Chapter Five

We followed the maid down to the dining hall, the maid left as soon as the door opened as brother and I hurried inside. Father was pacing, his arms crossed and every muscle in his body was tense. His head was bowed and his eyes locked on the dark blackish-brown marble floors, his wooden throne at the end of the table was tossed to the other side of the room and was laying on its side. His face was a reddish-pink color and his eyes filled with frustration and defeat.

"Sit down," He demanded.

Brother sat down in the one chair that had a sword carved into the back of the birch wood; I stood behind him with one of my hands on the back of his chair, father looked up at me, his eyes filled with even more regret and this time hate.

"Earlier today one of the local farmers from outside the walls spoke with us about... well, you were there and I have come to a decision that involves the loyalty and trust of my daughter," He said.

He paused for a moment to pick up his chair from the other side of the room just to come back over to the table and sit down. He pushed the chair closest to him out slightly, I took the hint and walked over to him. Sitting down with my hands on the table as I refused to look at him.

"As the king, I must think of what's best for my people," He said.

I cut him off "bull, you just want me under your control most likely by forcing me to marry the first-born prince of the elder kingdom."

He nodded his head, almost as if it was too difficult for him to say yes with words. Brother threw himself out of his chair, the force nearly blew my hair and caused the chair to flip and bounce onto its side.

"Are you insane!? These are the same people who put the heads of our soldiers and farmers on spears! She would be nothing but a victory trophy to those assassins!" He yelled.

I stood from my chair and turned my back to father while looking into Gabriel's eyes.

"He didn't call us here to get our opinions on this matter, he has already made up his mind and has already begun the process, am I right?" I said to my brother.

"She's right, I called you both here to inform you of my decision and to allow you both to do whatever it is that women do before a wedding... Kristy, you will marry the prince... I wish I could say I'm sorry, but this is what needs to happen for the kingdom," Father said before marching out of the room, with his hands firmly attached to his sides.

I waited until he was out of the door before screaming in anger. Gabriel looked as if he wanted to scream as well, but he was busy suppressing the anger. Not in control of my own actions, I picked up my father's chair and threw it out the only open window.

"This can't happen, I'll... I'll find a way to stop this, I promise," Brother said.

"I already know what I have to do, If I stay, I will be forced to marry that imbecile who doesn't know where the tip of his sword is and there is no way to stop it or change fathers mind," I said.

Brother looked up at me with nothing but sadness in his eyes as he spoke "No, there must be another way, there has to be, we can find another way... I can find another way just let me try," he said in a panic.

"I have already made up my mind... have you heard the story of the Emerald kingdom or the kingdom of the hills?" I spoke.

"No?" He said, confused over why I would bring it up.

"Long ago before we were born, while our parents were still kids there was a kingdom, this kingdom was built within a mountain believed to be filled with green gemstones called Emeralds. Each Emerald was very rare and quite beautiful to the eyes, but there was another kingdom at the bottom of that mountain. Their king was jealous and grew angry as the days went passed, he wanted the power of the Emeralds for himself, so he raged war upon the Emerald kingdom. This war lasted over seven years until the two kings used their first-born children to unit the kingdoms and end the war. Little did the Emerald king know that the evil king was using the marriage as a distraction so that he could destroy the Emerald kingdom from the inside. He killed everyone, the king, queen, and almost all of their subjects, but the prince took the daughter of the Emerald king as a trophy and forced her to rule by his side," I said.

"What exactly was the point of that story?" He asked, becoming even more confused.

"Really? Mother was that princess and father was the prince, he is doing what his father did to the Emerald Kingdom," I said.

He nodded his head in some sort of agreement as we left the room together. It was just past noon, I knew that I have other things to do today, but I just went up to my room. Walking inside, I went to close the door, but Gabriel slipped inside and shut the door before maids could see. He nearly ran over to the window, glaring in every direction before shutting the drapes and facing me.

"Okay, get changed into something that would blend into the dark then wait until nightfall before leaving the castle," He said before scanning the hallway for anyone who could hear us.

All I could do was look at him in confusion as he shut the again and turned to face me.

"If there's no other choice but to run, then I'm not going to let you get caught while you are on your own," He said.

I tried not to get sentimental as I smiled and opened the doors to my wardrobe unfortunately everything inside was bright and flashy with fabric that the sun bounces off of.

"May I borrow your cloak? the black one?" I asked him.

He walked over to me and peaked his head into the wardrobe, disappointment washed into his eyes as he slid off his black cloak and threw it over my shoulders.

"Thank you, brother, I will treat it with the utmost respect and a little bit of love on the side," I said.

"Just stay here and wait, I will be back when it gets dark out," He said before high tailing it out the door.