The Burden We Share

Chapter 1

Location -The Kindom of Drakonia
Season- Winter
Time of day- Morning

"The sun may shine here but not
upon me "

-Liora POV-

The morning felt bleak even with the sunshine lending me its warmth it was still cold and gloomier than usual in the palace. It was mornings like these that I seem to always get bad news.

As I was passing by some maids on my way to sit in the garden and read like I normally do I heard the maids gossiping. "Did you hear, there's a new ruler of the elves" said one maid to the other but when they saw me they immediately stopped talking and turned away.

I sighed, the maids and servants of the palace treating me as if I'm unimportant isn't something new to me.

I continued down the halls ignoring the gossip and strange looks people were giving me as I passed by them. This was normal behavior for everyone yet it somehow felt different like there was something they knew that I didn't. Just as I was about to turn the corner Sir Henry the captain of the royal guard and a few other knights stepped in the way of my path.

"Princess Liora, you must come with us the king has requested that all members of the royal family must be in attendance in the meeting room" he said before turning away not even giving me a chance to protest or answer him. Two of the knights each took a place on either side of me as Sir Henry lead the way to my father the king.

I knew the meeting room was where the king discuss important matters with the council but what I found weird was the fact that he requested that I be there. Even when he summons the family for a meeting they never inform me of it or tell me to be there even though I'm also a part of the family.

I always thought it was because of my age because I'm the youngest of the family but as time goes by I'm starting to feel like that's far from the reason.

I got outside of the door and sir Henry knocked once then we heard a faint enter.

The doors swung open and the knights each moved to the side taking their position outside the door as I made my way inside.

"Liora" said my father causing everyone who was around the table to look up at me.

I bowed "Your Majesty" I said "Come and take a seat" said the king, I nodded in response before making my way to the only empty seat at the table across from my siblings.

My brother smirked at me knowingly which made me uneasy. Whenever prince Erik makes that face it usually means something is up, But I still didn't know what.

"Now that everyone is here the discussion may resume" said his majesty the king.

"The king of the elven kingdom is dead" said lord claw "We are aware my lord, what is your point in bringing that up" said Duke Velcro. "We have long since been at odds with the elven kingdom" said lord claw, Duke Velcro sighed with a board look on his face "My lord you are just pointing out things we already know" said Duke Velcro "What I am trying to say Duke Velcro is that the elven king being dead is a problem, it is a fact that in all our years of being enemies after the first Great War he has never attacked us but now that he's dead who knows what his successors might do" said Lord claw.

The elven kingdom of Aeloria has long since been enemies because of a Great War that happened centuries ago. Both sides suffered unimaginable losses and because of that the former kings of the kingdoms signed a ceasefire agreement that had long expired.

This was something all the children of the kingdom were taught about.

"So what would you have us do? Start a war before they do?" Asked viscount pines "I suggest we alley with them" said lord claw mutters broke out around the table.

"Alley with them?! Are you mad" said Duke Velcro. "It's the best course of action we don't know how big their army has gotten since the first war, starting a war with them would be unwise" said Lord claw "So would an alliance, your suggesting that we shake hands with inhuman beasts" said duke Velcro.

"Duke Velcro I'm suggesting that we don't start a war that could kill us all, we've all heard the reports about the power they are said to posses one elf could probably burn this kingdom to the ground with the flick of a finger" said lord claw as him and the Duke started arguing back and forth along with everyone else at the table.

In my opinion Lord claw was right, it would be better to become allies.

"SILENCE!" My father shouted causing everyone to immediately go quiet.

"I have heard enough, Lord claw is right" said my father. The Duke sat down less than happy with my father's words. "Thank you your majesty" said lord claw, "Now how do you suggest we form an alliance with them?" Asked my a
Father just then my brother stood up "I know a way" said Erik.

"Oh? Then speak" said my father, "Of course, I think the best way to do so is through marriage father" said my brother.

Marriage?! I looked around the table seeing everyone just as shocked as I was.

"That's ridiculous who would marry an inhuman king?" Asked The Duke.

"It may sound crazy but it is possible maybe the daughter of a viscount or the daughter of a Duke" said Lord claw, the Duke tensed up probably worried because he has a daughter that is of age and unmarried.

as he rubbed his chin in a thinking manner my brother then looked over at me and I instantly got an unsettling feeling in my stomach.

"For this alliance to work it must be someone who has direct ties to the royal family" he said before his eyes met my fathers.

"Like a princess" he said with a smirk.

The room broke out into mutters again. "My prince surely you are not saying that we should give up one of the princess"

My stomach tightened hearing those words, I've heard about the children of the late elven king or just elves in general. They are said to be ruthless some may even say barbaric especially in how they treat humans.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I looked down at the table that seem to be getting further away from me and the room that seemed to had been getting darker as the voices around me began to become muffled and fade.

There was no chance that they were going to send my sister she's the first princess and my father and mother deem her more useful them I am, the second princess who hasn't accomplished anything nor am I more beautiful.

"it's settled then" said my father, I looked down at my hands and squeezed my eyes shut tightly praying that he does not say my name.

But of course the gods never liked me.

"Lioras hand will be offered to the new king of Aeloria, send letter to the elven kingdom immediately".