"I am honored to award this medal to Robyn for lying about who she is and bravely getting railed in order to save her home country," Robyn joked to herself as she smoothed out the silhouette of her long white, satin nightgown that she wore beneath a matching transparent robe. Her lips pursed as she drew in a deep breath and shook out her arms to calm her frazzled nerves. Her eyes scanned the high ceiling and leaf printed sepia wallpaper that gave way to the evergreen curtains draping the high bay windows, hanging an inch above the coin gray carpeted floor designed to look like a cobblestone street before she reluctantly settled on the king size canopy bed with silk sheets that matched the drapes and a thick comforter the color of mustard gold. She walked to the black marbled bureau and took in her reflection; dark umber curls all pulled into a messy high bun, smooth mocha skin and almond eyes highlighted by black winged eyeliner, a touch of golden glitter eye shadow with a hint of rouge and nude lips had her feeling like a completely different person than before all this had begun. Robyn touched the stray hairs at the nape of her neck as she thought back to when this whole ordeal started;
Chapter One
Paralyzed
"Don't be frightened," said one of the four strange men who were in the apartment of a clearly startled Robyn. Her hand shook, jostling her keys that she hadn't had the chance to hang up after entering the living room while her eyes shifted from the two intimidating men standing on either side of her couch, to the older less muscular ones who sat upon it. Her pulse pounded in her ears while her pits began to perspire. In these types of situations, everyone always talks about fight or flight but there are two more responses people often forget and that's freeze and appease. One of the older men dressed in a regal looking evergreen suit with gold trim, thinning dark grey hair, beige ashen skin and thin rimmed circular glasses stood to greet her. "Pardon the intrusion but we lack the essence of time." Robyn gasped as he took hold of her free hand and led her to sit on a stool in front of the couch that normally sat in the corner of the room and housed the stack of books Robyn was always promising herself she would read. When he took his seat again, Robyn's heartbeat slowed a tad as she looked at the two men who sat a foot apart from one another and exchanged looks before addressing her again. "This is my colleague Joseph," stated the man who had greeted her before laying a hand on his own chest. "And I'm Steven. We come from a country called Obren which is twice the size of the one you currently reside in. It's not quite as westernized as you're used to, but I think you'll enjoy it just the same." Robyn took a gander at the two younger, girthy men dressed in black suits who stood at opposite ends of the couch and then to Joseph who wore a dark teal suit with gold trim, had thin black hair with a finely trimmed moustache and beard to match. The only thing these strangers seemed to have in common was that all their clothing was posh, trimmed with gold, and that none of them belonged in Robyn's apartment. Robyn held up her hands, one still clutching her keys and scoffed. "I'm sorry but who the hell are you and what are you even talking about? How did you get into my apartment?" "I told you our names already and where we're from. As for how we got in; common household locks aren't difficult to pick." Robyn blinked her widened eyes twice as she tried to absorb the bit of information she was offered before her shock began to give way to anger. "Okay Steven, Joseph and whoever the two hulk looking guys are, you all need to just leave now please." "We're more than happy to but you'll be coming with us." Robyn's jaw fell as she nearly laughed at his response. She couldn't help but to think this had to be either the politest kidnapping in history, or some sick joke before she spoke again. "Why on earth would I ever go anywhere with you?" "To spare your countrymen from enduring a third world war of course." Robyn's eyebrows pulled together in confusion making Joseph finally join in on the conversation. "Steven, this is getting us nowhere and we haven't the time to explain," Steven held up a finger to Joseph. "Have patience my friend. Things will go smoother if she understands." Joseph sighed deeply and gestured for Steven to carry on. "My dear, our country has access to weapons of mass destruction yours and all others can only dream of. Now we have never had any desire or reason to deal with yours before, but if you choose to oppose us then we'll have no choice. Every inch of your beloved country will become a warzone and you, will be solely responsible. My colleague and I will even go as far as to make sure that your leaders know to lay blame at not just your feet, but also at the feet of every person you hold dear. Do you know what the punishment for treason is? I imagine it'll be substantially worse for anyone that causes the kind of damage you'll be responsible for if you refuse to come with us." Robyn stared