Bittersweet whole story

           It always starts with a "once apon a time" kind of intro. With all the princesses stuck in towers and lonely princes. Well this isn't that kind of story. This story is about a young girl that defended her country with her life, for her father, and found love in the process. And that girl I was talking about is me. My name is Adromeda and this is how I defeated an enemy country.
                                                   It all started when I was five years old.


"Daddy!!!!" I yelled as I saw my father walk through the front door. He was tall, muscular, and had a face of a gentle warrior.
"Hey pumpkin..." he said as he sat on his knees and hugged me. The prickles of his growing beard tickled my face.
"I missed you so much daddy! Where were you?" I said as I made my eyes shine
"I was helping out the army the on the front lines honey. It's daddy's job to help protect our country and show all the other daddy's where to go and fight." He told me
"Daddy one day I'm gunna fight next to you! I'm going to scare away the enemy!" I said as I lifted my arms up to my father. He picked me up in his arms.
"I'm sorry pumpkin but those jobs are for the men of the country. You have to stay here with your mom and help her with the house. It's your job to protect the house while I'm away." He told me with a serious face, but I could see the sadness and worry in his eyes.
"Ok daddy" I said while pouting. Then my mother walked in. My mother was slender and gentle. Her face was like a portrait, delicate and smooth. She had beautiful brown hair and dark green eyes.
"Hello darling" my father said as he looked at my mother and smiled. He put me back onto the floor and walked to my mother and kissed her.
"Eeeewww!!!!" I said while giggling. My parents smiled.
"Adromeda, you're supposed to be in the studying hall with your tutor." My mother said gently.
"I finished all my work for the day mommy!" I said while smiling and swaying on my toes.
"Alright then, darling. Go play while I talk with your father" my mother said smiling.
"Okay mommy!" I yelled as I ran off into my playroom.
          Little did I know that my mother and father were talking about a war, a war between our country of Lycydon, and our neighboring country, Sydion. My father, the king of our country, and the king of Sydion, Emial, weren't the best neighbors. He insulted us and our country. On many accounts, he threatened our country for war. And once, he tried to break through our walls.  
Two months after my mother and father talked, Emial declared war on us. Two weeks after war started, my father got killed, by the hands of Emial himself. When I found out I didn't know how to respond. I spent a lot of time in my room crying. After the funeral, I went back to my studies as the war went on. The war continued for many years and after turning seventeen, I finished my studies, and was secretly training myself to fight with a sword, and defense with a shield. While I was doing this, my mother did her duties as queen, to find another husband. There weren't many other worthy kings who were single, so my mother took it into her own hands and find me a husband. I did want someone to love though, I wanted real love, not an arranged marriage. She asked many suitors for me to marry, but I told her I didn't need a husband, but she didn't listen, so she threw a ball. That day, I wasn't feeling very social.
Adromeda sat by the window with her hand on her cheek. She was looking out to the garden. Her mother walked in.
"Adromeda dear, won't you come down and eat? You haven't eaten since yesterday" she said
Her mother had her hair up in a small ribbon. She wore her regular dress of red and brown.
"I'm not hungry mother…I'll go down later..." Adromeda said. She had her hand on her cheek
Her mother frowned
"I'll be fine mother…go ahead and eat…don't mind me" Adromeda said
"Oh what is the matter my dear daughter." Her mother asked. She quickly sat down next to Adromeda.
"Nothing mother…I just have an empty heart" she replied
"What do you mean? You can tell me anything Adromeda" her mother said with a slight smile.
"I want to love someone mother" Adromeda turned to face her mother. Her green eyes dull.
"L-love someone? There are plenty of men here in our kingdom. In fact…Giovano, he's a good catch" her mother replied very sharply
"No mother, I mean truly love. Not act like you love each other and at the end of the day you sleep in completely different rooms…to actually love" Adromeda explained. She didn't smile.
Her mother held her daughters hand close. "Honey…tonight were having a ball. He's coming, Giovano." She said while smiling.
Adromeda gave a fake smile.
She doesn't understand. She thought. "Alright mother, I'll go." Adromeda said
"He is very handsome indeed! Now come down for breakfast or you'll be eating cold eggs!" her mother yelled as she left.
Adromeda sighed. She walked down the spiral staircase down to the dining area.
Cecilia was eating by herself. The servant girls filled the table with food. Cecilia offered them to sit and eat, they did. Adromeda walked into the room with her bed gown. She sat down and picked at her food. Cecilia looked at her daughter.
"My, you made me sad dear…eat" she said. The servant girls wouldn't eat unless Adromeda did. "You see?" her mother announced
Adromeda sighed. She started to eat. All the servant girls ate. Cecilia smiled and finished her food. She dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
"What time is this 'ball' starting mother?" Adromeda asked.
"Eight o-clock sharp" her mother replied as she got up and placed her plate in the sink and washed it for the servants.
"Alright…I'll be ready for then..." Adromeda stated. She finished eating.
"Very well darling." She replied. She was heading for the elegant staircase. Two servant girls were going to help her bathe.
"I'll be in the study…" Adromeda said. She told the servant girls that they had the afternoon off and she headed off to the study, her favorite place in the kingdom.
