Fate Without Glory

Chapter 2

        I gasp and Altaic holds me close.

           “My father will not touch her! How dare he challenge me for my queen?”

           “My lord, I tried to reason with the king but he just sent me away! I am sorry my lord!”

           The man stumbles and runs away. Altaic turns to me, his face very red. His hands go white as he looks around. I step toward him and wrap my arms around him, my hair flying behind me and my dress settling on the ground. I feel his arms slowly wrap around me and tighten.

           “My dear, you will not let him take me will you?” I ask, now very concerned. I may want to leave, but I do not want to leave married to the current king.

           “Never… he will never take you… I will kill him before he touches you.” His voice got heavy and he let go of me, turned me around and ran into the castle. I stand there frozen. People rushed around and I sat on the fountain side. This could either be very good or very bad… and I have a strong feeling it is bad. I shake my head and lurch away from the fountain and run toward the castle.

           The servants gasp and get out of my way as I run through the halls of the castle, picking up my dress to run faster. I should have never come to the ball…

        I run into a giant room and see Altaic and his father standing there yelling at each other. His father sees me and motions for me to come over. Altaic turns and sees me. I shake my head and his father moves toward me but I turn and run from the room.

 

        I pace my room anxiously. Was this really happening?Is this my punishment for sneaking out? A small rap on my door takes me away from my thoughts. I turn and see Altaic. He comes towards me and pulls me into his chest. I wrap my arms around him and put my forehead on his chin.

        “Come with me.” He said, anger clear in his voice. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room and down a hall. He led me down the grand staircase and passed the ball room. I remembered this hallway; it’s the hall I ran down when I first came here. We go into the room I passed through, then to the trap door.

        “I, Altaic, the rightful king, challenge my father for the future queen.” Altaic’s voice rang out triumphantly. A man held my arm with force, keeping me where I was. Altaic’s father smiled and nodded.

        “I accept that challenge!” Some people cheered. The people in chains all cried out, some in pain and some cries for help. Everybody from the castle was down here. I couldn’t bear watching a fight. I turned my head but hands grabbed it and forced it to watch. Altaic and his father grabbed swords and started fighting. I whimpered when Altaic got shoved, but then stopped whimpering as he smacked his father in the head with the hilt of his sword.

 

        “No!!” I cried out. The man let go of me and I fell to the ground. Altaic lie on the ground, not moving, and blood coming from his mouth. The king grinned and started walking over to me. I gasped and got up, trying to run away, but the king grabbed my arms and pulled me into him. I cried out but no one helped me. Some looked at the ground while others ran over to help Altaic.

        “The princess is mine! Behold! My queen!” Nobody cheered. Tears ran down my cheeks as I looked over at Altaic. I wanted to leave, but now that I was in the arms of this monster, I wanted nothing more than to be in Altaic’s embrace.

        “Altaic! Get up!” I cried out. I got pulled away. “Please!” My voice cracked. The king pulled me away and Altaic had not moved an inch. I cried out several times. The king kept pulling me away. He opened the trap door and climbed up, one of his hands having a tight grip on my wrist, the other pulling his fat belly up the ladder. As we stepped out of the dark room, a hand clamped over my mouth and the other wrapped my arm around my back. Tears flowed from my eyes as the king looked into my eyes and grinned.