Alliance

An Arrangement

Those born to power have a certain set of responsibilities bestowed to them from the moment they take their first breath. Princes, earls, dukes, and lords are obligated to keep the peace, protect their people, ensure that their citizens live happily through alliances and things of the sort. Princesses, duchesses, and ladies of the court are the bargaining chips for the aforementioned alliances. Some women see their roles as a privilege, some see it as a punishment. I fall in the grey area in-between the two.

Two weeks have passed since Prince Farrell, the heir to the Laochra Riocht throne, came to my father, the chief of our village Caledon, to propose an alliance. Laochra Riocht's rival nation, Reino de Fuego, has threatened war against them and our village's location is key to Laochra Riocht's success if peace is not made. Prince Farrell's offer provides my village protection, another smithy with a blacksmith to run it, and training for our soldiers in exchange for the use of our borders, guides through our terrain, and our support should war occur. My father readily agreed and a deal was struck. Regulations were drafted, papers were signed, and an engagement feast was thrown. Mine, to be exact.

As is custom, the children of the monarchs and/or chiefs are to be wed to seal the agreement. Contracts are to be honored, but mixing bloodlines is a much more reliable bond since it determines the future ruling of a nation. Farrell, for whatever reason possessed him, chose me out of the lot of my sisters and I who remain unwed. Within two days, tactical plans were drafted, good byes were said, tears were shed and I began my journey to my new home in Laochra Riocht.

Our traveling party has been trekking along for the past five days rather lethargically. Had I been on my own, I'm sure the trip would have been over two days ago, three if I was in a great rush. I suppose the men are taking my being a woman into account and trying to keep from exhausting me. Little do they know that, much to the distain of my father and sisters, I spend most of my free time gallivanting the forests on the back of my horse, Nala. 

Nala is a tall, beautiful beast built for speed. Her mane, as well as the rest of her body, is pitch black and silky to the touch. Her eyes are odd, though. They're a forest green color and have an almost human intelligence to them. My friend Cróga, the village's blacksmith's son and the local weaponry specialist, always teases me and says I look like my horse. Since I'm older than her, I say that she looks like me. Either way, I have to say we're both rather attractive beings.

"Your Majesty," I call out, tearing Prince Farrell's attention away from the man he was talking to, "pardon my intrusion, but may I ask how far away are we from Laochra Riocht?"

"We should reach by nightfall," he answers. There's a minute's pause before he decides to speak. "You may call me by my first name. If we are to spend our lives together we ought to rid ourselves of formalities sooner rather than later."

I give him a nod, "You are allowed to call me by my first name as well."

One of his eyebrows arches at my statement. The reason behind that, I'm assuming, most likely has to do with the fact that I am a woman giving him permission to do something. This is probably the first time something of the sort has happened to him. It won't be the last either.

...

True to his word, we arrive at Laochra Riocht gates by sundown. Mothers, children, and wives come rushing to the caravan to their men. As we trek through the kingdom towards the castle, men start dropping off one by one, undoubtedly to their homes to rest after a long journey. Once we reach the castle gates, only Farrell and a few guards remain. As soon as we dismount from our horses, a girl no more than five years younger than I am comes bolting out of the building with a woman following much more calmly behind her.

"Farrell!" She chirps as she comes running at my...fiance and wraps her arms around him. Farrell reciprocates the embrace and even spins her around a few times. The two begin to chat animatedly while I turn my attention to the woman before me. She has a regal, but calming presence to her.

"Hello my dear," she says, offering her hand to me. "I am Queen Raeka, mother to Prince Farrell and his sister," she gestures to the girl next to Farrell, "Princess Aednat. How do you do?"

"I am faring well," I tell her, placing a kiss on the back of her hand as is customary. She looks pleased at the gesture. "I am Seraphina, daughter of Caledon's chief. Thank you for leaving your bed to greet us at this late hour, your Majesty."

The sun barely passed the horizon an hour ago, and I truly doubt she actually was sleeping, but gratitude still needs to be shown.  There are two things that my mother drilled in me above all else: manners and diplomacy.

"Please call me Raeka, mother or something of the sort." Queen Raeka gives me a kind smile that reminds me of my own mother, "we are family now, after all." 

Aednat snorts at the this, earning a sharp glare from her mother.

"Aednat," the woman says smoothly, "That is not the way to properly make a first impression."

The teen scans over me with a disinterested gaze. "Who cares about a lasting first impression if the person I'm to be impressing is not going to last?"

The teen turns on her heels and strides back into the castle. What a petty little thing she is. I turn to look at Farrell for his reaction, and he gives me a lackadaisical shrug before heading into the castle himself. 

I know Farrell and I have no relationship whatsoever besides what is on paper, but does he care that little about how people talk to me? Had it be my sisters, older or younger, talking to anyone like that, I would have their hyde. I suppose the sentiment is only shared with the queen. The woman looked so sweet moments ago, but the vicious look she's sending at the backs of her children makes her seem like she's capable of damning someone to eternal suffering. My mother once told me that the glare of true evil comes in two forms: a woman scorned and a mother whose children have done wrong. I see now that she was not wrong in the slightest.

"I swear I haven't spent the past twenty-four and seventeen years parenting those two for nothing," the queen sighs. "Rest assured that they will be punished tomorrow morning. Do you have any verdict of preference?"

For the first time I left my home, I crack a smile. "This is their first offense. We needn't condemn them for one act against me."

"Well, aren't you levelheaded?" She chuckles and takes my arm in the crook of hers. "Come, child. Let me show you to the room you will be using for the next few days. Later this week will be your wedding and from then on you will share a chamber with Farrell. For now, tradition shall be kept and your room will be far off from his."

I allow her to lead me through the castle until we reach my room. As soon as she leaves me alone, I collapse face-first into the large, fluffy bed. I'm tempted to scream into the pillows but decide against it. Knowing my luck, the guards would storm the room and I'd be the crazy new princess of the castle. I turn on my back and let out a long, angsty sigh. I stare up at the ceiling for a solid twenty minutes before sleep starts taking over me. The last thing I see before falling into a dreamless slumber is a large shadow bolt past my window. I don't know what kind of animals they have here, but I know for damn sure that that was no bird.