Later that evening the ball started. Giovano was dressed elegantly and he had a nice white layered necktie and such exquisite clothing. He had medium length brown hair and his eyes were green. Adromeda locked herself in her room in order to get ready. The servant girls were helping her put her corset on. Adromeda never liked the tightness of corsets. She always wore them loose.
"I'm sorry my lady…please forgive me" her female Italian servant said as she tightened the corset.
"Agh! I hate these things!" she dragged her nails against her dresser.
"My lady…forgive me!!" she cried out as she let go and had her hands up to her face. She felt compassion and her Italian accent showed.
"It's alright Maria, continue. I'm sure everyone's looking for me." Adromeda said
Maria continued. She finished and hugged her servant sister quickly. She hid her face with tears down her eyes.
"Oh Maria…" Adromeda said softly
"Signora, I don't like hurting you, or anything else…I love la mia famiglia" she said. She was hugging her sister, who was comforting her.
"Sua sorella va bene" It's alright sister she said.
Adromeda smiled gently. "It's alright Maria…all is well." Adromeda hugged her. "Now, you both shall dress and come with me to the ball!" Adromeda declared.
The two sisters smiled and nodded. Adromeda gratefully helped the two dress in the dresses of her choosing and they suited them well. She did their hair as well.
Adromeda and her servants were walking down the staircase. There were two men on the other side of the room. It was Emial and his son Lliam. He was consulting with one of the top generals for Adromeda's kingdom. Adromeda saw Emial and ran to her mother.
"Mother! What are they doing here!!?" she asked while whispering
"Sweetie, they're just here for the party. They are giving us a track on how they are doing and that they want to sell us some merchandise…" her mother whispered.
Cecilia took Adromeda's arm and led her through the crowd and curtseyed to Emial. He took Cecilia's hand and kissed it.
"Hello my lady Cecilia" he said. His voice was deep.
Adromeda kept her head tilted away from the two of them. She didn't want to believe they were here just for the party. Emial took Adromeda's hand and she pulled her hand away.
"No need…" Adromeda said coldly
Emial held a fake smile.
"Milady isn't that a tad rude?" he stated. Lliam held his ground. He said nothing.
"Not at all…I'm not the one for good greetings." She said.
Emial pulled Adromeda close to him and he looked into her eyes with his thinned ones.
"How rude you are…mulling child" Emial whispered as he let Adromeda go carelessly
Adromeda stumbled back. "This isn't over…" Adromeda whispered. She started to walk away.
Emial snickered as he watched Adromeda leave. He turned and started talking with a man near him.
Giovano walked up to Adromeda. "hello milady, would you like to dance?" he asked her.
Adromeda looked around and saw her mother. She had a 'do it now' look on her face.
Adromeda curtseyed. "I'd love to.." she said
Giovano smiled and took Adromeda's hand. After the dance, they said their goodbyes and walked away. Adromeda looked at her mother again to check on her. She saw someone talking to her. Adromeda couldn't see who it was because the person's back was facing her. Adromeda walked over.
"Hello mother…who is this?" Adromeda looked at the man and saw that it was her brother.
"Adromeda…how can you forget what your own brother looks like" he laughed
"Adrien...I missed you so much!" Adromeda said. She hugged her brother tightly


                     
A short time after that I told my mother I had been training and studying war strategies. My mother didn't seem like she appreciated that idea.
"You are not going out to fight." She said
"But mother, I know everything about fighting! I can help us get out of this war! I've been training myself and I can fight mother! Just let me try. I have a few ideas that could work. Give them a try. Please mother." I felt very upset. But then my mother surprised me with an answer.
"Fine. I'll let you strategize with the members of the army." She said calmly.
"R-really?" I asked her with widened eyes
She nodded her head. "Yes…just promise me one thing…" she said
"Anything" I told her
"Win this war. It's what your father wanted…what we all want. I believe in you Adromeda." She said as she hugged me.
"I will mother…I promise." I said gently
"I have to give you something…" my mother said while looking me in the eyes.
"What is it mother?" I asked her
"Follow me" she said. She let go of me and headed down the hallway.
She led me to a closet full of armor. She took out a metal manikin with metal plated armor. It was for a woman.
"M-mother…what's this?" I was surprised.
"I had it made just for you. I thought you would do something like this ever since you were little." My mother said while giving me the armor
"You did?" I said while taking the armor
"Indeed…and you should find a better place to train other than behind the castle" my mother said while smiling
"Oohh..." I felt embarrassed but I got over it quickly. I undressed and tried on the armor.
"It fits perfectly. Thank you mother" I smiled and hugged my mother quickly
"You're welcome sweetie" my mother hugged me back. "Now go and lead us into victory!" my mother chanted
I left the next day to the barracks. When I got there, there was a lot of talk.
"A woman? Are they serious?"
"They must be joking"
"We truly are desperate"
They all doubted me. But I knew I could prove them wrong. I got to the general and told them my mother sent me and that I had experience and that I could help lead them to victory.
"Whatever you say your highness" the general said.
"Show me what your plans are right now…" I said
He showed me his strategy. I didn't like it one bit. Many open spaces. Easy win for the enemy.
"This needs revising…leave the tent and leave me to think…come back in a few minutes and I'll have a better plan" I told the soldiers. And they left.
I got out my quill and started making the new battle stations. It only took me a couple minutes to make an indestructible wall of men. It was bulletproof. But then again, we still had swords, so it made it swordproof. I called the general back in and a few soldiers.
