Finally.., the most unanticipated night of my life is now finally here, it's the night of my marriage to the arrogant, selfish, womanizer prince, one whose father, the king, is the most feared in Myrravelle.
I never wanted this to begin with, I was okay with the hate I received from the people of Myrravelle the stones they threw at me and the curse words., but this marriage was something I never imagined, marrying someone I wasn't in love with, someone rumored to be a woman beater.
But as I stand quietly in my room, dressed in my old attire probably belonging to my long dead mother, all I did was grieve for there's nothing I can do, my fate was sealed long ago already. the marriage is definitely going to happen wether or not I approve it.
It's going to be a marriage to the prince, who am I to disagree especially since I was an outcast, I was deemed lucky by the people of Myrravelle, but if it is in my power to call it off I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
My grandfather enters the room, and with his gaze fixed towards me he was watching me quietly .
[Vilmor] "my child.., this is a day blessed by the gods themselves, the least you can do is put up a smile it's your marriage afterall, every girl's dream I believe.
"Every girl's dream but not this girl " I said swiftly turning over to face my grandfather.
[Vilmor] "give it time, time is all you need you"
"I can't believe giving up your powers is a price you're going to pay for this unwanted marriage"
[Vilmor] "I am old now my child, and the last druid of Myrravelle. it is only a matter of time before I join my ancestors and dying with this power would do Myrravelle no good.
"So, you would offer it to the throne then? The king is already ruthless, powerful enough and yet you would bestow upon him your powers? You are turning a man into a god, Grandfather."
[Vilmor] "careful now my child, although I'm the druid but there's nothing I can do if you go against the king.
"Yes of course"
My grandfather walks out of the room without any further words and that is when I knew it is time to head on to the palace, so I join him outside.
We were going there by foot for my grandfather is old, old enough that he won't be able to ride on a horse back so we were to walk to the King's palace.
The journey to the palace is feeling like a daylight savings, something that will normally take me less than an hour is now taking us forever.
And with my grandfather walking slowly I have no choice than to keep up with him
We eventually reach the palace, and as we step inside the palace I couldn't help my self but to marvel at what's before my eyes.
the palace, lavishly decorated, with Crystal lanterns floating in mid-air, casting a soft, ethereal glow. Petals of rare, glowing flowers carpet the grand hall, releasing a sweet, enchanting fragrance. The air is filled with the soft hum of mystical energies,
With the live magical performance and everyone well dressed in their expensive attire this indeed was a marriage ceremony taking place.
My grandfather and I were soon directed to our reserved spot, we located our seats and watch the performance happening before us, but then the king stepped out, I knew something is about to happen when not long after the king left, the same guard that escorted the king outside, came back to take my grandfather with him, on the King's order he said.
I stand up about to follow but was interrupted by a maid "evening mi lady" she says with a polite gesture.
"My lady"? I stare at her, she was so beautiful and even more dressed than I am.
[Maid] "yes mi lady, I'm here to assist you on your marriage outfit"
"Marriage outfit"?
[Maid] "yes, shall we?" She says politely with a hand sign insisting that we should get going.
I didn't make any fuss, I just start walking behind her as she is leading me upstairs and we arrive in a room well furnished , one I haven't seen before not even once in my life, she made me sit, in facing a mirror made with a wooden frame.
She brushes my hair carefully and made me wear a silver gown, The silver gown shimmered like moonlight caught in motion, each thread whispering secrets of stardust. It clung to the air with an otherworldly grace, glowing faintly as if kissed by enchantment.
And as I stare at the mirror I begin to wonder if it was really me I am staring at, or maybe I'm hallucinating never for once have I look this beautiful before.
[Maid] "shall we?" She says once more.
"Just call me Hazel" I was fed up with the mi lady stuff
[Maid] "I'm afraid I can't do such, mi lady
"And why's is that"?
[Maid] " my lady is soon to be wife of the crown prince and Queen to Myrravelle, it will be disrespectful of me to address you by just your name"
"And what if I approve of it"
[Maid] "the answer is no mi lady"
"Obeying your lady's command is that not your duty? And here you are refusing adhere to it"
Immediately I said that she didn't reply any further so I just let her be.
