Hey everyone! I took like a 3 month break from writing, but I am back now, and I am starting to get adjusted to an online school schedule, I will try to update this book at least once a week from now on!! Expect roughly 30-40 chapters!! Alright, I love every last one of you!!

 - 19 Years Later -

The water was stained with red. Little droplets of blood had trickled from her delicate finger, dropping straight into the clear glass. She slowly swirled her long finger in the deep crimson mixture and watched the dark blood dissipate into the water, turning the whole goblet into such a beautiful, deep shade, it was as though it was about to consume her.

People may have perceived her as crazy, but no one could deny how each and every one of her actions beheld a certain level of grace. Even that of sitting here and pondering her fate while she slowly bled.

What she had to do tomorrow was her destiny. No matter what terror was happening in her father's kingdom, it was her duty to marry the future ruler. Her father was desperately sick and the palace healer had told her he hadn't but a fortnight or two left to live. She needed to marry, for though she clearly could not save her father, this was the only way to save her kingdom.

Her mother had passed away long ago, and she had no brothers who could bear the throne, so it was up to her to rule alongside her husband.

Her husband. Husband was a strange word for a man she had never seen and only heard of through word of mouth. But once again, this was her duty. And she couldn't very well rule a kingdom without a husband, now could she?

With that thought, she breathed a sigh. This was the way it was, and nothing she could do would change that.

A knock was issued at her bedroom door and she quickly hid the glass of bloody water behind her before calmly saying "Come in," to the person at her door. Her voice was fairly deep for an eighteen year old girl, but beautiful nonetheless, and it held a bit of childhood sweetness still, though the girl herself had never herself had a childhood.

With a creak, the large wooden doors to her bedchamber opened and Giselle, her maid, came scurrying in. "Your Highness," the squeaky maid curtseyed, "Sir Robert will be here shortly, and as he will be your husband we must get you prepared to meet him. You must make a good first impression on him." With a nod, the girl stood up and walked over to the mirror. She sat down on her soft off-white stool and watched Giselle pick up a beautiful embroidered wooden comb. The wood was etched with an elaborate array of roses, carved with such detail, that it was as though they were very real. She could almost smell them.

"Princess Elaine, you needn't worry. You will make a beautiful bride and Queen."

Elaine just stared at herself in the soft reflection of her looking glass. She watched Giselle brush her soft blonde locks, and watched them fall slowly at her shoulders. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue. Not quite like the ocean, nor like the clear noon day sky. They seemed more like ice, soft speckles of grey and brown inside the cool blue stare made even the owner of the eyes think of a cold winter day. Her pale skin, blemish free, just donated to the icy image people had when they saw her.

The princess was not eager for the wedding for many reasons, one of which, to point out the obvious, was for lack of familiarity with the groom. However, one of the other reasons was her father. In all that was happening in the kingdom and especially with her father, the last thing she needed to devote attention to was a such a ridiculous ordeal as a wedding she had no particular interest to participate in. Not many knew what princesses did all day, although most would imagine a boring life of luxury, waiting for a prince while sitting around doing nothing but trying on frivolous dresses all day long. Elaine had tried to lead that type of life, and was overcome with boredom. Her life need not be too interesting, that was never of much importance, but her mind need always be at work. Her mind was the most valuable possession she owned, though none would have guessed it.

So to engage her mind, since a young age, the princess would sit by the door outside of her father's advising room, and listen in on his conversations talking about all the treacherous things happening in the Kingdom. She would learn of any wars, any plans, and any new royal decree's passing. And before she could get caught at the door, she would run out of sight, for as her father had scolded her, "it was improper for a young lady to listen to the men conversing about things that do not concern her."

And now, Elaine could not focus, for one too many things were circling her head. Her father, the kingdom, the war, the rebels, and least of all importance her wedding. But of course, a wedding must occur, for though Elaine had many a fine education, learning the arts, mathematics, and had learned to hold conversation in over seven different languages, she had never received lessons on how to run a Kingdom, without running it into the ground.

She sat in the stool, wondering what her future would hold, and fearing for her well accustomed life in the palace and what would happen if the rebels had their way. But her train of thought ended there, as she was taken back to the present by the interruption of her daydream that Giselle's squeaky voice caused. "All done, Your Highness. And may I say, you look quite nice."

"Thank you, Giselle," she stated simply and stood up, straightening out her egg-white dress. She did indeed look 'quite nice' in white. It suited her youth and royalty, and of course her up-incoming end to maidenhood.

"It is my honor, Princess," the tiny maid curtseyed, "and I would care to inform you that your father seeks audience with you." With that, the maid held the door open for the Princess and scurried out, heading to her own next task.

Elaine walked down the winding halls of the palace staring ahead of her, as had been taught to do. No matter, for she had memorized every grain of brick in this large place, and could imagine she was watching her surroundings as she went. Guards lined the walls every few steps, in their silver armored, plain uniforms. Oh how lovely it must have been to be born a boy and to get to decide your own destiny. She could have been a guard, or an advisor, or she could ride bear-back instead of side-saddled. She could have been a King. A ruler. But she wasn't, and she wouldn't be, so she kept walking, and held her head high. Her simple egg colored dress swished silently from side to side, and the light flower embroidery was simple, yet elegant. Her youthful beauty radiated from her, as though she was the sun, and even the guards, whose job it was to be stable and unmoving, glanced at her out of the corner of their eyes as she passed by.

When she finally arrived at her father's bed chamber, she was let in by the two guards at the door. Her father's chamber contrasted with hers greatly. Her's reeked of desperation, and his reeked of death. Not yet dead, but nearing that end, her father lay solemnly in his large bed covered by a simple white blanket, almost identical to his graying hair. He was old, and his life had been full of love and of agony, but his journey was nearly over.

