Prophecy of the Heart

It had been a beautiful-moonlit night in the kingdom of Oceana. The snow started to fall softer than a whisper. Lilith was dressed in a red and black lace gown perched on the window sill, her brown hair piled high as little ringlets fell around her neck. She watched the snow fall, playing with the ringlets and twisting her fingers in them. King Dominic paced back and forward as he spoke in a deep, stern voice. " Lilith?" "Lilith? Did you hear me? You have to get married very soon!" Lilith's hands fell into her lap. She then turned and glared at her father as tears fell from her rare but beautiful icy blue eyes. "Father, I have told you over and over again. Why won't you hear me? I want to marry for love, not for the kingdom. Mom married you and that was for love, right?" Lilith asked with the question hanging in the silence. Lilith was upset. She wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself. "My dear child, your mother had the chance to marry me for love because I was right for the kingdom. It just happened that way. As we grew up together, we built our feelings for one another. Your marriage will also be good for the kingdom. So please give Jace a chance?" The king pleaded one last time with his daughter, no longer wanting to fight about it. Lilith dreaded these conversations with her father. He has been saying the same thing since she was 16. She wanted to be in love with her husband. "Father, do you not remember when Jace was last here? My arm ended up broken." she shutters remembering her arm and the pain she had gone through. " He was downright rude and treated me differently because I'm a girl. I see nothing in him at all." She stayed perched on the window sill, frustrated with this conversation and with the past. Her father gave what she said some thought before he decided what he was going to say next. "My child, you were both so young. He's changed since he was here last, or so I have heard. You have both grown up into nice young adults. I also remember how you would tease him." He raised an eyebrow, eyeing his daughter. " He has become a very strong, independent young prince. Please give him a chance. That is all I'm asking." The king begged before falling silent. Lilith also didn't speak. The silence was louder than anything for some time, both lost in thought. Lilith finally spoke up. "Fine!" "I will give him one month to show me he's changed, and then you shall know my answer. When are we expecting him to arrive?" She had enough of this. She looked away from her father as she got up and started for the door. " The day after tomorrow." The King spoke calmly, shocked that she agreed to give him another chance. Lilith nodded as she walked off, then shouted to be sure her father heard it one last time. " He's got one month. No more. No less! I love you, and have a good night." Then Lilith walked right into the darkness till she could not be seen, shaking her head. As Lilith made her way to her chambers, her thoughts played into the evening's conversation over and over. She couldn't wrap her mind around how her father smoothly talked her into giving Jace another chance. She knew it would be great for the kingdom maybe, but after the last time he had stayed. She never saw him show anything more than disrespect. He acted as if he was a god. Lilith found herself wandering out into the newly fallen snow in the courtyard. It was the last snowfall of the year. Lilith glided around the fountain lost in thought. She stopped and looked up at the sky as the snow continued to fall, wetting her face, one beautiful snowflake at a time. As she stood in the cool night, Lilith had thoughts of getting out of the castle. She thought about how something so big could feel like the walls were closing in. The Villages clock tower struck Twelve and bells began to chime. With every loud toll, Lilith was brought back to the present. She stumbled back into the castle, making her way very quickly to her room. Moving through the halls as fast as she could. Once Lilith finally arrived at her chambers she found Mary, her trusted friend and lady, hard at work. Mary was a little older than Lilith, about twenty years of age. Her black hair was placed into a braid that she put into a bun to keep it out of the way. Lilith walked into the room and sat at her vanity, with a heavy sigh and a heavy heart. Mary looked up from turning down the bed. "Are you alright Lilly?" Mary spoke, concern dripping from her question. Lilith looked back at Mary through the mirror. " Yes I'm fine, I guess." She looked down at her hands, struggling to take off her jewelry. "How did your conversation at dinner go with King Dominic?" Mary asked in complete wonder. Lilith didn't answer right away, her thoughts and feelings were all over the place. She truly didn't know how to respond to the question. "Well...." Lilith sighed and continued, not sure about how much to say. "We had the marriage talk again. I still don't see why father has come to this. I hear stories that my father was a different person. Kind, Spirited, but then mom died after I was born. People say that's when he went through a change.” Mary walked over and started to remove the hair pins from Lilith's hair as they spoke. "Yes, he has changed, but it's alright. He only wants what is best for you. You have changed in many ways as well. Look at the beautiful woman you have become." Mary smiled and started to brush out her hair for the evening. "Mary, I did agree to let Prince Jace have another chance as a suitor." Lilith spoke quickly, trying to get all the words out before losing the courage to do so. Mary stopped in mid-brush, shocked, and looked up at Lilith with a smile. " You’re giving him another chance." "Really?" The excitement hung in the air after Mary spoke, then she paused. "I thought you hated Jace? The last time he was here you said he was a beast of a man. No one could possibly want to marry someone so disrespectful and horrible." Lillith looked puzzled even though, deep down, she felt as if she was very happy. "Yes, all of that maybe true, but I would do anything to make my father happy and, truly, what can it hurt giving him another chance? Let's see if he has grown up as my father said. I know in my heart he hasn't changed, and my decision will stay the same." Lilith sighed softly and stretched. Mary took notice. " Not sleeping well again, Lilly?" Lilith shook her head and growled in frustration. " Mary, I keep having this dream, and they reoccur every night. It's the same one, and it causes me to wake up. I don't know why it's the same every night. What should I do?" Mary looked at Lillith very worried. " My Princess, I’m truly not sure. Should I send for the doctor? He may have something to help you sleep." Lilith, lost in her own thoughts, her eyes started to feel heavy. Sleep was creeping up, yet she tried to push it away with fear of going to sleep. Darkness kept slipping into her mind, sleep willing her to close her eyes. "No, thank you, Mary. I feel as if sleep will stay with me tonight. Once you're finished, you should head to bed as well." Lillith stood up and walked to her bed, trying so hard to stay upright. Once she laid her head down, sleep consumed her right away. Mary finished her tasks and left quickly and quietly, leaving her princess with her dreams. Mary left the chambers with a soft click of the door, and she dashed down the hall in search of the king.