Keeper Of Souls

Chapter 1.1: To Be Wed and Caught

(AN: Dedicated to Kevin for his amazing editing skills)

"Katarina, I don't care what you say. You are to be wed and that's that,” Margaret said, folding clothes and storing them away in the pine drawers of the bedchamber.

“It's not fair! Why would I want to marry some pompous prince that will take over my country?” Katarina whined, her world shaken. From the time she was a little girl to the woman she was considered to be today, she never once considered marriage an option.

“Why must you argue with me? He is already here, have you not been listening?” She pulled a green gown out from the closet, laying it out on the bed for Katarina to put on.

“Margaret, as my friend, where is your sympathy?” She pouted, crossing her arms and plopping down onto the bed.

“It's lost in the atmosphere, now get dressed.” She threw the dress at Kat. “When I return you better have your hair done and your dress on because we are going downstairs for breakfast and a meeting with the Prince.” Margaret gave a her a sweet smile. “This is for your own good, trust me, your father means well.” She left the chamber.

Kat's eyes swelled with tears and she sobbed into her hands. She didn’t understand how her father could part with her so easily. All she ever wanted was to mean something to the man, yet he never took but a glance at her most days. Not having a mother around made it equally as difficult to find herself amongst her royalty.

What if the Prince didn’t see her as an equal? What if the Prince wasn’t even handsome? What if the Prince had no intention of ever even paying her any attention at all? That would make him just like her father, and Katarina didn’t think she could go through that again.

With a burning reluctance, she arose from the bed and quickly dressed, running a brush through her dark black hair until every tangle was removed. The chamber door opened and Margaret returned, dressed in her usual working attire of flats and a light blue dress.

“Well, it’s about time you listened to me you silly girl.” She laid a hand on Katarina’s back and led her down the stairs. “In my opinion, he is quite handsome, if that helps. Also, I heard he was a very sweet man that always puts others before himself. He shouldn’t be too bad, eh?”

Katarina nodded in solemn silence. She didn’t care if he were the nicest man in all the lands, she just didn’t want to wed him, or any man for that matter. Why couldn’t she choose for herself? Why couldn’t she someday go out and find someone that met her standards and not her father’s? He already chose what she was to wear, what she was to eat, what she was to say, and what she was to do. Why couldn’t she for once in her life just make one simple choice of who she wanted to spend the rest of her miserable days with?

“Hey, I know that look. Don’t be too hard on yourself, Kat. His name is William and if you are to someday bear his child you must—“

“Bear his child?” The Princess’s eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. First, she had to marry him, and now they were already talking about children? Katarina couldn’t handle that, the prospect of bearing children. How could she bring a child into the world and fate them with the same life she was given? She’d rather bang her head against a wall.

“How else will you pass down the throne someday? Don’t be silly, Kat.” Margaret chuckled, and then she lightly pushed Katarina into the dining room.

“No, Margaret, don’t make me!” the Princess hissed, giving dead weight.

“Stop being childish and go!” She pushed her and Kat stumbled into the room, her cheeks red with chagrin.