"What is going on out here?" I heard my grandfathers voice ask and then a gasp; "Prince Dorian, what an honor."
My mind went blank as I looked up at the man who had saved me in the alley. Everything started to connect, the guard with him, the carriages wandering the streets, I had heard stories of how the prince was a cold blooded killer. My grandfather had told me he was one of the best trained military men he had ever seen. Until recently he had been away at war leading our men.
"Aylin, what happened?" My mother asked as she and my grandmother walked out of the house.
"Nothing Ms. I simply saw a beautiful girl walking alone in the rain and offered to bring her home." Prince Dorian answered with all traces of anger gone from his face.
"Please, come out of the rain." My grandfather ushered us inside the knight staying by the door after the prince gave him a look.
"I am going to change my dress, is wet from the rain." I muttered as I put the basket of things down on the table. I could not ignore the stare that the prince was giving me even as my mother and grandmother were asking him questions about if he wanted anything to eat or drink. Changing into a new under-dress and a simple light green dress that covered my arms I went back out to join everyone else. I made sure to avoid looking in the mirror, I already knew what I would see when I looked, and I wasn't ready to see the witch staring back at me in the mirror. With bruised skin and marks that all the men left on me. Blinking quickly I took a deep breath before grabbing the cloak the prince had let me wear.
"You are sure about this decision sir?" I heard my grandfather say as I started walking down the steps.
"My parents are letting me choose and she is who I am choosing. She is of age, correct?"
Pausing on the steps I waited to see if I could hear anymore of the conversation before they realized I was standing there. I could see them all sitting at the table, the prince seemed relaxed as if he had known my family for many years. My mother and grandmother were holding hands on the table, my mothers face being the only one i could see looked happy and scared at the same time. I was not used to seeing her so happy, whenever she looked at me though she would smile she always seemed to be sad as if she felt sorry for my very existence. My heart hurt for her whenever she gave me that look.
"Yes she is eighteen." My mother answered as she glanced over and spotted me standing there. "Aylin, come join us please." she smiled standing as the prince stood as well.
They all stood as I reached the table, the prince's gaze was still piercing as he looked me over trying to find any signs of what happened to me I was sure.
"Here is your cloak, your highness." I bowed low, holding it out to him not moving.
"You may keep it, I have plenty." he said softly and I looked up shocked at him as he motioned his head in a way to tell me to stand.
"Aylin, his highness has asked for your hand in marriage." My grandfather said, placing his hand on my shoulder as I sucked in a breath glancing between him and Dorian. I was sure my eyes were as wide as dinner plates as I opened and closed my mouth trying to find the words that would not form in my brain.
My mother walked over taking the cloak from me and hanging it up gently before motioning back to the table.
"Lets sit, and talk about this, of course if that is alright with you your highness?" she asked as she walked past me to where she had what looked to be tea brewing and grabbed the fancy china we had just for when guests were over.
"Of course." Dorian nodded before pulling a chair out and looking at me "For you M'lady." he spoke softly, then held his hand out for me to take. His touch was gentle, however I could feel the calluses on his hand. After I sat he made sure to pull the chair out for my mother as well when she finished pouring us all tea.
"Now, I know this is sudden. My parents have decided it is time for me to marry, and with the lack of princesses in the region they have decided that I may choose."
"Why Aylin?" my grandfather asked, I had never heard him sound so serious as he held eye contact with the prince.
"Not only does she come from a family of noble blood, she is also the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on." he looked over at me "She will make beautiful and strong heirs and a good partner." he smiled slightly before looking back at my grandfather.
"We do have a dowry saved as well sir," my mother spoke standing from her chair and going to the chest where I knew my dowry paperwork and money was kept.
"That will not be necessary. The crown is well off and we do not need any money from you, unless she wants it for herself you keep it."
"Sir, we couldn't possibly." My mother looked shocked as she looked at my grandfather and grandmother.
"I can promise you that I do not want nor do I need her dowry."
The room became silent. I could practically see the wheels turning in my grandfather's head. My grandmother sat silent, her eyes not leaving the prince as if she were analyzing him. My mother slowly walked back to the table sitting without another word taking my grandmother's hand in hers again.
"Sir Elric, Aylin will be safe and protected with me, the next Queen, she will soon no longer be seen as the witch people believe she is." Prince Dorian's voice was confident as he pulled out a rolled up paper from inside his vest. Handing it to my grandfather he opened it and read it before nodding his head.
"Mabel, my love, get my quill and ink I have a contract to sign."
Without questioning my grandmother stood going back into the small study my grandfather kept. When she came back she held his quill and ink as well as his seal he used for official documents. With a deep breath my grandfather looked at me with a small smile on his face.
"Dear, you and your mother go pack what things you want to take with you to your new home." he said, tapping my hand that was clenched in my lap tightly.
My mother walked over to me, taking my hand, pulling me up toward the stair again, not letting me object as we walked into my room and she hugged me tightly.