"This is the plan..." I explained the plan and they listened. "And I want to be part of the battle"
"What!? You can't! What would the queen say!" the general said.
"She allowed me this far…and I want to be a part of my own plan. I know it best." I told the general with a stern voice.
The man sighed. "Alright…just don't get hurt..." he told me.
"Don't worry…I know what I'm doing..." I said while smiling confidently.
"It's getting late and we attack in the morning..." the general turned to a soldier that was by his side. "Go tell the others to get to the tents and get some sleep..."
The soldier nodded and headed out of the tent.
"Thank you sir" I said while bowing my head in respect
"you're welcome my lady" he bowed as well "now I'll show you to your tent…follow me" he headed out of the tent and I followed him around the camp until we got to an empty tent.
"Here's your tent my lady" he said
"Thank you general" I said as I stepped into my tent.  I took off my armor and layed in my under clothes and thought about the day ahead of me. I said a prayer and fell asleep. I woke up early in the morning and put my armor on. I stepped out of my tent and I saw all of the soldiers lined up neatly parallel to the sides of my tent.
"Hello men..." I said instinctively
The men stood tall and proud and saluted me with their swords and shields ready for battle.
"At ease" I said proudly. I couldn't help but smile.
The men got to work sharpening swords for a last minute touch. Then we got into our battle stations, I took a few men on horses, a few archers on a nearby hill, and the rest on foot at ground level. I had equipped myself with a sword and shield, and was ready to take on anything and everything that stood in my way.
One of my men shouted. "Enemy approaching!!! Get ready!!!"
I took out my sword, and signaled the archers.
"On my signal…" I said to the men around me. They nodded.
I waited for the enemy to start running toward us and gave the signal
"FIGHT FOR HONOR! FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT AS A COUNTRY AND GREAT CITY!" I yelled.
I swiped my arm down and that archers raised their bows to the sky, and let go. In the distance I could see many men falling dead. So far my plan was working. I kicked my horse and it ran out onto the battle field. My men followed. As I struck my first victim, I spaced out and I let my instincts take over. All I could see everywhere were dead bodies and men fighting. I struck another enemy soldier across the chest. He fell dead onto the blood soaked land. When I looked up I saw something disturbing. There were more men than before, running towards my men brutally. My horse got shot by an arrow into its abdomen and dropped dead on top of me. Its mass crushed my lower body and everything turned black. For what seemed like days, I opened my eyes slightly. All I saw were images forming bodies surrounding me. Everything looked red. I then felt a sharp pain in my legs. I screamed. A man yelled, telling me to shut up, from what I could hear. And then a sharp pain went to the back of my head and everything was black once again. This time I had a dream. I was standing beside Emial and his son. It was white everywhere. I noticed two guards forcibly bringing in my mother. I wanted to talk but I stayed shut. I didn't know what was happening, Emial waved his hand as if saying "shoo". But my interpretation was wrong. The soldier kicked my mother to the floor and took out his sword, grabbed my mother's hair, pulled it back and slashed her throat. Emial grinned and his son looked away in disgust. But then Emial stood up and walked to my mother's dead corpse and lifted her face to his. He spoke a few words but it seemed to be in another language. He then kissed her bloodied lips. He turned to me with eyes of shining red and licked his lips. I was terrified. To that I woke up once again, but in a different environment. I was lying on my back, in a bed. There was a woman standing over me with a wet cloth. She spoke but I could not hear. I tried to drift off to sleep but something inside told me to stay alert. I watched the woman for a few minutes, then a young boy, no; a young man came into the room. He seemed to be doing it secretly. I saw him shut the door and walk up to the woman and started talking to her while looking at me. I noticed that the look on his face was concerned. It seemed the woman was comforting the young man because his face became calmer and slightly happy. I couldn't recognize his face so I thought he was just one of my soldiers who got me off the battle field and brought me home. I then got another pain in the back of my mind. Images of my dream flashed in front of my eyes. I saw my mother's blood, I saw Emial, and last, I saw a flash of his sons face. The flashes left and I looked at the young man at my bedside. It was him. It was Emial's son! I felt like screaming, but all I could do was squirm in the bed that I layed. It didn't last long because the sharp pains came back. My legs, I couldn't even move; my head, pain filled; and besides, the woman and Emial's son held me down, pinning me to the bed so I couldn't move. Emial's son shifted his face next to mine and whispered in my ear. This time I could hear.
"Shh….you're in no danger. I'm trying to help you" he whispered
My eyes shot open. I was surprised he actually wanted to help me. The son of Emial wanted to help the enemy, me. But the question I wanted to ask was why? Why did he take me off the battle field? Why didn't he leave me to die with the men I had lost? I opened my mouth slightly and tried to talk but a finger kept it shut. It was Emial's son again. He put his finger to his lips and told me to shush. At this point I was getting very annoyed. I just wanted answers. So why couldn't I get them? I shifted my arms behind me and pushed up my weight. Even thought there was so much pain, I focused on sitting up. The nurse's face looked shocked. The next thing I knew, she was on the floor. She fainted. Emial's son was shocked as well. This time, he couldn't stop me. I looked him in the eyes and tried to ask him why. But when I spoke, my voice cracked. Nothing but noises came out of my mouth. I became sad. I wanted to ask the most simple question, but couldn't because I was weak. I hated being weak. It meant I wasn't stronger than other women. Then I felt tears running from my eyes. Emial's sons face became sad. He wiped my tears with the back of his finger, and then he caressed my face. For some reason that made me feel better. He started to get closer to my face. I didn't know what he was going to do, and I wasn't about to find out. The nurse woke up and stood on her feet. Emial's son backed away from my face. She spoke in a native language but it seemed Emial's son could understand. He nodded and left the room. The nurse attempted to speak my language.
