We Were Both Young

Ch 1: When I First Saw You

To all my readers! Thank you for turning to this first chapter! :) Looking very forward to you guys reading this story. I am quite excited & nervous as i haven't posted in over a year!! But truly hope this one takes off. So HERE's to the COMEBACK!! Please don't forget to COMMENT & VOTE if you want this story to continue. Let's start off simple & say 20+ reads. 10+ votes & 2 comments! Let me know if you think this one is worth continuing.

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Chapter 1: When I First Saw You

∞ Isabella's POV ∞

"I can't do this , Anna , " I insisted to my maidservant, calling her by nickname for her. She'd become like a second mother to me having taken care of me since my I was still in diapers.

"Don't be silly, young Bella. You're a strong young woman. You'll be just fine. It's just one night you'll survive," she reassured me.

"It feels like I am being held hostage, forced into action against my will," I looked at her exasperated, "I feel like a stranger in my own family home, Anna"

"I understand, Bella. Remember though, ultimately the choice IS yours. They can drag you to the altar, but they can't force that three lettered word out your mouth."

I smiled as she literally spoke the thoughts on my mind.

"You know me to well," I said, "but they'll try everything"

"Isabella, You know your parents want nothing more than for you to be happy. They will not force you into anything that makes their angel miserable."

"I'm not sure how true that statement is right now ..."

"One hundred percent true, " my mother, Queen Leana VonSchmoot, entered the room.

"Really?" I questioned, "Eavesdropping on your seveteen year old daughter?"

She laughed,

"I know it doesnt seem like it now, but we only want the best for you , darling. Your father too."

"If you wanted the best for me : You wouldn't be forcing me here into tonight. You wouldn't be forcing me into marriage!" I argued

"Love, you know the law."

"I don't want to ..."

"We can't change it after hundreds of years."

"You're king and queen - Why not?"

My mother sighed, knowing she wasn't going to win this discussion.

"Here's a list of suitors who will be attending tonight. I thought I'd just come and warn you that your father seems to have take quite a liking to Prince Paris.."

"Thanks," I said, halfheartedly, pushing the pages aside.

"Well , I'll leave you to get ready. Be down in the ballroom within the next hour"

"Very well," I said , ushering her to the door, "I guess I'll see you there"

I sat down infront of my dressing mirror, I stared at myself long and hard. Something I'd been doing ALOT in the last few days since my seventeenth birthday. I'd been utterly stunned at the news, and manner in which it had been announced, that I'd be getting married within the next year. By golly, I hadn't ever taken a liking to any one in such a way. The fact that my royal family would have to choose my husband made this matter all the worse. I wanted to cry thinking about this wedding. I'd visualised my wedding day countless time since I was a little girl: the marble church, white roses and linen everywhere, a bouquet of white orchid's in my hand... and a faceless suited gentleman standing at the end of the long aisle. Having to put a face to that gentleman smiling hopelessly at me was scaring me to say the least. I didn't feel ready for this at all.