-Daughter Of The Iron Rose-

Clouds drifted across the azure sky as a gentle wind blew the golden leaves that scattered the ground. Birds soared across the sky as they flew into the horizon, their songs dancing on the wind.

It had been six weeks since the castle had been stormed by our enemy and our food and resources were dwindling. Times were tough and decisions had to be made; but why did they believe that this was the only solution?

"Father, please, I beg of you, don't do this," I pleaded.

Sadness lingered in his eyes as he took my hands in his. The crow's feet around his eyes seemed to deepen with each passing minute. "I'm sorry my precious Daughter, but I have no other choice. If we do not make this union then I fear our kingdom and your life will all but parish." I took a deep breath and nodded my head as he wiped away a lingering tear from my face. With a forced smile, he turned and walked into his tent leaving me alone with my thoughts.

My dress brushed against my legs as a soft breeze flowed through the clearing bringing the scent of rain with it. A duck quacked in a nearby pond forcing a small smile to my lips. Walking to the water's edge I sat down in the dry grass.

Oh, how nice it must be to be a duck.....

No rules to follow. No wars to wage. No marriage to be forced into...

My name is Liliana Aria-Grace Blackwood of the Iron Rose Dynasty, daughter of King Alexander James Blackwood and Queen Rosalind Grace of the Silver Lotus. Quite a title for someone like me. My father ruled the great lands of the South, or he did until we were overcome by the Northern Kingdom.

Our two lands had been at war for as long as I can remember, and longer still. We were able to keep King Cagron BlackBlood The Ruthless at bay for a long time, winning each battle graciously. That was until Mother fell ill. It wasn't long after my thirteenth birthday that she passed away. My father fell into deep despair and my dear brother, William, practically ran the battlefront at the tender age of fourteen. Even though, he was thankful for the distraction, taking his pain and heartache out on our enemy. It wasn't until last spring that he finally returned home, only to bring news of our defeat. Soon after that, they breached our walls. Fire lit the night sky as my home was overcome by the flames. Those of us left alive fled into the trees leaving behind the kingdom of embers.

I am seventeen now; a woman in my own right and a neighboring kingdom to the east has offered us their aid; in the promise that I will be wed to the king's eldest son, who's name I can't recall. Though, all I can think is why me? Yes, I am the only daughter of the second finest kingdom in the land and if I ever reclaim my homeland there'd be plenty of wealth; but I'm not near ready to rule beside a king.

Since mother died and the war taking a turn for the worse, I had been forced to study on my own and seek out any knowledge I could. Though often I'd find myself wandering the armory and training with weapons. In fact, I had become a master at archery. I scouted our land and memorized the maps; knew our trading routes and the goods we needed, I even spent time with a woman who lived on the outskirts of the kingdom. Soria the Blind was a healer that used witchcraft and plants to aid our people. She taught me every herb, berry, tree, and flower she knew and her son, Tye, taught me to hunt and fish. I was a survivalist at best not a Queen. And yet, now the sake of my kingdom is in my hands and the only way to save it is to become everything I am not.

Soft footsteps turned me away from my thoughts as William approached me. I gave him a smile as he crouched beside me, rubbing a strand of brown grass between his fingers. "I just heard the news."

I looked back at the water and nodded my head.

"I'm sorry Lilly."

I placed a hand on his knee and gave it a squeeze. "Please don't pity me, brother. You'll only make things harder to bare," I whispered.

"I know you've heard the rumors. How can you even agree to this? You could die, Liliana!"

Anger danced to my face as I stood up. "I am a princess to a failing kingdom whose only hope of survival is to gain aid from another ruler. I am no man. I do not get to make my own decisions. That is my curse." I turned to leave bit William grabbed my hand.

"Please, sister, run away. Leave us behind and go west. I cannot bare to see you wed to such a monster." I saw tears drip from his chin onto his trousers.

"Always so tender my dear brother." I wrapped my arms around him and held him close. "My life, my duty, is to our people. I could not live with myself if I left and allowed them to suffer. This is a battle we cannot avoid, nor can we hope to thrive without aid."

I pulled away and placed a kiss on his forehead. His green eyes searched mine. Even though we were kin, we looked nothing alike. He had our father's eyes and our mother's golden blonde hair while I looked nothing like either of them. I had piercing gray eyes that held wisdom beyond my years while my hair was an unnatural silver color that tumbled in waves down my back. My skin was a perfect shade of soft cream with gentle freckles across the bridge of my nose. My unique appearance earned me the title of The Silver Lilly; one I had grown to love.

The sound of the horns turned our attention to the path ahead as horses pranced into the clearing. A man dressed head to toe in shining armor slid off his horse as my father exited his tent. The armored man shook My father's hand before he took off his helmet. His deep blue eyes searched the clearing before they landed on me. He looked me up and down, his expression unreadable. I never broke his gaze. Finally, he turned and look at my father.

"King Alexander Blackwood, I am Lord Aragorn counselor of his majesty Prince Dimion son of his royal highness King Gatlen of the Eastern Highlands. I have come to fetch payment for our aid to your war."

I stared at him, my mouth open in shock. Did he just refer to me as payment?

Father's fist clenched at his side as he nodded his head. "Yes. I am aware of why you are here; however, you are three days early."

Lord Aragorn dismissed my father's words as he handed him his helmet and made his way towards me. "Princess, if you will, you shall be riding with me back to the Eastern Kingdom." He took my hand and began to drag me to his chestnut brown horse.

"Excuse me! I said you are three days early from our agreed-upon day. We have yet to even say our goodbyes," my father growled.

Aragorn looked at my father with a sigh. "You Northerners and your strange attachments. Make haste and say your farewells we leave immediately."

I looked at my father, my eyes wide. I'm not ready yet. I had three more days.

"Pardon me Lord Aragorn, but may I ask why you are here so soon," I asked politely.

He looked down at me with a disapproving sneer. "A woman should be rarely acknowledged and never heard. You'd be well to remember that; but to answer your question, his majesty sent us ahead due to the incoming monsoon season."

I stood there, dumbfounded. Did he just talk to me like that?

"Lord Aragorn I must ask that you do not speak to my beloved daughter in such a manner," my father snarled.

Aragorn let out a sigh and placed his fingers against his temple. "We must be going now, please gather only the essentials, say your goodbyes and get on this horse!"

William reached for the sword at his waist as he stalked closer. Before he could make a grave mistake, I grabbed his arm and wrapped him into a hug. "Please, be still brother. I swear this to you, this is not our last goodbye."

He turned his head to hide his tears before he kissed my cheek and ran into the woods. Tears blurred My own sight as I embraced my father. "Be strong, be brave. I love you."

I turned and carefully climbed onto the horse and as I wrapped my arms around Aragorn the first raindrop of the season fell onto my cheek and mingled with my tears. The sky wept for me. As we rode into the horizon, I knew in my bones that I'd never be the same. Whatever awaited me I'd meet with a heavy heart.