Daughter of War

Chapter 12 - Lord of Dannore

War, it's a hungry beast that waits in the shadows. When war rages it feasts on the hatred in men and stokes their ego. Because of war children become orphans and women become widows.

Should Lordorthil fall into war, hundreds, if not millions, of lives will be lost, and all because Alden fell in love.

The last war that plagued Lordorthil were the Ice Wars, the war that landed the Castinnmons on the throne, since then a quiet peace has held the land for almost three hundred years.

"Why?" Thora gapes looking down at Alden.

"I was promised to his daughter, Lady Vania," Alden sighs, as Thora runs her fingers through his hair absentmindedly, "When I broke the engagement her father was angered, and when I married you, he became enraged. He wrote to my uncle saying that I am a poor excuse for a prince; he says that in breaking the engagement I basically asked for a war. Uncle and I have been trying to find a solution, but the Lord isn't listening, his daughter was promised to the prince, and would have been the queen. So now, he is declaring war, and I don't know how to stop it before it happens."

"Why did you do it?" Thora asks, "Why did you marry me, instead of Lady Vania?"

"Because I love you," he says, his eyes shine brighter than sapphires.

Thora's cheeks redden as she leans down and kisses Alden.

"I have an idea," Thora says, pulling away, "Why don't we ride to Dannore?"

"What will that accomplish?" Alden asks, shifting his head in Thora's lap, "That could result in both of us becoming the Lord's prisoners."

"It wouldn't hurt to try," Thora says with a shrug of her shoulders, "We could stop the war before the Lord calls his bannermen."

Alden looks into Thora's eyes, he can see her thoughts turning over and over, no doubt coming up with a plan and several backup plans.

"I'll arrange for a carriage," Alden says, sitting up, "We can leave first thing in the morning."

"Well I don't need a carriage and you know that," Thora says, she gets out of bed and crosses over to her trunk, "If we go now we will get there earlier."

Thora smiles at Alden and he just nods his head and drags himself out of bed, following his wife as she gets changed into all-black riding clothes.

"If you go and get the horses ready," Alden says and Thora follows him out of the room, "I'll have the servants pack a bag for us and then I'll find mother and tell her where we are going."

Thora walks out to the stables, thankfully, Ian is not there so another boy helps Thora ready her and her husband's horse.

"Are we ready?" Alden asks and Thora nods her head.

"We would get there faster if we travelled alone," Thora says, glancing over Alden's shoulder to look at the guards at his back, "and we wouldn't draw any attention."

"I'm not risking your life," Alden says, cupping Thora's face in his hands, "And if the lord of Dannore is stupid enough to attack us, I want to make sure that we can defend ourselves."

"I can defend myself," Thora says with a smile as she puts her hand on the hilt of her black sword.

"I know you can," Alden laughs, kissing Thora on the nose, "But I just want to make sure."

Thora smiles and kisses Alden on the lips before turning and mounting her Lucianti horse.

Thora and Alden leave Triforte with their guards in tow. It's supposed to take eleven days to ride from Trifore to Dannore, but there is urgency in the mission, and Alden doesn't want the Lord to get word of their travells, so he steers his party off the road and pushes them forward into a gallop.