by Lily Thomas
The dress did not flatter her. She looked like a puffed flower with just a head and a couple hands. Once she convinced them of who she was, she was going to demand new clothing. Clothing that didn’t suffocate her with so much fabric.
Elizabeth took a deep gulp of air, to calm her restless nerves, and entered the room where the royal family was waiting for her.
The conversation in the room halted. The king sat at the head of the table with his wife to his right side. She assumed the young man sitting on the king's left was the prince.
She was met with no genuine smiles. She was greeted with no smiles at all, except from the prince, and his smile was sleazy, at best.
Quickly, she gave a curtsy and took the only seat remaining at the table.
“Good evening.” She tried to break the uncomfortable silence. At least, her voice didn’t shake.
The king gave a nod, and the queen did nothing but cast a disgusted look her way. Already, Elizabeth could sense the queen wasn't impressed with her, even if she was a princess. She might be the only mother to think Elizabeth unworthy of her son. In her kingdom, she had been a catch. It was an odd feeling to have a nose raised in her direction.
“Good evening.” The prince said a little too eagerly, as he leaned over into her personal space.
Her smile slipped from her lips, when her eyes landed on him. There was something there that caused Elizabeth to shiver, as he did a once over with his eyes. She felt as though he had stripped her naked, with that one glance.
Elizabeth was now grateful the dress covered every possible inch of skin. Perhaps she wouldn’t demand new clothing.
She set her nerves aside to nod and give a small smile. Even if he made her skin crawl, at least he was willing to act friendly towards her. She would take it.
Then again she might be judging him unfairly. She hadn’t been here long enough to make an educated assumption of anyone’s character. It could just be that she wanted any reason to go running back to Stryme.
Servants entered, to her great relief, and plates of delicious looking food were placed before each of them.
The king talked over a mouthful of food. “I would like to hear your story now. We were expecting you to arrive quite some time ago. We sent out a few search parties. When we didn't find any trace of you, we thought the king of Arcaern had decided he didn't need our help after all.”
“You sent no messenger to my people?”
“Your story. I will hear it now.” The king demanded as he waved a leg of meat in the air, as he ignored her question.
She would tell them her story, but she was going to make modifications to it. There was no need for them to know all the facts.
“Where to begin?” She tapped a finger against her chin. “We’d set out, and after we entered the forest we were jumped by a large group of giants.” Not wanting to get specific, she excluded the part about them being fire giants. “During the chaos, I was able to grab a horse. It ended up being a giant horse, but I managed to gallop away from the fighting.”
“They didn't follow you?” The prince asked doubt lacing his voice.
“Oh, they did, but one of the soldiers saved me. He told me to keep going no matter what.”
“After taking so long, many among us would have thought you had been captured by giants, decided not to come, or had been killed.”
“I have to admit,” Elizabeth forced herself to blush, “I did get a little lost on the way. Eventually, I found my way, and I had to rely on the horse to know what was edible and what was not.”
They would question her chastity, if she said fire giants captured her, and they would be right to do so.
“I’m amazed you didn’t parish in those mountains. They can be harsh on a woman who has never left the comfort of a castle. I never did like them.” The queen said as she stuck her nose up in the air. She looked like she smelled something putrid, as she looked at Elizabeth.
“I was, indeed, lucky. I’m afraid, I am the only one to have survived the whole ordeal.” Elizabeth felt bad about lying, but she had no choice. She didn’t want to go into detail about her captivity.
“We’re glad you have arrived safely, even if it has taken some time. I will send a messenger to your kingdom to let them know you have arrived.”
“I thank you. I’m sure it will relieve my family to hear I have arrived safe. I am sure they will wonder why notice has come so late, but better than never. Do you have any news about my people and how the war is goingsince I left?” Elizabeth held her breath. They had to have some current news to pass along.
“After you disappeared, we had no more contact with your kingdom.”
“No contact?” Elizabeth repeated dumbly. “Have you not sent troops to aid my people?” She put her fork down, her appetite ruined, as her stomached turned upside down. She’d already lost one brother, and she didn't want to lose any more of her family to the rock giants.
“The marriage hasn’t happened. We have no reason to help your kingdom.” The king growled over the table at her. “The agreement was that we would help your kingdom, if you were married to our son. Not before.”
She stared at the other two, in stunned silence. Surely, they saw the problem.
“If my kingdom is destroyed, there will be no one for you to turn to. What if the rock giants try to attack you afterwards?” Because she was sure the rock giants weren't going to stop with her people.
This was a war of built up frustration. It would last until one of them was wiped out or until both sides were too exhausted to continue.
“That is enough!” The king barked. “You may not eat at this table, if you will not remain quiet. You forget a woman’s place.”
The only reason Elizabeth was allowed to stay was because she was too stunned to even utter a word. She could see the king didn’t care about helping her people. His eyes were as cold as stone, and he wasn’t able to see the larger picture before him.
