Zorya is a wild and a beautiful, pagan princess who loves spending time in the depths of her forest, side by side with her wolf, becoming one with a nature.
Darius is a cruel, and dark Christian King, feared by many, with a tragic fate, who comes t...
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The air around Zorya seemed heavier in Walnia. People seemed disciplined, as she watched them patiently waiting for their king in the distance, each of them looked so strange to her, with the unfamiliar faces and rather funny clothes. Looking around herself, she didn't notice many trees, or a crystal clear river, instead of that, first thing she noticed were the large houses, and even larger churches. Never before in her life, Zorya saw a church, and she never expected the church to be so huge, lavish, she felt even scared by the size of it.
But right in the centre was something that made her gasp. It was a huge dark building, bigger than the churches she saw, bigger than any other house she ever saw...No, she was sure that it wasn't a house, it was what people called "castle."
Zorya was a princess, but people in Gora Nveskaya lived differently, they simply had no time to build the castles, big houses and temples, or to dress up like the Christians did, they all had to work hard to remain alive during the winter, and to fight the intruders.
Soon, people started cheering the name of their king, suddenly they became so loud, not only the voices, but also the strange music they were playing, it almost made her feel dizzy. She didn't have to even meet any of them, she already felt that she did not belong here.
"People seem happy brother." Jonah said with a smile and Darius sighed. He missed his home that was for sure, but he felt that Zorya was already terrified of everyone around her.
"Come on princess, I need to announce my future Queen to our people." Darius said and took Zorya's hand.
"She is not properly dressed for that, she is wearing a man's clothing and an axe..." Jonah warned his brother.
"And what seems to be the problem there, brother? Let them see that she is different." Darius answered walking out from the ship with Zorya by his side.
As soon as his people saw their king hold a hand of a woman who seemed to be a pagan, they became silent, all eyes were fixed at Zorya, everyone were studying her with their curious eyes, but she remained silent, she held her head high and allowed them to watch her, to see that she is different from them, but she was going to be their queen and they won't be able to do anything to stop there.
"People of Walnia, as you know, the previous month we spent in the war against Gora Nveskaya for their rich lands. But the war was harsh upon us and we lost many people, and so did Gora Nevskaya. But we found a way to make an alliance that will help us work together through the hard times. Because of that, I am taking their princess, Zorya for my wife, she shall be your queen. Princess Zorya of Gora Nevskaya." Darius said. He then looked at Zorya and whispered. "Remember what I taught you."
Zorya felt her knees trembling, trying to remember the words that Darius taught her to say on his language, it would be so much easier if she was thrown into the battle all alone against all of them, but this, this was beyond terrifying and she just wished to run away.
But then Kreshnik run out from the ship, seeing that his princess is scared, the wolf felt he needed to be beside her, but not everyone felt his kindness, they were afraid of the wolf.
"Do not be scared! This is my friend." Zorya quickly managed to speak in the language of Walnia surprising everyone around her.
"I am princess Zorya, and I am willing to give my best to be your queen, and despite all the differences be accepted into your Kingdom." Zorya said the words that Darius taught her.
If Darius wasn't beside her, and if he didn't seem so protective over that pagan girl, they would probably all laugh and make fun out of her, but seeing their king like that, they didn't even dare to say anything. They simply clapped, suspicious of the choice for the queen.
Many of the beautiful, woman among the crowd, watched Zorya with a frown on their faces, jealous because she, the pagan, that is not fit to rule over them, a stranger to their Kingdom seems to have a heart of the mysterious king.
"God may help those who disrespect the Queen." Darius warned his people with a twisted smile on his face. With that everyone who were staring at her with a frown suddenly looked down in shame.
"My people need rest from the journey, tonight the names of those who haven't returned will be celebrated in the halls of the castle. You are all invited." Darius said before getting on the horse that was prepared for him. Zorya climbed on the other horse and followed Darius in the castle, the wolf chasing after the two of them.
"I hope you are going to enjoy being here. I understand that it will take some time to get used at the people and different way of living here." Darius said.
Zorya looked around herself in disbelief, the castle in front of her seemed like a place where the gods could live.
"This is your castle?" Zorya asked.
"Yes indeed, this is where you are going to live. I hope you don't find it too monotonous." Darius said.
"It just looks like a really big and beautiful cage." Zorya answered and Darius chuckled at her words.
"So I can't deceive you with the luxuries. I didn't expect anything less from you princess, but I promise you that there are some pleasures in this dull caste." Darius said walking close to her.
"Allow me?" He asked and Zorya felt her cheeks getting covered in crimson color before giving him her hand.
"Thank you." Darius answered before walking inside the castle with her, presenting her the new home, or how she called it, the beautiful cage. Zorya entered the bright room, filled with so many things that she would gladly get rid of to have some more space. The paintings on the wall, the gold monuments everywhere around her, the candles, the huge windows and enough stairs to make her head spin.
"Who is this?" Zorya asked pointing at one of the paintings she saw on the wall.
"That on the picture is Cyrus Christus. The one who fough for the lands of Wlania, and the first king of our kingdom." Darius answered with a smile. Those paintings on the wall, with the young and fresh faces of the kings who died a long time ago always made him feel slightly nostalgic. Zorya then looked at the painting of a gorgeous, blonde woman, with a child in her arms, dressed in the breathtaking blue dress. She almost looked like one of the goddesses from the mythology.
"And who is this?"
Darius paused before he answered looking at the painting.
"That is my dead wife, Anna, holding our daughter. Do you want it to be taken down?" Darius asked. Maybe Zorya didn't want a reminder that she was not a first Queen and that the previous one was murdered in cold blood.
"Of course not! Why would you even ask something like that! She is a part of you and I am going to respect that!" Zorya answered.
"Thank you for that."
"As long as I don't have to sit for hours until someone is painting the picture of me." Zorya chuckled and Darius smiled as well.
"I have some work to finish, the maid will take you to your chambers and give you something more proper to wear. Also we will need to find some better place for Kreshnik, he can't really live in the castle. Until that, keep him close to you, I don't want him to hurt anyone." Darius warned before leaving Zorya with the maid that was responsible to prepare her for the tonight's feast.
Hey everyone! Here is a new chapter and I really hope that you like it! Please vote and comment to tell me your opinion! Thank you for your support so much and I wish you to have an amazing day!
