CHAPTER THREE: SHEER INTRIGUE

Ravenna stood stiff, her mother's jab snapping her back to the present.

"A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness," Ravenna said, bowing slightly.

Her tight corset constricted her movements.

As she rose, her breath seized, and her face paled.

King Zariel studied her face, his gaze intense.

Queen Elyria intervened, "Pardon her, Your Grace, she's tired."

Zariel bowed slightly and offered his hand to help Ravenna ascend.

Ravenna hesitated.

Her mother's warning glare made her accept his hand.

Ravenna's mind raced with dread.

What if he reveals that he had seen her going to the tavern at a really ungodly hour? What if he says she was about to steal his cat?

What if...

Her legs buckled, and she fainted into Zariel's arms.

The court gasped.

"Ravenna!" Queen Elyria rushed to them.

Zariel held Ravenna's limp form.

King Wolfric rose from his throne.

"Water! Somebody get water!" King Wolfric ordered.

Xanthea covered her mouth in shock.

Zariel gazed at Ravenna's face. Her face was just perfectly defined. A rare beauty! One he hadn't seen in a very long time.

Her eyes flew open, locking onto his. For a moment, he was lost in their dark pools.

Ravenna sprang away, sparking more gasps.

"Ravenna, child, are you alright?" Queen Elyria asked.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I am indeed worn out," Ravenna bowed.

Zariel took her hand, helping her up.

"Then I won't tire you. Come."

The King and the Queen exchanged glances, not quite sure about what had just happened. Xanthea closed her eyes, making a silent thanksgiving prayer to the gods.

King Wolfric cleared his throat.

"Beloved Valtorians, I announce Princess Ravenna's engagement to King Zariel Blackthorne."

The court applauded.

Ravenna wanted to just disintegrate into thin air. Everything in the throne room looked like a cage and here she was, feeling no different from a helpless slave, pushed into a tighter cage, marriage to the rogue King.

Xanthea silently prayed for her sister.

Zariel spoke, "Thank you, King Wolfric. She's indeed beautiful. I brought suitable gifts."

He clapped his hands twice.

Servants entered with boxes of gold, fabrics, and scents.

Queen Elyria smiled, impressed by the wealth of the rogue King.

"Aren't you just ucky?" she whispered to Ravenna.

Ravenna rolled her eyes.

"If this is luck, then yes."

Elyria ignored the sarcasm. This wasn't the time or place to scold. "Smile, child."

Ravenna forced another stiff smile.

King Zariel's piercing gaze lingered on her.

Their eyes locked, tension coursing through her veins, Ravenna looked away, facing the court and smiled.

___________

Servants stood around the dinner room. Ravenna was in between her mother and her sister, while her father and Zariel sat adjacent each other. Zariel kept glancing at her every now and then as they ate and talked about their kingdoms.

Queen Elyria couldn't be happier that the king was pleased with her daughter. " I think he is smitten. You should dress like this after the wedding, to keep him interested at all times." She whispered.

Ravenna replied, sarcasm filled in each word, " If you're trying to send me to sentence me to death by suffocation, then yes I will keep up with it. After all,death is better than this."

Ravenna took a sip from her cup.

Queen Elyria pinched her underneath the table, making Ravenna almost choking on the wine.

"Why don't you tell King Zariel here what you can do, Ravenna." Queen Elyria smiled sweetly as she spoke.

Ravenna smiled stiffly.

"Go on, lamb," Her father said.

"I am quite good with weapons and I love to go hunting. I can skin a game." Ravenna spoke.

Zariel had an amused look on his face. " That is quite impressive,"

"Do not ruin this by talking about your unladylike hobbies, will you?" Queen Elyria muttered in swift Valtorian dialect.

"Mother!" Xanthea whispered.

Zariel could sense the tension between mother and daughter even if he couldn't understand what was said.

"This meal is so good." He said.

King Wolfric laughed, " Mer-Sarage is the best in the kitchen." He bragged.

