Women of Adoth

Bilyana (Part 1)

Sitting next to her husband on the throne, Bilyana was nervous. Not only was she to find husbands for each of her three daughters today, but she was to also break the news to them tonight. Despite the nervousness, Bilyana knew her duty as queen and mother to three girls that she must find husbands that would make them happy for the rest of their lived. Looking over at her husband Stoyan, the king, she knew she got it lucky. Not only did she truly love her husband that was arranged to her, but she had the honor of knowing him before their wedding day, and knew each other fairly well enough to fall in love quickly.

All three girls were born within minutes of one another, but the order was still important to Stoyan. Because they were triplets and Stoyan's children, they were all named after him, or Stoyana, Story, and Stoyae. While the girls were off sleeping their morning away, Bilyana was to pick their future husbands. It was the morning of the girls' seventeenth name day. The girls were known well throughout Ebril, and many men have asked for their hands before. But today, their husbands would finally be picked, and not denied like before.

First, three young men entered the room. Each proclaimed to love Bilyana's firstborn daughter, Stoyana.

"State your name, occupation, daughter you wish to marry," Stoyan lectured to the first three.

"Your grace, I am-"

All of the names and occupations and faces blurred together for about two rounds of men proclaiming their love for Stoyana. Until...

"I am Zaten, of no house, but a well-known singer and poet. I come to marry your daughter, Stoyana. I have written a song about the first time I saw her. May I?" The hanesome singer asked polietly. With a quick nod of Stoyan's head, the singer had begun.

"Stoyana, Stoyana, pretty as a rose,

Stoyana, Stoyana, all the way to her toes,

Stoyana, Stoyana, give me a chance,

Stoyana, Stoyana, to woo you in dance,

Stoyana, Stoyana, of noble blood,

Stoyana, Stoyana, I have none but I have love to flood."

And despite not caring for most singers and actors asking for Stoyana's hand, this singer struck out to Bilyana. Holding her hand high as to stop his singing and to pause, she leaned to her husband.

"What do you think of this young singer?" She whispered in his ear.

"He is handsome, not of noble blood, but is sure intelligent. He isn't poor, for he is the most popular singer in Ebril. I know that Stoyana has met him before, and enjoyed his singing. I think this would be a good pair, no?"

Standing and smiling, Bilyana proclaimed, "Zaten the singer, thank you for your performance. The king and I believe that you would be a wonderful match for our firstborn daughter Stoyana. Please, follow the guard to your right and he will escort you to be fitted for new clothes and to be groomed."

Bilyana sat back down and felt exhilarated. She felt in her heart that at least one of her daughters could be happy with who they have chosen to marry them. Only two more grooms to discover.

A much smaller number of men came to ask for Story's hand in marriage, the second born daughter. Unlike Stoyana, Story had no taste for music and dancing, but rather was purely focused on traditional practices and her duty towards the family. The men visiting for Story were all of higher birth and were all mostly educated. The man chosen for Story was a man named Petar, the son of a wealthy healer in the city. His name was well known and was of high enough birth for Story's liking. Although Petar seemed like a very dull and boring boy, Bilyana had a feeling that a boy like him would suit her well.

The third-born daughter, Stoyae, was the most difficult to find a husband for. Bilyana knew this would be the case, but she had no idea that it would take shuffling through each and every knight and sell-sword in the country to find a decent man capable of love for Stoyae.

"My king, my queen," he said, kneeling. "I and Hristo. I have served you from the time I was ten as a squire to now a knight. It has been another ten year now. I know nothing but serving, my king and queen. If there was only one more way I could serve, it would be to marry your daughter Stoyae. I have met her once. She has a certain fight in her that led me to love her. If only I could continue my love for her, in marriage. I pray that you accept," he proclaimed, kneeling again, bowing his head.

Bilyana whispered into her husband's ear, "most of these knights and sell-swords are only looking to marry Stoyae for her body or for gold. This man wants to marry our daughter to serve her and the kingdom. I feel as though she would like that he is older and is experienced in battle but yet dedicated."

Stoyan stood. "Hristo, my noble knight. You are the one for my daughter Stoyae. Proceed after the guard, he will lead you to be clothed and groomed to meet my daughter once more."

"Thank you my kind, and my queen," the kind knight added before rising and following the guard out of the throne room.

After all the men were gone except for Zaten, Petar, and Hristo, Bilyana made her way to her daughters' chamber. When she entered, each daughter sat on a chair, their hair getting the final touches each by their own handmaiden.

With a deep breath, Bilyana proclaimed, "My beautiful daughters, today is an important day. It is not only all of your seventeenth name day, but it is the day you will meet your future husbands."

Stoyana rose, her long blonde hair failing to cover the cleavage exposed on her deep cut dress, "Mother, this is wonderful news. The man you chose for me, is he handsome?"

Suddenly, Story added, "The man you chose for me, is he noble?"

And lastly, Stoyae added, "The man you chose for me, is he adventurous?"

"Girls, girls, you will find out soon enough. Stoyana, are you sure you want to wear that dress? It's a little revealing for a Princess," Bilyana pointed out.

"Mother! It is not revealing. Rather, I must show off what the gods gave me that the gods did not give my sisters," she sniggered.

Bilyana couldn't stop what came next. Stoyae slapped Stoyana across the face, redding her cheek and leaving her with a look of fury. It took all three handmaidens and Story to hold Stoyae back from attacking Stoyana.

"Girls! This is not how Princesses should be acting. Especially Princesses of seventeen years! You will all be marrying soon, and that requires a sort of maturity. How do you expect me to believe you are mature when you act like this?" Bilyana declared sincerely.

"Sorry mother," Stoyana uttered as if she was embarrassed.

"Sorry mother," Stoyae avoided.

"I accept your apologies. Now, we are to meet your husbands to be. Stoyana, your cheek?"

"Mother, I'm fine. I want to meet my future husband."

And off they went.