"Athena," her mother softly called.
"Aye, mother?" She turned to face her mother whom she inherited her soft and delicate features. A gentle smile pulled at the end of her lips.
"Your father wants to have a word with you." Father rarely ever wants to speak with her, why now? It was always Aidan father wanted to talk to.
"Really?" She nodded slowly. "What about?"
"I think 'tis best for you to see him yourself." She said nervously. She straightened up and smoothed out her skirts. Her mother straightened up too and followed her.
They looked alike in many ways, petite and slender with bright blue eyes and fiery red hair. Annabelle knew what her husband was about to say and that it probably will not sit well Athena but it has to happen someday. She has become nineteen summers old. Ripe for marriage or nobody will marry a spinster. Although, her marriage will be a compromise to make peace within the lands.
"Yes, father?" She called gently.
"Athena," he turned to her with a quill in his hand. "Sit down." She did as told and looked down at her hands primly folded in her lap.
Aidan made his presence known in the room too. Aidan had their father's dark hair and brown eyes.
"Athena my dear," he began, "as you know that the bordering lands are disputing and the only way to put this to an end is to form an alliance."
"What has that got to do with me?" She could not help but ask.
"You are to marry Lord Tristan LeSabre."
"What?" She screamed then her father sent her a chiding look. She sat back down and comported herself. She loved Duncan, but she could not tell them that.
"Aye, Athena dear." Her mother spoke for the first time in minutes. "You are to be joined in holy matrimony."
"I know what marriage means, mother." She said, seething with anger. "I barely know him and I do not even love...." She was not able to continue as Aidan started laughing.
"Define love, little sister." He teased, making her cheeks burn. She knew what love meant because she fell in love with Jonathan two years ago.
"Talk some sense into your daughter," her father said and waved them away. Lady Annabelle curtsied a little and left with Athena.
She flung the doors to her chambers open. Tears of fury and humiliation burned in her eyes.
"Mother, but I do not want to get married to a man that I barely know." She cried as she slumped to the foot of her bed. Besides, I love Duncan. But she did not voice that again.
"My dear, I was against it too but I am afraid we do not have a say in this matter." She explained.
"Why do I not have a say? My life will be ruined and there will be nothing I can do about it." Tears spilled down her eyes and her mother gently dabbed her own eyes and helped her sit down.
"Were you forced to get married to father too?"
"It does not matter now, what matters is I am happy with him." Lady Annabelle said.
"It matters to me, mother." Her mother was about to say something again but she stopped her. "Please leave me alone for a while mother."
"If that is what you want." Lady Annabelle left and closed the doors after her.
She cried some more and fell asleep on the floor.
"Lord Tristan, now is the time to make us proud. Marry lady Athena and let the lands be at peace, that is the only resolution we could come to." The earl spoke and he just watched. "You are my best warrior, if I had a son myself, I would have asked him to but you are like a son to me."
The old lord admired him. He was a fine man, who has always fought bravely for the peace of the lands. Raised an orphan, he grew up to be a one fine lad. His steel grey eyes always twinkled with mischief.
"My lord, it does not matter." He spoke, his deep voice clear and confident. "I will do anything for the honour of the lands."
"It has become an issue, we had to come forward with a resolution." The old man said, his voice demanded authority. The earl, his lord. Also, a father figure.
"Has the lady agreed?" He had to ask.
"Aye, it is not like she has a choice." He laughed. "But you have to go to Langley on the morrow, to see her I heard she is one bonny lass." He winked. "I have not the pleasure to meet her once."
Tristan laughed, his head thrown back in mirth. "I see you still have eyes for fine things."
"Of course, I may be old but I see well. Be set to go to Langley tomorrow as the dawn breaks, it may take you days to get there and take two men with you." Tristan bowed a little and left.
He never thought about marriage before, but anything to protect the lands, and if anything meant marrying lady Athena that he barely knew, he would do it.
War does not scare him, he has never been afraid to go to war since he was a but a wee lad. But deep down, the peace of not having to kill more people will make him happy for the rest of his life.