Flame of the Enemy

I was looking out of the carriage’s window. The safety and the warmth of the house that I grew in was not far behind. While our carriage was cracking up and down through the narrow road between two kingdoms, I was just wishing that all this nonsense was a dream. I would wake up in the morning and my loyal and kind handmade Mary would smile at me as complaining about my laziness. But instead, she was sitting across to me in the small carriage, and trying to smile at me as always. But this time, the nervousness was all over her face. She did not admit this whole thing is insane and she tried to claim that this marriage will be beneficial for all parties. Though, everybody says the same thing for two weeks now, and I am really exhausted to explain how insane this is. But, at the end of the day, how can a woman speak for herself? My father made this deal with the neighboring kingdom, and both parties are happy about this business agreement. “Love is an unaffordable luxury for the nobles.” Said my father. He had that luxury once in his life with my mother. Sometimes I wonder, if my mother were alive, would the same thing have happened to me? The carriage has halted suddenly. I tried to see the front of the carriage but I couldn't. Suddenly a fierce scream was heard from the maids riding in the other carriage. I felt fear for the first time this tense in my life. One of my guards has shout in a hurry, “No matter what you hear, stay inside of the carriage princess.” Then he ran towards the other carriage in front of ours. We were traveling with three more carriages other than ours. And also with fourteen cavaliers, still I was trembling like a leaf before the wind, and I was just thinking how to hide the locket that inherited me from my mother, in case of this danger coming from thieves. I wasn’t sure what was happening outside, though. The shouts of the swordsmen and screams of the maids have been raised. Mary came and sat next to me and held me tightly. She was mumbling a prayer under her breath. I wasn’t taking any breath. Then suddenly, all shouts and screams were cut. Instead, a cold and dead silence has collapsed on the carriage. I was wondering what was going on outside, but I was horrified to find the answer that had come into my mind. Just a second later, which had taken years for me, we started to hear a couple of footsteps coming nearer. I hoped that would be our men’s. I was wrong. Suddenly, a huge veiny hand dived into the carriage from the window of the opposite side of the carriage where we were sitting. Everywhere has been covered with broken glasses. One or two pieces of the shuttered glass shot through to me and caused small cuts. But I couldn't even feel it. I was petrified and couldn’t even move an eyelash. The hand grasped the door of the carriage like it is made from cardboard and smashed it out. And we have seen the arm after the hand. A bulky and veiny hand, has reached in the carriage, it catched the arm of Marry and pulled her out from the smashed open gate. I was trying to hold Marry’s hand and I was screaming as loud as I could hoping the swordsmen would help. Meanwhile, the door behind me should have been opened. Before I understood, two strong arms as big as the other horrifying one, gas grasped me from the waist and pulled me out of the carriage. It was so strong and tense holding and I was feeling like I am not capable of breathing in. But this was the first time I was seeing what was going on. There was blood everywhere. I have seen the dead bodies of cavaliers’ and maids lying here and there. There were six men as I was seeing at the first time in my life and one of them was holding Marry from behind, he was trusting a dagger to her neck. Someone was also holding me from my waist, I felt the pressure again, I was just trying to think. ‘Never say you are a princess, give whatever they want and promise to give more if they let you go.’ I was saying to myself. I was just bargaining in my brain when I saw him for the first time in my life. The source of my future misery was standing before me for the first time. He was tall and thick like an oak tree. His feet were standing on the earth like the big roots. His tanned skin was covered with countless scars and a big tattoo was seen from the open neck of his tunic and looked like it was going through to his chest. His chest was as big as a trunk and his wide jaw was clasped angrily. When I dared to look into his eyes, I saw two merciless black jewels looking back at me. His long bangs were falling onto his eyes, his slightly big and curved hawk nose was giving him a more threatening air. His surprisingly shaped and plump lips opened and he talked. Morelike he thundered. “Be obedient, or you will die!” I was already not thinking of any other option. I was ready to cooperate until reaching out to my father and giving them as much as ransom for our lives. I gathered all of my courage and tried to speak. But the firm grasp around my waist wasn’t helping. If I could just breathe a little, if this grasp let me to take some air in, maybe I could think better. I have cleared my throat loudly to let them understand I am preparing to talk. It worked and black jewels fixed on me. “We are not willing to cause any trouble. We will be obedient until agreeing on a convenient ransom money between you and my family. I am the daughter of a rich duke and my father can give you a good ransom in return for us. Please don’t hurt us. “ I was thinking I am smart. But I was just wrong. “The daughter of a duke ha?” His plump lips have been curved with a smirk. “Yes, my father is very rich. Can give you anything you want. “Very rich indeed. He is a king after all.” I was aghast. He has known my father who really was. I opened my mouth to argue with it but I have seen the uselessness of it in his eyes. He was aware who he really captured. There was no use trying to fool him. So I spoke thoroughly. “What is your demand? “ “ I demand you, ma lady.” He said it with a playful voice and made a small bow as if saluting royalty, but his eyes were different, as cold as an iceberg. All of his men laughed exaggeratedly at this little joke . I have understood that their intention was not to gather some money from a royal. Whatever their plan was, it was obvious that there was a bigger goal behind. I gulped. “Who are you?” I asked as arrogantly as I dare, which was natural for a royal born. I thought if he knows that I am a princess now, then he acts according to that. “Now we are revealing our true nature aren’t we? “ he asked. Then he continued talking. “I am Tharon Aldragon. The son of the Thenin. And you are Kathleen Zayarin. The one and only daughter the king Atalen. And from now on, my prey. “ I was shocked. He said Aldragon, isn’t he? The family that swore to end mine for centuries? Zeyda, the kingdom of East. Big and deserted lands of grudge. That kingdom and my kingdom were fighting for centuries. Even my arranged marriage was to avoid any danger coming from the East, and stand more stable with an ally who bound my kingdom with a marriage. My marriage. My father was hoping for a grandson from this marriage to pass his power and lands. But even he didn’t see this coming. It was bad. Very very bad. I was trying to think but for god’s sake, the arms around my waist weren't giving me enough air to make my brains work. I struggled a little but there was no use. Marry was crying, this Tharon guy was smirking more than ever and I was just trying to take a breath. Then I have done the stupidest thing I can ever do. I bit the forearm of the guy who was holding me. He gave a loud cry and let me go for one second. I wasn’t intending to run but suddenly I felt like I had to. I ran directly to the woods. The trees were coming nearer, it was happening, I was running away… but feeling a powerful pulling at my arm, nearly dislocating my shoulder didn’t take too long. I fell down on the mud. I turned and saw the face of Tharon guy and I swore. Not like a princess or not even like a lady. It was more like a drunk from the horsehead inn. I said, “ What the fck you think you are doing you idiotic bastard of the Aldragon. You are a bastard’s son. Your father must have fck a pig to have like a small brained i***t like you. You were nearly dislocating my arm. Haven’t you been taught how to act by a lady, you disgusting pig?!! “ He was shocked. I was shocked too. If any of my noble friends or my governess would have heard me they would have been shocked too. But I couldn’t help. And it was coming from my disguised travels to the city. I will tell you that later. The shock that he was feeling didn’t take too long and left its place to anger. He furiously raised his hand and slapped me on the cheek.