CHRONICLES OF AADYA

It started the day my father found a suitor for me. Ever since then, freedom has gradually become a myth. I have been locked up by my father for forty-six days and my only crime was rejecting the man he would eventually marry me off to. Soon. I have nothing but a small lamb my little brother had passed me through the small opening. Gunnar. He is my savior and the bravest little man I have come to build, only thirteen, yet he is like a warrior in my heart. "Hey, hey" I hear Gunnar call for me quietly through the wood opening. "Here" he says passing the small soup plate through a space below. A gentle smile embraced my lips as I took the plate. The room was only lightened by the flame from the lamb I had but I'm certain he could see my face quite clearly to know I was grateful to have him. "Do you like it? I made it with the squirrel I caught. It wasn't very big though" I could barely see half his face as it was dark outside, although not completely dark. "It's the best" "Not like yours. I miss it" his voice sadden slightly, I couldn't see much but I know he was currently gazing down at his hands. That's Gunnar for you, he tries so much not to show how sad he is about my situation, but I could see through those walls he had built, maybe because of our closeness. Maybe. "So, how was hunting today? Did Leif go with you this time?" "No. I wanted to go alone" Barley audible. "But I told you never to hunt alone, Gunnar" And I'm pretty sure I made myself clear when I told him the reasons. "I didn't want anyone finding out where the meat goes to. Father would probably take them away if it does get to him" He mumbles. It was an understandable reason, yet I still don't want him hunting alone. "Promise me you won't hunt alone again. Gunnar, Promise" I request, leaning against the wooden wall of the room I was locked in. "I promise, Aadya" I smile warmly at his words. I know he would keep his promise. "Tell me about today" "Leif and I played an arrow competition in the woods, and I beat him to it. It was my best shot ever, I wish you were there to see it" "Me too. How far was it?" I ask before drinking directly from the plate. "Beyond the last shoot, you saw me make" I was proud of him, I know he was proud of himself and I'm more proud I had taught him well enough. It was one thing I do best which my father greatly execrated, I never knew why. Everyone was allowed to choose their own part, why is mine becoming a denial? "It's almost full moon" I hear him suddenly say. "If the moon appears one night in a thousand years, would others adore her how you do?" It wasn't a question because he kept talking "It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the moon. That's what you always say" He tells, I know he was smiling, so I smiled. I love the night sky, especially the moon, and the reason I may be saying this is that we are all supposed to think of reasons to live. The moon has always been my light, she watches over me. I can feel her. "She's beautiful" I tell him, training my eyes through the space between the woods up to the goddess that shone above. We stay silent, collected, tranquil, and adoring, comparing the serenity of our hearts with the serenity of the skies. Unknown. In such moments, offering up my heart to the goddess, lighted like a lamp in the center of the starry night. "Gunnar" I call calmly "You should go rest for the night" I immediately pass him the plate "Good night, Aadya" "Good night, little brother" I could hear him slightly giggle before he was finally gone. Perhaps it is time for me to sleep. I woke up dead. Being the very day, Ragnar Olaf would be visiting. I know him not, only heard his name from my father, and I'm quite sure he has never set his eyes on me before. I wonder who contrived such an iniquitous way of marriage, although I am more saddened to know that some merciless men embrace it, and my father one of them. My eyes flickered to the door as I hear it being unlatched from outside before it was eventually pushed open by my father, Hrafen. His gaze fell on me and he obviously looks vexed by my presence. "Wash yourself and let your hair down" His voice sounds cold and evil, I'm yet to appreciate if this man is truly my father. I could see Gunnar at the very end of the house entrance as he stares back at him, he wanted to say something, I could read a little from his expression but he dared not to while my father was hovering around. I took my time getting myself ready, it wasn't only a bath. It was a preparation for what was to come. In the end, I stood next to my brother, he just stares, with no words, not until our parents lurches to welcome the man who had just arrived on his horse. Very well, maybe I had thought I would eventually succumb to this immoral marriage. However, seeing the man standing in front of our entrance made