Aslem

Chapter 4 Doran Speaks

It wasn't nearly as scary as it had seemed before. Lit by torches the long walk through the empty dungeon and the stairwell wasn't nearly as dark as it had and hour or so ago. The steps were odd sizes though. Some were tiny others huge, some lopsided and others dipped in at awkward areas. The amount of light coming down from above grew with every step raising me further and further out of the ground.

When we reached the top, I was surprised at everything I'd seen. Servants, well dressed, bustling around, some carrying platters with multiple food assortments, others had needles and thread. The walls were painted in beautiful murals. As we were pushed along through many rooms and corridors, one mural in particular stuck out to me. It was a family; it must have been the royal family, because the mother and father wore crowns. Along with the parents there were three daughters and a single son. My eyes locked on him; it was hard to tell what any of them actually looked like due to the aging of the paint, but what was there was breath taking.

He was wearing armor, in his right hand he held a sword, in his left a shield. His hair was a brown color, his skin looked tan, not nearly as tan as Nicolos but certainly more than mine. He stood tall and proud and his height brought him taller than all his siblings and mother, but stood even with his father to his left.

"Who is that mural of?", I turned my head as far behind me as I could to see the guards.

"The Royal Family", His face was stern now. Barely any expression slipped past his cold, hard, red face. I stared at that mural until it hurt to turn my neck any further. I must meet him, I must know who that man is.

We turned left a single time more and right before me I saw him, King Doran of Gallia. We stopped walking when we were about twenty feet from him. There we were forced to kneel. We then knelt in silence.

"Why have you come to my kingdom?" His voice bellowed out above all the rustling of the servants.

"Sir, we are from the Kingdom of Aniz. The Prince of Aslem is quickly overcoming kingdoms to become a world dictator. You must understand..."   Nicolo was broke off mid sentence.

"That is NOT what I asked"

"Sir, we have came here for protection"

The king laughed.

"Who are you to think I would protect you!?"

I bolted up to my feet being grabbed by guards.

"BECAUSE I'M YOUR GOD DAUGHTER!" The kings face froze staring at me.

"Let her go" he stood up and the guards released their grip.

"Arlette, is that really you? You father told me you died years ago" I, myself, was now awestruck. Why would my father tell my own godfather that I had died? Was he ashamed of me, my attitude, personality...appearance?

"It is. I am Arlette May Hathaway, daughter of the noble man Fredrick III Hathaway. The Prince of Aslem has started to attack my Kingdom. The noble family left for safety. We were split up, my mother and father might still be there fighting with our guards for our people. Our Kingdom is not as rich as yours. We don't have a safe baring wall built around us. We were an easier target then we believed."

"Why should i believe you? My dearest Arlette had a special trait, show me this and I will give you only the best."

I started to approach him but was quickly flooded with guards.

"You can't see my eyes in detail from way back here."

I now had a sly grin being that I knew exactly what he was talking about. My eyes were unique, hazel like my fathers, but instead of gold specs I had purple. When I was young, I hated them, but my mother always told me that it was because I was destined to be a royal.

"Allow her... But stay with her"

They didn't let me move quickly; it felt like my steps were no more than an inch long. Slowly but surely,we made our way up to him. Once I finally reached him, I peered into his eyes. They were brown, a deep chocolate brown.  He reached up and touched my face.

"My dearest Arlette, why dost thy father call off marriage and tell me you were dead?"

"Your Highness, I do not understand it either."

Nicolo was now approaching behind me.

"Because you were going to marry me!"  Nicolos voice sang out in anger. Kind Doran began to laugh.

"No, no. Arlette is too beautiful, too intelligent, too unique! .My apologies, but she's born to be a royal.  A royal is what my son will make her."

I watched Nicolo and King Doran go back and forth for my hand. Did I truly love Nicolo, or was he just my friend? If I was in love with NIcolo, then why did I notice the prince in the mural?  Was I just having these thoughts, because i wanted an actual prince to sweep me off my feet?  How could I give up Nicolo without even meeting the prince first? Then, on the other hand, how could I give up the prince before I meet him.  I had made up my mind.

"I will choose where my hand lands!" I was practically screaming now. Between their bickering and the servants rushing by, I was barely even heard.

"After one week, I will choose who I marry. That is final."

It's true. That really was my final word on the matter.