"Clover darling, it's time for dinner." My mother called out gently taping on my door.
" I'll be right down mother" I slowly stood as I called back. Stopping at my vanity to twist my long crimson locks into two small buns atop my head. I couldn't help but look at myself and how much I've changed. I've always had a quite slender frame and large green eyes, the last few years I haven't grown much , stopping just sort of 4 feet 9 inches. I resembled quite closely my own mother at this age.
Aside from having white ears instead of Grey like her and my father. "I am quite a bit bustier then she is." I thought while running my hands over my large breasts and down my body. I was quickly interrupted by another knock and began making my way down to our dining hall. On the far western side of our castle from wear my room sat atop a tower.
"Ah there you are" my father, King Edward, mumbled barely looking up from his plate as I walked in and sat down between him and mother. "We have something very important to talk about" He continued between bites.
With this I instantly sat up and looked at him "What might that be?"
"Well as we all know tomorrow is your 18th birthday, and from your many hints and comments I take it you want to be able to leave the castle to explore freely." mumbling as he finally made eye contact with me "Am I correct?"
"well yes father, more then anything I want that," I excitedly began rambling about all the things I would do and where I would go before being cut off by him.
"Settle down, a princess does not ramble," he took a long drink of water before continuing "after discussing different options with the guards and my advisors I've come to the conclusion that's just not possible, we may be able to arrange an hour outside the wall once a week. but an extended trip is unsafe for a young woman such as yourself."
I instantly felt shattered, wanting to do nothing but cry I slowly rose to my feet. Holding back tears I quietly turned to my mother, "I'm not feeling very good, I'm going to retire to my room if that's alright." Once she nodded her approval I bowed and turned making my way back to my secluded little corner.
I'm not sure what I had expected, after all my parents kept me in their room until I was 15. Ever since they realized they would not be able to have any more children, they began focusing all their energy on protecting me. I just wish for once they'd at least let me go to the market or even just across the street. As I neared my doorway and noticed my guards were still standing there I sighed, it'd be nice to be alone right now.
"good evening princess, and happy soon to be birthday" they said in unison, they must have been practicing I thought while giggling slightly. looking up at them my feeling of dread with having them right outside increased. Their warm smiles eased my anxiety a bit, both seemed to be of similar ancestry towing over me, maybe giraffes, regardless of all that I did not want these men hearing me cry.
"why thank you" I softly said before reaching for my door handle, pausing before grasping it I turned around "actually, do you guys think I could possibly have a bit of privacy for just an hour?" I turned towards the senior looking one. "you guys can even just stand at the end of the hall."
They looked at each other uneasy before shrugging and turning to walk down the direction I came from. Smiling I turned and opened my door, shutting it behind me I went straight up the stairs into my bed chamber. Humming slightly to myself and not paying attention I plopped down in bed before reaching for the book on my nightstand. As I reached I happened to look up towards a window, only then is when I noticed several pairs of eyes looking right at me from the balcony.
Not fully knowing what to do I began yelling for help as I tried to make my way to the stairs. In the blink of an eye the men out side had me surrounded. I spun around trying to find an opening and still screaming before I remembered. I had sent my guards away, nobody was going to come save me. defeated, I trembled in fear as one of the men tied me up, and sprayed something in my face. I began to feel fuzzy and as my eyes began to close I was lifted up and over a shoulder. I drifted off to sleep as we passed up and over my balcony railing.
I slowly woke up laying in bed, as I stretched I thought about the crazy dream I just had. Suddenly as I tried to swing my leg out of bed I realized I was shackled. Frantically I ripped off my blanket to see both feet were tied to my posts. Slowly looking around I couldn't figure out what was going on. this is my room, but where are my windows. And I definitely did not have a fire place.
"well good morning" a booming voice called out, turning in the direction of it I saw the lion king standing there smiling warmly. "I understand that might be uncomfortable, and I promise to take it off as soon as you hear my proposition." he slowly walked towards me before sitting down a few feet away.
"where am I? why does this look like my room?" I shouted.
"well we tried to recreate as much as possible to help you feel more comfortable during your stay," he crossed his legs while leaning forward "You see Clover we've been planning this for a very long time."
I began crying slightly while shaking my head in confusion "what stay, what have you been planning, I want to go home I don't want to stay here."
"I understand completely and after I explain a bit and you still want to leave I will release you, but the least you could do is hear me out." His warm voice and soft smile had my confused as he sat there staring at me. This man had ABDUCTED me, yet his kindness has me feeling like this place might not be so bad.
"Okay your majesty," I slightly bowed my head "I will hear your proposal but afterwards I want to be shown the way out." crossing my arms I turned to face him completely.
"I appreciate that princess" he smiled again at me " many years ago I decide I'd like to unite our kingdoms, I reached out to your father about possibly arranging a marriage, immediately he shot me down based purely on my ancestral lineage." The king shook his head before continuing "After that I decided you should have the right to choose, after all you are very capable of making your own decisions. this plan was then hatched to take you on the eve of your birthday, bring you here so you could decide for yourself if you want to marry one of my sons."
I sat silently staring at the wall, the confusion all over my face. " I'm not sure.." I started rubbing my temples "this is a lot to take in right now, I hope you understand." withholding eye contact I began looking around the room uncomfortably.
"I completely understand dear Clover, I'll unlock your restraints as was promised but why dont you come have some breakfast. we prepared you a special birthday breakfast." he began walking towards me with a key. "this way you can at least meet the boys."
I quizzically looked at him as I thought. "How is this man being kinder to me and showing me more compassion then my parents have in the last 18 years, they've always treated my like a glass doll in a showcase. but this man is openly going to let me make a decision." I slowly stood and turned towards the King once my restraints were off. "Okay, I will meet the princes before my decision on what to do" I announced bowing slightly. The King excitedly asked me to follow him before leading me out of the room to their dining hall. Nervously I looked around, wondering If it could really be that bad here.