Melt for me

Chapter Three

                                                                           ****Elsa*****

The room is silent as I take my seat at the long wooden table with Adrenals new crest, a white snow flake.  Five, clearly unhappy council members, sit before me.   Lord Victor of the town Maple ridge, The Duchess of Kent, Lady Aries and two advisers from the southern isles, whose names  I have now forgotten.   The stare at me with such intensity, I shift in my seat, uncomfortable from the attention.

Lord Victor clears his throat; "That was quite the stunt you pulled back there, your majesty," He says, saying 'your majesty' with a sneer.  I lift my chin; "Am I wrong to assume that I may governor my people the way I want to?"  Lord Victor looks at me with triumph. "Ah yes but only when the council of five deems fit for you to, until then you listen to us." 

Duchess Kent rolls her eyes. "Oh really Victor settle down. Do you want your head on you chop block as soon as we  'deem her fit." Lord Victor goes pale at that thought. The Duchess of Kent is probably one of the only ones I like. She is very big and round with a mop of thick white curls. Ages and wrinkles are permintly embedded on her face and although she can be very crude and straight to the point, at least she doesn't beat around the bush or cause me emotional  distress (cough, cough Lord Victor). 

The Duchess turns to me and gives me a sad smile. "That was however uncalled for, your majesty."  I open and close my mouth, like a fish caught out of water, trying to find the right words to say.  "We need to be cautious, not everyone knows of your.... um...gift and we must keep it that way. In a few days princes and kings a like, are coming from all over just to seek your hand in marriage. We Adrenal, will be hosting the most magnificent courting ball that  has ever been seen!" says the Duchess, folding her hands together.

"A husband is just the thing your majesty needs!" One of the advisers from the southern isles says. His partner nods in agreement.   Seeing my reaction to his statement the adviser presses the argument. He coughs awkwardly; "Having a husband would mean that Adrenal would be in union with another kingdom. More trading opportunities, treaty, peace,"  

I hold up my hand to stop him. "Believe me I know what comes out of a marriage, adviser," I say it cool and calm, like the first snow fall but my words have a sharp edge to it, demanding them to listen. "I know that you all have the best intensions but I have no plans of... marriage anytime soon."  The council looks stunned, even though I have expressed my feelings on the matter every time it was brought up.  All four council members started talking at once, The duchess of Kent and Lord Victor fighting with each other and the two advisers talking to me, trying to get me to at least look at the proposal from the Southern isles.  (The King of the southern isles has been proposing to me ever since his stupid brother Hans almost killed my sister and I. As if I would marry into that crazy 13 brother family.)  

Everyone in the council was arguing, except Lady Aries. Lady Aries is a very quite creature and very seldom talks. She mostly keeps to herself, nodding and giving a few 'Uh, huhs,', every so often. So it surprised me when she  interrupts every one with a very quite but very powerful; "Silence."  The council looks up and so do I. Astonished  that she is talking at all. "My Queen I know how you feel. I don't want to force you to marry someone you don't love but consider this; if you do find someone you are fond of, I will support it. You however have the deadline by the end of the ball. If not we will keep pushing suitors on you."  Her brown eyes flash at the word, suitors.  I expect the rest of the council to start arguing with her. But instead they just stare at me with the same face, totally and utterly acceptance.

What do they expect me to do? Fall in love with some one in less than a month? I don't want my marriage to be useless and empty like my own life. When I get married I want it to be nothing less of true love.  I clenched my fists so hard, I can feel the blood tricking down my hand.  Its so frustrating! I could be screaming on the top of my lungs right now but it wouldn't change a thing.   No, they expect me to be a good little girl, to conceal my feelings....   But how can I when the storm inside is raging and building up. I can almost feel the ice in my veins pulse.