Of magic and blood

Chapter One

A ball of worry and dread knotted itself together in my stomach, making it tight and uncomfortable.

Much like my insides, my long fingers knotted the pink tulle of my dress in attempts to calm myself. As I worried the fabric in my hands, my feet kept themselves busy by pacing.

My silk slippers made almost no noise on the thick Orient rug that covered the tiled floor of my bed chamber. The only sound in the room was my erratic breathing, caused by my blind panic, and the rustling of my skirts. Light silk underskirts and layered tulle overskirts with tight-fitting silk bodices was the fashion of this season, although I only saw the absurdity of it.

However, I was hardly concerned with fashion at the moment as I was too worried.

Mother and Father were in a counsel meeting, and that meeting had been going on for almost two hours now. As to what was being discussed, I had absolutely no idea. It could be anything between the recent sorcerer attacks on the border to the marriage offer from King Roscoe. My mother had forbidden my attendance in the counsel after the incident with one of the generals a year ago.

My toes curled in my slippers at the thought of the marriage proposal. King Roscoe had sent a dazzling diamond necklace along with the ambassador, in hopes of me taking the offer to marry his son, Prince Evander.

I had no desire to be forced into an unwanted marriage. If I were to marry, it would be to whom I choose.

However, I understood why he had struck the bargain. Both of our kingdoms were being brutally attacked by Morgana, the Queen Sorceress. Her legions of sorcerers were no match to our meager groups of warlocks and witches, and full-scale battle was bound to break out in a few short months. If we joined together and combined our forces, we might just stand a chance against Morgana.

But why did it have to be by marriage? Couldn't Roscoe propose a political alliance?

It was a foolish thought. Alliances could be broken, marriage was more binding.

Tiring of pacing my bed chamber, I left behind the room and entered my anti-chamber. It was a large, opened space with my bookshelves dominating the walls. Couches and high-backed chairs were scattered across the hardwood floor, and the tables had vases of lilacs in them.

Banners with our royal crest hung on either side of the doors leading out of my chamber, jewel tone purple silk with a golden Phoenix spreading it's fiery wings.

Phoenixes were majestic birds of lore, said to at one time protect our royal family. But no one has seen one in a long time, so I wasn't even sure if they existed.

A slight ache behind my temples alerted me to the arrival of my mother bearing news.

"Come in!" I called.

A few moments later, the guard stationed at my doors knocked, then opened them up. Mother entered in a whirlwind of rose gold silk and jasmine perfume. Her beaten gold crown, inlaid with amethyst and diamond, sat atop her fair hair. I was sure Mother simply lived in her crown, since I had never seen her without it before.

She was beaming, looking entirely pleased with herself.

"Oh my dear, dear Lilac!" She trilled, reaching out to take my worried hands into hers, "It is a happy, happy day, my flower!"

I frowned, "It is, Mother? How so?"

She reached up to pat my cheek, "We have accepted King Roscoe's offer. Isn't that wonderful? The ambassador has left at once, and Prince Evander will be here in a week."

"A week?" I managed to choke out, as the raising panic and dread took over.

Mother nodded happily, "Yes, yes, we have much to prepare."

"But-but isn't that a little short, Mother, for a wedding?" She couldn't simply deliver this news to me without expecting a reaction.

"Oh, no, not at all. You'll have a week to meet and get to know the Prince, then the wedding will be after."

It still seemed far too short for a wedding. This was all moving too fast.

Then something told me from deep inside me. I wouldn't meet Prince Evander. I wouldn't even lay eyes on him. A small voice, whispering at the back of my consciousness, told me that I'd be gone by then.

I had this feeling quite often, the simple peace of just knowing something would happen. It was always small things, like how I knew if someone was coming to see me or what they would say next.

But never before in my life had I ever known something as drastic as the foreknowledge I now had.

"Lilac?" Mother looked concerned, "You've gone pale, my flower, are you all right?"

I blinked a few moments, then focused on Mother's warm eyes, "Yes, sorry, I'm fine."

Mother would have none of it. She had me sit down and ordered tea to be brought up.

The only clear thought I focused on was this one simple concept.

Something would cause me to leave the palace within a week, and I was terrified of what it just might be.

[EDITED: 9-5]