˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ▏ Chapter One ！
My Fates Unfolding

Rhena's P.O.V

The rhythmic sound of my dragon's wings beating against the wind filled my ears as we soared through the skies. Everything below seemed insignificant, reduced to tiny specks, and though the thought of looking down filled me with dread, I had trained myself over the years to resist the urge. When riding a dragon, one must never glance down, for no matter how brave you may be, you are far above the safety of the ground.

The fresh breeze whipped through my silver-blonde hair as I inhaled the crisp, cool air. Leaning forward, I ran my hands along the scaled skin of my dragon. Her powerful roar echoed through the heavens as I guided her descent toward the earth.

With a final powerful flap of her wings, we landed with a resounding thud, sending a shockwave of dirt and dust through the air. The dragon caretakers nearby almost jumped out of their skins, startled by our sudden arrival. Smirking, I swung my legs to the side and leaped off, pulling off my glove as I landed gracefully on the ground.

"Did you have a wonderful flight, Princess?" asked my guard, Kai Vendmark, as I approached him with a proud grin.

"I did, Sir Kai. Thank you for asking," I replied with a nod. He bowed respectfully, then stepped aside to allow me to walk ahead of him.

Kai was a tall man, his jet-black hair contrasting sharply with his deep brown eyes. His beard was kept neatly trimmed, and the lines of age were just beginning to etch themselves onto his skin. Despite his gentle nature, I knew he would strike down anyone who dared to threaten me. Kai had been my guard for as long as I could remember, since I was sixteen years old, and I wouldn't trade him for anyone, not even if given the choice.

With my hands clasped behind my back and my head held high, I walked ahead of him, making our way to the entrance of my home—the grand Castle of Volmark.

As we traversed the castle's halls, I kept my pace steady, ensuring not to bump into any of the bustling staff. My leather cape swayed with each step, trailing behind me along with my flowing hair. My lilac eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of my stepmother, Iduna. At last, we reached the staircase leading to the upper chambers.

"Your father has been asking for you," Kai said as I turned my head to glance back at him, raising an eyebrow before shifting my gaze forward again. "What did he say?" I asked, keeping my voice cool, though internally, a wave of panic rose. My father would be disappointed if he found out I had gone riding without his permission—I am, after all, his heir.

Kai shook his head, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. He flashed a smile meant to ease my worry. "Don't worry, Princess. It's nothing too bad... hopefully."

His last word made me turn and punch him playfully on the shoulder. He let out a groan, rubbing the spot where I had hit him. "You better hope so, Sir Kai, or I'll feed your head to my dragon," I teased sternly before turning back and continuing up the stairs toward my father's hall.

When I entered the room, Kai stepped forward, bowing low before my father, his hand resting firmly on the hilt of his sword. "I have found Princess Rhena, Your Majesty," he said smoothly, his voice as thick and sweet as honey. I smiled, stepping forward to curtsy in front of my father before clasping my hands in front of me.

"Ah, Rhena, my darling. There is someone I would like you to meet," my father said as he stood, my stepmother approaching to stand beside him. I was ready to make a sarcastic remark when two men stepped into view.

One of them wore robes of a whitish-brown hue, his short auburn hair and neatly trimmed beard giving him a dignified appearance. The other was clad in dark brown robes, his light brown hair cropped short and his piercing blue eyes sharp and focused. From their attire alone, I could tell they were Jedi, but what Jedi were doing on planet Eros was beyond my understanding.

"Jedi? Why are Jedi in the castle, Father?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. My stepmother shot me a stern look, and I reluctantly uncrossed them.

"Well... they are here for a deal," my father explained as he walked over to the man in the dark brown robes. My curiosity piqued, I raised an eyebrow further, turning to follow his movements with my eyes.

"What deal?" I pressed, but before I could get an answer, Kai cleared his throat and gave me a glance of encouragement before quietly exiting the room.

Iduna stepped forward, her elegant dress trailing behind her. "Your father and I have decided it is time for you to marry, Rhena," she announced, her voice calm and measured.

"Marry?" I repeated, my face twisting in disgust at the thought.

