 ꓅ꆂꐇꏸꑛ ꓅ꑛꍟ ꌚꀗꐟ  ᵃ ʳᵉʸˡᵒ ᵃᵘ

ꏸꑛꋫꉣ꓅ꍟ꒓ ꆂꁹꍟ  ꁕꐇ꓅ꐟ

꒓ey lead her horse into the stable and put him in his stall. She brushed him down and gave him some fresh water, hay and a few oats as a treat.

She made her way into the castle. I should keep seeing Vader to myself, otherwise my parents will never let me go into the forest alone again.

She came into the dinning hall and sat down at the long table where her parents were eating.

"You're late for luncheon," her mother reminded her in a gentle yet stern voice.

"I'm sorry I got...distracted," she replied, careful not to mention the bear.

"Did you have a good time?" her father asked.

She nodded, as she began to fill her plate.

They ate in silence for several moments before her mother began to speak.

"Rey, there's something that your father and I have been wanting to talk to you about," her mother began, seeming to be searching for the right words.

This can't be good, Rey thought. Whenever her mother started a conversation this way it usually meant that she was either in trouble or her parents had more duties and responsibilities that they expected her to do.

"Aye?" Rey questioned cautiously.

Her mother looked at her. "You're nineteen years old now, you are a young woman and as future queen your duty is to the clans and the people of the highlands."

Great. More responsibilities, she thought. At least I'm not in trouble.

"By tradition you were supposed to be betrothed three years ago, but your father and I postponed it because of the attacks from the sea, all of your suitors were away at war. But now the war is over and the lords of the three neighbouring clans and their sons have returned. Your father and I think that now is the right time to arrange your wedding, we need to prepare for the future."

Great, she thought. She had hoped that the betrothal had been postponed indefinitely, but she should have known better than to have that hope.

"But mum..." she began.

"Rey, you knew this day would come one day," her father interrupted.

"Aye; but why? Can't I marry for love?"

"I'm sorry darling, we have had this tradition for over a hundred years. Even my marriage to your father was arranged but we grew to love each other," her mother said.

"Our alliance with the clans is new and weak, they appointed me as their king but they continue to lead their own people. Each of them wish for their own son to be king one day and I promised them when you were very young, that they would each have an equal chance at having your hand and the throne," her father explained for probably the tenth time.

"But how do I know that they really want to marry me and that they don't just want the throne?" she pointed out.

Her parents were silent as she did make a good point.

"Why can't I just choose between them?" she asked.

"The lords would never go for it, they would see it as favouritism to the clan of the one you chose, it could start a war," her father replied.

"Will you see it through?" her mother asked.

Rey stood. "I... I need to be alone for a while to think," she replied. Then she turned and left.

The king and queen looked at each other, their eyes arguing silently over who should go talk to her. Finally, the queen gave in and went to talk to her.

She found her in her room fletching arrow to refill her quiver.

"Rey, this isn't the end of the world, it's just marriage," her mother said as she sat down in a chair next to her.

Rey looked up from her work. "Aren't I good enough?"

Her mother gave her a puzzled expression.

"You've taught me how to rule the kingdom and father taught me how to defend it. Why do I have to get married?"

"Darling, you are enough. But unless you get married the kingdom cannot have an heir, and we promised the lords that one of their sons would receive your hand in marriage when you were only a wee child. The lords grow impatient for this promise to be kept. And after returning home from the blights of war I'm sure their sons are anxious to marry. I know your father was. War shows us one thing, life is short and it can end in instant and it's only natural after learning that difficult lesson to want to fill life with love and family."

"Or with a throne, riches and power? It's not that I don't want to marry. I just want exactly what you said, love and family. Not duty and men fighting to win my hand to gain wealth and power and caring nothing for me," she said.

"I understand, but you must think of your people," her mother replied.

"I am. That is why I wish to chose. Will fate choose a man of pure heart? A man who is kind and selfless? Or will fate stand to chose the man who is the strongest, whom indeed can defend these lands but whom will inevitably grow old and weak and lose what value he had. A just and kind heart does not wither nor fade with age as strength and agility do," Rey said.

"Your words are wisdom, my daughter. But the world does not see things that way. I pray fate will be kind to you as it was to me, that the man who wins your hand will also win your heart. Just like your father," her mother answered.

Rey sighed deeply and nodded. It was her duty, but would her duty clash with her fate?