Court of love or hatred

Chapter 3

As I return to my room I pass the guard with tears in my eyes, they take one look at my distressed face and look as if they were going to speak but before they could I threw open my door and slammed it shut behind me. I collapsed onto my bed in floods of tears clinging on to my pillow. Mary enters into the room cautiously she takes one look at me and gets a cloth she wets it then places it over my face.

Once I have calmed down enough she helps me over to the vanity and starts to take out the braid she placed into my hair earlier and helps me into my night garment. A tear falls from my eyes sliding down my cheek when Mary speaks up "Princess I hope you don't think I am being out of line but a beautiful lady like you should not shed tears, I am sure marrying the prince won't be that bad" she says in as reassuring a voice.

I stare at my reflection as I recall the stories I have been told of the ruthless king who will strike out anyone who opposes him. His kingdom is filled with people who are plagued with the same evil that runs through his blood that his son will follow in his fathers foot steps. These are stories I overheard growing up stories that the servants gossiped to each other when no one is around or so they thought.

Just as I was about to reply to Mary the door to my chambers slams open and in walked my father and mother. My father growled out "leave Mary now, do not speak of the princess's distress to anyone" Mary bowed and left instantly.

I turned to my father anger burning inside me at what he has done. My mother stands behind him looking sheepishly at the floor they are both silent my father staring daggers at me.

"Father how could you do this to me?, am I such a disappointment that you would give me away to them they will harm me they are our enemies".

His booming voice interrupts "You will not speak of them with disregard you are to marry his son for the good of the kingdom!"

"I will not"

He approaches me fast with such anger in his eyes that I fear he will strike me down. He grabs my shoulder and looks pleadingly into my eyes "you have no choice Eva, if you back out now our kingdom will be at war and we will be destroyed. If there was any other way I would do it but there Is none"

The tears begin to fall again as I beg "father please, I beg you don't let this happen".

He speaks loudly with authority in his tone that of a true king "Eva you will marry this boy for the good of the kingdom we all have roles to play and this is your one. You are to be married in 2 weeks time the day of your 16th birthday until then you will spend time with the prince and get to know him once you are married you will leave for his kingdom".

With red ringed eyes and a horse voice from all the crying my father turns from me in disgust the conversation seemingly over I try once last weak attempt to speak to him "father please". He stops for a second as if contemplating his decision but then with his head held high and back straight he leaves my chambers.

I turn to my mother who has her own tears in her eyes, she speaks up "I am so sorry my sweet girl your father forbid me from telling you" she tried to approach me to comfort me but I took a step back and avoided eye contact with her.

She made a desperate sound in her throat but I turned my back on her and listened to her retreating footsteps as she left my chambers. I barely made it to my bed before the body shaking sobs began and I cried myself into a restless sleep.