"Mother, I do not wish to go, this is my home." I whispered as tears came to my eyes.
"My darling girl." she pulled away and looked me in the eyes, a smile on her face, her eyes watering; "Your father and I always said you were meant for something, and this is it my daughter. To be the next queen, and the prince is right. You will always be safe with him."
"I won't be here with you, when will I get to see you."
"At your wedding of course." she smiled, caressing my face, wiping a tear that had fallen. "And of course your grandmother and I will come to you to make your dress."
As she said that, she pulled out a small trunk from under my bed and filled it with the little belongings I had in my room. I slid on my shoes before sitting down and looking in the mirror, taking my brush and going through my hair.
"Will you braid it for me before I go?" I whispered, making my mother smile and nod before closing the trunk and walking to me, taking the brush from my hands and combing through my hair with it. My blonde waves fell to my mid back, taking her time she slowly braided the hair. I tried to keep my tears from falling but a few slipped down my face. I never thought I would live away from my family, I also was not too sure what the prince's intentions were after what had occurred tonight. He had seen that I was not pure, yet here he was asking for my hand. No not asking, almost demanding that I come with him.
When I got back down stairs my grandfather and grandmother hugged me tightly. The knight was now inside with us and took the trunk from my mother with a frown on his face as he went back outside. The prince took the cloak and draped it over me again pulling the hood up over my head. He basically lifted me up into the carriage once we were outside.
"Please take care of my daughter." My mother said as the prince went to climb into the carriage.
"I will, and you and your family are always welcome to visit."
With that he was seated across from me again and I was waving to my family out the window as they stood in the rain waving goodbye to me.
"What are you really taking me away for? To be your slave?" I asked, turning my eyes, he scowled at me as I removed my hood.
"I understand you do not trust people, men especially, but I was being honest with what I said."
"You don't even know me. You have seen that I am used and not pure, no man wants that with a woman. I am sure your parents will not let me wed you as soon as they know that. I know they check women before they marry." I whispered, looking away from him.
"You let me worry about that. The other girls I met were impossible to be around, and as soon as I saw you I had to have you. You are mine now."
My heart raced as he said those words. He seemed protective and yet I still couldn't bring myself to trust him. As we neared the castle I frowned when I saw the sun was coming up. I realized how tired I really was but fought to keep my eyes open.
"Do you mind if we close the curtains?" I whispered as the sunlight started to creep in through the open windows. Never had it crossed my mind that the palace was so far away, though my grandfather had taken many trips to and from it I never thought to ask how far the trip was considering he was always gone a week or two at a time when he would just stay there.
Leaning over he pulled the curtains shut making the carriage dark again. "Is it true what they say about you then?"
His eyes were questioning as he looked at me. I suddenly felt embarrassed at the thought that word of me had gotten to the castle. Then again I shouldn't be surprised, everyone seemed to know about the village witch.
"You need to be a little more specific about what you mean, your highness." I muttered looking at my hands folded in my lap.
"That you cannot go in sunlight?"
I swallowed thickly. "I can go in sunlight, though after so long it feels as though my skin is on fire, it is also painful on my eyes as well."
"So not a vampire then." he joked "and the witch thing?"
"I was born under a full moon, I look different then what people are used to so to them I was cursed by the moon witch, therefore I am a witch."
"Have you ever cursed someone?"
I gave a sad chuckle looking up at him again; "Depends on who you ask, if you ask the men I am an enchantress who casts spells to make them want me, if you ask women with sick children with no cure, I cursed their family. All misfortune is me doing spells. No matter how many times I explained that I am not a witch and have never wished harm on a single person they didn't listen."
"My mother always told me stories about you. Though I am sure she never believed any of them. I was four when you were born, and as soon as it was announced that a witch was born in the village I was fascinated."
I gasped, staring at him when he gave me a shrug and a smile. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was telling the truth. I blushed with how he was staring at me, my heart starting to race again.
"When I heard your screams in the alley, I was angry that men would do that. Then I saw you." his eyes changed from dark blue to almost black as his face became angry, his jaw tensing and his fist clenching. "I knew those men had to die. For even thinking to harm you, something in me took over. I barely remember killing them."
"I remember. I will always remember.'' The puddles of blood and decapitated men laying on the ground flashed in my brain and I felt nauseous. Then I remembered something that so far I had gotten lucky with; "The one finished." I whispered looking at him hoping he understood what I meant.
"Finished? What do you-" Realization flashed through his eyes as they darkened again.
"I am not so appealing now, am I a prince. That I may be with another man's child."
All the times I had been attacked I had gotten lucky to not fall pregnant, I almost began to believe I couldn't bear children however I still had my monthly.
"Then we marry as quickly as we can, and pass the child off as my heir. No one knows of the attacks? Were they the only men?"
With a nod of my head the men's faces flashed through my mind. I will never forget those four men.
"You are safe with me. I gave you and your family my word." he reached over, touching his hand to mine, making me flinch and move away from him.