The day after a bird was sent to Feytiviti, her groom arrived at the doorstep of her father's hut.
Aryka was shocked.
That was faster than she had expected it would be.
The Prince was a tall man in a strange black attire that concealed his body from the neckline to his wrists and his ankles.
He must have no tattoos to flaunt.
A weak man.
Sad.
His head was completely shaven which must signify a recent loss of challenge on his side.
A shame.
Aryka only hoped that the rest of the warriors of Feytiviti were not like him or the men who came along with him.
There was a long piece of black clothing attached to his shoulders that fell to his back. Wasn't that just an inconvenient piece during battle?
Were these men even capable of saving her village?
She hoped so.
They were her only hope after all.
The village Priest conducted their Joining Ritual in the Sacred Hut and soon enough, she was on her way to Feytiviti along with her husband, on horseback. The guards he had brought along stayed behind to protect the village.
The journey to Feytiviti was long.
Aryka missed her father dearly. So dearly, her heart ached. The company she had wasn't great either. Her husband wouldn't talk to her and her attempts to speak to him met silence. Up till now, all she knew of him was his name, and that was because he had said it at the Sacred Hut when the priest asked.
Prince Raykan.
Ah.
He must be really displeased with this union. She must do everything in her power to please him.
The couple journeyed day and night, and on the sixth day, they arrived at the Kingdom of Feytiviti.
A great wall surrounded the Kingdom. It was tightly guarded. Many checks were made before they threw the gates open for them to come into the kingdom.
Feytiviti was absolutely beautiful, and colorful. There were big buildings on either side of the road, some taller than others. The road was cobblestoned too but what caught Aryka's attention the most were the warriors. There were so many of them, with good weapons too.
That was promising.
They all concealed their skin too though, but now, Aryka was determined to believe that it must mean something else. After all, they had a reputation and that didn't come out of thin air.
Soon, they got to the Castle and Aryka was led to the throne room.
The throne room was massive and the walls glimmered like they were made out of gold.
The King and Queen were welcoming, their personalities warmer than their son's who didn't even step into the throneroom with her.
Her presence must feel suffocating to him.
The Queen's smile was blinding and she welcomed Aryka with open arms. Her gold-colored hair was packed up into an intricate style and her blue dress was dazzling. She was a slender woman next to the King, who didn't seem all that buff either. He had short, brown hair.
"How was the journey?"
"You must need rest."
"How are you?"
"Hope you didn't encounter any misfortune along the way."
They asked her with care.
A terrible husband and a good in-law, she could bear that. For her village, she could bear anything.
The doors to the throne room were thrown open suddenly, and they all turned in the direction of the man who walked in with angry strides. He flung his sword on the floor dramatically, a frown etched into his face.
"What is this mother?" He ran his gloved hand through his golden-colored hair. "Why am I hearing that I am married?!"
What was going on?
"What?! Father?"
The Queen smiled. "Because you are."
Aryka looked from the son to the King and Queen.
"You are indeed married, Raykan."
Raykan?!
That was her husband's name!
Were there two Raykans? Or was that…
Anger blazed through the Prince's face. "Who dares to marry me without my consent?!"
"Stop yelling! You are scaring your wife." The King cautioned.
"What wife?!"
The Queen held Aryka's shoulder and turned her completely to him.
"Aryka, the daughter of the Chief of Ilusu. isn't she just too lovely?"
Aryka's heart dropped.
A marriage by proxy?!
Not only had she married someone who didn't want the union, but he also didn't even know about the union until it happened.
How bad could this get?