Choices

Chapter 1: Explanations

Willow and Axel looked at her in a high level of shock. You couldn't exactly blame them, their mother only sent them letters the whole year she was gone and then shows back up engaged.

They needed an explanation.

And they needed it right now.

"I'll explain everything." Isla told them but they both didn't move, Blair didn't look as bewildered as they did but she was definitely as shocked as Willow and Axel. "Blair, out of the way." Isla instructed Blair, taking them all back into reality. Isla always spoke badly towards Blair and treated as if she wasn't important, this annoyed Axel and Willow a great deal but they were both too focused on the information Isla just threw at them to stand up to her.

"So," Axel started after they all sat down at the wooden table in the dining room, Blair had just gone off to get them drinks. "You better have a good explanation."

"I can assure you that I have a reasonable explanation." Isla stated calmly,

"Just reasonable?" Axel asked her still with an angry look on his face.

"Shut up, Axel. She's going to explain. Just keep your anger at bay." Willow barked at him, getting annoyed.

"When I was told that Ethan was ill, I was devastated, of course." Axel snorted but covered it up with a cough after Willow kicked his leg under the table. "I just wanted to get away. I went travelling and went far away from our kingdom, royal families recognised who I was and let me stay with them for a while. I found a few princesses who would be an exceptional wife for you." Isla finished directing the last bit towards Axel.

He glanced at Willow with an 'I told you so' look referencing the conversation they had a year ago about how Axel would have to marry a girl he didn't want to.

"So I'm also getting married?" Axel asked her, this time not with any sarcastic or harsh tone he was more intrigued this time.

"No, I haven't chosen a wife yet. I will soon." Isla told him and he looked annoyed but let her continue. "Anyway, I ended up in a kingdom named Findara, I stayed in the castle once I introduced myself. They allowed me to stay there as long as I needed. The king was very welcoming, his wife had been murdered by a criminal when she went into the village so he was widowed. It's very sad. Because of that we were able to understand each other and got to know one another and that's about when your father died." Isla explains, both siblings didn't like where and how this was going but didn't say a word.

"You both know what happened next, after the funeral that is." Isla said and Willow and Axel modded.

"Yes. You packed up and left us." Willow said sounding harsher then what she did before.

"That's one way to put it." Isla responded,

"It's kind of the only way." Axel corrected, now leaning back on his chair. "But please, continue your story, I'm intrigued I learn about how you got engaged." He finished with a fake sweet voice.

"It started a few months after that. The relationship. I didn't exactly intend it to happen but romance just crept upon me. I only got engaged just recently. I know this isn't a good reason why I never came back for a visit. I guess I just didn't want to, you'd hate me."

"Like we don't feel that way now." Axel rolled his eyes.

"It's fine. So when is the marriage?" Willow asked.

"Not anytime soon." Isla replies. Willow and Axel looked surprised and waited for he to continue. "You didn't think I'd get married again only a year after my husband has died did you? What would everyone in the kingdom say?"

"So you said you're staying here. Does that mean you both won't see each other until you decide a date for the wedding?" Willow questioned trying to understand more of their plans.

"No. Since he and his family were so welcoming and hosted my visit, I told him he can bring his family here to live with us. We won't let the rest of the kingdom know until the wedding day comes closer. It'll just be between us and all our servants here at the palace. Understand?" Isla asked them once she finished.

"Yeah," Axel and Willow said in unison.

"Great. I'll send them a letter to inform them of what we're going to do." Isla stood up and excitedly and left the room leaving both siblings alone in there. Blair walked in shortly after and sat on the chair Isla had sat in before she left.

"You guys got a good explanation from her then?" Blair asked.

"Not sure if it was a good one. But I'll let it fly." Axel replied.

"So she's getting married?"

"Seems like it." Willow said having a blunt expression.

"And I'm next apparently." Axel said with little interest. "Let's just wait and see how it all plays out."