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 stood in my room, dressed in my old outfit, all I could do was grieve for there was nothing I could do other than that, the marriage was definitely going to happen wether or not I approve it.
It was 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 was in my power to call it off I wouldn't hesitate to do it.
My grandfather entered the room without me noticing he watched me for a while before uttering a word.
[Vilmor] "my child.., this is a day blessed by the gods themselves, the least you could 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 as I swiftly turned over facing my grandfather.
[Vilmor] "give it time, time is all you need you"
"I can't believe giving up your power is the price you have 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 stepped outside without a any further word and that was when I knew it was time to head on to the palace, so I joined him outside.
We were going there by foot for my grandfather was 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 was like a daylight savings something that would take me less than an hour was taking us forever,
especially since my grandfather was taking every single step with care but after much time wasting we eventually got to the palace
And as we stepped inside the palace I couldn't help my self but marvelled at what was before my eyes.
the palace was 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 quickly directed to our reserved spot, we took our seats and watched the performance for a while but then the king stepped out, I knew something was about to happen when not long after the king left a guard came to escortmy grandfather on the King's order out of the palace.
I was about to follow but was interrupted by a maid "evening mi lady" she said with a polite gesture.
"My lady"? I said, as I stare at her she was so beautiful and even more dressed than I was
[Maid] "yes mi lady, I'm here to assist you on your marriage outfit"
"Marriage outfit"?
[Maid] "yes, shall we?" She said politely with a hand sign insisting that we should get going.
I didn't make a fuss, I just followed her as she took me upstairs and we arrived at 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 brushed 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 began to wonder if it was really me I was staring at or maybe I was hallucinating never for once have I looked this beautiful before.
[Maid] "shall we?" She said said once more
"Just call me Hazel" I said, for 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 would be disrespectful of me to address you by 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 walked down the stairs she followed quietly
On getting to the palace living room, the king and my grandfather were still absent only the prince was seated on the right side of the throne with guards standing behind him, he was staring at me with lust so was everyone as I walked down the stairs. I mean who wouldn't cause right now I believed I was the most beautiful girl in Myrravelle.
My grandfather and the king later came back to the palace and the celebration continued.
The drinking and dancing and performing soon came to an end as everyone started going back to their various destination leaving the king, prince and I with my maid in the palace.
My maid took me back to my room where I just sat on the bed wondering what was to come next , I left my grandfather alone with the king and crown prince in the palace my mind was feeling uneasy so I told maid to remove the straps on my gown and I quickly changed into something light
And then I went downstairs but the king and my grandfather weren't in the palace not even the crown prince.
I was still wondering where they had gone when I suddenly heard a voice, it was my grandfather's. It seemed to be coming from outside the palace. I rushed out, and there he was, 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 continued 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 saw next left me breathless.., magic, like streams of light, began to pour out of my father and into the king. It flowed endlessly, as though being drawn from his very soul. When the last trace of it left him, his body dropped slowly to the ground. The flames vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving only silence and the faint hum of power in the air.
The king left my grandfather alone on the ground and was heading towards the entrance of the palace where I was standing.
He walked right passed me without even uttering a word.
I started running towards the direction of my grandfather who was still on the ground but just before I could get there ,two hefty guards got to him, made him kneel and one drew out his sword and drove it down his chest.
I frozed at the spot I couldn't cry I was just shocked as to what just happened.
"Grandfather!" I yelled out as I finally got to him, I drew him closer to me with his head on my arms
"Live...li.." he struggled for a bit with the word and right there and then, he died in my arms.
I sat there weeping endlessly, then one among the two hefty guards came and dragged me to the palace the other took my grandfather's body away.
And as I was being dragged away with my eyes wide, breath caught. The world fell silent. My grandfather's body was being taken away before me, lifeless. No tears came only a cold, empty numbness. Something inside me had broken, and all I could do was stare as I was finally dragged inside the palace.
I was taken to my room, and dropped 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 entered the room drunk and staggering about, he located me on the bed and forced himself on me.
In one night I lost my grandfather and was raped, the smile I wore few minutes ago has turned into a nightmare.
I just lie down beside the drunk prince who was now fast asleep, I got up saw him sleeping peacefully the thought of me strangling him right there came, but I quickly just shaked it off.
I walked towards the door and before I could reach for the handle someone opened it on the other side, it was my Maid she stood there staring at me with pity.
I didn't answer her I just started climbing down the stairs and soon I exited the palace heading towards the main gate on getting there the guards didn't stop me when I asked them to open the gate they did just that so I stepped out .
I heard my maid's voice calling after me from a distance but I didn't stop, I just started running I ran as if though I was being chase, I ran ....ran....and ran until I got to a hill.
The wind shifted into a cold breeze, and soon, a light drizzle began to fall, soft at first, then steadily growing until the rain poured down in heavy sheets.
Still standing on the hill, I let myself go, but just as I began to slip, something caught me and pulled me back.