Bound to the Throne

Chapter 2 - Kennah

It's a shame that my ladies-in-waiting's talents are being wasted on me. I look completely transformed. My hair is silky curls with sunny jewels throughout. They look like the first stars that shine at night when the light catches them. My skin is glowing with no trace of the darkness the shadowed beneath my eyes. The dress flows with every movement, adding to the illusion of being liquid. Most girls would relish this celebration. They have probably been looking forward to this day for a while. I envy that blissful happiness. I stare in the mirror admiring their work, while counting down the minutes until I can wash it off and hide back in my bedroom. My one place of solitude that is also coming to an end. I shudder at the thought of having to share a room with Aric. He's already insufferable in a crowded room. I doubt he will be any more pleasant alone. Our fathers introduced us a year ago, when the official wedding planning began. He was gorgeous. As a young naive girl, I was happy. I felt hope thinking this meant the marriage would be bearable. I realized I was wrong the moment he began talking.

A knock sounds at my door and my lady Lyra, Clara's twin, goes to open it. "It's time." Carrin says. He's fully covered in the guard's formal atire. The base layer was made of dark heavy cotton. The sleeves flowed down into their black leather gloves. The trousers were tucked into their tall black flat boots. Their surcoats were a dark shade of blue, with our family crest of two crossed swords centered in bright gold. I know my father has sent word to retrieve me, so I try not to stall anymore. My stomach drops as I pass the threshold into the hall, but my face transforms, hiding any trace of my discomfort. Carrin turns and begins the path to the courtyard. He walks directly in front of me as a shield. I wonder if he also puts on a face for his role, or if this is just his personality. I have known him my whole life, but cannot remember him talking about anything other than orders.

My legs feel heavy as we walk down the hall as if they're willing me to stop. We turn the first corner and a deep ache sets in my chest. I haven't stepped foot in my mother's room since that horrid night. Despite all the candles hung on the wall, it feels very dark. We make it to the wide staircase. I grab onto the smooth wooden railing to help me balance on the way down. I focus on my feet not trusting them to miss a step. I look up once I reach the landing. Prince Aric is waiting with a pained look on his face. "It is ill manners to leave your Prince waiting." He turned his head towards the door while bending his elbow so I could slide my hand through. I know he meant his reprimand as a one-sided conversation, but I have never been one to keep my mouth shut. "You are not my prince, yet." I slide my arm through and gently place my hand on his arm. He turns, bending his head til his mouth is so close to my ear that I feel his breath as he speaks. "When you are my WIFE, you will learn exactly when and how to use that mouth." A wave of nausea hits, fracturing my smile for a split second. I swear I saw Aric's bodyguard's gaze shift in his direction. I know he's overheard Aric say far worse things to me before. This is what he reacts to? Carrin is still a stone beside me, unphased with the impeding danger to the one he's sworn to protect. How comforting.

Both guards step forward, taking their place as the doors begin to open. I'm glad they agreed to have the celebration outside. I definitely need fresh air. The tea did nothing except dull the headache that had been forming. We walk out into the courtyard as the harp begins to play. I politely nod at the guest as we make our way down the aisle they have created that leads to our table. I hope they keep the decorations up past tonight. It really is quite beautiful. I can tell all the string lights will make it feel magical at night.

Our fathers are standing behind their seats facing us. Tall grassy hills cascade behind them. The only thing keeping us apart is the stone fencing lining the grounds. We make our way in between them before unlocking our arms. "We thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate the engagement of Prince Aric and Princess Kennah. Not only will our kingdoms be joined, but the protection on our lands will become secure. Their promise to each other has become their promise to you," my father exclaims to our guest. "This has been a long time coming." King Alaric joins in. "I know you have been counting down the days, as have we. This time next week, we will gather again to celebrate their marriage, and to officially rid the elves' reign of terror on our land. Now feast!" Cheers erupt from everyone before taking their seats. Servants spill out behind the kitchen door placing covered plates on the tables. I ignore my plate and go straight for the wine. This earns a glance from my father. "You will keep your head on your shoulders tonight. No one came to see a drunken Princess make a fool of the throne." To everyone else, he probably looked like he was a proud father talking to his daughter. It used to be that way between us. Something shifted in his soul the night that mother died. I looked out to our guests. It looks as if only the rich nobles of both kingdoms were invited to attend. Silk dresses, fur shawls, and a secret contest of who can wear the biggest jewels around their neck.

I picked at the bread on my plate until I recognized the cue for Aric and I to begin our dance. It is custom for royalty to start the dance portion at any function. Aric stands up beside me and holds out his hand. I gently place my hand in his, not wanting to feel him more than I have to. We both put on our fake smiles as he leads me to the dance floor in the center. The next symphony plays and we begin to move. His hand is on my lower back, forcing me closer to him. I don't know if he means to show me his strength or power that he will soon have over me. I know it's not to show how passionate we are for one another. This particular style of dance is meant to have a little space between your partner. As a result, my foot trips over his when I go for my spin. He smoothly pulls it off by pulling me into a dip. I'm sure that my father still noticed. Aric probably overheard him speaking earlier at our table and took it as an opportunity. Thankfully, he allows some distance now that his plan was accomplished. The rest of the dance flows smoothly and ends with me taking a bow to him. I'm sure he relished that moment.

When I raised back up everyone erupted into applause. I let myself come back to reality and notice everyone frantically running. It was applause that I was hearing, it was screaming. Carrin and Aric's bodyguard rush towards us among others to form a shield. We don't make a sound as they usher us back inside the castle. It's something we had drilled into us as a kid. Stay quiet and do what the guards tell you to do. Wasting time to repeat themselves was giving more time to the enemy. They led us to the back of the castle into a room that had no windows. The door was altered to instantly seal once closed. It won't open again until next daylight, unless someone has the code to override it from the outside. Our bodyguards fill inside with us. The others remain outside the door. My heart is seizing inside my chest. Not again. The walls feel as if they are closing in and my lungs burn with each breath that I take. I stumble backwards until my back hits the wall. I close my eyes to ground myself. I focused on the feel of the wall behind me, and the smell of bergamot on my dress. It's the annoying heavy-footed pacing of Aric that eventually draws me out. "What the f**k is going on out there?" Aric demands from his guard. He turns to face Aric, but I don't give him time to respond. "Are you that dense? They're locked in here with us. They can't see through the f*****g wall." I spit back.

Aric reaches me in two strides and backhands me across the face. Hard. I feel his grip on my shoulder for a split second before it is ripped off of me. I turn to see Aric's guard punching him straight in the jaw. Aric falls to the ground unconscious. I stare in shock. Carrin rushes him with his sword drawn. I barely see him spin to dodge the hit, but I did see him draw his own swordand drive it right through Carrin's heart. I try to scream, but the air becomes trapped inside my lungs. He wasn't ushering to safety. He was cutting us off from it. He turns toward me. Blood drips from the end of the sword. I straighten myself knowing I'm next. I know I have no chance of defeating him after what I just witnessed, but I'm sure as hell not submitting to it.

Instead, he walks back to the door and knocks three times. The door opens for him to pass on through, and then closes behind him. I hear someone ask "Is it done?" but their voices become too faded to hear the response. My brain struggles to process what just happened. Why would they kill a guard, but not the prince? This attack was not random. It was strategically planned. The motive just didn’t make sense unless it was to show how easily they could get inside. I replay the event in my mind. The one detail that stood out above all others was the speed of the attackers. Elves are the only ones given the gift of strength and speed at birth. It is not apart of their connection to the earth. Elves are back.