blankly at him for what felt like an eternity as a single thought replayed in her mind; 'this can't be real.' "Why would you do that?" She finally managed to say. Joseph snorted. "The level of your comprehension proves to be no higher than a hyperactive toddler's. He informed you more than once why we would do it." "My friend please she's in shock." Implored Steven. Robyn dropped her keys making them clatter against the wooden floor as she pressed a hand to her suddenly churning stomach. Steven leaned forward with concern. "Oh my dear, are you unwell? Do you need some water?" "Why me?" She asked through the suffocating feeling of disbelief that was currently swallowing her. Steven's thin lips pursed thoughtfully. "About twenty-two years ago the crown princess of Obren was taken. The search for her was relentless and lasted a month before me and my colleague here found the men who took her. It took days of interrogation before they finally revealed they were part of a group that opposed the sitting royals and planned to hold her hostage until the King and Queen agreed to step down. Their plan however went awry when they were taking her back to their hideout. The carriage they were in hit a ditch and tipped over, giving the princess the chance to escape which she swiftly took." Joseph snorted and mumbled, "for them to go through all the trouble of taking her only to lose her within practically the same hour," he let his sentence trail off as Steven continued. "They had no idea where she had run off to and it had begun to rain during their search of her, so any trail was washed away. After we dealt with those assailants, the search for the princess was altered to just the parameters of the surrounding woods. Another agonizing month passed when Joseph and I.... found what was left of the princess in a cave at the forest's edge. We weren't even searching for her at that particular moment and yet..." Steven blew out dramatically through his lips and rubbed the back of his head. Robyn's throat went dry. "What was left.... you mean her remains?" "Bones of the left arm to be specific." Robyn straightened and cleared her throat while she tried to push away the images of what could've happened to the poor girl from flooding her already reeling mind. "That's awful, but I still don't know what any of this has to do with me?" "Well after my colleague and I had the bones tested in secret to insure they were that of the princess,' we covered up her death and allowed the kingdom to continue their..... what do you call it? Wild chasing of ducks while we spent the last two decades searching for a woman to replace her." "Which brings us to you," Joseph chose to chime in again and finish Steven's telling of the story. "You're a near perfect match to the description and photo produced by an age progression program we used. Plus, you also share the same date of birth. Now that you're brought to fast we can get going." Joseph swiftly got to his feet with a grunt, making Steven roll his eyes. "My colleague is brusque but not wrong. We really must be going as to make sure our lack of presence in castle Obren doesn't raise concern. And we can't have anyone discovering you before we've finalized all the necessary arrangements now, can we?" Said Steven as he stood. Joseph looked to the two guards and motioned for them to go to Robyn while he and Steven headed for the door, causing her to jump from her seat without warning and rush to the kitchen. She quickly opened a drawer and pulled out something to defend herself with before holding it towards the two advancing men. "All of you just back off! I am NOT going ANYWHERE with anyone to play as some dead princess so just get out!" Both guards stopped and one of them looked over at Steven and Joseph. Joseph sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose while Steven nodded, giving them the go ahead to continue their approach. Sheer panic radiated through her as she decided which one to attack first. She quickly slammed the object in her hand towards the man at her left, only to now realize that she had grabbed a rubber spatula to defend herself as it slapped loudly against his broad chest. Her stomach sank as he took the spatula from her with ease and said, "Walk on your own feet or be carried out." His accent was much thicker than both Joseph's and Steven's which made it harder to understand him, but what was painfully obvious to her was that her cooperation wasn't needed to get her out of that apartment. Acceptance about the lack of control one has in times of stress and choosing to comply rather than resist to minimize the chances of being harmed happens often in these types of situations, but isn't addressed enough. Robyn's shoulders and head dropped letting them know she wasn't going to put up another fight. "Can I at least pack a bag or something?" Steven shook his head. "There can be nothing to properly identify you as a..... frog? The word escapes me at the moment," "I think you mean fraud." Robyn meekly corrected before walking out the door with the guards at her side.
