The Arranged Marriage

Chapter2

Wind gushed hard as the three stood out there at the dock waiting for a new future to come in. The white sail could be seen from a mile away. River’s blonde hair flowed with the wind as she brought her arms in tighter trying to console heat. Her mother wrapped her arm in hers.

“Now, I know you don’t want this, but he is a sweet boy, my love. He will help you take care of this kingdom that will come to your hands,” she said with a caring tone trying to reason with her daughter.

“Yes, mother, I know,” Rivers sighs trying to be acceptable for her wanting to be a good daughter for her.

The large brown ship comes into view as he starts to be by the dock. A tall brown hair boy stood looking down at the petite long blonde-haired girl. He thought of her beauty with her long light blue dress rolled with the wind as she was covering up with a white cape draped over her shoulders. A glittery crown that shone in the sunlight sat on her head showing their wealth and title to anyone who looked.

“Welcome,” her father announced as they came off the ship.

“Jonathan Reiana!” The king of Epheoris proudly said with his arms wide open as they both hugged each other. “Long time no see, my fellow King.”

“Has it been that long? Time does slip by,” King Jonathan said, patting him on the back.

The two kings were long-time friends since they were young boys. Their kingdoms would visit each other just as so. Their actions were such of not how royales should act in front of their peasants, but at that time they didn’t seem to mind. The peasants didn’t mind, they liked to see their royales enjoying themselves.

“Diana,” smiled the queen of Epheoris as she walked over to her, giving her a welcoming hug.

“Samatha, so glad you are here,” Diana responded, hugging her tight back.

Rivers watched awkwardly not knowing if she should go up to him and talk or not. He looked beyond the people in front of him to his new town that he would need to take care of.

“Cruise, why don’t you go talk to her?” Queen Samatha whispered in his ear as he took the hint and smiled covering up their conversation.

With this, he took a few steps towards Rivers as she just watched him nervously.

“Hello, my name is Prince Cruise Charleston of Epheoris,” he said, introducing himself to the woman he would soon be marrying as bowed in front of her.

“Oh,” she gasped remembering what her parents told her to say. “I am Princess Rivers Reiana of the Northern Iles.”

She didn’t bow down which shocked him. He thought every princess or queen did that when greeted by any royal. Her eyes just watched him as her mind was elsewhere, off in a different land of a different time. Nothing amused her. She wanted some action, some story to unfold. However, to her, he was an open book with his story already shown. Some prince that was mature and worthy enough to take control of her land. Too much school behind him so he is smart beyond the regular man. Many skills he has mastered to impress over nations.

However, he couldn’t read her. He has heard stories about her having a wild carefree attitude which he has never met in a royale. Other kingdoms would bring their best daughter forward to him so that he would marry him, but they always turned them down. Never really knowing why he did, all the women were excellent candidates. He was just looking for something more. Something you didn’t see every day.

“Let's go back to the castle,” King Jonathan smiled, moving towards the two carriages.

“Why don’t we let the new couple ride together and we will all ride together?” he announced again, but this wasn’t really a question for anyone as they all obliged to what he said.

“Can my lady ride with us?” Rivers questioned with hope to not be alone with a stranger just yet.

“Can my sir ride with us also?” Cruise mimicked, kind of hurt that she didn’t want to ride with just him for they will have to get to know each other fairly quickly.

“Of course,” smiled Queen Diana as she motioned for them to get in.

Lily, her lady and maid, helped the princess into the carriage silently admiring the two handsome boys that she was about to ride with. Cruise didn’t offer his hand, which made Rivers roll her eyes. Wasn’t that what all men were supposed to do, she thought, especially to a princess. Once the two women were seated, Cruise and Charles, his head boy, filled into the carriage as they were about to trot off to the new future that holds them together.

“This is Charles Johnson, my head boy from back in Epheoris,” Prince Cruise introduced to break the awkward silence that formed as they were riding.

“Um…” Charles coughed embarrassed. “Nice to meet you, m’ladies.”

“It is a pleasure,” Rivers smiled as she then turned to Lily, “And this is Lily Harper. My head maid and my lady.”

Lily didn’t say anything but smiled and nodded to them as the men said how it was nice to meet her. Her eyes lingered on Cruise longer than she should have, not exactly looking at his looks but at all the crown that sat on top of his head.

Once they made it back to the castle, the men were gentlemen as they let the ladies out first with the parents.

“Come, let's go inside!” Excitedly announced King Jonathan. “We can discuss the wedding.”

As the two parents took arms as Cruise and Rivers looked at each other hesitating to do so. The maids and servants followed them all into the throne room where the king and queen took their seats.

“Please bring some chairs for the Charlestons,” asked Queen Dianna to one of the many servants in the room as Rivers took her seat next to her parents.

“The wedding will be in three days and they will announce to the public tomorrow,” King Jonathan started as chairs were brought in front of them.

“Yes, they need to be shown to the public and on television as soon as possible,” King Frederick agrees sitting down in his chair.

“Of course.”

“Princess Rivers has many suitors and we need them to know that she is already engaged to the Epherious,” Queen Samatha adds rubbing her hands together anxiously thinking of how another man might offer something higher than they can for Rivers' hand.

“You needn’t worry, Queen Samatha, Rivers does have many offers, but you are our good friends which outweighs everyone,” Queen Diana responds with a reassuring smile.

“This will be started at noon for the public and then that evening for a public television announcement. Tomorrow night there will be a ball for the engagement, and after the wedding ceremony a ball that evening for the celebration,” King Jonathan explains not caring about what Rivers will think because she will make her do whatever he says.

Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Rivers stares at the floor thinking about her life falling apart in all of three days. She will be the queen of land and can no longer get away with all of the mischief she causes. Her head will ache from the crown she will have to wear. And most importantly, she won't be her anymore, she will be a wife of a man she does not want to be a wife of. Her heart sank as she thought. Her mind is the enemy not helping her situation at hand.

Cruise sat there thinking about how he would finally be able to run a land as all his lessons would come to action. No thought of having a wife crossed his mind but when he looked up and saw her sitting on the throne; his heart sank as he won't be himself anymore but a husband to a girl he didn’t want to be a husband too.