Princess Elsa was pushed to the ground roughly by one of the guards that brought her in.
Her bruised knees pricked her and she winced.
She could see her mother's eyes in the dim lit room.
Those eyes pleaded on her behalf but her father wouldn't hear of it.
He had even shoved her aside when she rushed towards Elsa.
Elsa pitied her mother.
She knew it wasn't a luxury coping with such a man who couldn't even speak about his real emotions.
He was too used to acting tough and she detested him for all those acts.
Elsa ignored her father's contemptuous glare.
She only pitied Oliver because he had gotten into trouble for her sake.
The king might have him suspended from the knighthood or worse still - have him banished.
King Owen raised his hand in fury and slapped Elsa across her face.
His black eyes glimmered with intensity in the dim lit room and his pupils shook violently.
He had ordered the guards to have them rounded up in a room and he didn't fail to show his disappoinment in Elsa as he spat sour words right in her face.
Elsa felt her face burn intensely.
It was scalding hot - the very opposite of the emotions that twirled up in her eyes.
Tears didn't flow on her face.
She showed no remorse for her behavior and she wasn't disappointed by her father's sour words either.
She had known all along that he didn't deem her worthy of his love and support.
Her head was already in a mess.
She was already shattered and there was nothing else left to destroy.
The fact that she looked her father straight in the eyes with no remorse infuriated him the more.
Her father only let out a stifled scream and slammed his fist on the wall.
Her mother froze and shrank back.
He simply needed her to apologise for her misdeeds and agree to marry prince Ivan of Albalon.
" Alright.
" Place Elsa in her room until the wedding day arrives.
Ensure she doesn't escape again because the wedding is in two days.
" Conor, ensure Oliver's whipped and put in the dungeon until I decide if he'll be executed tommorow for killing a royal guard."
Oliver bowed his head in defeat and wept while the guards held him strongly.
Elsa's racing heartbeat came to an abrupt stop and her eyeballs widened.
Execute?
King Owen turned around with a start and signaled the guards to take Elsa away.
Elsa's voice reverberated in the room.
" Father!! You can't do this to me! Mother! Please, don't let them take me.
Spare Oliver, please, father."
Queen Bethany wept while they took her daughter away.
She grabbed her husband's hand.
" You can't do this to our daughter," her words came out soft ( the very opposite of the impression she wanted to give off.)
Yes, her lips pursed by suppressed fury.
She pinched her mouth shut as if holding back what she truly wanted to say.
Veins in her neck stood out in livid ridges but she forcefully swallowed her emotions.
She was tired of his diplomatic rule but she feared him.
What more could she do?
Words that had been on the tip of her tongue couldn't come out.
King Owen shook her hand off and scolded her instead.
" If only your daughter got a better training, she wouldn't behave like this."
And he retired to his chamber whilst leaving his wife to dwell on his parting words.
*****
The sharp ray of the sun pierced through the curtain as Iris raised the curtain.
The ray of the sun found its way into Elsa's eyes and she winced slowly before finally waking up to reality.
The chiming of the palace bell jolted her from her sleep.
She gazed at Iris and Irene who stood at the window watching something with so much enthusiasm.
She noticed the sour look on their faces and sluggishly rose from the bed.
" What are you staring at?"
She trudged towards the window and peeked through the space created between Iris and Irene's bodies.
This was when she recollected the events that had taken place.
A pained whimper escaped her lips.
" Oliver?"
She could see some guards drag him out roughly to the execution arena.
She hastily snuggled her feet into the slippers that had been under the bed and darted towards the door.
She needed to stop the king from commiting such sacrilege before it would become too late.
" What are you doing, your highness?" the guards at the door questioned.
They straightened up to face her.
Elsa dripped with spite.
" I only need to speak with the king."
" I'm sorry. He has given orders that you don't leave your room until the wedding day."
She hissed in displeasure and turned around with a start.
She wasn't going to take no for an answer.
In a matter of seconds, the guards slumped to the ground roughly whilst groaning in pain.
Elsa's impetuous rush attracted Iris and Irene's attention.
They chased after her without hesitation.
***
Elsa stood in front of the door contemplating whether or not she should go in to confront her father or stay quiet until he returns to his senses.
On second thoughts, she pushed the door open with so much force.
She ignored her father's depreciatory glare and walked up to her father's throne.
The king's aide - sir Conor bolted towards her and pulled her left arm with greater strength.
" I need to talk to my father," she shrieked in pain.
Her arm burned intensely.
Sir Conor pulled his left hand roughly across his chocolate brown hair and glared at her.
" The king is busy. You can't talk to him now,"
" And you won't tell me when and when not to speak to my own father!"
Elsa noticed a smirk appear on her father's lips and shrank back in repulsion.
" Conor, let her go."
He bowed to the king while releasing her arm from his grip.
He excused himself.
King Owen stood gracefully and moved away from his throne.
Elsa gazed at sir Conor as he slammed the door behind his back.
" I'm listening, Elsa."
Elsa felt the knots in her stomach tie with intensity.
She swallowed saliva in a gulp.
" Father, Oliver has done nothing wrong to deserve this execution," her concerned voice rose.
" It was all my idea that we elope, father."
She wiped the tear droplets that trickled down her face.
The king simply nodded while Elsa's heart thudded wildly.
His quiet, disbelieving laugh shook her to the core and she blazed murderously at him.
" My daughter planned to elope with a commoner.
" Elsa, you're royalty and I expect you to understand that," he scolded her and turned around with a start in contemplation.
" Father, I only ask that he be spared.
" Take your anger out on me instead."
A long silence reigned in the throne room.
" What is this I perceive?" the king began again.
" Father, it isn't what you think..."
He coughed to regain composure and sat down slowly on the throne.
Elsa stood in front of her father like a terrified rabbit (clutching her heart in her hands.)
It took her so much to pull herself together and not loose her cool in the presence of her father.
She wondered why it took the scum in front of her so much time to speak.
" I'll spare Oliver...
" But, on one condition."
Elsa's delighted heart skittered to a halt.
A condition?
Her complexion turned pale and she glanced coldly at her father from a distance.
" You'll have to marry prince Ivan of Albalon," the king pointed out and smiled roughly.
Elsa felt her heart curl into a miserable ball in her body.
Her tensed body turned cold instantly.