"You...lay down now…sleep." The nurse said, from what I could understand.
I layed back down on the bed slowly. And in a few minutes, I fell asleep. It was a very deep sleep and I had no dreams. I woke up the next day with a lot of pain. I was sore everywhere. My legs, arms, my back, everything hurt. I couldn't move at all. I tried to yell for help, but my voice was still gone. I felt horrible. I gave up and layed still. I lifted my head and noticed the door was opening. My heart fluttered and I hoped it was Emial's son. When the door opened, a small child stood in the doorway. I got scared and quickly put my head down when the child wasn't looking. I closed my eyes and waited to hear the door close. When I heard the door close I mentally sighed in relief. But a minute later the door opened once again and stood the small child holding the young man's hand. Emial's son looked at the small child and picked him up. He closed the door and walked over to me with the child. I tried to wave but my arm only twitched. I frowned. Emial's son looked at me, then the boy.
"She's hurt, and sick…I'm taking care of her…don't tell father alright?" he said
The child nodded. Emial's son put the boy down and the boy walked up to me. He took my hand gently, but I still felt a sharp pain and I winced.
"Leave her be Ellise. She's hurt." Emial's son said sternly
"Yes, Lliam…" the boy said with a sad face.
So his name was Lliam. Hmm.
"Now go play with Gabriele…I bet she wants to play with you" Lliam said while smiling.
"Ok" the boy ran out of the room. Lliam let out a sigh of relief.
"That was close…" he looked into my eyes, and then looked away. "What have I gotten myself into?"
I made a grunting noise. He turned back at me.
"What is it?" he asked
I tried to speak but my stomach did the talking for me. He chuckled.
"I'll get you some food then. Stay here…" he chuckled to himself again.
I couldn't help but smile. I closed my eyes and thought of my mother. I wondered how she was doing. Then my mind wandered off to my army. How many of them survived? How many died? Is the war still going on? How long have I been gone? Then I wandered to that dream. What did it mean? Why didn't I do anything? I began to panic. I was breathing heavily and looking around the room. I wanted to leave. I didn't want to be here anymore. Lliam's voice flooded my mind. 'You're in no danger' is what he told me. Why did I feel like he was lying to me? My thoughts kept getting worse and worse. When was this pain going to end? Lliam stepped into the room with a tray. He saw me panicking and quickly put the tray down on a nearby table and put his hands against my shoulders.
"Please! Calm down! Shh…I'm here to help you...Please..." he said while looking into my eyes.
I suddenly felt calm. All of my worries were gone. All I thought of was him.  I gazed into his eyes. But out of nowhere he put the back of his hand on my forehead.
"Hmm…it's normal…I wonder why your face is red." He said
My eyes widened. I turned my head and coughed. I was blushing. But I didn't want him to know. I guess I had to pretend.
"Oh…I guess you are sick. I guess now I have to give you a checkup." He said
A checkup!?
He pulled on the sheets that covered my body. I had no idea what I was wearing, if I was wearing anything at all. When the sheets were off I noticed that my chest and stomach was wrapped in bandages. I was wearing undergarments on my lower body. I sighed in relief. But what worried me was why I had bandages on my chest. I tried to talk once more.
"W-why?" I managed to get out.
He looked at me with a slight surprised face.
"Why what?" he said. I knew he was testing my speech.
I looked at my chest.
"Oh that…well, when you fell off the horse, you landed on another soldier, who had his sword out. His sword penetrated your chest but didn't get any far because of your armor. But you do have deep gashes across your chest. You also have deep cuts in your left arm, your legs were crushed by the horse, but we managed to get them better, and you had a gash on the back of your head..." he looked away into the distance.  I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. He looked back at me and looked like he just had remembered something. He walked over to the table with the tray, picked it up, and walked back over to me.
"Are you hungry?" he asked me
I nodded. He took off the covering to the tray. Steam lifted from the tray. I watched as the steam rose. When I looked back down I noticed that Lliam was holding a fork to my mouth. I blinked.
"Open…" he said demandingly
I opened my mouth and he put the forkful of food into my mouth. The flavors bursted onto my tongue. I was amazed on how good it tasted, whatever it was. Lliam held another forkful up to my mouth. I opened my mouth and took the bite. We continued this until everything that was on the tray, was gone. I was no longer hungry, and I became very weary. I layed my head back onto the pillow and closed my eyes. I felt the blanket move onto my body, warm and comfortable. I quickly fell into a gentle sleep. This time I had a pleasant dream. I dreamt of Lliam. He was standing at an altar. I walked to him slowly, and I was wearing a white dress. When I got to the altar, a priest stood next to me and Lliam as we stood face to face.  The priest began talking but I didn't pay attention. Lliam said 'I do'. A few moments I instinctively said 'I do'. Then the priest said 'I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride.' Lliam came close to my face. As our lips were about to touch, I woke up.
