Short of History: A Collection of Short Stories

PROMISED

One spark, that's all it takes. One spark and a fire is lit. But why did it have to be now? Of all days, it had to be my wedding day. What happened you may ask? Well, I'll tell you.

It all started when I was promised to another at birth. This is an arranged marriage, I don't want it. It's supposedly for the good of my people, and the good of his. But why am I freaking out about it now, because I met my true love and he's at my wedding. I hate to see him hurt and surely he will be when he sees me marrying another. Oh, I must find him.

"Honey Nurse, O Sweet Nurse, I just can't marry him, I don't love him. I love another. O Nurse I just can't," I sob. "I must find him, please." My wailing continues as my father walks in. He groans, irritated at my resounding cry, echoing through the castle. "Please, Father, don't make me do this, I don't love him."

"Shut up, woman, please!"

"But Father-"

"Phoebe Ophelia Whitmore, I am your father, you will listen to me, do you understand?"

"But Father, I don't love him. My heart, it belongs to another!" The back of his hand makes contact with my face. My nurse gasps as I shriek and turn, falling face first into my pillows. Quietly I sob as my father takes a few deep breaths and speaks.

"Dear child, please, we are running out of money, we cannot feed our people. This family can help us, they'll share with us what they have. And in return they want a union of our two peoples. We have no choice," he sighs.

"Father, please," I say, but it comes out muffled by the pillows. I sit up, hair sticking to my red, tear stained face. and look to his sad one. "My heart will never belong to him, it will be a loveless marriage. I will never give myself to him." I weep silently and await my father's response. "I will surely die of heartbreak.. You do not want that do you?"

"Winifred!" He calls my mother. Not a second later she was entering the large room.

"Yes, Dear?"

"Call it off..."

"But, Darling the people," my mother says.

"Whinnie, look at our princess, our daughter, she's devastated. I love her too much to allow to be unhappy or unloved. Call the wedding off," he finishes with a strong and stern voice.

"Oh, Father, really?" I ask desperately, clambering up to him and grabbing his arm. He looks down at me and cups my cheek in his free hand. He smiles down at me, my grin beaming back. "Thank you, Father. Oh, really, thank you!" I jump up and hug him, getting a hug in return, but he squeezed me tighter than I did him.

So a happy ending after all, I have to go tell my Love.