Red

Chapter 1

My Uncle Kane is the acting lord now that father’s gone. He’s been different since my father left. Before they got into a huge fight, and Uncle Kane just hasn’t been the same. He was always a little distant at times and he could be really mean. But now it seems like all he has in side of him is anger. My father said when I was really little Uncle Kane lost his wife and son, because of a birth complication and that we had to be gentle and understanding with him. Uncle Kane keeps urging mother to remarry and help build up the kingdom. He’s sure it’s what my father would have wanted. Today’s the day we leave our cottage just outside the village bounders to have Dinner with Uncle Kane and Cousin Duncan.

“Lotty,” Uncle Kane says hugging mother.

“Kane you look well,” she smiles and then hugs my cousin Duncan. My uncle adopted him a few years after he lost his wife and son. Duncan was orphaned after a great flood and they were both in need of someone to care for them.

“Roselyn,” Uncle Kane smiles at me, and my stomach knots. I feel like I'm in a lion’s din.

“Hello Uncle Kane.”

“Rose, why don’t you take a walk with Cousin Duncan while I talk with Uncle Kane,” mother says going up the palace steps.

“Duncan, would you mind going to the garden with me?” I ask him. Duncan’s two years younger than me but he’s still taller than me. His blonde hair’s always in such a way that his eyes are hard to see.

“No,” he says walking past the stairs through the servants’ entrance.

“Why not?” I ask as I follow him to the study.

“You always go there and get all angry and I get in trouble for it. Not this time.”

“Fine I’ll go on my own then.” I say, but, he grabs my arm and looks into my eyes.

“You’re staying in the study with me until dinner,” he orders me.

“You will unhand me. I’m your elder and the future countess of this land,” I say pulling my arm back.

“If you don’t give up this silly notation that your father’s coming home you’ll be too weak to rule anything," he yells at me.

Anger pulls into my hand and I slap him with all the strength I could pull together in my anger. “Take it back," I yell at him.

“Why should I? We both know it’s true, just admit it.”

“He’s going to come back what do you know?” I say and leave the study to go to my old room just a few doors down. I look at the family portrait of us hinging on the far wall, and the painting I started of him setting in the garden still sits incomplete on my work desk. Father promised he’ll come home soon and we would finish the painting then. He loved it when I paint the garden or mother. He said I had an act for capturing the natural beauty of everything.

“Red, can I come in,” Duncan asks standing in the door way.

“Yes” I say in a soft broken whisper. I didn’t realize I was crying until I felt his arms wrap around me. I miss my father more than ever. I hate coming to the palace because everything reminds me of him and his absence.

“Red, I’m sorry I should have never said anything like that to you. Please forgive me,” he asks. I didn’t know what to say. A part of me knows he is only trying to help me in his own twisted way. Then another part of me wants to hit him really hard.

“It’s okay,” I say as I sit on my bed and rub my hand across the silky fabric. My grandmother made this comforter for me. She said it would protect me for nightmares and evil as I slept. All I want to do was wrap myself in the blanket and never come from under its warmth and safety.

“When did your mom say you two were going to come back home?” he asks as he sits down next to me.

“I don’t think she’s ready yet,” I say and laugh a little bit. “Duncan, you really think he’s never coming home?” I ask and lay my head on his shoulder.

“He promised he would come back and he will, just wait and see,” Duncan says brushing the hair on the top of my head back and kissing me there.

“Thanks for understanding,” I say as the maid comes and calls us for dinner. My mom hasn’t look at me since I set down for dinner. That could only mean something I won’t like is about to happen. Uncle Kane is staring at her too. Obviously, whatever it is was his idea, as always. “Lotty, would you like to give the kids the news, or should I?” Uncle Kane asks as the servants clear the table and put out dessert. It made me feel a little better that Duncan is worry. At less I won’t have to suffer alone.

“Maybe we should ask the children’s opinions before we decide to do something?” my mom says eating her pudding.

“Why? They’ll agree with me I’m sure,” Uncle Kane says smiling his icy smile at me.

“What’s going on?” Duncan asks. He must have sensed I was about to say something out of term to Uncle Kane.

Uncle Kane looks at mother and she reluctantly gestures for him to continue. “Well Duncan you and Roselyn are both of age and we feel it’s time you marry.”

Duncan and I exchange looks and my mom continues. “We know this seems sudden but it’s what happens at your age. You two must build families and those new families will be your future and your legacy. We’re going to hold a banquet and invite all the people we think will suit each of you. After that you two will select who you like. If you don’t we’ll chose for you.”

“Mom tha”-

“Your mother and I have made up our minds it’s been long enough,” Uncle Kane says cutting me off.

“You can’t marry me off, only my father can,” I say looking at my mom. “May I be excused?” I ask. I can’t stand the sight of my uncle at this very moment, how dare he?

“I’m doing this for the good of the family. I’m sure it’s what your father would have wanted,” Uncle Kane says smiling his fake, icy, tormented smile at me once again. “You may go.”