Unbound

Preparation

Visions haunted her that night. Her dreams crawled with strange, roving creatures and random black clouds. Once, her mysterious stranger emerged from a shadow, his black curls pent under a silver crown. A purple gem carved into a moon was fixed into his crown, the same insignia she noticed on his boots.

His hand reached out to her, beckoned her forth.

“How glorious would it feel to be free?” He asked with a grin. Two razor-sharp incisors winked between his lips.

A strange gurgling erupted in her stomach and she back away in her dream, shaking her head.

She said, “At what cost?”

“Everything,” he whispered.

Everything…

The word echoed within her, even as she prepped for the long, laborious night ahead. Maids fussed about her, applying lipsticks and rouges, tightening corsets and ribbons, and unraveling long, red tendrils of hair.

Once preparations were through, she stared at herself in the mirror. Her dress was a winding, strapless contraption of deep green silk, that furrowed in waves from her waist until it hit the floor. If she turned – just slightly – she could the interwoven ribbons at her back. They bled into one another, fastening her inside. Fair skin peeked out at every turn, a daring taste to a court of admirers.

Her hair fell to her shoulders – half down, half braided into an intricate braid crown that clung around her head, with a modest gold crown tucked in-between. Emerald eyes stunned  between charcoal accents, brightened by vibrant color of her dress.

There was a knock at her door – subtle, soft.

“Come in.”

A sea of maid parted to pave the way for Agnar. A regal vision in rich colors and satins, he projected an aura befitting a king. When he smiled, Analise’s heart broke at the likeness to their father. Her body bowed in a curtesy.

“Tonight’s a big one for you,” he said. His words were awkward, hesitant, like a child attempting to make amends for a wrongdoing. His eyes sung a similar song: wide and innocent, hesitant and kind.

She hummed in agreement.

“Still not speaking to me, Lise? It was wrong of me not to tell you before the meeting, but the elder ambushed – “

“No, Cassandra did. She always sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong,” she snapped.

“She only interfered because I hesitated with the council. Analise, I don’t agree with this decision. If it were up to me –”

“But it is up to you.” She whirled on him, grabbed his wrists in both her hands. “You’re king. Change the law.”

“The council has veto power,” he said, pressing a kiss to her head. “Over and over and over, I’ve tried to fight this but they won’t budge. Alasia is in a fragile state and the council’s convinced you’re the only solution.”

She nodded, gulped back the dread that threatened to claw its way from her throat. Words she wanted to hurl at him; tears that begged to be freed.

“You’re upset with me. Gods, I know you’re upset with me, but we’ll get through this. We’ll negotiate your first year of marriage here, in Alasia, where you’ll be comfortable. We’ll work in mandatory visitation – whatever’s in my power, I’ll do it, Analise. I won’t lose you.”

He lifted her hands and bestowed them with a kiss. His eyes shimmered with sweet sincerity. They exchanged a few pleasantries before grabbing her hand and leading her to the ballroom.