A Crown of Thorns

Bread and Carnations

"But mother it's unfair!"

"Andrew you have known since you were 15 that you were betrothed to the prince of Spain. It is and alliance that is in our favor." Her face is stern and unforgiving. Her honey gold hair sat neatly against her boxed off shoulders. The pull of her corset shows she used to have an hourglass shape worn from having children.

"It didn't matter back then. But now I actually have to marry the guy. And I don't even know him."

"On the contrary my dear. You two used to be play mates when you were little." She says not looking up from her tapestry.

"And back then he was an annoying little boy who wasn't the least bit nice to me."

"Well dear, I'm sure he's grown up since then. I hear he's quite handsome actually." She meets my eyes and wiggles her eyebrows.

"Ugh. But mother."

"That's enough Andrew. It is an alliance that will keep you safe and is good for the kingdom. It was also made by your father before he died so, I want to honor his decision. Now, I don't want to hear anymore. Go get ready for your journey tomorrow."

"Yes mother." I bow and leave the room.

"Ugh Ryan prince of Spain." I huff more like prince of pain. I under no circumstances want to marry him. I've heard that he is an arrogant prince that does what he wants and who he wants. The only reason I'm even going along with this is because of my father. I have a lot of enemies from across the seas and this marriage will help me keep me and my kingdom safe.

A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts.

"Prince Andrew, Lord Sonny and Lord Harper are here to see you."

The maid bows and leaves replaced by two young men. One with long lanky legs and raven black hair. The other half the size with lengthy blonde hair.

"Sonny, Harper. What brings you two here."  I lay on my bed looking towards the ceiling.

"We're here because we wanted to see how your holding up with the prince of Spain thing.." Sonny says making his way to my desk chair, Harper taking a seat on my bed trunk.

"I'm dealing with it. How would you feel if you had to move to another county to marry someone you've never really met." I plant my face in my pillow breathing in the smell of fresh linen.

"Well, I hear he's quite nice to look at." Harper wiggles his eyebrows making Sonny chuckle.

"It doesn't matter. It's just an alliance." I mutter.

"So your not going to try and love him?" Sonny sends Harper a concerned look.

"No. It will strictly be a political alliance."

"Well that sounds quite lonely." Harper says softly. I agree with him it sounds very lonely. Moving to Spain just to spend the rest of my life in a loveless marriage? Not something on the top of my must do list.

"Well at least I have you two. My best friends."

"You'll always have us." Sonny says. They both stand and hug me.

The journey was long. And I couldn't tell if I was sick from the boat or the thought of getting married. It took us a week to finally arrive on Spanish soil.

The air was different here more...alive. The scenery was beautiful, the colors so vibrant, it's was warm almost inviting. I was escorted in a carriage to the front of the castle.

The walls were engraved with a beautiful kind of stone. And the gardens were covered in pink and red carnations, It looked like something out of a fairy tale.
The carriage comes to a stop and my stomach churns. I see Sonny and Harper waiting outside of their carriage. I take a deep breath and step out walking next to them.
The front walk way is lined with a few guards and members of the Spanish court. Standing at the door is the king and the queen.

"Oh, is that him?" Harper says gesturing towards the man standing next to the king.

"No. I believe that is Robert. Ryan's older brother." Sonny responds.

"Why's isn't Andy marrying him?"

"Because he abdicated due to the fact he wanted to marry for love. Only to loose her in child birth along with the child." Sonny says.

Standing next to the queen is a set of twins. But no Ryan. They send us warm smiles.

Then a tall brown hair brown eyed man with a cut jaw and a toned body, walks out of the side door making his way toward us.

"Hello. You must be prince Andrew." He says taking a bow. I do the same.

"Yes. And this is lord Sonny of ile. And lord Harper if McGee."

"Your highness." They say in unison taking a bow.

"Lovely to meet you. I'm Ryan as you all know" he says then looks into my eyes and a weird feeling overcomes me.

"Andrew, you haven't changed since the last time we've talked. Still have that sweet little boy smile." He smirks.

"I have changed quite a bit actually. And please call me Andy." I reply.

"But of course Andy, just like when we were kids... do you remember what you used to call me." His voice is low and sweet so inviting.
I smile to myself,having memories flood my mine.

"I used to call you rye. Like the bread. Because we would seek into the kitchen at night and steal some. I thought it went perfectly with your name." I look up at him
amazed that I remembered. Sonny and Harper smirking at us.

Then the horns start playing meaning we needed to greet the king and queen.

"Shall we." Rye motions his arm to his smiling family.

"Welcome to Spanish court. We are so happy you will be staying with us Prince Andrew." The king says. I smile and bow.

"This is Robert. Ryan's older brother. And then Shaun and Sammie. Are Ryan's younger bothers." The queen states

"It is lovely to meet you all." I reply.
"Alright then. We are going to let you get settled and meet you for a family dinner in the dinning room."
The queen says then takes the arm of the king and walking off Robbert following.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Then two arms wrap around each of my legs.

"Andrew! If Your going to marry our bother does that make you our brother also." One of them says.

"Um not exactly." I say
uncomfortable.

"Andrew! Why is rye rye marrying you and not a girl." I feel my cheeks heat up.

"Um I-I um."

"Okay boys that's enough." Rye comes walking around the corner. "Let's leave prince Andy alone."

"Awww but rye rye! We wanna ask him questions." They whine letting go of my legs.

"You can do that later." He smiles.

"Ugh Fine." They say and run off.

"Thank you. I really didn't know how to explain that question." I say fixing my shirt.

"I don't think they need to understand it yet anyways." He Laughs. There's something about that laugh. So familiar so warm.

"Um I'll see you at dinner then? " he walks by going out the door.

"He's so hot." Harper says.

"Oh, shut up." I say.

"Well, Andy he's not wrong. He is hot." Sonny reply's.

"I know." I mumble under my breath.