The Forgotten Kingdom

Chapter 6: Commitments of Her

Brielle awoke to the sound of knocks on the door. She turned over to see the door open and a small, middle-aged woman walking in with a tray of food. She smiled and set the tray down on the table in the sitting area.

Brielle sat up and watched her quickly grab something from outside the door and return in. This time, she bought a change of clothes and sat them across from the food. "I am Marci, your Highness. I will be your Lady for any help you may need." She faintly smiled at Brielle and then began laying out her clothes. "May I help you get dressed, Ma'am?"

Brielle nodded yes and approached Marci, who began assisting her. "Have you heard any news of my Father Claudius, Marci?" the princess asked while pulling on a blue silk dress. Marci began lacing the back closed. "Yes, Ma'am, I saw him this morning. He is healing well."

The Princess whipped around towards the woman helping her, "Healing? Healing from what?" Her eyes widened, trying to get a response from the woman helping her, "Oh, nothing life-threatening, your Highness. I just helped with some scrapes and bruises earlier; I did not mean to frighten you."

Brielle took a breath and turned to let Marci continue helping her. But the woman shook a little more, knowing the Princess was right to worry about her Father's state. Marci finished assisting the princess in getting ready, "Do you need anything else, Ma'am?" She sat to eat and said, "No. I appreciate your help, Marci." And with that, she left.

Brielle sat for what felt like hours, and boredom grew over her. She stared out the window, studying the castle's gardens. Every once in a while, she saw someone pass through it and hoped it would miraculously be someone from home. The hours continued, and Denco stopped in once to check on her.

The Princess requested a book, and a little while later, the Commander brought her one: "Here, from the royal library itself." She smiled in gratitude and took the book. Denco turned to leave but stopped: "I believe soon you will be able to see your father. I will attend to you when I find out more." And with that, he left.

Brielle stayed in the room, continuing to read. A few times, she tried the door, which she found to still be locked. Returning to her book, she looked out the window once again. This time, she saw the Prince in the garden. He was walking with a beautiful woman and laughing. She felt a wave of something come over her, and she could not admit to herself that it saddened her.

But they made their way out of sight, and Brielle continued reading. She read and read for hours. Now, it was afternoon, and she felt restless. Denco knocked and returned to the Princess in time, "The King is requesting your presence." With a sad breath, she stood, closing her book, "King Claudius is requesting your presence." Denco continued, looking at Brielle.

She turned to him, her smile erupting. She gathered herself and followed him out of her quarters.

They walked the same path as yesterday down to the large oak doors. After knocking, Denco entered and allowed the Princess to walk through. She entered the throne room to see a large table now in the center of it. Gathered around it were King Romar, Prince Valor, and her father, Claudius.

Brielle quickly approached her father and hugged him tightly. "Oh, Father!" she snuffled into him, and he comforted her while the others looked on. "Oh my Darling, I am so glad you are alright." Claudius shot Romar a deathly look as he said this.

Brielle pulled back from his embrace, "Your head! Are you alright?" Claudius nodded in response, but before he could say anything, his daughter turned to the surrounding men, "You! How dare you hurt a good man!"

Her Father held her back by her arms, but she continued yelling, "He came peacefully to you! How could you!" Her face was directed to the King, who smiled, "Claudius, control your daughter before someone else has to."  Brielle almost exploded upon hearing this.

"Father, why do you continue to entertain such men?" But before her father answered, the prince stepped towards them, saying, "It is because these men are offering your kingdom protection."

Shocked, Brielle turned to her father, "You are continuing with an alliance even after the way they have treated you?"

"We have no other choice, Brielle. This is the way it must be." The King loosened his grip on his daughter, "And how do you expect to trust them after all this?" The Princess questioned desperately.

"We would be idiots to attack a fellow Kingdom allianced by a marital union," the king said with a smirk. Brielle turned to her Father, not believing what she thought Romar meant. "You haven't," she whispered.

He looked at her sorrowfully, but King Romar responded, "Did you think your father would come and ask for our assistance with nothing to pay for it?"

"My Lord, tell me it is not what I believe it to be," Brielle begged to meet her Father's eyes.

"They swore to send reinforcements as soon as the wedding is held." Her Father looked defeated, and Brielle felt that extremely. She turned to the room, and the King sat down and smirked. But the Prince looked unsure of what to do, as did Denco.

Brielle took a step back as the Prince approached her, grabbing her hand. "Will you do me the honor of being my betrothed, Princess Brielle Anefor?" She looked up at him, and without thinking, she bolted for the door.

"Good luck taming that one, son." Romar laughed, and Claudius wiped his head. And with that, the Prince was off after her.

Brielle ran through the castle, passing servants and soldiers who yelled at her to stop. But she did not; her future was not in the hands of politics but of herself. She was going to run away if she could.

She found herself running into the garden, footsteps still loudly nearby. She ran out, forming a plan to get home. She would send the troops to the North Border to form a treaty with Yusen. She kept running and thinking through her plan.

Then, hands grabbed her waist and forced her to the ground. After tumbling momentarily, she locked eyes with the Prince on top of her, "We must stop meeting this way." He joked, and she attempted kicking and hitting him.

He restrained her hands above her head, "Can you subdue yourself? You are not getting out of this, even by running away." He continued holding her.

"I cannot marry you; I am betrothed to another!" She screamed at him, but he did not stir, "Then I will have him killed!"

She looked at him, shocked. Of course, she was not betrothed to another, but that was a maniacal statement! He leaned down to her ear and whispered, "But it is alright. I know you are not planning to wed another. You have been promised to me long before today."

Brielle stopped squirming and looked at him in the eyes, confused. She had not been promised anything to anyone. "You must be mistaken. My father has never promised me to anyone." He let go of her arms but stayed put on her. "Do you not remember our first meeting?"

She could see almost a smile breaking on his lips. Confusion filled her, "Of course I do, in the woods yesterday," Brielle said, trying to understand what he was getting at.

"No, your Highness. Five years ago, we met."