crossfire || cardan greenbriar

eight

"Marry?! What the hell do you mean I have to marry?"

"You will marry Prince Dain whether you like it or not, Anastasia." Oriana insists, as obstinate as ever.

"Madoc and I have decided—" she begins, but I cut her off in the middle. She treats me like garbage, bosses me around like a servant, and has the audacity to pretend to be my mother.

"Who do you think you are to make decisions for me? You're not my mother, are you?" I yell, and she flinches, startled by my outburst. "And he isn't my father, let's not be so delusional."

"You can't just make my decisions for me," I protested, my hand frantically running through my hair.

"It's too late," she deadpans, her face etched with an unreadable attitude, "you leave tomorrow, Prince Dain would like to meet his future wife, and future queen of Elfhame."

"And now you're kicking me out?" My fists clench at my sides as I scoff. I don't believe this or any of it for that matter.

It's absurd that I, a mere mortal, should be made queen. Why not Nicasia? I'm incapable of holding such a high position in a kingdom; for God's sake, I'm only an outcast.

"You can't do this."

"It's already done, Anastasia." She sighs, rubbing her temple in exhaustion.

"I hate you and I hope you know that," I sneered, turning around, but before I could leave the room she grabs my hand and looks straight into my eyes, almost as though it should be a threatening look.

"You can't tell anyone about this, not until you both are married in secret," she demanded, "then when the marriage is announced on the night of the coronation you will be the queen."

"I don't want to be queen, can't you understand that I just want to live a normal life?"

"You'd choose a normal life over so much power?" she needled, her words as persuasive as ever. She knows just how much I crave power and she's using it against me, and it's working.

"You'd have a whole kingdom to yourself," she says, pushing a strand of hair out of my eye, "Dain is a weak individual, he can easily be distracted, just be seductive enough. We're doing this for you."

"If you're doing this for me then why haven't you told me until now?" I question, and she rolls her eyes at me.

"Because we know this is how you'd react. We know what's best for you and therefore we do what we think is best for you. You live here, you don't have a right to refuse what we tell you to do. You eat our food, live in our house, sleep in our beds, refuse us and you're a small and scared rabbit being hunted by foxes. Think of what's best for you Anastasia."

My hands ball into fists, her words echoing in my mind. So that's all I am? A pawn.

I'll marry him. I'll become the queen.

And let's see how Oriana feels when I put her in a cage.

"When am I supposed to leave?" I bite the inside of my cheeks, but it's only a matter of time before she realizes that putting someone like me on a throne is a dumb mistake.

"You leave tomorrow at dawn," she says, pleased with herself. "Madoc will take you to the palace, and there you will meet with Prince Dain and the king."

"Whatever, I'm going upstairs to pack."

She dismisses me with a flick of her hand and I exhale loudly as I leave the room, frustration settles over my chest. It's just all so sudden, how am I expected to just accept something as insane as that.

How will the entirety of Elfhame feel about a mortal claiming the throne? It's unreasonable.

Oh, and not to mention having to live in Cardan's house. Ever since he moved back here I've been seeing him a lot more than I'd want to.

However, maybe having power over Cardan isn't the absolute worst thing ever. He'd be forced to bow down to me, just imagine that, how damaging it would be for his ego, Cardan, on his knees, bowing to me.

A sight to behold I guess.

* * *

Morning arose too quickly, I was to leave the house in less than thirty minutes. I had finished packing all my clothes and necessities even though Oriana told me that she'll send the rest of my items over with a rider.

I had to make sure to pack everything that I wanted just in case she decides to send only what she liked.

Control freak.

Jude, Taryn, and Vivi were still asleep which is not unusual since it was six in the morning, and they weren't morning persons.

After being called downstairs nearly four times, I rushed down the stairs in a heartbeat. My hair was all over the place and Oriana clearly wanted to yell at me for it, but with Madoc around, she hardly could.

The servant took my luggage away from me as Oriana kept me behind to adjust my hair and the small hair clips that were falling off.

"May I go now?" I sigh as she makes the last few adjustments.

"Yes you may go," she says letting go of me. "Don't make a fool of yourself, and behave. This is a political marriage, for political reasons. You cannot afford to mess this up for your father or the king."

"Sure," I said pressing my lips in a firm line and throwing on a false smile. I hate that woman.

I pulled my heavily layered gown up as I dashed down the stairs that lead to the carriage. Madoc stood at the carriage's door and held it open as I squeezed myself in, he dressed elegantly for his king, and I, for my prince.

"Excited?" He has the audacity to ask, as he sits next to me. To him, I'm just another parcel of land to trade for the finest man in town. I have no value, no say in whatever happens in my life, clearly I have no control even over my own decisions.

"Mucho," I say, no emotion follows the words that leave my mouth. If anything I'm far from excited, miles and miles faraway from finding this somehow enjoyable.

I keep to myself for the rest of the ride, he attempted to initiate a conversation now and then but was turned down by my plain responses. He's way too delusional, thinking marriage at eighteen is something I would look forward to or be excited about.

On the way there, I attempted to imagine life alongside Prince Dain but miraculously failed. It's no surprise, I know nothing about the man, the only time we've ever interacted was when he was visiting and I was forced to bring him water.

In about thirty minutes we were being welcomed into their great palace. The servants took my items and headed upstairs to put them in my room until Prince Dain and I should get married, then they were to be transferred to his...our room.

The king and his son stood side by side as they approached Madoc and I, Prince Dain dressed fittingly for the occasion. He's wearing a clean shirt, leaving it unbuttoned at the top for a more casual look. On top of the shirt he's wearing a fashionable vest with 6 buttons, it has a deep v-line, which causes the vest to remain hidden when the suit's jacket is buttoned up.

The jacket perfectly wraps around his body. It has a smooth chalk stripe pattern which gives the suit a refined look. The 6 buttons of his single-breasted jacket have been left unbuttoned, this suit is meant to be worn this way. Casual, yet graceful at the same time.

The jacket is slightly longer at the back, it has a vent at the back, there's a single pocket on one side and there's a breast pocket that has been left empty.

I have to admit he looks handsome, but his appearance is not enough. He'll have to do so much more than spend a little money on fashionable items and accessories to gain my respect and support.

"Well, let's begin discussing the terms of this marriage, shall we?" The king announces, and as I nod with a silent sigh I spot someone through the corner of my eye, as though this day could not get any better.