The Wedding
Lyra sits in her carriage watching the wildlife frolic around her.
"I wish I were free." She murmurs to herself.
One of her men, also her brother, Enzo, looks over at her. "You okay, sis?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired. When are we arriving?"
"I don't know, maybe in about a day or so. I forgot the count."
"It's in a few hours, dingfaud! You have no sense of numbers. You're a prince, for goodness sake! How are you supposed to rule with that kind of mind!" One of the knights, Marcus, says.
Lyra laughs at the exchange. Marcus has always been short-tempered; everyone knew that.
***
A castle came into view. Lyra gasps. "Wow," she says in awe, "This is more lively and beautiful than I imagined!"
"Welcome to Fairwell, little sis," Enzo says.
They head through the gates, and Lyra watches as children run around playing. A few people carry baskets of bread, wheat, and corn.
She smiles, wondering if this won't be as bad after all. The children stop playing and stare at the carriage. People start running to their houses and grab the children. It's as if they're terrified of her and her knights.
"Enzo, why are they running from us?"
"I don't know, but I don't want to know. There are some rumors down here about their king; I don't want to know the rumors about us."
A chill went down Lyra's spine. It wasn't from Enzo's words. She looked around and then saw horses running towards them in the distance.
"Crap, keep the lady in the carriage. Looks like we won't have a cozy welcoming." Marcus says. All the knights form into position to keep Lyra safe.
The knights slow down their horses and call out to them.
"Don't give us trouble. Hand over the princess, and the wedding will be held tonight. Her new maid is ready to get her ready. We would not like resistance."
"Lyra, step out of the carriage." One of her knights said.
Lyra reluctantly steps out and walks forward. Enzo smiles at her for the last time, and she walks forward towards the enemy knights.
Tears run down Lyra's face when she realizes this might be the last time she ever sees life again. She is handed the reins of one of the horses that doesn't have a rider.
"It's your horse. His Highness requested it for you."
A hint of confusion washes over her face, but she covers it up, knowing it's just to look good in front of her knights so no fight happens.
She hops on the horse and gives her brother a last goodbye. "Bye, Enzo." She whispers.
***
"I'm Meme. I'm going to help you get ready. This is going to be your dress. How would you like your hair?"
"I don't know. Do whatever; it won't matter."
"I think it will, maddem. You'll be the lady of the house. You'll be in charge of everyone here. Don't you want to set a good impression?"
"I won't make it that long. I'll be dead by tonight."
Meme looks at her in confusion. Then it dawns on her. She starts laughing, and Lyra looks at her. "Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no. It's just that you thought it was all wrong. His Highness won't kill you, sweetheart. Yes, he's ruthless and will kill anyone who makes him mad, but he won't hurt his wife. I've seen the side of him no one else has seen. I'm one of his most trusted maids. He has talked about how excited he is to marry you. He used to know you, you know. He said he's always wanted to marry you. It's sweet, really."
"I don't believe that. Sorry. My whole life I've been told that he kills anyone in his way and that he hates humans. I'm a human. I was raised being told he's a monster. He was raised on the battlefield, right?"
"Yes, he was, but before you come up with any more reasons why you think you'll die, just meet him first. Okay?"
"Okay. But-"
"No, stop spiraling. You'll make yourself sick."
"Okay."
Meme helps Lyra into the dress that shockingly fits her perfectly. Lyra looks at herself in the mirror and sees someone staring back at her that she has never seen before.
"You look stunning, Lyra! Oh, I'm so sorry, madame. I didn't mean to call you that."
"No, no, it's okay. You can call me that. I don't see you as my maid; I see you as a friend."
"Lyra, that's so sweet of you!!"
Lyra smiles and turns around to look at herself again. "I really am beautiful."
Meme does her hair up into a half-up, half-down. She makes her top piece into a crown and puts flowers through it. "It looks so cute on you. With your white hair and blue eyes, these blue and red wildflowers look amazing."
"It's... I have no words."
"That's good! I did good then!"
"Yes, you did. How old are you anyway? A professional usually does this type of hairstyle."
"I'm seventeen. I work here because they pay good money and because his highness saved my mother and offered the job. My mother is now thriving, and my little siblings are thriving. I have nine siblings."
"Oh, we're not far from age. I have an older brother and a younger sister. My brother's name is Enzo. He's also one of my knights. He wasn't very happy about me leaving. But my parents hated me and wanted me gone. They wanted the war to end, so I was arranged to the king as an ally."
"Oh, wow. That's horrible. Oh, my, it's time!"
"Oh, right. The wedding."
"Yes, yes. Come on! We have to go. You're late!"
***
The doors open to a lavish hall filled with people. Lyra looks ahead and sees the king at the altar. He's in his kingly attire: gold and black.
Lyra's hands start trembling, not from happiness, but from fear.
He towers over her when she steps onto the altar. She can't even hear the high priest. She can't take her eyes off him. He has a scar running from his eye to the bottom of his jawline. It's terrifying.
Lyra feels tears well up in her eyes. She refuses to let them fall. She won't show her fear, not in front of him. Not in front of so many people.
His Highness leans down to her level and whispers something. "I can smell your fear, angel. So can everyone in this hall."
A chill runs down her spine, and she shivers. The high priest then announces the thing she's been dreading to hear.
"You may now kiss the bride!"
His highness leans down to her face, and Lyra flinches. He sees it, then sighs. "I'm sorry for this, angel."
He kisses her, slow and steady, like he's done it before. Lyra's legs buckle under her, and she falls into him.
He pulls away. "Whoa there."
Dots dance around her vision, then everything goes black.