"Shall we?" I said with a hand gesture that made her smile as she quickly reached for the door, I stepped out before her, she followed and shut the door behind her .
And as I walk down the stairs she follows quietly behind.
On getting to the palace living room, the king and my grandfather were still absent, only the prince is seated on the right side of the throne with guards standing behind him, he begins to stare at me with lust so is everyone, as I was walking down the stairs. I mean who wouldn't cause right now I believe I am the most beautiful girl in Myrravelle.
My grandfather and the king later resume back in the palace and the celebration continues.
The drinking and dancing and performing has finally come to an end as everyone starts going back to their various destination leaving the king, prince and I with my maid in the palace.
My maid leads me back to my room where I sit on the bed wondering what is to come next , I left my grandfather alone with the king and crown prince in the palace my mind is feeling uneasy, so I insist that my maid remove the straps on my gown and I quickly changed into something light
And then I walk downstairs but the king and my grandfather weren't in the palace not even the crown prince.
still wondering where they had gone, when suddenly I start hearing a voice, it's my grandfather's. It seems to be coming from outside the palace. I rush out, and there he is, standing in the center of a drawn circle, chanting incantations, with the king standing directly before him.
I knew he was to give his powers to the king but this was only a night of the marriage.
My grandfather continues chanting the incantation, his voice rising with power.
Suddenly, the air shifted, thick and heavy. Flames burst to life around the drawn circle, encasing the king and my father within its fiery border. Then, before I could even blink, my grandfather began to rise into the air, his robes billowing as a violent wind swept through the palace, rattling windows and howling like a storm summoned from the heavens.
What I I'm seeing next is just pure magic.., magic, like streams of light, begins to pour out of my grandfather and into the king. It flows endlessly, as though being drawn from his very soul. When the last trace of it left him, his body drops slowly to the ground. The flames vanish just as sudden as they had appear, leaving only silence and the faint hum of power in the air.
The king leaves my grandfather alone on the ground and is heading towards the entrance of the palace where I I'm standing.
He walk right pass me without even uttering a word.
I start running towards the direction of my grandfather who is still on the ground but just before I could get there ,two hefty guards walk to him, made him kneel and one drew out his sword and drove it down his chest.
I froze at the spot I couldn't cry I I'm just shock as to what just happen.
"Grandfather!" I yell out as I finally reach him, I draw him closer to me with his head on my arms
"Live...li.." he struggles for a bit with the word and right after that he stop breathing, he just die right in my arms.
I sit there weeping endlessly, then one among the two hefty guards walk closer and was dragging me to the palace the other carries my grandfather's lifeless body.
And as I'm being drag away with my eyes wide, breath caught. The world falls silent. My grandfather's body is being taken away before me, lifeless. No tears only a cold, empty numbness. Something inside me just broke, and all I did was stare as I am finally drag inside the palace.
I was being taken to my room, and drop on the bed. I just lie down as if dead and as if things couldn't get any worse, the crown prince who happens to be my groom enters the room drunk and staggering about, he locates me on the bed and force himself on me.
In one night I have just lost my grandfather and raped, the smile on my face few minutes ago has turn into a nightmare.
I just lie down beside the drunk prince who is now fast asleep, I stand up, seeing him sleeping peacefully, the thought of me strangling him right there came, but I quickly just shake it off.
I walk towards the door and before I reach for the handle someone opens it on the other side, it was my Maid she stands there staring at me with pity.
I didn't answer her I just start climbing down the stairs and soon I exit the palace heading towards the main gate, getting there, the guards didn't stop me, I asked them to open the gate they did just that so I dash out .
my maid's voice calling after me from a distance but I didn't stop, I just start running I was running as if though being chase, I run....and run until I reach a hill.
The wind shifts into a cold breeze, and soon, a light drizzle begins to fall, soft at first, then steadily growing until the rain starts to pour down in heavy sheets.
Still standing on the hill, I just let myself go, but just as I begin to slip, something pulls me back