Elizabeth sat in her bed under the warm covers. The downy pillows swallowed her head, as she stared up at the ceiling of her room.
She returned from dinner only to be drawn to the balcony, where she could stare off into the woods. There was no way Stryme was still there, but thinking about him helped to calm her.
Silently, she let the tears slip from her eyes, and they soaked her pillow.
These people seemed so heartless. She couldn’t believe she was going to become one of them to help her people. Assuming they honored their side of the deal. She found herself wondering if this king would actually send troops like he had promised.
She wondered if she might marry this prince for absolutely no reason. Everything so far proved the king didn’t care about helping them. He hadn’t even contacted her kingdom, when she didn’t show up on time.
The next day went by like the previous day. She sat silently at the meals, and then she would accompany the queen on her rounds to visit and gossip with other ladies of the court.
She knew some of the ladies were spreading rumors about her. It was easy for them to come up with horrible stories about what might have happened to her out in the forest.
Elizabeth knew she was going to have a hard time fitting in, but she was the novelty in the castle. Eventually, they would move on to gossip about something or someone else. For now, she had the pleasure of being the center of attention.
Elizabeth was able to find a little quiet time to herself in the castle library, when the queen decided to retire for an afternoon nap, to Elizabeth’s great relief. This was her time to breath in the scent of books, which relaxed her. Books would never whisper about her, like all the ladies in the Sardarn court.
All day she had been stared at, while following the queen around the castle. She was tired of all the gossip going around about her. Elizabeth had never known such vicious ladies, until she had come here. Lele had been annoying, but she had only been one person.
The servant girl who had been assigned to Elizabeth seemed not to care where Elizabe
th had come from, at least. She might be watchful, but she didn't speak much.
Tonight was something Elizabeth dreaded. The king had dropped hints he would want to talk about her impending nuptials with his son.
Though the prince was handsome, he wasn't Elizabeth's dream. He didn't seem to care about anything except looks. He had a glint in his eyes that made Elizabeth weary of his character.
The night came all too quickly, and Elizabeth found herself sitting with the icy royal family. She sat on the edge of her seat waiting for the king to broach the subject of marriage. She wondered if he had forgotten about the whole topic, because she certainly wanted to forget it.
As though reading her mind, he began to speak of the dreaded subject. “You should be married to my son, as soon as possible.” He never looked up from his plate, as though it was a simple subject, but she needed some assurance.
“When will troops be expected to arrive in Arcaern?” Elizabeth blurted out.
She fingered her napkin nervously. She was trying not to be tactless, but was finding it hard. There was information she needed to have. She couldn’t agree to a marriage, if there was going to be no help. At that rate, she might as well find love with Stryme.
The prince just stared at her with that strange glint in his dark eyes, sending shivers racing down her spine. The queen pursed her lips, probably trying to will Elizabeth out of the room and out of their lives.
“Well, it’s a delicate matter. I’ll have to send out some scouts first...” the king started to say strongly. He then finished by mumbling his last words, making it impossible for Elizabeth to catch the end of his sentence.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth decided she would need to take a stand. “I won’t go through with the marriage, until I know my people will be assisted.” She didn't want to marry this prince, if it wasn't going to help her people.
The king's face deepened into a beet red, as he tried to stare her down.
She was afraid he might pop a vein, if he didn't calm down, but Elizabeth wasn't going to back down, this was important to her. It was crucial she knew her people would be assisted.
“Leave the room. Now!”
With the tone of his voice Elizabeth understood she would not be getting anywhere with these stubborn people. Rising slowly and stiffly, Elizabeth made her way from the table.
This wasn't over.
If she hadn’t left, he might have had her forcefully removed, and she had too much dignity to let that happen.
“Will you allow her to just leave, after defying you?” The prince whined to his father, as soon as Elizabeth left the room.
His eyes had followed those lush hips of hers, the whole way out. Not being able to have her, until they were married was going to kill him. He was used to being able to snap his fingers to get whatever woman he wanted below him. This one seemed determined not to be under him though.
He felt a little thrill at the chase. He was up for it, but he didn't want to wait forever. When his father didn't reply, he continued to wine. “I said I wanted her the day we found her at our gates. I will have her whether or not we help her people.”
His mother's face paled, at hearing his choice of woman. Nothing his mother thought mattered to him. He appalled her on a daily basis with his choices. Nothing was new.
“If you want her, then take her. Just make sure it’s without an audience. If anyone knows what you did, you’ll have to marry her.” The king reasoned. “Though I don’t think she is a virgin. I’d bet the giants already got a taste of that. That girl is hiding something about her journey.”
Prince’s lip rose, as he sputtered. “It’s no matter to me.”
The prince licked his lips. He grew hard at the very thought of a spitfire like her in his bed. It was a benefit to him she wasn’t a virgin. It would just mean that she would be ready for his attentions.