Robyn felt they were taking things a bit overboard when they had her blindfolded once she got in the car. She was told it was necessary to discourage any thought of escape which made her wonder if escape was even possible at this point. "What about my family? And my friends?" She asked during the car ride to where she assumed would be a private airport. "You only have one friend with whom you speak every other month or so and as for your family; you chose to distance yourself from them when you turned twenty-three and only contact them on holidays. You are unemployed and the apartment you resided in belongs to a former college roommate who often travels for work three to four months at a time and only uses the apartment for rest and hygienic purposes when she does return. By the time your absence is noticed, you will be well settled into your new life." Robyn's jaw tensed, silliness at not thinking they had researched her life before abducting her setting in. "And when they do see I'm missing?" "There's an algorithm we set up to mimic your online presence. They will believe you have gained employment that required you to move away and keeps you extremely occupied." "Will that algorithm also be able to message them back without sounding like a robot if they try to contact me?" "Yes. It's a very advanced algorithm." Robyn rolled her eyes beneath the blindfold. "You guys thought of everything. Wait! What if some emergency happens with my family?" Several seconds of silence passed before she heard Joseph speak. "It's best you accept your new reality." Robyn exhaled sharply and her stomach twisted into worse knots than it had when they first ambushed her in her apartment. This would be her last time in the town, state and country she knew as home and she was never going to see or speak to her family or anyone else she knew ever again. Everything in her wanted to rip off her blindfold, open the car door and run, but instead she fought back her tears and said, "H-how do you guys know English? Is it the official language of Oden?" She heard Joseph sigh. "Oh-bren. No, it isn't but Steven and I are ambassadors, so we know a variety of languages." "Won't it be weird that I don't speak or even know the language of what's supposed to be my home country?" "The princess had barely turned five when she was taken and since everyone will believe her kidnappers had her kept in an English-speaking country then no it won't be weird." Robyn tsked while she thought about the official story they had made up to explain the princess' long absence to keep from thinking about how badly she wanted to flee. "So, you're going to tell them that I was taken super far away and raised somewhere else for twenty odd years and you two just happened to come across me during one of your trips or something?" "Actually, yes but more detailed than that." Robyn smirked at the sound of surprise in Joseph's voice which made him sound a lot like Steven who seemed surprisingly gentlemanly despite the kidnapping, rather than the condescending grouch he had been to her since the moment they met. "What will I say if they ask me anything directly?" "Depending on what they ask," said Steven. "Keep to what's true since they will believe you were adopted by a family who knew nothing of your 'true' origin and that you were well cared for." "They won't want to punish anyone for what happened to the princess-I mean me?" Joseph spoke again to say, "It's all taken care of." Robyn felt annoyance at the return of Joseph's sullen tone when another thought hit her. "Hey wait! Why does Obren need the princess back anyway? Did her parents actually step down or something?" "No more questions." "To just you or am I not allowed to ask Steven anything else either?" Robyn asked, which seemed to further Joseph's irritation as she heard him let out an exasperated breath through his nostrils. "Joseph, it's understandable that she's curious," said Steven. "but he's right. Please relax and enjoy the ride until we reach the airport." 'I knew it,' she thought to herself as she picked at a tiny hole in her jeans and wondered why they hadn't bothered to tie her up in anyway if they were really concerned about discouraging her from running. She hesitated as she reached up to remove the blindfold before deciding against it. Being unable to see was frustrating but at least she could move her arms and legs. She didn't want to give them any reason to take that freedom from her as well.
When they reached the airport, Robyn was led by the hand out of the car and up into the plane. When she was helped to her seat, she was instructed not to remove her blindfold until after takeoff. "What's the point of that? Not like I can get very far if I try to leave now anyway." She heard a terse exhale she was sure came from Joseph as she listened to everyone else get ready to leave. She opened her eyes as well as she could beneath the blindfold and turned to face where she judged the window to be. Being forced to leave so abruptly without anything but the clothes on her back, no goodbyes to her family and no hope of returning had her feeling much emptier than she ever thought possible. She took in a deep shaky breath and held it until she felt her chest start to tighten. When the plane finally began to move, she gripped the arms of her seat and forced herself to continue holding her breath while the plane swiftly increased in speed before finally lifting from the ground and taking flight. Robyn quickly leaned forward, snatched off her blindfold and audibly exhaled, relieving her lungs of the built-up pressure, and making her feel grateful for air instead of distraught about leaving. When she sat up again, she looked around the jet. "Huh." "What is it?" asked Steven. She pouted. "Nothing it's just not nearly as impressive as I thought it would be. I mean it's nicer than a regular airplane but still." Joseph scoffed. "Were you expecting solid gold and an aquarium perhaps?" Robyn's eyes narrowed as she turned her attention