Arden's Pov:
Bright light shone on my closed lids penetrating my eyes, I opened my eyes slowly, my vision blurry and saw a figure by my room window parting the draperies and letting in the morning breeze and light into the dreary looking room.
This morning was a special one or so they said as I shall be escorted to a kingdom to get a bride. A task I dreaded with my whole being, but seeing as I have been marked down for the throne, I have no choice, have I?
"No you don't", Mother said the hundredth time today.
We were at the dining table, with varieties of food and fruits arranged over it's length from one side to the other, we sat at both ends of the table facing ourselves. Soups, rice, and some other delicacies were arranged along the edges of the table, while already sliced fruits were kept in bowls arranged just at the middle of the table.
"You need to have a bride in order to secure the throne,child. It's irrevocable and a very necessary procedure, you need to...."
"Have someone that'd look after me, I know that Mother", I said cutting her off.
"No one said this bride might not be stupid you know" I continued
"How dare you say that Arden", She uttered provocatively while lowering her voice a bit.
"Do you even know the family of whose daughter you shall be meeting today?" She asked while staring at me disbelievingly.
"I certainly do not care" I murmured indistinctly, staring down at my food, with my palm encircling the glass of red wine on the table. I remembered the "Book of Doms" she'd given me weeks ago, which I left lying under my pillow not for once opening the front cover, except reading it's title.
"What was that you said?", She asked, cocking her head a bit to the side to see my face better.
I looked at her and smiled sheepishly, while spooning some soup into my mouth.
I loved my mother no doubt, seeing as I was just a little boy of 5 when she saw me at the palace gate, and took me in without hesitation, I couldn't remember the reason why I came to the palace gate but I do know those were the most painful of my memories.
I remember not tasting anything as sweet and delicious as the pinky-whitish substance I was given as desserts after having enough food, getting to know later it was a kind of sweet cream and has been my favorite dessert even till now.
"I said I know mother, I'm just scared of the outcome of the meeting, what if she doesn't agree to getting married to me?",
Ewww Arden, you didn't have to say that now huh?, Well if she doesn't agree to it, the more the better I guess.
"Child", she got on her feet and walked round the table towards me. She still hasn't stopped calling me child 16 years after she had adopted me, it made me so small.
She got to my side of the table, looked down at me while I looked up at her, her eyes were two ink black pools of overwhelming emotions, I saw love and affection in them. Her hands went to both sides of my cheeks, then she sighed and closed her eyes.
"I can't wait to see my grandchildren, that's all", She muttered quietly while looking at me intently.
I stared disbelievingly at her, this was the first time she mentioned this piece of news.
"Mother?". I blinked rapidly and she laughed while tears dropped, I laughed too, getting up to my feet as I crushed her small frame in a warm embrace.