One of the Jedi, the one with auburn hair, glanced at my father with a confused expression. "I assume no one has informed the princess?" he asked.

"We haven't had time to... discuss such matters," my father replied, clearing his throat awkwardly before offering me a strained smile. "Rhena, this is Anakin Skywalker, a senator for the Jedi in the Republic, and your future husband."

The words future husband echoed in my mind as I looked back and forth between my father and stepmother, struggling to comprehend what had just been said.

"What do you mean, future husband?" I demanded, my brows furrowed in confusion and anger. My stepmother, a woman I could never truly like, shot me another stern glare, warning me not to use such language in front of the Jedi, as if they were of equal status to us.

My father cleared his throat and stepped closer, flashing the Jedi an apologetic look before gently guiding me out of the room, away from them. "Rhena, we need to talk—" he began, but I turned sharply, holding up my hand in front of his face to cut him off.

"You never informed me this was going to happen, and now you expect me to be okay with it?" I retorted, my voice laced with frustration. My father sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if trying to ward off an impending headache. 

"I never told you because I knew how you would react, Rhena," my father interjected, sighing as I stood before him with my arms crossed tightly over my chest.

He often treated me like a child, as if I couldn't handle the truth. I wouldn't have even been upset if he had simply told me beforehand. But now, the situation had spiraled into exactly what he had feared. Sometimes, I wondered if my father ever thought about the consequences of his actions before making decisions. Deep down, I suspected I already knew the answer to that question.

I sighed, turning away from him. My hair swayed as I whipped my head around, avoiding his gaze. "Rhena, I know marriage isn't ideal for you, but you must marry," he said calmly, moving to stand in front of me once more. His eyes held a familiar sincerity, the same look he had always given me since I was a child. My mother used to say it was something about a father's love.

I met his gaze, feeling the weight of his concern, and let out another sigh, slowly uncrossing my arms. I knew my father meant well. He wanted to ensure that I was married and that I had already produced an heir, just in case something happened to him. The Iron Throne would never be handed to an unmarried heir.

But the man I was supposed to marry... he was a Jedi. How was it even possible for him to marry a princess—let alone anyone? I had done my research on Jedi; they were forbidden from forming attachments, from falling in love. So how could this marriage even be allowed? And more importantly... was he kind?

I let out a soft sigh, uncrossing my arms as I looked at my father with growing understanding. I knew he meant well—he always did when it came to me. This was his way of protecting me, of securing my claim to the Iron Throne. Deep down, we both knew my stepmother would be a significant obstacle to my succession.

"Fine... I'll do my best to get to know this... boy and do as you wish," I said, which brought a wide smile to my father's face. He pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, his arms squeezing so tightly that my face pressed against his chest. "Oh, Rhena... you don't understand how happy this makes me," he said, his voice filled with relief. When we finally pulled apart, he cupped my cheeks, his eyes softening as he gazed at me.

"You look just like your mother," he whispered, and I had expected those words.

He often told me that, and the resemblance was undeniable, but I had few memories of her. That was something that always saddened me. I knew she had loved me deeply, and I held on to the few memories I did have, but as time passed, those memories faded, slipping further into the blank spaces of my mind.

My father flashed an even bigger smile before letting his hands fall from my face. "You will make a fine queen someday, Rhena," he said. Those words echoed in my head: a fine queen. But I wanted to be more than just fine. I wanted to be a queen remembered throughout history, the one whose legacy endured as my children and their children ruled on the Iron Throne after me.

I smirked, raising an eyebrow as I crossed my arms over my chest again. "No... I will be the greatest queen to ever sit upon the Iron Throne of Eros," I replied, pride and determination clear in my voice.

My father laughed warmly, his eyes crinkling with affection as he shook his head. "I don't doubt that for a moment. You've always been determined to prove people wrong, Nena."

A smirk tugged at my lips, mischief gleaming in my eyes at his words. The playful banter between us was interrupted as the door creaked open, and my stepmother stepped outside, her presence cutting through the moment like a sudden breeze.

