The bells of Aurelia rang but it didn't sound like celebration, instead it sounded like a warning.
I stood at my balcony of the palace watching the city of Aurelia slowly wake, merchants opened their stall, people moving from one place, buying and selling, guards changed shift. Everything looked normal, yet I knew it was not. The council does not call meeting at sunrise unless something was terribly wrong.
Behind me was a silk curtain, as my maid Liora stepped closer to me.
My princess, she said softly, the council is waiting for you.
I nodded, though my chest felt tightened. "They did not say why", I asked her
She shook her head. Only that it concerns the borders she said.
The borders?
That single word alone was enough to turn my stomach.
For generation, Aurelia has been the richest kingdom in the region, our lands were fertile, our treasury was full, gold flowed through our market like water but wealth doesn't mean strength or power. Our soldiers had been weakened by the years of peace and our enemies knew it.
I turned away from the balcony. Fear was a luxury I could not afford.
As I walked through the marble hall, memories followed me. My father once ruled with confidence and fire and now his throne was empty, draped in black clothe, a reminder of the crown I wasn't ready to wear.
The guard opened the council room and when I walked in, the room felt silent.
Elders, generals and nobles sat in circle, their faces were tense. My mother sat at the head, her posture straight, her expression calm, when our eyes met, I saw the worry in her eyes that she was trying to hide.
I sat beside her.
Speak she said carefully, my daughter is here now.
An older man rose, Lord Kael, he had served the crown longer than I have been alive
Our scouts returned last night, he said. The northern forces are moving.
A murmur spread across the room
How close, I asked.
Too close, he replied
My fingers curled into my palm. And our defenses, I asked
A heavy silence answered me
General Rovan cleared his throat, we are not ready for war.
His word were sharp.
My mother's voice was steady, then speak your solution she said.
Lord Kael hesitated before speaking, there is a solution. An alliance.
I leaned forward. With who?
His eyes met with mine, the Stonehaven community.
My heart beat increased
Stonehaven
They were strong, disciplined, fierce, not wealthy but feared. Their leader Dane is a man raised with high reputation, a man raised by hardship, a man who bowed to no crown.
Aurelia has never bent to Stonehaven, I said
Times have changed, Lord Kael said. They won't fight for gold alone this time.
I already knew what they wanted, I could feel it.
What do they want, I asked quietly.
The answer came like a sentence passed in a court.
A royal marriage.
Eveything moved fast in my eyes.
I rose to my feet angrily, absolutely not, I said.
My daughter, my mother said gently.
No, I repeated, my voice shaking, you cannot ask this of me I said.
Lord Kael spoke again, princess Amara this marriage will be of great of help to us, it will unite both lands, it will stop the invasion and save Aurelia.
And bind me to a man I have never met or even love or to a man who despise us, I said bitterly.
Dane has already agreed, the Lord added.
It stung more than I expected, Dane has already agreed.
I looked around the room, this were the people who had watched me grow, who had spoke loyalty to my father yet none of them could speak again it.
I turned to my mother, pls say something.
Her eyes glistened but her voice did not break, if they was another way out, I would choose but they isn't, she said.
The truth rested heavily on my chest.
If I refuse, my people will suffer and if I agree, I would loose myself.
I thought of the city of Aurelia, the market, the children, the house that would burn if war came.
Painfully, I nodded.
I will do it, I said
Everyone in the room felt relived which made my stomach turn.
But hear me clearly, I said, I will marry him for my kingdom, not for peace or neither for love.
No one interrupted me.
I do not know this man and I will not pretend to love him, I said.
Somewhere far away, thunder rumbled.
And though I have not seen Dane of Stonehaven but I knew one thing.
I would hate him.