to him. "Well, I am meant to be a princess so don't I deserve the best?" Steven smirked. "I'm sure you'll find your new home much more to your liking once we arrive." "Speaking of which; now you can tell me why an imposter royal is so badly needed after all this time." Joseph turned away and ordered a drink after him and Steven exchanged a look that put Robyn even more on edge. Steven cleared his throat. "The king and queen are getting older and the health of both has... deterred? Forgive me the correct word escapes me," "Deteriorated." said Robyn making Steven snap his fingers in response. "Yes thank you. We're not sure how much longer they have and their eldest child isn't suited to rule." Robyn's eyes widened. "There's another heir?" "Yes, a son. He's thirteen years your senior." "Well why can't he take over or do whatever it is you guys are trying to have me do?" "Because there are conditions one has to meet to be eligible to rule and he falls short. Due to an infection that occurred in his youth, he is essentially a eunuch and therefore unable to provide future heirs. People tend to lose faith when a monarch can't offer security about the future of their rule." Robyn blew out dramatically through her lips and slouched back in her seat. "Okay so not being able to have kids is a strike. What're the other conditions?" "The infection also caused other health problems which require him to have constant medical aid." "And people don't want a sick ruler." Interjected Robyn. "People don't want a weak ruler as insensitive as it may sound." Robyn tapped her fingers against the armrest. "Okay so be healthy and reproduce. Got it. What else?" ".... If the ruler is weak or infertile, they can still rule if they provide stability through a beneficial union." Robyn nodded as she and Steven stared at one another. "I don't get it. Is the prince too sick to make negotiations? All he has to do is sign stuff and shake hands so what's the issue?" Joseph laughed and shook his head before sipping his drink which confused Robyn more than angering her as his actions have proven to do thus far. "Obviously I'm missing something so please just tell me what it is Steven." "The prince married once he was old enough and that alliance brought us access to much needed routes while offering them the use of our military in return. This has been helpful, but our people are in desperate need of medicines and thanks to a few disagreements over the years between the prince's country and others, added protection." Robyn's brows furrowed. "Protection? Like from outside soldiers or something?" "Yes." "Why not just use your own military?" Steven finally broke eye contact with her and looked to the side. Robyn felt her stomach drop as she slowly leaned forward and held up a finger. "You told me that your country had the means to destroy mine." "It does. It just no longer has the military needed to deploy the weapons that would do so. The prince's presiding country is fighting against a great enemy so a large number of our soldiers are over there. And since we still need access to their routes and initially agreed to lend them our military whenever they asked...." he let that sentence trail off before saying, "we can defend ourselves against the smallest of invasions but not much else." Robyn felt her face go hot. "You... liar!" Suddenly, she rose from her seat. "Turn this plane around right now!" Joseph rolled his eyes and waved her off. "Sit down." He ordered with the same fervor a parent would use against a fussing child. "No! Screw you and screw you too Steven!" "Robyn please," reasoned Steven. "You took me from my home! From my family! All for a lie?" "It wasn't a lie! As I stated earlier, we do have the means to cause a war and will if you refuse to listen." Robyn practically cackled in disbelief. "And how are you going to do that Steven? Are you, Joseph and your two goons gonna carry nukes under each arm and march on over?" Steven's expression immediately turned stern. "We will send the calvary we have left and even draft our most able citizens." "No you won't. You just said they're all you have left. Sending the last of your defense is stupid and I don't take you for an idiot." Steven got to his feet and approached Robyn, surprising her. "And you will lose everyone you've ever loved along with your own life." "Mutually shared destruction," added Joseph before taking a last swig of his drink and looking over his shoulder to order another scotch. Robyn steeled herself. "You're really so desperate to make me your princess that you'd leave your own country vulnerable to attack?" "I'm determined to keep my home and its people under the rule of our current leaders by any means necessary. If you don't take on the role as the princess, the country will be overtaken by the most powerful of its people who are of the same group that stole our real princess away in the first place. They are ruthless transgressors of law who will not only bring our country to total ruin, but force anyone left to help serve their selfish agenda. I would rather burn it all to the ground myself than to watch that happen so make no mistake girl," Steven stepped closer, causing Robyn's throat to go dry as his stare bored a hole through her. "If you push me, I will destroy your homeland beginning with your family." They stood there staring at one another for the longest moment before Robyn yielded and automatically sank back into her chair under the weight of Steven's presence. He went back to his own seat and smoothed his hair and suit, his kind demeanor from before now back. 