"Still feeling sick? Your face is red again" I heard a voice say.
I looked over and saw Lliam. I blushed and turned away.
"What's wrong?" he asked
"N-nothing" I managed to say
"I'm glad you can talk now" Lliam said while smiling
"Y-yeah…n-not as well as I want t-though…" I said. My voice was soft and cracking
"I see...well I can fix that voice of yours very quickly…" he got up "I'll be right back"
"A-alright…" I said
He came back a few minutes later with a tea cup filled with a hot liquid. I guessed it was a tea of some sort.
"I'm back" he said while smiling
"h-hello" I said while smiling back
He walked up beside the bed.
"Try and sit up." He told me, giving me an encouraging smile.
I tried to sit up using my arms for support, but they were stiff and it hurt to put pressure on them. I winced in pain then frowned. I lowered my head. I felt hands going behind my back. I looked to my right and saw Lliam lifting me up.
"Looks like you still need help getting up" Lliam said with sad eyes
"y-yeah" I said frowning
"It's alright…you'll get your strength back eventually…" he smiled
His smile made me happy. It made me hope. Every time I saw him smile, it lifted my spirits. That's when I decided I wanted to be with him. But did I have the courage to tell him? No. So I just let it go.
"Is something wrong?"
"Hmm? Oh n-no…I'm fine" I came back to reality
"You look troubled…are you worried about your mother?" he asked me gently
"No…I know she's fine. She's strong" I said turning my head
"Oh…well what's troubling you?" I could tell he was starting to get sad
"…I'm worried if I'm going to get better quick enough…" I lied
"You will…don't worry…I'm taking care of you." He said reassuringly
"Thank you…anyway…what's in the tea cup?" I asked
"Its tea…I made it myself" he boasted
"Oh-"
"Open…"
"I-I uhh"
"Open"
I opened my mouth and he tipped the cups contents into my mouth slowly. I swallowed my first sip. It trickled down my throat pleasantly. It was chamomile, my favorite. I wondered if he knew.
"This is very pleasant" I said. My voice became clearer and less cracked.
"See…I told you it would help" he smiled
"Indeed it did" I smiled back
There was a knock on the door. My heart started to pound against my chest, begging to burst out. I layed down and hid under the covers the best I could.
"Lliam, Are you in here?" said a deep voice
Lliam sat on the edge of the bed facing the door, blocking me from the view.
"Yes father?" he called out
Father? Oh no, Emial! He was going to find out I was here!
The door opened and there stood Emial. I knew it was him but couldn't see. Lliam was blocking me from his father.
"Who were you talking to? I heard you conversing with another person. It sounded female." I heard his father said.
"I was practicing a play I'm currently writing…it's about a peasant who saves his queen from demise" I heard Liam say.
"What about the female voice…" Emial said
"I've been practicing the queens' parts as well"
"Hmm…you're very persuading as a woman then…no more practicing…you've been missing your battle sessions…you mustn't miss any more…do you understand?" I hear Emial's voice rise.
"Yes father…forgive me…"
"Humph…" the door shut
I let out a sigh of relief. I moved the sheets down away from my face. Lliam got up, and walked towards the door.
"W-where are you going?"
"…" he didn't answer. He left the room without a sound.
I became sad and part of me left along with Lliam. I sat in silence for what felt like days. In a week of solitude, my legs felt better. Well, so I thought. I tried to get out of the bed; I planted my feet onto the cold floor. I pushed myself off of the bed and stood for a few seconds on my own, then collapsed. I felt something in my wrist crack. I winced in pain and bit my lip to keep me from making any noise. I tried to get up off the floor but my arms felt weak again. I gave up after a few minutes of trying.
When will this suffering end? When will I get back home? I thought to myself.
Then, the door opened.
"What was that noise-" it was Emial. He looked straight into my eyes. His eyes filled with wrath. He slammed the door. A few minutes later he came back dragging Lliam by his hair.
"LLIAM WHO IS THIS WRETCH!?" he yelled. His voice was booming.
"I-i…" Lliam stuttered
"WHO IS SHE!!?
"I-i…I DON'T KNOW! I don't know who she is!!! I promise you!" Lliam yelled
My eyes widened. How could he lie like that? He helps me and then lies about it? How could he? I looked away in disgust. But after that I felt a tugging on my hair. I yelped.
"GET UP WENCH!" Emial yelled at me
I tried to get up but my arms were weak and my wrist was broken. But Emial had a way of making me stand. He pulled on my hair and broken wrist. I cried out in pain. I looked desperately at Lliam, but he just turned away in shame. Emial threw me across the room and I hit the edge of the door. I yelled out in pain. I curled up against the impact. Emial walked up to me and kicked my stomach.
"What are you doing in my house, Adromeda?" Emial yelled while grinding his teeth.
"It wasn't my c-choice…Emial…" I spat on the floor.
"I suggest you me sir…" Emial said angrily. He kicked me again, and then grabbed my hair again. I tried to fight back but hunched over and spat again. This time it was blood. My wounds opened up and my bandages became bloody.
"Now answer my question…" he said. He pulled me up by my hair and forced me to be face-to-face.
I looked at Lliam with disgust. "I hope you're happy…" I said to him as blood exited my mouth. I turned to Emial and spit in his face. He dropped me and clasped his face.