"The Jedi are questioning what is taking so long," she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to cut through the air. Her piercing gaze settled on me, and I instinctively drew a deep breath, clasping my hands behind my back in an attempt to steady myself.

I could never fully understand why my stepmother seemed to harbor such disdain for me. Perhaps it was because my father had chosen to keep me as his heir, bypassing my older brother, Aeron—his firstborn son and, by tradition, the rightful successor. The weight of her scrutiny was suffocating, and though I kept my composure, the tension between us was a silent storm waiting to break.

I simply nodded before turning away, and heading back into the room. As I stepped inside, my gaze landed on the man I was supposed to marry—a stranger whose name and the whispers surrounding it were all I truly knew of him.

His figure stood tall, framed by the soft glow of the room's light, yet he felt like a shadow, elusive and unreadable.

This was going to be a long day...

Anakin and I—his name revealed to me only after his Master, Obi-Wan, had all but forced him to take my hand—strolled through the sprawling gardens of my family's castle.

The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the blooming flowers, but my attention was only half on the scenery. My silver-blonde hair shifted off my shoulder as I clasped my hands together, listening politely as Anakin spoke about his Jedi training and the unlikely path that had led him to become a senator.

Honestly, it sounded like a mistake to me.

"So... you're in line for the throne?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity as he turned his head to look at me. My violet eyes met his piercing blue ones for a brief moment before a small smile formed on my lips. I shifted my gaze back to the path ahead of us, the weight of his question settling over me.

"Yes," I replied softly. "After my mother, Visneya, died during childbirth along with my brother, Baemond, my father believed he might never have more children. To ensure the line of succession, he named me as heir." The words carried a mixture of pride and sorrow, a reflection of the heavy legacy I bore.

He raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering across his face as he processed my words. It was amusing, watching him piece together the obvious issue at hand. "But your father did have more children, didn't he? You have a brother—his firstborn son," Anakin pointed out, his tone a mix of curiosity and hesitancy.

I shook my head lightly, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yes, but he still wants me to take the throne if something were to happen to him. My stepmother loathes the idea, but she has no say in my father's decisions." My voice was calm, and matter-of-fact, as I moved toward a nearby bench and gracefully took a seat. I folded my hands neatly in my lap and tilted my head back to look up at him.

Anakin stood there, studying me with an intensity that sent a flicker of warmth through my chest. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find him utterly handsome, his presence commanding yet unexpectedly gentle. He seemed intrigued by me, genuinely interested, which was a rare experience.

Perhaps, I thought, this arrangement between us might not be so terrible after all. He was easy to talk to, and quick to listen, and something about him exuded a quiet strength—a trait that could make him not just a good match but perhaps even a good husband.

Of course, only time will tell.

"Look... can we both agree that this arrangement isn't exactly what either of us wants?" he asked, his tone straightforward. And just like that, any fleeting thoughts I had about him being a good suitor were crushed. He might have shown some interest in me, but his disdain for the arrangement was clear. I couldn't entirely blame him—but curiosity has a way of tempting even the fiercest of dragons.

"Excuse me?" I stood abruptly from the bench, crossing my arms over my chest. A gesture my stepmother constantly chastised me for, claiming it was 'unladylike.' My voice sharpened as I continued, "You're acting as if this arrangement is set in stone." My violet eyes locked onto his, watching confusion flicker across his face.

"It is..." he replied, his voice calm yet unyielding. He began pacing, his steps deliberate as he moved toward one of the rose bushes. I instinctively turned with him, my gaze following every motion as he plucked a delicate bloom from the bush.

"Your father and I signed the agreements," he said plainly, his tone devoid of any emotion. "We are to be wed in two days' time."

That's when it hit me—like a blow I hadn't seen coming. 

I had already been given away. No wonder my father hadn't bothered to fully explain things to me. The realization settled in like a heavy weight, and I looked down to the side, shock washing over my face. I struggled to find the right words to say—something sharp enough to convey my anger but not so biting that it sounded bitter. Then again, how could I not sound bitter when anger was surging through my veins, hot and unrelenting, like the fire of a dragon's breath?

