Trapped by Destiny

Collision

I stared outside my carriage trying to cover the scar that was on my upper lip. I needed to make up a lie about how it happened. Maybe I could say, I fell off my horse. People would believe that, right? Hopefully, no one asks me questions. I sighed. I didn't want to do this. But I had to. I always had to. I didn't even eat breakfast. I've been locked in my room all morning, being told to let my servants pack a few of my grows and jewels. Everything else would be delivered after the wedding. It wasn't until the carriage was ready was when I finally saw the halls of my castle. Or what was my castle? Honesty, I didn't know anymore. I didn't care.

We traveled around The Broken Woods to the kingdom of Vedul. It was just outside the east village. As the carriage became to a halt, I looked at the dark castle. It was built differently than mines. It was taller, stronger even. It had dark stones as its bricks rather than brown ones. I took one of the servant's hands and was greeted by a woman. No doubt my age. She even looked a bit like me. Her skin is a few shades darker but not as noticeable. She had the complexion of me when I've been out in the sun too much. Her hair was pulled back to show that she was someone of lower status. She bowed before speaking to me. "Your majesty. I am Melody. Your handmaiden," she said. I nodded to indicate that I understood. I watched other servants unload the carriage. I then followed Melody to the throne room. That's when I was greeted by The King and Queen of Vudel.

"King Briceus. Queen Ivette," I greeted with a bow. "Princess Maria. It's good to see you, finally," The king said. "I apolozise for my absence yesterday evening. I was not aware of your arrival. I promise it will not happen again," I said. I walked closer to them, carefully. I did not know what kind of royals they were. See, I had a on a majestic dress flows from top to bottom and has a square neckline, which charmingly reveals the modest dress worn below it. The delectable, loosely tied fabric of her dress covers my stomach where the continuous flow is broken up by a long rope belt worn fairly high around her waist. It was a soft pink color to show my youngness. But they were a matching dark blue. The Queen's dress luxuriously flows from top to bottom and has a scoop neckline, which subtly reveals the majestic dress worn below it. The delicate, buttoned up fabric of her dress covers her stomach where the continuous flow is broken up by a slender cloth belt worn fairly high around her waist. The King had a sleeved, animal skin jacket covers him to well below his waist and is loosely tied with string at the left side. The sleeves of his jacket are quite narrow and reach down to just above his hands, they're decorated with a decorative band almost at the edges.

"We're glad to see you here. Melody would show you to my son," The queen said. I bowed, mumbling a thank you, before following. My heart was racing. What if he was rude? This was just as weird for me as it was for him. Even if I do not like him. "It's okay," Melody said. "Excuse me?" I said to her. "Forgive me but you don't have to be afraid," she said gently. "I'll be close by in every moment. If you need something, just give me a sign," she added. I let the sounds of our heels echo before speaking. "Is he really that bad?" I asked her. She paused. She seemed torn between easing my nerves and telling me the truth. "I would say, he is much older than you. You see, he was supposed to take the throne years ago but something happened. He's anger, more to himself but maybe you could change that," she said.

I shook my head. "Trust me, I'm not here to save anyone. I don't even want to marry him," I said. She nodded. "Listen, just don't trigger him. He has his fair share of women but they don't last," she said. She sounded like she knew a lot that could help me but she was holding back. We stopped outside a chamber door. I'm guessing it was the west wing of the castle. Just like mines. Melody knocked on the door. A male voice answered for us to come in. As I walked in with Melody holding the door, I saw him. Laying in bed with a leather vest that showed off his black chest hairs. His fair skin shined as it reflected from the flames of the fire that was next to his bed as a light. He was strectched out, working on something. No doubt a treaty or an update for something. "your majesty, this is princess Maria," Melody said.

I bowed but he wasn't paying me any mind. "You're not going to look at me?" I asked him. That's when he did. His iced blue eyes looked me up and down. He didn't seem pleased. "You can go," he said. I looked back at Melody who shrugged. I stepped forward, lowering his paper. "I think I should stay," I said. "I didn't say for you think," He said bitterly. I removed me hand from the paper that he snatched away from me. I scoffed then left. I gave him a chance and he blew it. I asked for Melody to show me to my chambers. It was down the hall from the prince. My things were already there but I did not bother to look. There were servants unpacking and I dimissed them. I wanted to be left alone. I flopped on the bed that was for me. "What do you wish for me to do, your highness?"

I looked up to see Melody. I guess she truly was my handmadien. "You can stay," I said. I waved my hand so she could join me. "Tell me about this family. I know they are seen as good people but they can't just be it right?" I asked her. I watched her gather her thoughts. She looked alarmed. Like she wasn't supposed to say anything. "the truth is, the royal family are in a panic. There's a prophey. On a night of celebration, the exile would start a time of war. The day the sky is as red as blood, a darkness is born. On the darkest night, the cry of the broken hearts would echo. Then the fall of royalty will begin," she said. I swallowed. "We don't know who sent it but it arrived in a case of mixed organs. And they were," she trailed off. "Moving." Now I was scared but not by the prince. "Do you know anything about this darkness?" I asked her. She shook her head. "Just that when it comes, run," she said fearfully. What the hell am I getting married into?

I asked as many questions I could but Melody did not have an answer. I wondered where I could learn more information from. When I expressed it, Melody told me she has been trying herself. That a seer that the royal family had brought told them that the answers were all around us. That 'the chosen one' would be able to hear. I then asked her more about the prince. She told me that she did not know much. Other than the fact that he went back and forth with himself. That something changed him. That any girl that did sleep with him, feared him. Which wasn't comforting since I had to sleep with him the night of the wedding. But talking to Melody was nice. She seemed genuine.

She was the only person who treated me like I didn't do anything wrong. I knew I started off on the wrong foot when the King had mentioned my absence. Now I had to make sure I did everything correctly so there wouldn't be no more bumps. I decided after the tour that Melody graciously gave me to go back to the garden. I told Melody to go get us a snack and we could enjoy it together. The Royal Garden had a bench with a beautiful gate surrounding it. I approached, taking in the beautiful flowers around me. "Leave," I heard in a familiar voice. It was prince. I stopped in my tracks, unsure of what I should do. If other woman feared him, then I should to...right? "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were would be here," I said, stumbling over my words.

Great! Stumbling was the first sign of weakness when talking to anyone. It showed that you weren't confident in yourself. That you were uncomfortable or nervous or scared. "Can I at least know your name before I go?" I asked kindly. In irritation, he threw his cup down and walked over to me. His hand wrapping around my neck immediately, his iron grip making it hard to breath. I could smell the alcohol surrounding him. He was drunk. He lifted him up by my neck, bringing my face inches away from his. I tried to free myself, gasping for his fingers to release me. "Why do you keep asking questions?" He said infuriately. "If I tell you to do something, then do it!" He told me.

My vision became to be blur from the lack of air. He threw me away from him. I landed harshly on my knees, trying to remember how to breathe. My hands were around my neck, trying to the reduce the aching pain I was feeling. The tears that I was holding in started to fall so I ran. Back to my chamber, passing Melody on my way. I heard her call for me but I didn't answer. I ran to my chamber, needing a place to feel safe. I collapsed by a wall, letting the tears that I was holding fall. I asked one question. Just one. I was supposed to marry that man. I was supposed to have his children.

Melody stayed knocking on my door but I couldn't answer. I tried to muffle my sobs by covering my mouth with my hand. Then I remembered what my mother said. Always smile. No matter what's happening. No matter how you feel. Smile through the pain. Because that was just the beginning.