"UGH YOU DAMN WETCH!!!! LLIAM GET HER AND KILL HER!!!!!!" Emial yelled
"Y-yes father…" Lliam said
"I…hate…you…" I said with the last of my strength. I fell unconscious.
I woke up in my tent sweating and shaking.
"w-was I really dreaming?" I pinched myself.
Nope. I was dreaming alright. I wonder what it meant.
"Ms. Aerigoth?" someone said outside.
"Hmm? Yes what is it?"
"The general sent me to inform you that you are needed in the captain's tent."
"Tell the captain I'll be right there…"
"Yes ma'am" and he left
I got up and put my armor on. I thought of my dream. What was it all about? I walked out of my tent and headed towards the captains tent.
"Hello?" I called out
"Come in…" said a deep voice
I stepped into the tent.
"Sir you called for me?" I said nervously
"I did" he said.
"Well…what is it? Is it about the battle?" I asked
"No...I just need an assignment from you."
"Which is sir?" I was curious on what he wanted
He called me closer with his finger.
Top secret perhaps?
I knelt down in front of him to hear what he wanted to tell me.
"Lay with me" he whispered
"S-sir?"
"Lay with me..." this time he demanded it.
"I can't comprehend what you're implying…" I began to get a little scared.
"You don't have to think…just act…" he got close to my face and held my hip. I finally understood what he meant
I backed away "sir this is not the time…we have a battle to talk about. Now stop messing around and get serious…the enemy could be on their way as we speak!" I yelled at him. I didn't regret it. He needed to get put in his place.
"Hmm…maybe you're right…leave and gather my men in the middle of the camp…I'll be there waiting" he said as he got up.
"Yes sir" I bowed my head and left his tent.
I ran around the camp and announced to the soldiers to stand in the middle of camp. We all stood in perfect lines of twenty. The captain climbed onto a horse.
"Fellow soldiers, the enemy is upon us! Let us show them that just because we are a small city, we know how to fight."
Soldiers roared with pride and joyce.
So I was right. They are coming.
"Quickly! Grab your swords and shields and join me in battle!!!!"
Everyone ran to get their equipment. I was the first back into position.
"Adromeda, I want you to take my archers and take them up to that hill over there" he pointed to a near hill. "Then meet me on the battlefield. Don't forget your horse" then he left with his men
"Alright men" I yelled to the archers "archers follow me!"
I got onto a horse. The archers gathered around me and I led them to the hill.
"Into position!" I ordered.
The soldiers saluted me and got to their positions. From the hill I could see that battlefield. I could see the moving enemy and our men in their stations ready for battle. I started to remember my dream. Would it come true? Was I going to be successful in this battle? Horrible thoughts ran through my head. One of the soldiers shook my shoulder and brought me to reality.
"Hmm?" I said instinctively
"We need to focus; the future of Lycydon is all up to us."
His words soothed me. I smiled at him.
"Thank you." I focused on the battle.
I saw the enemy cross our range line. I raised my arm up. The archers raised their bows.
"Archers at the ready"
The enemy started to run.
"Fire!!!" I yelled
The let go of the arrows and they soared through the sky, a signal for the others to start attacking. I told them to keep firing. I kicked my horse and it started to run. I guided my horse down the hill and onto the battlefield. I rode right up next to the captain.
"You ready?" he said
I nodded.
"FOR LYCYDON!!!!!" he yelled and kicked his horse and started charging. I followed and drew out my sword
Many arrows hit the enemy's front lines. Then the next rows came after us. I ran straight through the middle of their lines decapitating the men that I pass. My horse trampled the ones that got in the way. I got near their back forces and saw their horsed men. I pulled the reins of my horse as I saw arrows falling toward me. I quickly took out my shield but I wasn't fast enough. I was hit in the shoulder, in the chest, and one ran right by my face, making a deep gash on my cheek. My horse got the worse; it got shot in the head and chest. I fell off the horse before it fell dead. I had fallen on my back, the arrows in my shoulder and chest felt like they went in deeper. I screamed in agony. I soon clenched my teeth and broke the arrow in my shoulder. I attempted to pull out the arrow in my chest but It was too painful. The last thing I saw before I fell unconscious was soldiers running towards me. I didn't know if they were my own, or not.
When I woke up, I found myself in a cage, tied up.  I was scared. I looked around me but it was dark. In the distance I saw a candle light.
"Caught in a bind Ms. Aerigoth?" someone said
"W-who?" I squinted into the darkness
All could see was an outline of a tall, slender figure. Up until he stood in the light of the candle in front of me that did I see his face. It was Emial.
"w-what do you want..?" I asked.
"I want your kingdom…" he said deeply
"I won't let you. You will never get my kingdom!" I spit in his face, well I tried to.
"Well well…" he quickly grabbed my chin tightly through the bars of the cage. "I might just get what I want…with you…"
He tilted his head and looked me up and down. I felt chills up my spine.
"Hmm…you'll do nicely..."
What did he mean? What was he talking about? I noticed that he nodded. I got mad out of nowhere.
"Why are you nodding!?" I yelled. He only grinned and looked at something behind me. Something hard hit the back of my head and everything went black, again.
Within this darkness, something was talking to me. I don't know what this "thing" was saying, but it spoke to me. It seemed to speak another language. Then I heard it talk to me in my language.
