"You look beautiful milady" The maid said with a smile, staring at serenya through the large mirror in the room.
That statement pulled serenya back from her train of thoughts, she studied herself in the mirror. Her long silver hair was curled into beautiful waves that casaded down her shoulders, they painted her lips with a rose like dye and dusted her eyelids with a shimmer like snow. Her long white dress flowed effortlessly.
She looked like a bride sculpted from winter.
Beauty was an understatement
"Thank you ..." Serenya replied, forcing a smile . The day has finally arrived, a day she had dreaded for the past decade.....
Her Wedding Day.
Every little girl daydreams about how her wedding would be, they think about everything from the theme of the wedding down to the tiniest little detail. They fantasize about how they would strut down the aisle towards the man of their dreams....But for serenya, it was the exact opposite.
Suddenly the doors burst open and a tall strong male figure stepped in.
He appeared to be in his late fifties, he was dressed in white robed with gold streaks ln them. A large gold crown seated on his neatly comber her. He stared at serenya through the mirror, with a stern expression on his face.
"Good morning your majesty" The three maids said in unison, as they bowed before him .
"Leave us" He commanded, while still staring at serenya through the mirror. They bowed once more before exiting the room. He stepped foward, serenya rose from her chair and turned to face him
"Good morning Father" she greeted with a slight bow. His eyes studied her from head to toe...his expression tightened. Serenya unconsciously held her breathe....what was he going to say now?
"You are ready" He said. It wasn't a question
"Yes I am"
"You're about to enter enemy soil. These monsters are the same ones that ruined this kingdom. I want you to think about the lives that were lost before now, the blood that was shed, the lives that were ruined just to get us to this very moment. Everyone is looking up to you to end this war, you cannot let them down. Don't let me down"
"Yes father" her hands balled into tight fists, she has to be strong for her people. It doesn't matter what she feels, as a leader the kingdom comes first.
" The veyrs probably have something planned for them to agree so easily to this. Be careful around them, especially around that prince"
"I've been preparing for this for the past decade. I will be careful"
He nodded and left without a single glance back.
Serenya stared at the closed door, with different emotions spiralling through her mind. In a few minutes she would be walking into the kingdom that destroyed hers.
She sighed softly.
The door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside, her presence soft and comforting.
"My beautiful princess..." The lady said with a smile as wide and bright as the sun, instantly soothing the tension her father had created.
"Godmother...." Serenya called out, eversince she lost her mother to this war, Meristele has always been there for her. She took up her mother's role and never let her spend a day alone.
She walked over to her and gave her a tight hug. For the first time in years she let herself imagine like her mother was right here, cheering her on
"You've grown into a beautiful lady my dear, you look just like your mother" Meristele complimented with a smile.
" Thank you godmother" she smiled back
"Your mother would be so proud of you"
Serenya's chest tightened...
" She would be happy to know that her daughter is willing to give everything to protect the kingdom she left behind"
"She was such a strong woman, even till death. I don't think I can ever compare to who she was" Her fists tightened, her mother was at the front line during every war as the top sorceress of the kingdom. She was their secret weapon, they always brought her in when everything else had failed. But this time the veyrs were ready for her. They had snuck into the kingdom under the cover of night. Her mother did everything she could to protect both Serenya and the kingdom. But the intruders had come prepared, and that battle cost her life.
Even in death she's still the hero of Ariathen.
Since then the kingdom barely survived wars.
Meristele's gaze softened as she looked at Serenya. She stepped forward and gently held her hands.
"I know you're under a lot of pressure," she said softly.
"But you have to be strong… not just for the kingdom, but for the memory of your mother."
She squeezed Serenya's hands.
"She was a warrior, and her blood runs through your veins. You don't need to become her."
Meristele smiled faintly.
"Become someone even greater."
Serenya smiled back, her eyes that were lost of all hope suddenly glistened with resolve.
" I will avenge my mother and protect this country. Even if it costs me my life!" She declared
Meristele pulled her in for a tight hug
"You're going to be just fine.."
****
The corridor stretched endlessly before her, lit with floating flames of pure white light.
Serenya walked down the hall with Ariathen soldiers following suit with two Maids infront of her. Every step she took echoed through the marble halls of the Ariathen high temple.
People lined by the walls -cloaked nobles, sacred knights, silent acrolytes...some bowed their heads in gratuity, others stared bewildered at what was about to take place
She gave them no room to wonder, she kept walking with a stern expression but Inside she was choking on the stories of her soon to be spouse . Rumour has it that, the prince is cursed to turn to a beast every midnight, devouring everything in sight. Brides that go into that castle, disappear without a trace. Never to be heard from again.
Serenya took a deep breath.
' I'm doing this for my kingdom. For the people of Ariathen! '
She swallowed those doubts and kept walking foward towards huge metal doors.
Her guards went infront of her and pulled the doors open.
A large court yard came into view, with no ceiling. The moonlight shone upon the courtyard, with silver torches mounted on the altar in ghostly halos and there he waited.....
Her soon to be husband...
The Cursed Veyr Prince....
Prince Kaelen.
He stood there motionless, wearing a black cloak.
Serenya's hands fisted at her sides, her heart pounding against her rib cage. Veyr soldiers were all cloaked, seated in the congregation...she had never seen them physically before. In stories, they were described as pale skinned ugly creatures with large red scary eyes that could enchant you if you look too closely.
A maid handed her a rose bouquet
She sighed
"I can do this"
Slowly and elegantly as rehearsed she walked down towards the altar. Every step she took reminded her of the series of trainings she took, all the books she read to survive this union and no matter what it costs....she has to protect her people. She held her head high with the moon light reflecting on her diamond bejeweled dress, she looked like a goddess that just came down from the heavens.
Her gaze never strayed from the cloaked man infront of her. Then finally she reached the altar....a preach stood before them
"Prince Kaelen... reveal yourself to your bride" The priest instructed.
The man's hands stretched above his head and slowly he took off his hood.
Serenya's eyes widened.
OH MY GOD!!.