We went back to the orphanage as often as we could without raising any suspicion to my parents or my siblings.
In time, Marcellus became comfortable with speaking with me and soon he became my best friend. Even though he was three years older than me, I really enjoyed his company and he never failed to make me laugh. In time I showed him my magic, my connection to the power of lighting, thunder and rain.
Due to my family heritage, the power of storms was passed down to me because I was the first daughter. I could control and or create all the elements but my emotions were not connected to the weather. Marcellus always watched me with awe whenever I demonstrated my magic to him.
Cato and Marcellus became close as well. He would go and see Marcellus on his free days and teach him how to fight and handle different weapons. Cato confided in me that Marcellus was getting worried of the fact that because he was older, no one would be able to adopt him.
On the other hand, he didn`t want to leave his friends behind if he got adopted. He was close with three other boys in the orphanage when he arrived there. I had never seen them because Marcellus liked joke that I was too pretty for their eyes. I would simply blush whenever he used the word pretty around me.
Our friendship went on till I turned nine and he turned twelve.
I was introduced to Gregory and Victor of House Tormach. Gregory was the oldest and Victor was the same age as Camilla. Their parents were old friends of my father from his younger days and recently they had invited our family to Gregory`s twelfth birthday celebration.
I had been reading in my room when Elias came storming into my room with an angry expression.
"Elias?"I asked he went straight to my closet doors and threw them open," Dearest brother, what has gotten into you?"
"I am getting you out of here before our father does the unthinkable," Elias said as he came out with a bag full of clothes.
I closed my book and stood from my chair," What`s father done now?"
I really loved my father but sometimes, he tended to do things or say thing I didn`t agree with. It was the same with Elias but Camilla was daddy`s little girl. She worshiped the ground he walked on.
"Aunt Sophia wants father to set up a betroth between you and Gregory."
The color drained from my face drastically and I fell back into my chair. Elias quickly left my bag and came to kneel in front of me," Marina, don't worry. I`m going to stop them but I can`t say anything until I`m sixteen. That`ll be too late so I am going to have Cato hide you somewhere until-"
"Until they find me?"I muttered.
Elias flinched," I know it`s not the best plan but..I can`t think of anything else."
I blinked rapidly until an idea struck me. Something I had read from our family books that my mother insisted I memorize before I turn ten.
"Where is father?"I asked as I stood up in front of Elias.
"In the Gardens with mother."
"Good, that`s more than good, in fact it`s great."
I quickly ran out with Elias on my heels. Cato and Pax soon followed after us.
When I finally stood in front of parents, I told them that I was invoking the Vow of Choice. I was to be told of every proposed engagement until I was sixteen. That was the age when I had to consider them but in order for me to accept, I would have to fight my suitors and whoever beat me, I would marry him.
My father looked ready to faint but my mother gave me a proud smile before accepting my Vow. Father didn`t even put up an argument because mother gave him the evil eye.
The next day while father delivered the news to House Tormach, I went to tell Marcellus and boy ,was he surprised.
"They`re already setting boys to marry you?" he asked as we sat under a tree near the orphanage. We always made sure that people wouldn`t be able to recognize me or else word will reach my family.
I nodded, "Yes, and I was told by mother that more would be coming after I turn thirteen."
Marcellus eye flashed angrily. I reached out to pat his hands.
"Don`t worry, Cato has been instructed by my mother to begin my training. I am not going to get married without a fight."
"And if that person beats you, then what?"
I gave him a sad smile," Then I will marry him."
"What if it`s someone you hate?"
I shrugged, "All the more reason for me to win."
"Then I`ll marry you," Marcellus said as he stood up in front of me," I will train as well to be worthy enough to fight you and then I will take care of you."
I blushed and ducked my head," You don`t have to Marcellus."
He put a hand under my chin and raised it up," I want to and then I`ll build you that green house that you`ve always wanted. Filled with all kinds of flowers, all for you. I`ll build you a castle so that you`ll be safe from all those stupid suitors. "
I turned really red and I was sure I would melt. I was sure that whatever we said was just the words of children but I couldn`t help but hope that somehow it would come true. The green house was something I`ve always wanted since I visited the Botanical Gardens on Gardenia.