He coughed a long, raspy cough, and motioned for his daughter to approach his bed. She knelt next to him, so her eyes were on the same level as his, and grasped his frail hand, closely to her chest. "Father," she whispered.

"It is alright dear. I still have a few weeks, enough time to see your wedding." Ah. Her wedding was a sore subject between her and the King, for many an argument had been fought over it and over the choice for a husband. Her father sensed her sorrow however and reminded her of the goal. "Elaine, you have to marry him. We will have no peace with the Kingdom of Glancia without this union, and we have been at war for many years. My old soul cannot handle it anymore. Glancia is small, but powerful, and we need them. It is your duty."

Duty was also a sore subject. Duty entailed so many unachievable things. It was her duty to marry, and to serve her husband, and to bear a son, like her mother had failed to do. It was her duty to succeed, and success was impossible. Yet, she nodded, for duty also meant to obey her father. "Of course, father."

The old King glanced around the room and motioned at the servants and guards, "Leave please, while I talked to the Princess. When she leaves, you may enter once more." The servants filed quickly out of the large room, and the Knights followed after. "Elaine," he turned to face her slowly, "I know you listen to my conversations and understand what is happening in the kingdom right now. You must inform your husband when you meet him today, so by the time he is King, he knows what he is handling." She grimaced at the word, but solemnly nodded. "The rebels are sowing havoc amongst the villages, and recruiting the young into their epitome of a rebellion. It will be your duty, as Queen, to try to find peace with them. They call themselves 'Lartin's'. You can find them easily if you so wish, word travel's fast and they may be willing to meet."

With that, a knock came at the door and a surly looking maid came in. She curtseyed and said in a gruff, rather masculine voice, "Your Highness, your fiancé has arrived." Her father paused, and then looked back at Elaine.

"Go greet him," he squeezed her hand and let go. Elaine stood and curtseyed for her father, and promptly rushed out of the room to meet a man she had never seen but was set to wed.

* * *

Elaine felt nauseous as she slowly made her way to the Great Hall to greet a man who would soon become her husband. She had never met Prince Thomas, but she had been to Glancia with her father. Of course her mother never had come with them, for she had died when Elaine was just two years old. It had always been just her and dad, and of course, all the staff of the palace. And now it would be her by herself. No father, but a husband, some empty space. Hell, she hoped he could talk. She had met his sister when she visited and she was but an empty head with a tiara.

Her union with Thomas was purely strategic. Thomas was the younger brother, but just a little over a year older than her. She had no siblings, which meant no older brothers to take the throne. He couldn't rule his kingdom, and she couldn't rule hers, so they would rule one together.

She walked into the Great Hall and there he stood. Dark black hair cut into a short fashion sat atop his head. He had bright blue eyes, much brighter than her's. He was tall and wore a stiff looking suit. He had a grimace on his face, perhaps equally unhappy as she was. When they saw each other, they approached across the long hall and he bowed as she curtsied.

"Hello, Your Highness," his voice was low, and had no emotion behind it.

"Good day to you as well, Your Highness," she stated kindly.

"Shall we take a walk around the grounds?" He reached his arm out, and she looped hers around it. And so they went.

The grounds were beautiful, but she couldn't enjoy it. She was anxious for tomorrow. She glanced at Thomas again through the corner of her eye. He was rather handsome, and she supposed she could grow to be fond of him. At least she hoped she would.

They circled around the red roses and moved onto the beautiful exotic purple flowers from the Enchanted Forest. She had seen the garden a thousand times before but never with a suitor, let alone with a fiancé.

All of a sudden, Prince Thomas came to a grinding halt, and turned to face her. "Princess Elaine," he sighed, "I must ask something of you."

She nodded slowly, to usher him on, not out of interest, but simply because she just wanted to hurry back to her wing of the castle and be alone.

"You are incredibly beautiful, and I cannot express the gratitude I have that you may be by my side once this kingdom is ours. However, I do need to tell you that I cannot be yours fully. You see, I had a girl back home." He paused, gaging her reaction. She was silent, and did not allow her emotions to display on her face, but she was pondering. She was pondering how she had found herself here, in a beautiful garden, next to her fiancé, surrounded by guards, and being told that he could not be of full loyalty to her. "Princess, please do not panic. I am still to wed you, and you will still be my wife-" she stopped him, placing her hand up to his lips to silence him. Her hopes of falling in love with her forced suitor were now tarnished, but oddly enough it really was of no matter. She had never experienced love, not with her busy father, not with her dead mother, and most certainly not with a suitor. Continuing her life without it would be just the same.

They turned around and walked back to the large castle, with its marbled exterior and large columns outside engraved with flowers and woodland creatures and trees. Once they returned to the Grand Hall, they parted ways, the young prince headed to his guest bed chamber, and Elaine heading in the direction of her bedroom.\

There was not much she could do about her life and what happened with it. She could just picture her life, her wedding to a man she wasn't in love with and who wasn't in love with her, her coronation, her child, and living a life surrounded by maids, servants, and family. She could imagine all that, and with it all she could picture feeling completely, iridescently alone. Alone like she had always been, and alone like she would always be.

With these thoughts swimming around her head she turned the corner nearing her bedroom chamber, opened the large Victorian style doors, and rushed in, ready to throw herself on her bed dramatically, until she was stopped in her tracks. For sitting at her vanity, staring in the looking glasses reflection up at her, was the oldest woman she had ever seen.

Alright guys!! I hope yall enjoyed it!!!