I scoffed, lifting my gaze to him as my hands clenched into fists. My mouth opened, then snapped shut as I ground my teeth together. Finally, I spoke, my voice steady but laced with fury. "So, you don't even want to be with me," I said, the words cold and deliberate, though the anger simmering beneath them was unmistakable.

Anakin turned to face me, one brow arched as a surprised chuckle escaped him. "No," he said, the honesty in his voice almost mocking. "The woman I want to marry? I'm not allowed to marry her. Instead, I was told that this arrangement would not only provide the Jedi with a sanctuary here on Eros but also fulfill your father's desire to have Volmark blood intertwined with Jedi lineage."

His words were blunt and unapologetic, and for a moment, I appreciated his candor. But that fleeting gratitude was soon eclipsed by rage, a fury so fierce I could almost feel my dragon clawing at the edges of my control, ready to tear him apart, limb by limb.

"And you think I'll actually marry you?" I snapped, my voice dripping with fury. The rage coursing through me was like a living thing, pushing me to the edge.

Anakin turned to face me, his expression calm, but there was an undeniable certainty in his eyes. "Yes," he said, his tone unwavering. "Because it's already set in stone. Your father signed the agreement. There's no turning back now. It's done, and there's nothing anyone can do to change it."

The words hit me like a slap to the face, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze around me. His certainty felt like a cage I couldn't escape. But deep down, I knew the only thing stronger than his resolve was the fire burning in my chest, ready to consume everything in its path.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat feeling like a heavy stone. The weight of the reality that had just been thrust upon me was suffocating. I couldn't escape the fate the gods had seemingly already designed for me. I was going to be trapped in a loveless marriage, bound by duty rather than desire. For what? Power? Jedi lineage?

I had always thought that my ability to control dragons was enough, that it set me apart in ways that mattered. But it became painfully clear that my father had other plans—plans built around power, legacy, and bloodlines. He wanted more than just a strong heir. He wanted children who could wield the Force and control dragons, a combination that would make them unstoppable. It wasn't about love or connection; it was about cementing his succession and creating a lineage more powerful than anyone could imagine. And I was just another piece in that cold, calculated game.

"Then I agree... this agreement isn't what I wanted," I mumbled, the words heavy with frustration. He smiled softly, an almost pitying expression, and began to walk toward me. When he stood directly in front of me, his hand reached down and took one of my loose braids between his fingers, his eyes scanning my face like he was studying me.

"We will do our duty as husband and wife while also finding comfort elsewhere," I murmured, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. He nodded, his gaze still fixed on me, before he released my braid and stepped back. I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, trying to keep my anger in check.

"I agree," he said, his voice flat. "I just hope this doesn't affect our duties."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, the sarcasm practically dripping from my words. "Believe me, Skywalker. This won't affect our duty as long as you don't let it."

He nodded again, as though satisfied with my response, and stepped away. "Then I will see you at the altar in two days... wife."

The way he said it, with such unshakable confidence, made my blood boil. I wanted to scream, to do anything more than just punch him in the face and break his nose for good measure. But I controlled myself, balling my fist so tight that my nails dug into the flesh of my palm, drawing blood.

"I will see you then as well... Husband," I said, my voice cold, every word laced with the weight of my frustration. I watched him walk away, my hazel eyes trailing over his frame, the feeling of dread tightening in my chest. It wasn't until then that I noticed the delicate flower tucked behind my ear. I reached up, my fingers brushing against it, and pulled it free, realizing it was the flower he picked earlier and examining it with a mix of disdain and disbelief.

As I held the flower between my fingers, it dawned on me. Right then, at that moment, I realized something I hadn't wanted to admit before: Anakin Skywalker was going to be the death of me....

𝐀/𝐧 ―
I hope you guys enjoy the first official chapter of FAF! I really tried to capture and let you guys see how Rhena will act as a character as the book continues! I'm sorry it took me so long to write this, I just have been really busy with Tumblr writings and some other things but I will be making a date of release for some of these! as always! I hope you guys have an amazing day and don't forget to like and comment because feedback will be appreciated! I love you all! - Moony