For the Love of Amity

Prologue

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Prologue
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Spring was just around the corner and Amity couldn't be happier. Spring was her favorite time of year. With the gentle to howling rainstorms and the warm breezes, the blooming of flowers. Spring is by far the prettiest season in her opinion. Amity sat up on top of hill, watching the melting snow on the plains below her village.

"Amity! Amity darling, come on home now! Your father and brothers will be expecting dinner!" Her mother, Judith, called to her, bouncing two hear old Chastity on her hip. Amity quickly made way down the hill, taking her sister from her aging mother.

"You go get dinner ready, I will occupy Chastity for you." Amity said. Her mother smiled gratefully, rubbing her hands on her apron.

"Thank you darling." She said then walked back into the small shack-like house. Chastity looked up at her sister and smiled.

"Ammie." She cooed, giggling. Amity smiled and tickled her baby sister's stomach.

"Hello Chastity," Amity responded in a baby-like tone. "What do you say we go pick some flowers for the table?"

Chastity nodded and pointed to the small flower patch just beyond the house. "Pretties!"

Amity sighs happily. "Yes, let's go pick some pretties."

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"Seth Hastings!" The King of Roswen shouted angrily. His son has picked at his last nerve.

Seth walked into his father's study, his hands folded into tight fists behind his back. His face was set in a grim line as he entered. His father glared at him and smashed his fist on his desk.

"Dammit Seth! I send you a bride and you send her away? Damn you!" He yelled, standing to his full, intimidating height. But Seth was not the slightest bit intimidated. 

"No father, damn you! I refuse to marry some random woman because you think I should!" Seth yelled back.

"I'm doing this because it's what's best for Roswen!" He shouted.

"But I don't even want Roswen! I don't want a bride, and I don't want to be a king!" Seth cried, startling the housemaid who had just entered. She looked between Seth and his father and quietly dismissed herself.

"You don't have a choice! You must take Roswen, you're my only son and I won't live forever." The King said softly. He knew that if he kept yelling at his son, he was bound to do something impulsive.

Seth's anger lessened slightly. Despite everything, from his father's ruthless teachings to his constant persistence for Seth to take over, he still loved him. He always had, since his mother died when he was small. His father was all he had. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know father, but I can't take a bride I don't love."

"Love will come." He placed his hands on the desk and sighed. "But it doesn't matter right now. I'm not longer giving you an option. You must marry her. She comes from a good family and is very obedient. She will be good for you and Roswen." He told him. And just like that, his anger was back. He grumbled to himself and stalked from the room. Before he could think about it, he made his way to the servant's quarters of the house and knocked on David's door. David was one and twenty just like Seth and had been working at Roswen for a few years now. Seth considered him a close friend.

"David! David, open up!" Seth pounded on the door.

David opened the door, shirtless and running a hand through his unruly, dark curls. The tiredness was clear in his eyes and Seth felt bad for waking him.

"I need you to give me a few sets of your clothes." Seth explained, quickly, the situation between him and his father and David gave him a pitying look.

"Seth, maybe you shouldn't-"

"Please David, I'll pay you for them, so you may buy more. Just please." Seth practically begged. David couldn't stand to see his friend this way, so he nodded and disappeared into his room. When he came back out, he was holding two pairs of shirts and pants in his hands. He gave them to Seth and grabbed his wrist before he walked away.

"There's a village just down in the valley, not far from here. It's called Pyven, I have a home there. I visit every so often to see my family. But it is my home and you may use it. Now, it's not much, but it should be in well condition. Mistress Walker takes care of it while I'm away. Find her and she'll take you to it."

"Mistress Walker, got it." Seth started to walk away again and this time David let him go. Running a hand down his face, he sighed. He didn't like the idea of Seth leaving, he was glad he was happy, of course, but he hated the thought of Roswen running straight into the ground. David would definitely miss him.

Seth waited until the dead of night to sneak out of his home. He knew he couldn't take the carriage and risk his father finding out where he was going. So he'd have to walk most of the way. He knew what general direction Pyven was located, but he didn't think he would know it until he actually saw it.

He creaked his door open and glanced around the hallway. After he made sure the coast was clear, he fixed the slightly-too-small-shirt David gave him and then made his way downstairs. He tried his best to be as quiet as possible, avoiding the last step on the stairs that creaks. He had just made it to the door when someone's footsteps sounded behind him. He spun around and came face-to-face with the young housemaid from earlier. Seth knew her well enough, her name was Mary. She and David were engaged and planned to be married soon.

"Master Hastings?" She sounded confused. "Where are you going? It is late."

Seth looked behind her and pointed to the servants quarters. "Go talk with your fiancé, he'll tell you." Then he stepped out into the dark night.