I only told Marcellus about it.
The day I died inside was the day after I turned ten. I was in my room with mother as she showed me the art of the fan. The different ways I could communicate messages during parties by simply turning my fan a different way or fluttered it.
It was going great except I was tempted to throw the fan out the window if mother asked to repeat myself. We were halfway through when one of the maids entered and whispered something to mother, her face paled before she stood and dismissed our lesson. She gave our fans to the maid and left in a hurry. I frowned in confusion and moved to my bed.
I was about to sit when Cato came into my room with a grim face.
"Cato, what`s wrong?"
"I have been ordered to stand guard over you; a fire has broken out on the east side of the city."
I gasped," The east side but that means… The orphanage! Marcellus!"
I ran for the door, only to have Cato stop me," No my Lady, you can`t."
"But-"
"I promise, we will go and check on him later but my first priority is your safety."
It wasn`t later that he had lived to regret what he had done, it wasn`t until later that night that Cato came into my room with a grim face and news that shattered me. The Orphanage had burned down but the children had gotten out except for four boys. Marcellus had gone back inside to save his friend who had been trapped inside, he was followed by two other boys and they had perished inside the building.
I made it rain for the first time and caused the entire estate to flood. My parents found me in tears and watched as I spiraled into depression for a whole month. Nothing seemed to make sense and I just didn`t find any reason to go on anymore.
Most people would be confused on why I acted like this but really it was simple. Marcellus kept me sane and happy in this life of fake smiles, jewels and manners. The life that I had, I slowly forgot it whenever I was with him. He made me feel normal, like I was just Marina and not the Lady Marina of Norvel. He knew the girl behind the Headband and made me want to be better.
During the month that I was down, my mother would sit beside me and wipe away my tears. She hugged me through every nightmare I had and finally made me face reality. I finally told her about Marcellus and for the first time in days, I felt a little lighter. She smiled and held my hand instead of scolding me for befriending an orphan, she said, "You deserve a little happiness in this life, Marina. Marcellus was your happiness and I have no right to be mad at you for that."
That made me love her more.
It took some more days but I slowly came out of my depression and tried living. Elias pushed me to go back to my training and Cato helped me every step of the way.
By the time, I turned thirteen; I had mastered every weapon in our armory and was presented with my very own armor. It was black and shimmered like the feathers of an eagle in the light of the sun. The helmet was fashioned in a way that tucked in my white locks so that I never needed to worry about. I had also begun to realize that my lightning magic was getting out of hand. I had been accidently electrocuting everyone I touched so mother made me wear Grandmother Helga`s gloves.
Things started to change when I was fifteen. Camilla by then had come to realize that she didn`t have a title and grew to resent me. We started arguing about everything. I honestly didn't like it but she just kept provoking me every chance she got. To top things off, she had joined the Society Daughters Club and they made it their mission to torment me every time we had a Society event. I have come so close to sending them all to the emergency room.
I distanced myself from small gatherings but made time for big events so as to please my parents and grandparents on both sides of my family. Elias didn`t have things easy as well. When he turned eighteen, my grandparents pushed him to find a bride.
I was angry when I heard the news and as a result, I blasted a huge hole right through the dining room. Father was not pleased about that. I urged Elias to leave home and go to school outside of the country to get away from them and their demands. Secretly, I helped him leave and two days later, he enrolled in Saint Knights Academy.
It was there that he trained to become a soldier and a Knight. It was also there that he met Willow, the woman who would become his wife and the mother of his children. Willow was petite and built like a small dancer. She had long brown hair and stormy grey eyes that sparkled whenever she laughed. I was happy about her but my father wasn`t. Willow was the daughter of florist and a firefighter so in his eyes, she was a commoner.
Camilla treated her coldly as well but mother had the final say. She demanded that everyone get off Elias back because he was the one going to marry her and not them. I had never been happier that she was our mother.