Destiny Love

Chapter 2

We arrived at the field next to the Lianna River by midday. The field looked like the Sahara desert, there was sand for miles and it was very dusty. I looked down at my suit and was disappointed that it would get dirty. But there was nothing I could do about it. The golden door of my carriage was opened by the driver and he held out a hand to help me down. I took it and elegantly stepped out of the carriage. I looked up and saw that the King of Torit and his family had already arrived. They turned around and looked at me the moment I stepped out of the carriage. I recognized him immediately. The only difference about him was that he was wearing a suit and his hair was neatly combed. I could not believe this. How could I have been so stupid? Our eyes met and I could see that he recognized me as well. I was too embarrassed to look at him for long. He looked shocked and surprised, the same way I felt. My father came from out of nowhere and stood next to me. "Remember everything I taught you." He whispered in my ear. I nodded at him reassuringly.
My father led me towards the Toritian King and with eyes twinkling of pride he said:
"King Luperd, may I introduce you to my son Curtis?" King Luperd took my hand and kissed it. I smiled at him, said "how do you do?" like I was supposed to but my thoughts weren't with him. I was declaring myself an idiot over and over again. Then prince Gawis took my hand. A shiver went through me as his gloved hand toughed mine. He looked up at me when he bent down and I felt my heart beat faster when his lips touched my hand. I could understand now how seductive he could be and was determined not to show him the effect he had on me. I took my hand back and looked at him in a way that showed him he should not try anything with me.
"Why don't we all go to our palace?" My mother suggested.
"No, I think we should stay right here." King Luperd said. "The peace talks could be held under the trees over there." He gestured towards some forest that was miles and miles away and hardly visible. I knew I had to be polite and therefore didn't look up at him as if he was a complete idiot but just smiled and stood there. But King Luperd's wife, Queen Marie tugged softly on his arm.
"I would enjoy a cool glass of water." She said quietly. King Luperd looked grim but gave in.
"Our children can get to know each other on the way to the palace." He said, meaning that we would have to ride in the same carriage.
I stepped in the carriage and he followed me. There was no one else in the carriage and I knew this was going to be an awkward ride.
I was furious and knew every word I said would sound that way.
"So, how are you Nathan?" I asked him sarcastically.
"You didn't tell me who you were either." He defended himself.
"No, but at least I didn't lie about my name!"
"Neither did I. My middle name is Nathan, my friends call me that too."
"Is it true that you have dated nearly all the girls and boys in your school?" I asked him, still trying to find a way to hurt him.
"Is that what they say about me here?" He asked in return.
"What, are you going to deny it?" I couldn't believe this. If he was that way he could at least tell the truth about it.
"Yes, I am. Actually, I've never been on a date."
"Yeah right, and you expect me to believe that?" What did he think I was, stupid?
"Believe it or not, I don't care, but it's true."
I wasn't even bothered to comment on that. If he wanted to lie to me, so be it.
We didn't say a word to each other for the rest of the trip. I was happy when we arrived at the palace because any longer of that piercing silence would have caused me to jump out of the carriage screaming. I was helped out of the carriage and then walked towards my mother who was talking to Gawis's mother.
"We will have a ball in your honor the night you leave." My mother was saying.
"Yes, and so that our children can get to know each other better, they can dance with each other!" Queen Marie was getting excited. Oh no, this was not happening. I was not dancing with that arrogant annoying, self centered, perfect boy. But what could I say? It would be rude to refuse a dance. I could only hope that he would have the guts to tell his father that he wasn't dancing with me.

"Good morning Prince Curtis." I was woken up by one of the servants who opened the curtains. It was a rainy, gray morning, the exact way I felt. Usually I enjoyed this weather and I loved listening to the raindrops on the roof. But today I knew it would be a gloomy day, a dark day in my history. I knew I was exaggerating but I didn't care, I wasn't bothered to be perfectly mannered today. Unwillingly I stepped out of bed. The servant went through my cupboard and pulled out a perfectly folded suit. I didn't understand why I had to dress up like a businessman if they had all seen me in other clothes already anyways. But I did what everyone expected of me, got dressed and went downstairs to eat breakfast. I wasn't hungry but had to eat something under the watchful eye of my mother. I then walked into the room that was in front of the meeting room. Gawis and his parents were there. So were the prime minister and my father.
"Good, the meeting can begin." My father said delighted. I tried to smile but it didn't really work out. This first day we would only discuss basic things, not the actual peace talks. We would be polite, ask each other how our trade was going and how infant mortality rates were. We would give each other advice and then eat lunch together. Afterwards we would relax and then later come together again for dinner. It wasn't until tomorrow that the actual peace talks started. I was dreading them because I would have to go into the meeting room alone with Gawis. I was sure it would end up in a fight