'It's always the quiet ones,' Robyn thought as her lips twisted and her eyes filled with tears. "If they're really so powerful, why haven't they taken over already?" "The people of Obren still have a great deal of faith in, and a love of the current rule, but both will be obliterated if we don't prove that the king and queen's linage can go on," "what is it that I'm supposed to do?" "My dear, don't look so... ahh what is the word? Glum that's it. You will be placed in the lap of luxury I can assure you that." "You want to marry me off to some stranger, don't you? That's what you meant by a beneficial union." Steven nodded. "That's correct." "So I'll be shipped off to another country that I don't know before I even get my feet wet in yours?" "I'm unsure why you desire wet feet but we'll be able to accommodate you." Robyn laughed and wiped her cheeks as she felt the tears begin to fall. "It's a figure of speech." She clarified. "Ah I see. Well to answer your question; yes, if things go well, you will be married to the next king of the country Craorus." "Robyn raised a brow. "Of what-saurus?" Steven chuckled. "Cray-or-us. "It's a bountiful country with a powerful military and the most advanced medicine and practices around the world. They have even acquired another country through the passing of the last monarch who left no heirs that is almost as great as their own native kingdom." "And he's willing to share all that just because you promised him a bride?" "We promised them our weapons if a union were to happen. Their homeland may have the best medicines and strongest soldiers but ours still has the best arsenal. And they want the means to attack now more than ever as they wish to conquer another country." "They sound greedy." She scoffed. "I suppose they are as they have not disclosed why they want this other country so badly which means they plan on keeping its riches or what have you for themselves. But no matter. We just need their troops and their medicines." "Fine whatever I'll marry the guy." "It's a bit more complicated than that." Robyn threw her arms up. "What now? Will he eat my head after the wedding or something?" Joseph spoke up again. "The king-to-be's name is Cesar and he indulges in his carnal desire for female companionship quite often. Getting him to settle with just one, especially one like yourself will take nothing short of a miracle." "Joseph," chastised Steven. Robyn looked between them before setting her sights on Joseph. "What do you mean by especially someone like me?" "He means that prince Cesar has a specific taste that you don't quite fit into." answered Steven. "I asked Joseph," said Robyn, making Joseph's normally stony expression soften as his brows raised and the corners of his mouth twitched upward. "The prince enjoys the company of thinner women with longer hair of a straighter texture and fairer skin." Robyn's gaze narrowed, and she clicked her tongue as she was suddenly extremely aware of how much her stomach jutted out and how her arms and thighs stretched the fabric of her clothing. She sat back and instinctively pinched at the fat under her chin with her thumb and forefinger before speaking to Steven again. "Do any of the people of Obren share my complexion?" Steven side-eyed Joseph before answering her. "You will fit in perfectly with the queen and king of course and even some of the staff. It's a very well blended land." "But it sounds like neither of Cesar's countries are." "This is mostly true." "And Joseph said he's a hoe so why would he want-" She stopped when she saw the confusion on both their faces and shook her head. "It means he likes having lots of sex with different women. Why would he agree to get married if that's true?" "Because for all his philandering, he is still a royal and the well-being of his country and its people matter greatly to him. Our sources tell us his father is currently being kept in a coma until prince Cesar can marry and that other female monarchs have also been vying for his hand, so time is of the essence." "What does his father have to do with this and why is he in a coma?" "According to the laws of his country; there can be no single ruler. If the presiding king or queen dies their child must ascend the throne but only if they are married." "What happens to the country if the king and queen die before their kid gets hitched uhh married?" "The most eligible monarch within the line of succession would then take over. Prince Cesar's parents come from three generations of only children which is fairly rare but since they were all excellent rulers thus far, they were able to keep the throne in the hands of their direct descendants as opposed to it falling to the nobles or distant family members." Robyn let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her eyes with her palms. "All this talk of politics is giving me a headache." "You'll have to learn to endure because it will be part of your daily life once we arrive." She sat up and rested her arms on her knees. "Okay so Cesar's dad is being kept alive until Cesar can marry so they can keep the throne within their family?" "Correct." Robyn shrugged. "What happened to the current king that he has to be kept in a coma?" "We're unsure as they're being as quiet about the state of his health as possible. The people know he has fallen ill but believe he is delegating through his wife behind closed doors. You, me and Joseph are the only outsiders who know the truth of his condition." Robyn pouted thoughtfully and bobbed her head. "What else do I need to know before we get there?" Steven shrugged. "That's the beauty of this plan. You have been gone from your true home since you were very little so not knowing the customs, or anything won't be suspicious in the least. Just make sure to listen well and be eager to learn." "You mean keep my ear to the ground?" Steven's brows pulled together. "That would be a very odd and uncomfortable position to stay in especially for long periods of time." Robyn dropped her head and snorted. Getting use to the customs of another country while they had seemed to have a general lack of understanding of hers was already proving to be the most difficult thing she had to do thus far. Though if she could survive accepting that she would never go home again then maybe she could weather any storm that came her way. At least that's what she thought until she landed in her new home of Obren...