A gentle breeze blew through the beautiful garden that adorned the palace grounds, taking with it the final lingering bits of winter that had held the Kingdom of Dagen hostage. In its place a delightful warm breeze tenderly embraced the newly blooming flowers that created a vibrant landscape that would make even the most disinterested of persons stop and admire.
The crown princess of Dagen sat among this beautiful garden, a frown furrowing her brow. In her palm she held a single seed; every ounce of her concentration focused intently on her hand. After several long moments she threw the seed into the garden yelling out in frustration, "curses!" Clearly agitated she flopped down onto the grass her blonde hair spilling around her like a golden halo.
She didn't understand how her younger brother, at only age thirteen, could utilize his magic but she could not at twenty three! She was beginning to feel more and more pressured to bring forth a gift that she wasn't entirely sure she possessed.
She lay there contemplating all the ways her life was tragic when she heard her name being called; "Princess Adelaide!"
She sat up squinting, trying to see who called her so urgently. As the person approached she could make out the face of her lady-in-waiting who was frantically running towards her, cheeks flushed. The middle aged woman stopped in front of Adelaide, doubled over panting from her run across the grounds.
"What has you so out of sorts, Elizabeth?"
"Princess. Her highness. Requests. Your presence." Elizabeth managed to finally gasp.
Adelaide raised an eye brow.
Considering her step mother barely acknowledged her existent non the less willingly spoke to her, this was an alarming thing indeed.
"I see. I don't suppose this will be a pleasant meeting." She mused, standing up and brushing off her skirts.
With a sense of forbidding she walked back to the castle, sure that trouble was just around the corner.
***
The queen wasn't the most beautiful of all the women, but her self confidence and haughty airs would have you believe she was.
Adelaide sat on the edge of an arm chair, anxious as she waited patiently for her step mother to speak. Before anything was even said the doors to the drawing room burst open and in strode King Allen.
Adelaide instantly rose and curtsied, "Father..." she addressed him, now very concerned at what was about to take place. Something was most definitely not right.
He gestured for her to sit back down, and she did just that, concern apparent in her emerald eyes.
"You have not met my expectations as a potential heir to my throne." His blunt statement cut to the bone and Adelaide winced, knowing full well what he meant. "Twenty three years and unwed with no potential suitors in sight. Your gift has never made itself apparent. To make a long story short you have contributed very little to this family. And so your fate has been chosen for you."
Adelaide's throat was suddenly dry as she tried to swallow, but that was proving to be a difficult task.
"In an attempt to bring peace to our warring nations, the crown price, soon to be king, of Arthro has asked for your hand in marriage."
Her vision went out of focus as she realized what he was saying. He had sold her off to a fire demon. The future king of the fire demons to be exact. The same demons who took away the only person she ever loved.
"But father-"
"Our forces are greatly diminished. Our resources have run dry. We simply can't afford to oppose them any more. A union between our nations is the most logical and stable approach to this. There will be no argument, Adelaide."
She tried to ignore the self satisfied smirk that danced at the edges of the queens lips. Never before had she been so sorely tempted to slap her across her arrogant face. Hand balled up into a fist at her side, Adelaide was visibly shaking. Traitor tears of frustration burned at the back of her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to keep them at bay.
"You are dismissed." Her father said curtly waving a hand at the door, implying that her presence was no longer desired.
Adelaide stood there for a long moment, before quickly turning on her heel and marching out the door. She hurried to her room, avoiding eye contact everyone.
Inside the safety of her chambers she leaned against the door and sunk to the ground sobbing. In a century long war she was the last battle plan.
The final pawn.
She knew it was the right thing to do. End the suffering of her people. Bring peace to warring nations.
But in her minds eye, all she could see was her mother lain in her coffin.
Standing up she wiped at her eyes, and without thinking she grabbed a plain cloak of dark brown from her wardrobe and slipped out of her room.
The bustle of the market was exactly the distraction she needed right now.