CHAPTER ONE: FOR VALTORIA

No! I will never marry the rogue king! You can't be that heartless to make me suffer this way," The air in the throne room froze at the outburst. Ravenna looked at her parents, her eyes filled with anger.

"She talked you into this didn't she, father?" Ravenna cast an accusing glance at her mother. The queen had a plain look on her beautiful face. Ravenna's tantrums didn't faze her, her head held her crown, her eyes focused on Ravenna.

"Ravenna, child, it is for the good of the kingdom." Her father said, his voice calm.

"Good of the kingdom you say? You're whisking me off like an object, without a choice? I refuse to marry the rogue King. I'll rather spend the rest of my days in the dungeon." Ravenna spat, her tone defiant, her eyes suddenly begining to water.

No, she wouldn't cry, she wasn't weak. She will refuse this shackles of slavery in the paintings of a marriage.

" Oh stop your childish mindless tantrums, Ravenna. You are a princess and it is your duty to marry for the good of the kingdom. You are twenty and three already, grow up." Her mother said with a rather stern voice. Queen Elyria stood up and walked down, her gown swooshing with each graceful step. She stood facing Ravenna.

"Ravenna, child, this is not as bad as you think. The king of Cestria is good. My dear, it is your royal duty and you have no choice in this." She said again with a stiff smile as she took out the twig in Ravenna's hair. Her long dark hair was made into two big braids, dropping to her waist.

Ravenna glared at her mother, wishing more than anything to disappear from her intimidating presence. She was nothing like her mother- fair skinned, fair haired and blue eyed.

Ravenna looked to her father, the one she was similar to. " Father, please, don't make me marry the rogue King. I promise, by the gods, I won't sneak out of the palace and go night riding anymore. I'll take my classes seriously, please don't make me suffer this way." She begged. Ravenna walked up to her father, tears in her eyes.

"The king of Cestria has promised to take care of you, my lamb." Her father's heart broke to see her cry.

"But I can't marry a man I do not love, a man I do not know!" She said.

Her mother tutted, turning her stern blue eyes to face her. " This isn't about love, Ravenna, it is about duty. Besides, I hear he's quite eye catching. You'll fall in love with him as time progresses."

The door flung open and Xanthea came in, looking exactly like their mother.

"Mother, Father." Xanthea said as she did a graceful courtesy.

See? This was a princess!

"Why didn't you just give him Xanthea? She is the prettier one and has learned a lot. I still have a lot to learn. You can't just whisk me to be queen in some strange land when I haven't learned being a princess." Ravenna said, her eyes darting from her mother to her sister.

"Stop with the excuses, Ravenna. Xanthea is already betrothed, and the king chose you. You will marry the rogue King and that is final..." Her mother said.

"A war is coming and we need to be in alliance with Cestria to save Valtoria from the raids." Her father added.

A war? They were sending her to be some sort of plea?!

"So, you're offering me as wife to the rogue King just so you can be in his good books? How hypocritic of you!" Ravenna snapped.

"You do not speak to us in such manner, Ravenna." Her father's voice thundered.

Ravenna let out a hysterical laugh.

"Ravenna!" Xanthea called softly.

"Oh, stay out of this, Princess." Ravenna spat at her sister, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

"You are offering your daughter as a bride to a ruthless king to avoid war? Are you not King Wolfric Valois the great? Cause I see nothing great in this—this marrying me off to prevent a war is a sign of weakness, father dearest," Ravenna said.

Her mother launched at her, slapping her across the face. " How dare you?"

Ravenna held her face, the faint sting from the slap still ringing in her ears. She looked up at her parents in disbelief.

"I am not asking you as your father, Ravenna, I am ordering you as your king. You will marry the king of Cestria in two days and that is final!" King Wolfric said, his eyes flashing with anger.

In the end, she was unable to hold it tears streaming down her face in an instant.

"I will never marry the rogue King. I will run away and you'll never find me!" Ravenna yelled and ran out.

"Ravenna! Get back here!" Her mother called.

"Leave her be, mother, she'll come around." Xanthea said softly to her mother.

Ravenna ran as fast as her feet could carry her, holding her gown as she went. The sheer bulk of the gown made her stumble a few times but she didn't bother with it, tears of rage and sadness blinding her.

"Raven?"

Even Percival's call hadn't stopped her. She breezed past him heading straight for her chambers.

Ravenna sobbed into her bed, her shoulders rising and falling with each sob.

"My lady, I have prepared your riding clothes." A dainty looking maid said as she entered the princess's chamber.

"Leave me, Isla." Ravenna said into the pillows.

"My lady, Lord Gwaine is waiting for you." Isla reminded softly.

Ravenna snapped, " Leave me, Isla."

"Yes, your majesty." Bowing slightly, Isla left the room, closing the doors gently.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

Ravenna gripped her sheets, her brows furrowing. She wanted to be alone. Was that so hard to understand?

"Isla, do not test my patience."

The door opened. "It's not Isla." Percival said as he stepped in.

Ravenna got off the bed and ran to hug the knight. " Oh Percy." She sobbed into his chest.

"There there now, Raven. What's the matter? Why are you so upset? Did a horse die?" Percival asked.

Ravenna let out a small chuckle.

"No, but a dead horse is better than being the rogue king's bride." Ravenna said as they broke the hug.

"Ohhh!"

"You knew?" Ravenna questioned.

"Yes, Raven. I couldn't talk them out of it and they made me understand the reason for it." Percival's voice was calm as he spoke.

Ravenna sank on the bed, her shoulders falling. " Why didn't they give Xanthea to him? She's the beautiful one and has everything they be a queen."

Percival looked at her with a cool softness. If only she knew that her dark eyes were the prettiest he'd ever seen.

"You are a beauty, Raven. Why do you think Lord Gwaine and Lord Frasier ride with you all the time?" He asked instead.

"They just enjoy losing to me." Ravenna replied with a laugh, one that sounded like music to Percival's ears.

"No, Silly. They are your admirers and have pleaded for your hand in marriage countless times." Percival sat beside her.

"I can't marry him, Percy. You have to help me escape. We could go together, please, Percival." Ravenna held his hand as she spoke.

"The king would find us and have my head on a pike." He said.

"You're in support?" Ravenna's heart broke.

"Raven, I do not support but you are a princess and Valtoria needs this alliance." Percival tried to convince her.

"No! Nonsense! This is cowardly of you to say, Percival, I thought you to be a fearless knight."Ravenna was standing now, pacing back and forth. " I need to go for a ride." She added as she went to her changing chamber to get ready.

" Your people need this, Ravenna. You don't even need to marry him for years, you can always end the marriage after a year according to the land laws. And if it interests you, Cestria is known for their mastery of alchemy. You could freely be an alchemist." Percival said.

Silence. Ravenna didn't say a word.

"Raven?" He called.

"I just can't, Percy. I can't let a man I do not love bed me. I can't even think of it." Ravenna sounded frustrated.

"Consider this, Raven. I promise you, after a year, the war would have passed and I'll do everything to help you leave Cestria." Percival said again.

"You'll be coming with me then?" Ravenna asked.

"If you want, your highness." Percival said.

Silence again.

" Would you bed a woman you do not know or love, Percival?" Ravenna asked.

Percival felt his face heat up. " This isn't about that, Ravenna." He said.

Ravenna sighed. " I do not know anything about being queen."

"You'll do just fine." Percival assured her.

Ravenna stepped out of the changing chamber, now in riding clothes and her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. " Let's just go riding. I need to clear my head."

" You don't have to love him, Raven, just marry him for Valtoria." Percival said.

"For Valtoria." Ravenna repeated.