Amythest dreams

Chapter Two:

Iredesa closed the door to her room, breathing heavily. She looked around frantically to see anything she could quickly take with her. Her room was filled with books that she looked at wistfully, knowing that she would have to leave them behind. She grabbed a pack and put her favorite book, Between the rocks of time, into it at the bottom. On top of it she put a simple dress, a pair of riding pants with a matching shirt, a cloak, and a small purse filled with gold coins collected from the allowances her father had always given her. She wouldn't dare chance going into the kitchens and grabbing food, so the coins would aid her in keeping her hunger sated. The last item she grabbed was a necklace. It was her mothers and meant the world to Iredesa. It wasn't overly elaborate. It had a thin silver chain and a single diamond attached to it in the shape of a teardrop. Iredesa couldn't fathom leaving without it. She turned back to her closet, needing to change into clothes that were more suited for leaving than the fine gown she wore. She let the fabric fall to the floor, the material pooling at her feet as she grabbed a gown that was light enough to not weigh her down but warm enough for when the night came and the air became cool. Ready, she looked around the room one last time. This was her home, she thought as she looked at the ornate four poster bed with the white, silk curtains that flowed with the light breeze that came from the open doored balcony. She sighed as she stepped toward the balcony doors. "I'm sorry father." she whispered as she grabbed the vines and began to climb down and leave her life behind.

Her feet hit the soft grass, bringing back memories of times that she had snuck out to read under the pale moonlight. Or even to catch a glimpse of the parties that the common townsfolk had. Every summer when the weather would get warm and people would open their doors wide to allow the night wind to cool them down the town people would have gatherings unlike any she had ever seen in her part of the town. She had watched them dance with unhindered joy and unfiltered abandon. The wild, flowing hair of the women as they twirled with their partners. The laughter and music a siren call to some foreign part of her that had yearned to be free to dance with wild abandon. So every chance she had gotten over the last five years she had watched them. Never entering, knowing that she couldn't join them in fear of having everyone leave. Iredesa put away those memories as she quickly made her way away from her home, avoiding the guards she knew would be rounding the corner soon to do one last sweep before shift change. She felt bad that they would probably get into serious trouble when her father learned that she had slipped away without them seeing anything. But she would not, no, could not stay and marry that fae man who so clearly sought to rule her as well as an entire kingdom. For as long as she could remember she had settled with the idea that she would never marry. She had made peace with it and accepted her fate. Now, not only was she to marry, but she had found that it was to a fae prince that had deceived her father and expected her to cross the border that separated the land. No matter how handsome he looked, she would not give up her own identity just so she could say her husband looked good. She was not shallow.

Iredesa took a deep breath as she finally lost view of her house. She had a better chance of getting away if she was far away before the alarm was rang. She pulled her cloak tighter around her, already wishing that she had eaten something at the party. It was too late for that though, she couldn't turn back if she was going to get out of town. Someone would see her soon and she wanted to be far away before word could reach her father or Prince Kallan of her flight out of town. The night was quiet, the first blooms of the trees perfuming the air. The stars shown down, illuminating her next steps. She pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, hiding her face so that she wouldn't be easily recognized by anyone who happened to be outside. It wasn't much further to the tree line. She just had to keep moving.

"Going somewhere?" a deep, silky voice asked. She stopped, inwardly cursing. Prince Kallan was leaned against the very outskirts of the tree line, smiling smugly. "If I didn't know any better my dear I would swear that you were running from me. But that isn't possible is it? Because you know that I am much faster than you. The Fae have an uncanny tracking ability so going anywhere undetected, human that you are, would be impossible. And I have the ability of being able to get into someone's mind and read exactly what they plan. So tell me, Iredesa, what exactly is it you planned to do so late at night without an escort?" He walked slowly towards her, his feet quietly whispering across the ground. Iredesa stood rooted, unable to move from the anger that scorched through her body.

"I will not marry you!" she said, her head held high. He might have have gotten to her. But she would not back down. "On the contrary, I am afraid that you will. Even if you have this odd loathing of the idea when countless women, and some men I might add if I were inclined to indulge, would kill for the honor of having. You see, your father has neglected to mention the terms of the contract we have both signed. I receive your hand in marriage and your dowry, which he may feel free to keep seeing as I don't really need it. And in return he receives a rather priceless gift. A vassal of ships that will help him to further his trade. This vassal of ships is worth well more than your dowry. Last I checked it was fifty ships as well as a crew that had been paid for a years time to allow your father time to establish his trade further away so that he can begin to pay them. More than fair on my part if I say so myself. The contract that was signed was inlayed with a binding spell. It is non negotiable from hence forth and cannot be negated unless both parties agree. I will admit, your father was not aware of that last condition. However, that does not change the fact that if You run or your father tries to back out, not only will he be breaking an oath. But by the law of the fae, he would die. Fae magic is very specific and final."

Iredesa looked at him with horror. "You monster. You... Miserable, low down, stinking BASTARD!" Tears filled her eyes. She knew that she could never condemn her father to death. Would never ask him to. She was trapped. Whatever hope for herself she had was gone. "Fine. But you are carrying my bag back. My frail, human arms are tired." She dropped the pack onto the ground, and without another word, she turned and began to walk back toward the manor. She never turned to make sure he was following. She could feel his cold, blue eyes on her the entire way.

Her father was waiting for her, shuffling nervously at the door. All the guests had seemed to disperse, no doubt eager to be away from Prince Kallan. "Iredesa my darling. I didn't know I swear. I would never have agreed to this union. Never had signed my name on that blasted parchment had I known that I would be agreeing to giving you over to them. He says that it is unbreakable. That a Fae agreement is sacred and held by the laws of the Old Magic. My hands are tied. The moment I told him the agreement was off I felt as if my life was in grave peril. That was when he explained his trickery. About the contract and the binding spell that was placed upon it. I'm so sorry my dear. Please forgive me for what I have done to you!" Tears were pouring down his face as he embraced her. She clutched his fine tunic, wishing to soothe him but also wishing that he had not been so ambitious and eager to secure her future that he blindly ran into an agreement without having all the details.

Prince Kallan stood, watching them as they held each other. "Lord Fletcher, if I may interrupt. There is the matter of the wedding, as well as your ships. He pulled a piece of parchment out of his sleeve and held it out. "The deed, all you have to do is sign, no spell or enchantment, just paper." His father looked at the paper as if it would bite. Iredesa took it from Prince Kallan and placed it in her fathers' hands. "Father take it. What is done is done. At least make the most of this and do what you've dreamed of doing since before I was born. Bring your craft to other lands. Travel. Make your name known across this world. And know that I love you father. I do not hold any hate in my heart for you." Her father clutched the paper in his hand and looked at Prince Kallan. "What matter of the wedding needs to be discussed?"

"For starters, it will happen in precisely two months time. One month and two weeks after the arrival of Iredesa and I. I'm sure that you will want to tie up any loose ends before you begin your travel to Tiernim. Unless, of course, you do not wish to go." Iredesa gasped, realizing that he meant for her to leave immediately. Her father paled, also realizing that Iredesa was leaving sooner than he had hoped. "Secondly, if you do decide to make the journey to Tiernim, please send a letter ahead of time so that my people can properly escort you. They will be standing at the border until precisely one week before the wedding. After that, any journey you may decide to make will be on your own and it does not do well to travel alone in certain parts of Tiernim as a human."