"Wake up" it whispered. I woke up.
My head throbbed. I noticed that I was lying in a bed. I looked around the room, my head was spinning. When I looked next to me, I saw a body.
A BODY!?
I got up quickly. A bit too quickly because I fell off the bed and fell on top of a bed side table, which broke from the impact. It made such a loud noise that the other person who was on the bed shot up from his sleep.
"Who!? What!?" he quickly yelled out
"Who are you and why am I here!? I spat out
"I should ask you the same! This is my room!" he yelled
"You mean you didn't..."
"No! Why would I!? I'm not that way...anyway, how did you get here? You weren't here when I went to sleep...explain yourself!
"I-I don't know...I woke up here"
His eyes widened.
"So you aren't a-"
"No!!!" I yelled
"Oh...hmm"
I tilted my head. He looked familiar.
"Ugh...father...he probably did this."
"Your f-father? Y-you mean...Emial's your father? But that means you're..."
"Lliam? Yes that's me...unfortunately...."
I gritted my teeth.
"THEN WHY THE HELL DID HE BRING ME HERE!?HE HATES ME! WHY WOULD HE BRING ME TO YOU?!"
"Uhm" he looked surprised.
"What!?"
"I think that he wants us to..." he blushed slightly
I was shocked. "You don't mean..."
He nodded. Nothing made sense to me anymore. Why would Emial declare war to gain my hand for his son? It made no sense.
"But why?" he interrupted
"w-what?" there was a knock on the door.
"y-yes who is it?" he whispered to me. "Quickly, get in the bed! Act like you're still asleep!"
I didn't hesitate, I followed his orders.
"Open the damn door! Who do you think it is?"
"C-come in father"
I heard the door open. The bed shifted. Lliam stood up.
"Did you bed the whore yet?"
"w-what do you mean father?"
"Did you...bed...this whore...?"
"Oh...uhm. Yes father...I awoke early in the morning and saw her lying next to me. I knew your intentions of her. So I did what I knew you wanted me to father."
"Good boy...since you have made that decision, you two shall get married in a week"
"M-married!? But father!"
"But nothing! You have bedded her...which means you have made the choice to stay with her. You took her, and you gave yourself...that's what happens. Now don't complain for your own actions..."
This can't be happening...THIS CANT BE HAPPENING! What am I going to do!? Married!? I can't...I CANT!
The door slammed shut. I waited a few minutes and shot myself up and got off the bed.
"How could you let this happen!?" I yelled
"what did you expect me to do!? I panicked!!!"
"you could have done something! Anything!"
"I did! I tried to lie and it became more of a problem!"
I sighed. Everything I knew was going to be wasted away.
"you know, I could help you escape the castle."
"escape? What do you mean?"
"I mean that I can help you get back home...sneak out of this castle..."
"Sneak out?"
"yeah...I know some secret passage ways...I sneak out all the time to see a garden I found...it's quite interesting, it has roses, tulips, hydrangeas, dai-"
"Stay on topic please...now about the passage..."
"Oh...sorry...well yeah it goes under the castle and out the castle gates...perfect getaway."
"Alright...when should we do this get away? I say right now..."
"No...Then my dad with know something's wrong...we have to make it seem like you went missing,  or died...or maybe even captured..."
"I don't really like that idea...I just want to get out of here...as fast as possible..."
"we can't do it right away...we just can't...we have to make it seem an accident...if its right now my dad will find out and have both of us tortured...and I know that we both do NOT  want that..."
"Maybe you're right...how about the day before the 'wedding'...it'll make it look like I ran off to stay composed...you know..."
"Sounds like a plan"
"Good...we plan this fully tomorrow...today; we act as what your story depicted...you raped me in my sleep'" I glared at Lliam "and act like a victim..." I purposely cried horribly
"If you want to be more persuading, you have to sound more realistic..." Lliam said with a deeper, serious voice
"I know that..." I said with thin eyes
"Alright...I don't want my father getting any ideas..." he looked out the nearest window and the sun shone in his face. His face was gleaming. I blushed.
He looked so beautiful. It was a pity that his father is my enemy. If he weren't, I think I would actually go through with it to marry him. I thought of what it would be like if I had married him; Happiness, kindness, love. Have children; watch them grow up, get old, die with the one I love. I shook myself out of my fantasy and saw Lliam right in my face holding my cheek.
"Are you alright? Your face is red..." He said concerned
Just like that weird dream I had a few days ago...
"U-uhm yes...I'm fine..." I quickly composed myself.
"Alright...I got a little worried." He let go of my face.
"So anyway, how do we last the day with your dad around?"
"I have to drag you around...everywhere I go."
"D-drag me?"
"Yes...he'll see that you're trying to struggle. And by that, I actually bedded you forcefully. When I didn't, which you know"
"Oh...I get it...I guess that's more acting practice for me" I smiled a little. He smiled back.
"You have a beautiful smile you know..." he was looking in my eyes
"R-really?"
"Yes...it's very beautiful..."
"Oh..." I blushed and looked down.
He smiled and held up my chin. He shifted closer to me. His face was getting closer to mine. I closed my eyes for a second, and then thought; what am I doing? And I backed away from Lliam.
"What's the matter?" he looked confused
"We can't...we don't belong together...it's not our fate..."
