Wolves Untamed

Chapter One

The church bells ring in the distance, signifying that dawn has approached and it's time for everyone to wake up and start their day. I roll onto the side of my bed and stretch my arms out, as a yawn escapes my lips. "Well Saria, we made it another day." I mumble to myself as I finally get up and head to the bathroom. I sit down at my vanity and look at the reflection staring back at me. My long auburn hair rippling like waves on the beach rests against my shoulders. I carefully grab my brush and slowly work it through the tangles. Taking my time with each section, just like my mother used to do before she became queen. I let out a sigh at the memory then put my brush away and finish getting ready.
I walk out of my bedroom and go to my wardrobe looking through the dresses that my mother and father had tailored for me. This selection was for the autumn season, so most of the colors were warm yellows, oranges, browns, and dark greens. To be honest this is my favorite season.It's when the world shows the most beautiful colors and the air is cool and crisp. After getting dressed, I walk over to my balcony and take in the beautiful sight of our waking kingdom. Slowly, house by house, the morning sun was lighting up the kingdom, and the air seemed to fill with the sound of the children laughing and playing in the streets. I stand there for a few moments soaking it all up with a smile on my face before walking over to my bedroom door. I am heading down to the dining hall to join the rest of my family.
In the dining room my father, the king, sits at the head of the table and across from him is my mother, the queen. Then on the sides of them sit my sister and I. My mother looks at me with her eyes sparkling a beautiful emerald color gently saying, "Good morning sunshine. Someone looks happy this morning." I let out a soft chuckle and I took my seat to the left of her. "I just like to see our kingdom wake up and the kids playing. Vrewla really is beautiful and so are the people that live here." I smile while looking at her. Then my father looks over to me and says with his baritone voice, "Saria, we need to have a discussion in my office later. Before you can even ask, no, you're not in trouble." He gives me a sly smirk and I roll my eyes playfully. "Okay Father. Shall we meet after breakfast?" My father nods as the servants bring out our plates. The smell of honey baked ham, eggs and hashbrowns fill the air of the dining hall and all our eyes light up with delight.
After our meal, the servants return our empty trays to the kitchen with a smile on their faces as my family and I leave the dining hall. My father and I head to his office. He opens the door for me and then once I walk in he closes the door behind us. " Have a seat, Saria, there is much to discuss." He motions to the chair in front of his desk. The chair is beautiful red leather with mahogany wood. I take my seat sitting up straight with my hands in my lap like my mother had taught me. He took his seat behind his matching massive ornate mahogany desk and looked at me. "Saria, I have some concerns regarding your sister taking the crown." His brow was furrowed as he was in deep thought. He was looking at me, but not AT me. "What concerns do you have, father? I believe that she will make a wonderful queen one day." I looked at him confused. What could my father possibly mean? I know she has a rebellious side to her, but she takes her studies of her queen duties seriously, or at least I thought. "My little princess, we both know she would make a great queen one day, but I know she is not going to appreciate the marriage I have set up for her."
I can't believe my ears. Did my father just say he has arranged a marriage for her? No, I must've heard wrong. Father always said that he was throwing out that old tradition. He wanted his daughters to be happy with whoever they decided to marry. "Father d-did I hear you correctly? You arranged a marriage for Rina? I thought you didn't believe in that ancient tradition. Who would she be marrying and why?", I demanded. My father lowered his gaze briefly then once he composed himself he returned his gaze to me. His sky blue eyes were already filled with dread and tears. "She will be marrying Prince Haggis Diogenes of the Biptath Kingdom. The reason why is because this will merge our two kingdoms together and we can finally have the ultimate peace for our kingdoms, Saria. Trust me, I don't like the thought either, but this marriage is for the people of our kingdoms." I could feel the anger boiling in the pits of my stomach, so I could only imagine how my sister was going to handle this. "Father, I understand what your reasoning is, but this will not bode well with Rina and I think you are aware of this. If you make her do this you will lose a daughter. You know Prince Haggis' reputation. How do you expect Rina to accept this arrangement?" I could feel my father's anger growing and he suddenly pounded his fist onto his desk. "Dammit Saria! Don't you think I know how your sister will take this?! This is for our kingdom and our civilians!" He let out a large sigh and slouched back into his chair. " Sweetheart, trust me I know, but this has to be done. If we do not join our realms, I fear that Biptath will try and overthrow us and we will lose everything to that savage land. Once she produces an heir then she can leave him, but our kingdoms need an heir to unite the kingdoms."
I love my father, but right now I can't even look at him. How can he possibly say that Rina has to be married to that self righteous prick? "Saria, all I ask is, please don't tell your sister about this yet. I want to tell her myself." I look up at him and just simply nod before heading out of his office. I look back at him before opening the door, "Of course father." I curtsy towards him then leave his office and close the door. I can feel the hot tears cascade down my cheeks and I walk down the long corridor. "Rina, forgive me sister", I mumble to myself.
I know just how to clear my head. I will go to the woods and walk my favorite trail, where the leaves and trees are at their most beautiful. That has always calmed me down, so I just pray it works this time. I take a step out into the Palace gardens and take a moment to breathe in the crisp autumn air. For some reason that I cannot explain, I love being in the palace gardens and the woods. It is as if the earth is calling my name and all I want to do is go running to her. So that's exactly what I do, I go running into the woods and just following the sweet sound of the earth. I don't know how far I ran, but I could feel my legs growing tired. I leaned against a tree smiling from ear to ear, taking in the scent of the woods around me. I can't explain what it is, but the woods have always felt more like a home to me.
I start walking the path that I have created from all the times of me walking the same trail for years. I look over to my left and see the most glorious meadow filled with poppies, sunflowers, and wild tiger lillies. I carefully make my way down the hill and lay in the middle of the field taking in the feeling of the sun on my skin and the smell of the flowers surrounding me. It almost felt supernatural with how peaceful and calm it was in the middle of the field. Before I knew it, my eyes were getting heavy and I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness.