Bound To You

Chapter #1

¤¤¤-Princess Isabella Almira-¤¤¤

Focus...inhale...release...exhale and the bow hit the bull's eye...

And again

And again

and I exhaled a breath of relief. All the guards watching my performance cheered except for one person; my dearest friend, and the general of our guard. Basically he was the son of my father's best friend who also happened to be our general but died when James was still young and so James lived in the castle with us and grew with me. Though I loathed him with a passion when I was younger but with the passage of time we managed to be friends.

I saw him pouting and I couldn't help but laugh at that because he looked so adorable.

"You shouldn't have challenged me the first place." I said.

"Wait there princess, lets do it again and this time I won't let you beat me." he again challenged.

"Okay, lets do it, because someone isn't satisfied by loosing once and wants to taste it again." I teased.

"I'll go first." he said and this time he hit the center of the circle three times, all the guards cheered for him.

"I guess this is going to be tie this time." I snorted.

"We'll see that princess." and I saw a hint of mischief in his eyes. I followed the steps that I've been taught and the bow hit the center. The second time again I was successful and when I was focusing third time I felt warm breathe caressing the back of my neck.

Then James moved to my ear and whispered, "Good luck princess." and I squirmed in that close proximity. What was that? I questioned. This nearness was totally foreign to me, it was something I never experienced and I never thought James being my friend getting this close to me physically.

I mean of course he was a very good friend of mine and that was it, being a princess I was taught how to be a decent and graceful lady and that included not getting close to men except for one, that being my husband. And of cource I didn't have any but I knew that I was betrothed to one; King Stefan Westmoreland of Amaranth, and distracted by these stupid thoughts I missed the target.

"I won!" James said who was now standing beside me with his arms folded behind his back and a smirk on his face.

"You cheater!! You distracted me." I nearly shouted. He asked the three guards who were watching us that if he cheated or not and they shrugged and shook their heads.

"Traitors" I muttered because I forgot that before being my guards they were James' friends. James laughed and earned an icy glare from me. "See I did not cheat and besides there was no such condition that said that I cant distract you." and he winked.

Before I could offer him an another challenge a guard came running towards us and after catching his breathe he said, "Your highness, the king wants to see you."

I waved at James and made my way towards the castle. Upon entering I was informed by some servants that Father was seated in the great hall waiting for me.

I headed towards the great hall of the castle where father was. He was sitting on the crown and smiled when I entered. I also noticed that we were not alone but there were some courtsmen and ministers also. I frowned at that, why would father ask for me in the presence of so many men?

With everyone's facial expressions it seemed that something important was being discussed.

Father's expression was soft. "Come here." he said as he stood up I went to him as he embraced me in a hug and again this was highly unusual but I hugged him back nevertheless.

"Now," he said as he pulled back, "My beautiful princess, did I tell you how proud I am of my sweet girl and I how much I love you?" he asked in a soft murmur. I smiled at that, "You did father, everyday." he smiled back. "My sweet child you must be wondering why I called you?" I nodded.

"I want to make an announcement, in fact the most important announcement of your life." before I could grasp what was going on he turned me around to face the crowd of his most trusted men.

"Everyone! I feel very proud and deliriously happy to announce the wedding of my only daughter next week. After celebrating the birthday of our princess we will prepare for her wedding. So prepare for the festivities. I want everything to be perfect on my princess' wedding." and his announcement was met with applaud and cheering from everyone. But upon hearing his words, all breathe was knocked out of me as I struggled to breathe.

I knew this time would come when I would have to get married but I just hoped and wished that it wouldn't come too soon. All my life I was told that I would get married someday, but still I cherish my days of freedom, not that I would become a prisoner in the hands of the mighty king but I would have a burden of responsibilities and duties as his queen. Moreover; I heard many stories of future husband's brutality and quite honestly I was scared for my life, scared of him. People said that he was cruel and cold. All my life I tried to toss these rumors aside but at some point they did get the best of me, I believed them and it was wrong of me to do so because I had never seen or better yet talked to him so I couldn't tell what was true or what was wrong.

I was again pulled out of my thoughts when I was pulled in to the comforting embrace of my father.

"I will miss my little princess. Always." he whisperes softly in my ears. And that did it. Tears pooled in my eyes and rolled down uncontrolled. The realization hit me like a cold bucket of water, I was leaving my father, this castle I called my home all my life and all the people in it and I was going to leave James, the lovely people of Arcadia; my kingdom , all of them for good. And it hurt, a lot.

However; I was not supposed to show that to everyone because it was unhealthy for a bride to be sad because of her marriage and it could badly effect my future with my husband-to-be but still I had no control over the tears which were flowing freely by now and I didn't even care about that. All I could think at that moment was that I was going to leave my home.

As everyone around me cheered, I died a little from inside because for them it might be easy and nothing for them but for me it simply wasn't because I was getting married to someone whom I didn't know and had never seen in my life all I knew about him came from the mere stories I had heard about him, or his cruelity might I add.

That's what saddened me the most: my father knew he was cruel, everyone in the castle knew, James knew, hell even other kingdoms might know but no one could do anything because it was a political game for them and even if it wasn't they still could do nothing about it; my own father, the mighty king could do nothing to save his princess, because you see, this castle didn't have a heir for it to flourish further and for these walls to be intact for other several decades because my mother didn't give birth to a prince but a princess, and that was me, and she died while giving birth and because of the love my parents had, my father never married.

Still he brought me up the best he could and I was taught how to fight in a battle as he would've taught his prince. And this betrothal that was signed after I was borned was to insure the safety and well-being of the kingdom because after father it was my future-husband who will be given the kingdom to take care of. And being a princess I had to do that; marry him unconditionally.

Sometimes I did curse my fate though and wished that it wasn't like this but somethings are supposed to be the way they are and if this is going to be my fate, then I accept it. Because I am stronger then that and I can face it.

How worse could it get?

Okay, so how was it, its my first book and I know I suck but please make me squeal with excitement and happiness by clicking the vote button below. Mistake corrections and your views on my work are warmly welcomed.

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Love,

Anaya...