"Well you don't know what could be our fate, but you're right...we can't do this..." he took a step back and looked down, ashamed
"I'm sorry..."
"It's alright...just stay here for a while. I'll be right back." And he headed out the door.
"U-uhh...bye" I said sadly.
After a few minutes of waiting, I managed to fall asleep on Lliam's bed. I don't know how because I wasn't even tired, but I did. I woke up in the middle of the night with Lliam lying next to me. I couldn't help but look at him. He looked...beautiful. I touched his face. He blushed.
I wonder what he's dreaming.
I traced the line of his jaw with my hand.  His eyes opened slightly and he mumbled something.
"Shh...Go back to sleep." I started to hum.
His eyes closed gently. I played with his hair for a while. Then it led my hand to his cheek. My hand caressed his face. I found myself closer to him. Our faces were an inch away. I closed my eyes and let my body control me. I kissed him. When I pulled away, Lliam had woken up again. I jumped back.
"d-did you just...?" he mumbled
"n-no I didn't...I uhh, I just wanted to see if you were still alive"
He smiled and pulled me closer to him. He fell back asleep with me in his arms. In a few seconds, I fell asleep as well. We fell asleep together. And it was the most peaceful slumber I have ever had. I didn't want it to stop. But when I woke up in the morning, he was gone.
"L-lliam?" I called out gently
No one answered. I called again, no one answered. I was all alone in a room that I wasn't familiar with, in the enemies' castle. I was getting scared.
What am I doing!? I can't be afraid of being alone! I thought to myself. I have to be brave! I'm a fighter! I have to be strong!
So then I stood up and just stood there. I didn't know what to do. The door creaked open. I readied myself for anything, with a spoon I found on the bed side table. I saw a foot, then a leg, then a torso, then a head, and that's when I struck my victim in the head.
"Hiyah!!!!!!!" I yelled as I hit the person in the head
"Oww!" Lliam yelled.
"L-lliam?"
"Uh, yes? Who else would it be? And did you just hit me with a spoon?" he looked at me confused.
"Uhm...no?" I hid the spoon behind me.
"Well alright...well I got you some breakfast" he held out a tray.
"y-you did?" my stomach growled
He laughed "yes I did...and I think you might like it"
"What is it?"
"You'll have to find out now won't you." And he gave me the tray of food. It was an arrangement of diced fruits.
"It looks delicious...did you do this?" I looked at him with amazement
"Uhh yeah" he smiled and scratched at his head
I tried a little piece of the fruit. It was as good as it looked
"It's fantastic!" I exclaimed. Cut fruit, it was my favorite, my weakness food.
He fed me another forkful of fruit it was the sweetest fruit I have ever tasted. After finishing the tray of fruit, Adromeda smiled, and then blushed.
"I-uh…d-do you have a bath? I don't feel in the least bit clean..." Adromeda asked.
"Hmm? Oh yes ill call a maid to help you..." Lliam got up and left the room.
"u-uh thank you" she said, but he didn't hear her. Lliam came back with a maid.
"Adromeda this is Lydia, she'll take you to the bathhouse. My father doesn't like individual baths in rooms." Lliam said with a smile. Lydia took Adromeda's hand.
"This way milady" she said with a smile.
Lydia led Adromeda to the bathhouse. It was quite a walk from the castle. When they walked into the bathhouse, there were intricate designs and paintings around the walls. Adromeda looked around in amazement.
"It's so beautiful…" Adromeda said out loud. The nurse giggled.
"Indeed milady…may I help you undress?" she said happily
"Oh…yes please" Adromeda said coming back to reality.
The nurse hummed as she untied Adromeda's loose corset, which was tied in the back, the removed it completely. Adromeda held the cloth dress against her chest as it fell off her shoulders.
"Thank you Lydia" Adromeda said
"You're very welcome milady" Lydia bowed and left.
Adromeda undressed fully and stepped into the hot water. Her muscles relaxed as she lay in the pool bath. She layed her head back onto the edge. Steam filled her nostrils. Bliss.
Aahh. I've never felt this relaxed before. I could stay here for a while…
Adromeda soon drifted into a daydream. She didn't hear someone come into the bathhouse.
"Adromeda?" the voice said.
Adromeda didn't answer. She was deaf under the beautiful numbing water. Footsteps came close to where Adromeda lay under the water.
"Adromeda…" the voice whispered. That time Adromeda came above the water, but not for the voice.
"hmm?" she felt someone behind her, watching. She quickly turned around and faced the intruder. Her eyes widened.
Lliam smiled. "hello" he chuckled
Adromeda screamed and covered her chest with her arms and ducked under the water up to her shoulders.
"What are you doing here!!" Adromeda yelled
"I came to check on you. You've been in here for a while…I got worried." Lliam said.
H-he was worried about me?
"Oh I'm fine…it's just so beautiful in here that I lost track of time" Adromeda said.
"I'll send Lydia back to give you some clothes…" he turned around and walked away.
Once that I knew Lliam was gone, I got out of the bath. There was a cloth on the side of the bath and I took it to dry myself. Lydia walked in with a green dress in her arms.
"Here you are milady…and master Lliam told me to guide you to his study." She said
"I understand…" I said. Lydia gave me the dress along with some undergarments. I dressed and she led me to Lliam's study.