Chapter 2. Betrothal

   It seemed as if hours had passed since I had witnessed the conversation between my parents. My heart felt broken and I was afraid, I didn't want to be married to Colby. Actually to be perfectly honest I didn't want to be married at all. I was never good with boys, though they all seemed to be attracted to me I could never hold a interesting or meaningful conversation with any of the young men my mother introduced me to over the years hoping I would fall head over heels in love which I didn't to spite some of their good looks. 

    KNOCK KNOCK. 

I heard a light rasping at my door. "Come in." I croaked my voice still heavy with heartbreak. The door slowly opened and I saw my father, his handsome features looked pained, his normally blue eyes were red from crying, his olive toned skin was now flushed at the cheeks and his strong jaw line was flexing as if he was gritting this teeth wile his pale pink lips were pressed into a hard line. 

  "Hello my princess." He said softly then concern twisted his already saddened features as he seen that my eyes was now bloodshot and my voice was heavy with tears. "What is wrong sweetheart?" His worry evident. "Daddy." I started slowly "I overheard you and mom talking… please don't make me do this." I saw his breath catch in his throat as the realization of my knowledge of my forced marriage struck him. 

 "Please Anna, we need you to do this.. our kingdom and it's people need this alliance.. we need the warriors sweetheart." 

  "But WHY daddy!? Why marriage? We have the largest and most powerful army known and you are king, you can force king Segfried to supply the kingdom with troops.. it is just as much his responsibility to protect Mascovania as it is yours! Not to mention my brother is already betrothed to the princess! Is not not alliance enough!?" I started to cry, I wasn't ready to be a wife. 

 "Anna" my father said in a soft tone "You know as well as I that Segfried is a selfish man and king and that he will only send soldiers if he has a arrangement and dowery now, sweetheart our kingdom is in dire danger. The monsters that have came and invaded this land are powerful shape shifters.. those stories my mother used to tell you and all the children during the ceremony of witches some years ago, well to my surprise held truth.

   I never knew Anna I truly never knew… these creatures shift into large, strong and fast wolves. A small pack of them can murder dozens of our souldiers in mere minutes, our only chance of survival is your betrothal and marriage to prince Colby. Don't you understand Anna? Our very existence is at stake." 

   I heard my father choke back tears, I could see in his ocean blue eyes that his heart broke at his betrayal to his promise to me just as much as mine did, possibly more so since he has never ever broken a promise to me.

   I took a deep breath. To see my father hurt pained me and to know the extent of the danger these monsters posed to my future kingdom pained me even more. Though I didn't want to do this I knew it was my duty to protect those I love and those who would someday support my rule, as future queen I must accept this marriage.

   "Okay daddy." I said trying to smile a bit to help take the weight of my father's pain off his shoulders. "I will wed prince Colby." His eyes widened as if he didn't expect me to give in quite so easily and he then smiled "Thank you my beautiful girl, you are going to make an amazing queen one day, your people will adore and worship you for the sacrifice you have made, thank you." 

  "No daddy, don't thank me." I began "As future queen it is my place to sacrifice for my people, no matter what the cost is to me." 

    My father straightened, clearly proud of me and I felt a warmth in my heart to know I have not only made it easier for my already exhausted father but may have saved my kingdom as well, a feeling of accomplishment washed over me. I was going to be a wife. 

  "So my daughter, the prince will be here for the ceremony in approximately two days. I know it is very sudden but this must happen now, your mother will begin to prepare you and make all the arrangements so as soon as he arrives you will be ready to accompany him at the altar. Thank you my princess for being so brave."

He then kissed my forehead and proceeded to leave the room. 

   I sighed and walked over to my vanity, as I looked into the mirror i saw that my curly blonde hair was a mess and my bright blue eyes was swollen from the tears. I quickly grabbed a towel and headed to the shower, then soon after i brushed my hair and teeth then went to crash back down into my comfortable large bed.

   I stared into the large glittering chandelier in the middle of my navy blue room trimmed in gold to match my coverlets on my bed, the marble floors in my room had been made in perfect contrast as their dark swirls of blue gold and white danced together leaving a beautiful and glossy parade of my favorite colors.

   What did my prince look like now? Was he still baby faced? I pray that he had gotten taller considering the last time I had lain eyes on him he was about four inches shorter than me. I sat in my thoughts under my blankets until I eventually drifted off to sleep trying to let go of the stress and pain from the day.