He would need to find another bed partner for tonight. He had grown aroused, at the thought of Elizabeth's soft body under his. He needed a little time to plan on how to get her on her own. There weren’t very many quite spaces with the castle walls. A smile spread across his face. He was up for the challenge.
A couple more days passed, and Elizabeth had been given no news on what the king was planning. Was she even going to be marrying the prince? The king didn’t seem interested in the offer anymore.
Hearing her chamber door open interrupted her thoughts. Elizabeth turned to greet her servant with a smile.
“I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you smile.” The servant girl declared in her petite voice.
“I’ve found a friend. You. I didn’t think it possible, since everyone at this castle seems impossible to get along with.”
The servant girl didn't smile back though. Her brows drew together, as though she might have something weighing on her mind.
Deciding not to probe, Elizabethmoved on to another subject. “Will I be fitted for a wedding dress?” She said, trying to be cheerful about the new topic.
She still wasn’t keen on marrying the prince. Over the past few days she had been able to get to know him better. He seemed to play with women, and she was sure it wouldn’t be a faithful marriage. Not every marriage had love in it, but she had always held out hope she could find love.
“The queen has said no dress will be made.” The servant cringed. “I don’t believe there will be a wedding.”
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open, as she plopped down in a chair, and the servant girl rushed to her side.
“Elizabeth.” The servant started, but her voice faltered.
“What is it?” Elizabeth grabbed the girl's wrist, to stop her hands from shaking. “Tell me, what is wrong? I can see there is something bothering you deeply, and you have nothing to fear from me.” She wasn’t like the other royals in this castle.
As the servant girl uttered what was troubling her, Elizabeth's blood froze. Then her blood heated with pure anger.
Nothing seemed to please Stryme anymore.
Amazingly enough, even Lele was keeping a safe distance from him. Stryme seemed prone to random outbursts of fury, since Elizabeth had left. Lele had only given up her attentions because of the last time he had snapped at her.
He had only been back a couple of hours, before she had tried to sneak him somewhere private.
Just thinking about it caused him to want to smash something. The female was insensitive. Couldn’t she tell he was breaking inside?
She’d been prodding a caged animal with a stick, and he had no sympathy for her.
Looking at the tankard of wine before him, he noticed how tightly his fingers were wrapped around the handle. They had gone numb with the force he had been applying.
Slowly, he rubbed the numbness out of them. Glancing around he caught the eye of Keylz.
At some point, Stryme wasn't exactly certain when, he had become distant from his people. If they didn't have an urgent matter, he would steal away to his room and sit staring at the flames in his hearth. It was hard for him to sleep in his bed with Elizabeth’s sweet scent still lingering on the sheets.
“I see you’re trying to kill the mug, though I don't know what it ever did to you. A trip to the arena would be wiser, when it comes to honing your warrior skills, because I fear the mug has lost the wrestling match with your hand.”
Stryme let out a deep growl in response. He wasn’t in the mood for dealing with Keylz and his joking.
“We haven't seen you out there in days. Hell, most of us haven't seen you at all.” Keylz shook his head. “You need to forget about her. She’s probably already married and has most likely put you from her mind.”
A piece of Stryme's heart broke all over again, as he thought about her with another man. Another man who would touch what he had touched first and what he had claimed first. He knew the man was seeing something Stryme had thought would always be his.
His fist slammed down onto the wooden table.The mugs and plates jumped into the air, only to land with a loud cl
atter. The hall fell silent, as every eye in the room turned to stare up at him.
When Keylz saw Stryme was just going to stare down every pair of eyes, he rolled his and then called out to them. “Please, be merry! Eat and drink!”
Their conversations restarted nervously. Then picked up in volume as people became more certain Stryme wasn't about to rage through the hall knocking people's heads together.
Having had enough of all the merrymaking going on in the room, Stryme knocked his chair over, as he left the hall in a huff. Again silence reigned over the room, as every person watched him disappear into the shadows.
“You should go after him.” Kiyla said from right behind Keylz.
Keylz just shook his head, his long hair waving around. “I’m not sure that would be a wise idea. If I go after him, I may not come back alive.”
“Someone has to bring him back to the world. We need our leader and our king. He needs to be here to guide us. People learn from his example, and he can’t be shutting himself away like nothing matters anymore.”
“You think I should be the one to talk to him?” Keylz gave a bark of laughter. “He will only think I’m trying to provoke him.”
“You’re the next best person. You’re like a brother to him, in so many ways.”
“How about his mother?” Keylz offered up, dreading having to be the one to go after Stryme. It was hard to see Stryme's heartbreak and not be able to do anything about it. But at the same time Keylz didn't want to be the one sacrificed to Stryme's ill temper.
“She’s already tried her best. I’m surprised she was even able to get Stryme to let Elizabeth go in the first place.” Kiyla shrugged. “We even returned the other humans back to their kingdom to try to remove the memory of her. Yet, that hasn’t worked in erasing her memory from his mind. Something else needs to be done.”
