The Three Kingdoms (on hold)

Chapter 1

"Princess Madison, wake up!" Such was the wake-up call Madison received on the fateful morning our story begins. She sighed and sat up in bed. "Your parents demand your immediate presence," the servant continued saying.

She stifled a yawn. "Let's get me ready, then," she said.

"Yes, your highness." In came her lady's maids who got her dressed and presentable for this meeting.

Walking down the hall, she made eye contact with Randall, who gave her a confused stare. She shrugged and kept walking. She rounded the corner and entered the throne room. "Ah, Madison, there you are," her father said.

"Here I am," she said, expectantly.

"Your marriage has now been arranged," her mother said, straight to the point.

"What? But you promised you would wait until I was ready!"

"You are ready, my dear daughter," her father replied.

"And you will be marrying Prince Dominic Zyler. Everyone from all three kingdoms will be gathering here soon," her mother informed her.

"But...why?" Madison asked. She was nearly at a loss for words.

"It is time," was the last thing she heard before being dismissed and nearly carried out by knights.

Outside the doors, she called out to Randall.

"Yes, Princess Madison?" he answered, arriving out of nowhere, having been hovering nearby, eager for news of the meeting.

"I need to get far, far, away from here," she said.

"Of course, your highness." He ran off to hitch the horses and fetch the carriage. Soon they were riding in silence to a treehouse in the wood, Madison's favorite spot.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked when they arrived.

She sighed and looked out into the sky. "My marriage has been arranged."

"I'm sorry," he said, climbing over the seat so that he could sit next to her.

"You're so lucky, Randall."

"Oh, I know. Believe me, I know."

"You're the smart one for choosing the way out. Being royalty isn't worth the risk of an arranged marriage." He didn't say anything. She added after a moment, "They said they would wait until I was ready! Well, newsflash: I'm not ready!"

"It'll all work out, Maddie. You might actually like your husband-to-be."

"They've stuck me with Dominic," she said. He nodded slowly. "This could be worse, right? At least I sort of know him. We've met before." Encouraged by her brother's patience, she said, "I'll be okay." It was a promise made to herself, and it was a promise she was determined not to break.

"You can get through anything, I'm sure of it. You've been preparing for this your whole life. It's almost like now's your time to shine. And who knows, maybe you'll even find love along the way. It's not unheard of in arranged matches."

"You're right," Madison said. "I'll make the most of this. If there's good to be found here, I'll find it."

Randall smiled. "I know you will. I don't doubt you for a second."

She looked at him. "Thank you," she said, "for always being there for me."

"Anytime, sis. I'm sure you're handling the news better than Ian, at any rate," he said, playfully nudging her with his shoulder.

She smiled slightly. "This is unfortunately true. Is he going to take it out on us, do you think?"

"What doesn't he take out on us?"

Here Madison laughed. "Do you remember that time at a party when a guest bumped him and spilled a bit of his drink on him and then he dumped the whole thing on you? You, I suppose, are the recipient of his public ire."

"And you in private." They sat in silence for a few moments, then Randall said, "I hate to say this, but I really have to get back. There's work to be done."

"Oh! I didn't mean to keep you out here this long."

He smiled. "It's okay. I know you needed it. I'll take the long way back." He climbed over the seat again to drive and she went along with him.

"Don't worry," she said, "I'll climb back over when we get closer to the castle so no one sees."

He nodded and then they were off, back to where they came from.

"Randall, can I ask you something?" Madison asked.

"You just did." He didn't look at her but a grin was creeping in.

"I'm serious."

"Go ahead."

"What is your life like really? Does everyone else treat you like a regular servant?"

"Sort of. Guests do. I don't fit in with either side, though, not completely. I've only been doing this for a year. I was a ward of the king, a child he took pity on.  And since I just started, and hardly know how to do anything, my workload is greatly lessened. I know that. Since I'm still favored by the king, any punishments are lessened too. It's hard to make friends when it's clear I'm the favorite and can get away with things they never could."

"So, maybe you're not as lucky as I'd assumed."

"It's the best I could hope for," he said. "Don't worry about me."

The edge of the trees was coming into view. Madison squeezed his shoulder and climbed quickly over the seat. "We only have each other. Of course I'm going to worry about you. We have to stick together."

Before he could respond, or before they even fully arrived at the castle, Ian was spotted on the lawn, angrily tearing handfuls of leaves off the trees. "You can let me out here, so he doesn't see either of us," she whispered.

"Good idea," he whispered back. "And good luck," he said as she got out and prepared to run to a side door.