Torn Sky

The King

We rode for three nights and each night I stuck to my own devices. Read books and ignored other soldiers until we reached the outskirts of the city around noon on the fourth day. The city was quiet with no one in sight and all the shutters were shut. Even the soldiers seemed uneasy but I kept my head high and proud even in this ridiculous dress.
The maids made me where it and I hate it. It was an ivory dress that had a plunging neckline and my hair was up in a tight bun with a necklace that was heavy enough to weigh down my head. As we approached the soldiers split and dispersed into the shadows. I turned to the soldier who had original taken me and all he did was nod his head No. I refused to back down so I straightened my back and held my head high. When we arrived at the gates they loomed over us and it was just the one man and me. I turned towards him and tried to plead with my eyes but the gates creaked and groaned. The opened slowly to revel a depressing courtyard and crumbling interior. The man nodded once and fled the courtyard where I was left to wait alone. A group of young girls came out of the castle and helped from my horse. The rushed me inside up to a tower room and began to bustle about putting out hair pieces, belts, and bobbles. The redid my hair with a more diamond pins and a hairband across my brow. When they finished a group of men came into the room and brought me to what I assumed was the throne room because of the armed guards stationed outside the doors. They motioned and the doors opened to a large throne room. All if it in black and grey with little candles lit and the windows shutters were drawn tight.
"Hello there child," a gravely voice said behind me and I felt hot breath on the back of my neck. He walked around me and I refused to follow him as he finished his appraisal.
"Well Iridessa today is your lucky day," he whispered in my ear and he turned towards me with a strange look in his eyes.
"And why is that," I snapped.
"Why, its your wedding day."