Ravenna kept eating silently but would occasionally steal glances at Zariel. Sometimes, their eyes met and she looked away with a scowl.

"He really is easy on the eye, Ravenna. Quite the catch!" Xanthea whispered to Ravenna.

"Oh yes he is. Perhaps my sister should have him. I'd be glad." Ravenna snapped as she stabbed her meat with a knife.

Xanthea knew Ravenna was being sarcastic as usual. " I didn't mean it that way. You know I am courting King Colton of Pelyx..."

Ravenna rudely interjected her sister, " of course you are courting the king of Pelyx. You are allowed to court and I am whisked away like some slave!"

Queen Elyria heard this. "Ravenna!"

Ravenna dropped her knife noisily on the table and got up. " I need some air."

King Wolfric looked at his wife, with his eyebrow raised.

Queen Elyria quickly said, " uh.. perhaps you'd love to walk with Ravenna, your grace?"

Zariel smiled. " Yes."

This only angered Ravenna more. She stormed out of the dining hall mumbling curses in Valtorian dialect. Zariel excused himself from the table, going after her.

Once he was out, King Wolfric faced Queen Elyria. " What is wrong with that child?"

"I think she is still upset about the marriage." Xanthea answered calmly.

King Wolfric sighed.

"She had better shake it off. The wedding is tomorrow!" Queen Elyria said sternly.

"She is lucky he seems smitten by her." She adds.

____________

Zariel caught up with Ravenna just as she was entering the garden. "Why are you so flighty?"

Ravenna turned to look at him, careful not to look deeply into his eyes. How could he act so well? How was he keeping up the act? They had spoken last night, had they not?

Ravenna sucks her teeth. " Look, I don't know what you are doing, but I do appreciate your silence about our meeting."

Zariel looked confused. " What are you talking about, my lady?"

Was he being serious right now?

Ravenna was getting irritated as the seconds went by. She folded her arms, unaware of how much the gesture pushed her breasts up.

Zariel couldn't take his eyes off her. There was just something about her that kept him drawn.

"Why me? Why not my sister? She is the fairer one and a more befitting queen." Ravenna managed to ask him, still avoiding looking into his piercing blue eyes.

Zariel let out a laughter. It sounded so good...as good as music to Ravenna's ears. She suddenly wanted to hear more of it.

" Yes, your sister is fair but you are more beautiful and I choose whoever i want as my queen." Zariel's gaze was still hot on her skin.

It was Ravenna's turn to laugh- a rather sarcastic one.

"You choose whoever? Whoever you choose doesn't have a choice?"

Zariel sensed the anger in her voice.

"My lady..." He started but Ravenna cut him off. " I am not your lady. I do not want to be! I don't even know you and I'm to be married to you tomorrow?"

Zariel's brow furrowed with frustration. " I am really sorry this is hard on you, believe me, it is for me also."

"It's hard for you? Why do it then?"

Zariel sighs, " because my kingdom needs a queen beside me."

"I do not want to marry you. You are a stranger to me!" Ravenna snapped. Her chest heaving up and down. Zariel's eyes rested on her beautiful cleavage for a while before going back to her face.

"We'll get to know each other during our marriage." He tried to make it better, but it all came out wrong as Ravenna scowled harder at him, muttering words which he recognized as curses in thr Valtorian dialect.

"I do not want to know you!" Ravenna snapped at him again and made to leave but he held her hand.

Ravenna stomped hard on his foot. " Ahhh!" Zariel groaned in pains, letting go of her hand. Ravenna cast him one angry glance and ran off- not to her chambers, but to the Knight's quarters, in search of Percival.

Zariel nursed his foot.

How can a princess be so feisty?

He didn't want to force her into this marriage, but he needed a queen and she was just the choice. There was just something about her, something he couldn't quite lay his finger on. Her actions didn't upset him, all he felt was intrigue, sheer intrigue.