me vow never to have anything to do with him. His fur made him look much big than he should. "The Dubrovnik welcomes you, Ragnar Olaf. Your long journey was not for nothing. We have been waiting for you. You do be pleased" Mother welcome him. It was the very first time I see her behave in such a way. He looks ferocious. He is ferocious. He stares at me with a mysterious look on his face. "Her face is as I imagine" He tells them moving majestically towards me. He was about to grab my jaw when I quickly gripped his wrist firmly, preventing him from his intention. "Quite an interesting character" He let out with an evil grin and in my head, I began calling upon everything I had believed in, wanting these few seconds to go away. Few seconds. That's all it takes to completely change everything about a person. Few seconds that I'll never get back. "Don't touch me. I don't belong to you yet" I say too dryly for my own good before he withdrew from me. Eyes still fixed on me "There's still the matter of the price to discuss" My father tells him a little undisturbed. "Six horses and land" I suddenly hear mother declare and my heart immediately sank. I was trying my possible best to keep still. Not that I could do much though. "Think it over" My father added. "I will return in half a moon to pick her" he said with his eyes fixed on me. He didn't care to rephrase his statements, he would 'pick me because I have become a commodity. I grabbed the side of my dress and squeeze it tightly controlling the rage burning inside of me. My father smiled in acknowledgment, I have never been more embarrassed by him, if he just wanted the land and horses, he should have at least married me to someone younger, not this aged man. "I will walk you out" My father inform and they both began to walk their way out while my stepmother tagged along. Gunnar stood up and exhaled deeply, he had been so quiet the whole time, not like he could do anything, I know he would if he was older but sadly none of us can help my situation. My stepmother who would've been in a better position to help me has never been in a good relationship with me, she seems rather too happy about the whole thing that am beginning to think whether she was the mastermind of everything, not that it matters anymore as the deed has been done. And yet the question still bothered me, which of them had suggested this marriage? "You want me to go after him?" Gunnar suddenly ask standing next to me as we both stood staring at the front door. His word made me slightly snort and somehow it brought a weak smile to my face. "You don't need to bother. I can take care of him" I told him and immediately began retreating to my room, my brother tried to talk to me but I have had enough for today, I needed some alone time for myself, I have tried my possible best not to break down the whole time but I don't know how long my walls will continue to stand tall, and I can't afford to break down in front of Gunnar. I have always promised to be there for him and fight for him at all times but this whole time I couldn't even fight for myself. I feel so weak. The day has finally arrived, the day I feared, I looked over at Gunnar fondly and gave him a slight nod to assure him I would be alright. My father never locked me up in the dungeon since the day Olaf visited, and I made sure to spend the few days with my brother hunting in the woods, although he insisted at first, that I should get some rest but I managed to convince him that I'm strong enough. I wanted to do it for the last time if that's what it was. I have been dressed up so delicately and fed perhaps to impress my supposed suitor, probably my husband now. One with eyes can definitely tell that am a bit thin and pale than usual, I wasn't been starved, and that's how I knew that more things could cause one to lose so much weight than hunger. Hearing the sound of the horses outside, I could tell my suitor has arrived, my stepmother followed my father out immediately probably to go welcome him themselves. Gunnar held my hand, and to be honest, I needed it, I hate to admit but my hands were sweating from nervousness, I looked over at my brother again and I can see the tears threatening to fall from his eyes, I looked away immediately cause I can feel my own heart breaking into pieces. My father emerged with a bright smile plastered on his father as he made way for the visitors to emerge, I looked up to see the man my own father wants me, his only daughter to marry. I inhaled deeply and suppressed my tears, my little brother holding my hand a little too tight, he didn't even attempt to conceal his hatred and anger towards my father and the man in front of us. People say we accept the things we think we deserve, but this, I don't think I deserve this, it wasn't right. And at this moment, I realize all hope was gone.