Featured in Wattpad HighFantasy & Magic II 19-year-old Aria is ready to accept her doomed fate of marrying the cruel Lord Lathik. An alliance that will secure a large army for her hateful brother's war against the fae. When destiny intervenes and he...
Aria's heart tightened with every roll of the wheel. Would it be better to die now or be driven to her death?. It was a pointless thought. A thought, nevertheless.
No, death would be a far better fate than the one that had befallen her. Her fingernails scratched and dug into the window of the carriage— a futile attempt at forgetting her destination.
The whole land had heard of him, Lord Lathik, the cruel lord of the warring lands. Tales were told of how he would carve out the hearts of his enemies, but not before taking their wives and daughters by force as they watched. Those stories were enough to scare any frail maiden. It had been enough to reduce Aria, a normally strong and defiant woman, to tears and pleads when she was informed he would be her future husband. That's how he had claimed so much land in a king-less area. By instilling fear in every soul.
She had begged. Gotten on the floor and bowed her head, something she swore never to do. But he just chuckled from his golden throne. It echoed over her. The sound pounding her to the ground. Leonor, once a childhood playmate and now the current king, despised her. He barely batted an eye at offering her up on a plate to such a cruel and evil man. It could even be said, he took pleasure in seeing his sister in so much despair. He had taken on the hate that their father always held for Aria. She wondered, 'why?'
Aria looked at her damaged fingernails and contemplated, even if for such a second, what would happen if she ran away. She looked out the window, and counted - one... two... four... ten - soldiers. For protection, her brother had said. But really, it was to ensure that the sacrificial goat would arrive. Then there was also the fact that traveling through the warring lands was no laughing matter. They were ruled by those that were strong enough to cease momentary power. There was no unity. Only the strong trampling over the weak. And Lord Lathik made sure to squash everything.
'How hard would it be to take one of their swords and make my escape?' She wondered.
No, that was not a true option. She would never be able to take her freedom. How could she? When it would mean that the fate that belonged to her, would fall on the shoulders of her dear sweet young sister. Out of all the royal family, the young princess was the only one that was kind. The only one that was pure. Aria would give her life to protect that.
The pine trees flashed across the blue-tinted window. Snow sprinkled on each of their branches, swirling around the green needles. Aria never thought the sight would fill her with melancholy. But it did. There would be no more lazy afternoons in the garden with her sister. No more watching the sunset. No more midnight naps under the night sky. She closed her eyes, trying to force the image into her mind.
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"I'm sorry," Lily whispered into Aria's bosom.
The ground under them was cold. But not as cold as their hearts at the thoughts of parting tomorrow. Aria leaned back against the dark midnight wood. This spot always gave her comfort. She could be alone, but here, there was always a sense of unity.
