A Chosen Path

How it all began

    “But why must I be the one to marry her?” James asked for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

    “We’ve already discussed this James,” Alistair said. “If Christopher weren’t already engaged to Naya, he would be the one to do this.”

    “Lucky me,” Chris interjected.

    Alistair ignored his son and went on. “Besides, both we and the Royals agreed that you’re the most suitable candidate.” Then – just as James opened his mouth to interrupt – Alistair added, “Stop arguing, it’s a done deal. There’s no going back.”

    James made a noise of protest and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes, thinking back on when he was first told he’s engaged to be married to some stranger he’s never met. He’d been against the idea – thought it unbearable, unthinkable even – and argued wholeheartedly against the matter. He’d finally given up on the subject when Alistair convinced him that this marriage was best for both parties, and knowing that his family required this alliance – for without the support of the Royals one cannot achieve anything in their world – he’d abandoned the argument and stalked off to his room without another word.

    Later on that day, a knock had come on his bedroom door and his adoptive mother – Adriana - had appeared on the threshold. Adriana was always the loving sort of mother who never forced her children to do anything she knew would go against everything they believed in and always told them to follow their hearts. She’d come to ask James if he truly had been all right with this engagement. James had tried to hide the expression on his face but it had been too late – Adriana knew him too well. After all, she did raise him ever since he was nine. Eventually, after a long talk that seemed to never end, he’d managed to convince her. It took him many years of practice, but he’d finally perfected his ability to hide his true emotions of sadness and discomfort and fake a facial expression of happiness or pleasure. He had told Adriana that the prospect of being engaged might grow on him; that he might actually turn out to like this girl – which he really believed to be impossible.

    As the days went by, James gathered a few more information on his so called betrothed – the word itself felt strange and unrealistic to him, he still couldn’t get used to it. All he knew about her was that her name’s Michaela, that she’s next in line for the throne and that her grandfather was Alistair’s instructor and mentor where her father, Marcus, was Alistair’s best friend. Alistair kept insisting that he ought to know more about her, but James kept refusing, thinking it impossible to feel anything toward this girl other than pure hatred.

    And now he and his family were on their way to meet the Royals, in the car that his future in-laws have offered to escort them from the airport to the castle.

    James kept imagining the moment they’d arrive at the castle, kept seeing images behind his closed eyelids as he rode the car to its destination. He thought repeatedly of the moment he’d meet this “Ella”. All he could see was the image of a pompous, arrogant person who’s used to getting all she wants and whose demands are never declined.

    The outcome of this journey was unknown to him, but he was sure of one undeniable thing. His life was about to change completely, whether he liked it or not, and he didn’t even have a say in the matter.

* * *

    Ella sat in her room braiding Lizzy’s hair. It was a gesture as familiar to both girls as their own selves. Ever since they could remember, it managed to relax them both and bring them peace of mind – something that Lizzy needed often these days after her fights with Gabriel.

    “What a jerk”, Lizzy said.

    “What I don’t understand is why you don’t just break up with him, if he’s such a jerk?” asked Ella.

    “Because I love him”, Lizzy answered matter-of-factly.

    “You keep saying that, and yet you keep coming back here with a headache shouting that he’s a jerk.”

    “You’ll understand –”

    “When I’m in love, when I find the right person, my other half, blah… You give me the same speech each time. It’s becoming quite boring, Liz.”

    “You might not believe in these things, but others do. Besides, who knows, this new guy – what’s his name – James might turn out to be your knight in shining armor”, teased Lizzy.

    Ella stopped playing with Lizzy’s hair and lay on her back on the big princess bed in her room – she always thought this bed suited her perfectly, from its name to its design. Lizzy leaned back and lied next to her, like they usually did growing up.

    “I know things didn’t work out the way you always planned,” Lizzy said, in a tone filled with sympathy towards her cousin. “But if it helps, focus on the bright side; he’s rich, handsome, and seems very charming.”

    “How would you know if he’s charming or not,” Ella interjected. “You haven’t even met the guy yet. And I don’t care if he’s rich; I have plenty of money to go around. Anyway, he’s not that handsome.”

    “If you say so”

    Lizzy knew from years of experience that when Ella set her mind to argue against a point, there was no stopping her. Ella, on the other hand, was glad to know that Lizzy has given up on the subject of whether this James character is handsome or not. In fact, Ella had thought James extremely beautiful when she’d first seen his picture, but she clung to the hope that this appearance was a façade, one that would disappear once she’s met him. For it would be incredibly difficult to hate someone with such beauty.

    “You know”, Lizzy said, snapping Ella out of her reverie. “You might not like him at first, but who knows; maybe you’ll grow fond of him with time.”

    Ella rolled her eyes and said, “This conversation is growing tedious. Grandpa’s expecting us downstairs. Let’s go”. She turned around and headed towards the door, but not before she caught a glimpse of her cousin smirking.