Taming Death

Him

Orion hurriedly headed toward her father, the Kings, office. It was at the other end of the house palace. The corridors are long with white pillars every 20ft. The floors are made of marble. The palace had a lot of people moving around with there own. There was an abundance of people, many more than usual, she wondered what was going on and why there were so many people walking around doing things. Anyone who saw her could see the anxiety written all over her face. She was fidgeting her fingers in front of her as she walked. Her goal was to figure out what could make Marcy react to her like that and was it related to why her parent's summoned her. It made her nervous to think what could be so bad to make her tear up. Why the whole kitchen went quiet at the sight of her? What the hell was going on she wondered?

***

My nerves had me crawling out of my skin. Keeping a fast pace through the long corridors, I finally reach my father's study. Before me stands two tall blue doors with gold white etchings and a silver knob. I never really noticed how big they were stretching about 15 ft. Nervously I take a deep breath and open the doors. I walk into the room to find not only my mother and father, but 4 other gentlemen and woman. Two of them men and the woman were clearly guards. There was another man with a suit who must have status to be allowed their own guards in my father's office. Checking over the room and my eyes land on HIM. HE was the most beautiful man I've ever seen. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't breathe when I saw him. He was tall a good foot above me, and that was saying something because I wasn't short by any means. He was wearing a blue shirt under golden shoulder armor with brown pants and black leather sheath that held a short sword on his belt. His hair thick, messy, and black. His skin a soft golden tan, you could see his muscles through his clean suit. His smile accompanied by a set a dimples, and his teeth were perfect. His eyes the color of sunshine. I've never looked that hard at the sun, they almost glowed, before but I'm assuming if it had a color you could see, it would be the color of his eyes. He radiated a since of confidence I only ever saw from Alderic. He completely dumbfounded me. It took me a moment to process before noticing he was staring at me. Our eyes widened simultaneously at the recognition of being caught staring at each other. As if we were the only two people in the entire world.

Who was he?

Who are those people?

The way he stared at me, as if he could see straight into my soul! After a few moments passed and my father cleared his throat. And my mother straightened herself and flattened out her skirt anxiously in the seat next to my father, hands now in her lap.

"Orion" she says with a soft but crisp tone "nice of you to finally join us."

"Now that everyone is here, we can begin..." I rolled my eyes at my mother as she spoke. Before she could continue, I interrupted her "well good cause someone here better explain to me what has Marcy almost in tears."

"Well if you would be so kind to shut up long enough, I guess you'll hear why." My mother snapped back.

"Okay, darling" my father lightly touching my mother's hand, "Rion, we have something to discuss with you." He began, "come sit" he gestured to my usual spot by the bookshelf, a soft night blue chair, large enough to fit two people. I was daddy's girl so I do as I'm asked. "Please gentlemen have a seat." The two men in suits sit down. It takes everything I have to not look over at him.

"As I'm sure you've heard the rumors and I know your brothers talk to you about everything, you're wise beyond your years. But there are things they don't tell you, because they are compelled not too."

He sighs "There's been an increase in recent attacks in villages boarding the mountains. We're trying to keep it under wraps for as long as we can while make a solid plans. The other clans are dealing with it as well as thy can. We're all scared. Something big is building we out there, I know you can feel the energy growing. The threat is closer than we realized, and we have begun preparing and making arrangements with the other clans.." He stopped for a moment.

"Why wasn't I told about the prepping, when was this decided. You know I'm an asset father, we all are" I asked referring to my brothers.

"Your brothers were given their orders recently and were told to keep a lid on it as we had more arrangements to be made before we could go more public."

"Rion," he began again looking at me, "I had hoped to speak with you this morning, but I was told you weren't at your studies again, so I am sorry to drop this on you in front of everyone, it's inappropriate but we are running short on time, and the news was only just confirmed." He paused nervously taking a breath before he continued,

"I know this is going to be a shock, and I know you're not going to like hearing what I have to say, but you have to understand, none of us truly have a choice, I really need you to know that." His voice had a tremble to it.

"So, you kept me in the dark. Why?"

"Because bug, you are apart of the last arrangement to be made." Was his response.

Shock is what I felt first and then fury, I clinched my fist and down hard. I was livid. I can't believe he would even say something like that. What was I, an object to be used? I could feel the rage building with my father's words. As well as fear.

"Excuse me?" I began to stand.

My mother used her magic to to give a command "sit down and listen this is serious, do not embarrass us and act like a foolish child, do not test my patience right now."

I sat down against my will knowing that it wasn't my mother that spoke to me in that moment but MY queen as a member of the royal family I am literally forced to obey. "Yes, as you command, my queen" I hiss, the rage boiling under my skin.

"As I was saying, your brothers have been given their orders and you are being given yours. This hurts me more than you know, but an alliance must be made," sadness filled his voice as he continued "The elder's and the other clans have come to an agreement, that if the two strongest clans become merge they would unite Elysium once more under one ruler, they want a bond between high elves and another clan as proof of changes that we've made here in our clan and that the the old ways won't be overshadowed by our new ways, that power is shared" The weight of his words settling and I could see my father struggle with his words. "As the original leading and still most powerful clan, our first and only daughter in generations was the price the clans asked for, they wanted you to marry a son of theirs."

No.

"This is Theo Sunvaen, Prince of the Sun Elven Clan. He will be your Husband." My father said "The Sun Elf Clan is the second most powerful and the best candidate for an arranged marriage they still hold true to some of the old ways, so its what the elders and the clan leaders decided."

No. No. No. No.

He really said it. Panic rising to an all new high. I was shaking. I was angrier than I've ever been. I was scared. I have never been more scared.

"No" I yelled as I stood up.

"No" I repeated again, yelling louder.

My world was spinning. Arranged marriage. The words repeated in my ears over and over. Suddenly darkness was sucking me in I was struggling to keep it from engulfing me. I fought hard to keep the light slipping from my vision. Silence and black trying to surround me. As soon as I'd start to pull myself back I'd hear my fathers voice say those stupid words "arranged marriage".