don't you ever speak her name" he says through gritted teeth. "You disrespectful brat"

He releases my fist and I pull it back against my chest, opening and closing my hand to release the pain.

"You are not my Queen yet Rowan... you are my daughter... and until you learn to act like it and respect me... I'm taking away your privileges"

"Father" I shout "don't you dare"

He smiles, the same kind of smile I offered him when he first came in. A victorious one.

"No more little adventures within the veil, no more reading, no more swimming with your ladies maids. No more frivolity. You won't be drinking like a man or partying like your brothers do... Rowan it's time you acted like you were first in line to the crown"