An Unlikely Alliance

Kheelan stood waiting for the King's messenger to reach him, barely containing his impatience. As the three horsemen drew closer, Kheelan called out, "What news, Ramsey?"

Ramsey and the other two horsemen had by now drawn alongside the Prince and Ramsey leaning down slightly from his horse spoke in a low voice to Kheelan, "The King has offered an alliance between the two kingdoms"

"What kind of alliance?" Kheelan questioned.

Ramsey's eyes flitted away from Kheelan's as he softly answered, "Marriage"

Kheelan stared back at Ramsey, his eyes wide and his lips set in a thin line. He knew his sister had sacrificed herself but he still couldn't believe it. Only Serena could do something like this and not even the King and Queen would have been able to change her mind. Although Kheelan was older than his sister by five years, he knew her only too well.

Serena had a kind heart and was easily moved to help those around her no matter the cost to herself. He expected that she would do this but he had hoped that she would not. He would have tried to talk her out of it but now it was too late.

Kheelan Conroy, Prince of Mordach, eldest child and only son of King Kerrigan, sole heir to the throne and Commander General of the King's Army. Standing at 6ft, he had inherited his father's electric blue eyes and auburn hair and possessed his mother's high forehead and cheekbones. Loyal to a fault and blessed with the charisma and kindness of a great king, Kheelan served both his King and kingdom with all his heart and he knew his sister did the same but still, he couldn't abide by her decision to marry the Vampire King even though he knew he wouldn't be able to change her mind.

Calling for his horse, Kheelan quickly mounted him and followed after Ramsey and his men. The snow continued to fall and the sky had darkened as the four men rode on into the forest behind the battlefield. The vampire's camp was not far from the battlefield, nestled deep inside the forest and hidden by the trees, it was scattered wide across the forest floor and dotted with tents and crates of supplies stacked high in the snow. Kheelan noted watchmen above them in the trees but they made no effort to either attack or apprehend them but instead just stood watching, their blood-red eyes glowing in the darkness.

With no one to stop them, they rode into the camp in silence, casting wary glances around them, not sure if they were headed in the right direction. Someone suddenly appeared in front of them causing the horses to come to a stop and looking down, Kheelan saw a pair of red eyes looking back at him.

The vampire looked at them without surprise, they were expecting them and it was highly likely that they already knew what the humans were here for. Without a word, the vampire led them through the camp before coming to stop in front of a large tent. Guards lined both sides of the path to the tent's entrance and as they dismounted the horses, more soldiers appeared to lead the horses away.

The vampire who brought them led them through the guards and up to the entrance of the tent before stopping to hold the door open while indicating for them to enter.

Kheelan stepped inside the tent, and stood waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light while looking around at his surroundings. Inside the tent was larger than they expected and in the center stood a large table covered in a map of all the lands of Carroch including the Kingdom of Mordach. Lining the sides of the tent were chests and cabinets with parchments and scrolls haphazardly sticking out of them. At the back of the tent, behind the table was a silk screen and as they stared at it, a vampire emerged from behind, his face an unreadable mask.

He was tall, at least an inch taller than Kheelan and his silver hair was long and tied low in a ponytail that hung down to his waist. He was handsome even with the strange tattoos that swirled across his face and around his eyes, extending down past the collar of his shirt. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up exposing his forearms, revealing the same tattoos snaking their way up each arm before disappearing beneath his sleeves. This was Rathgar Bane, Commander General of the Imperial Vampire Army and right hand of the Vampire King.

Rathgar spoke in a low, measured tone "I know why you're here and we accept your offer of your sister's hand in marriage"

Kheelan felt a lump form in his throat and he swallowed hard while nodding, grateful that he didn't have to voice the offer from the King. It seemed that he had been right after all, the Vampire King had been so confident of victory, he didn't stay to the end of the battle and he clearly knew, they would offer a marriage alliance hence the prepared acceptance from his general, Kheelan thought to himself.

Rathgar continued speaking, "The King has already departed with instructions for me to escort his bride to Senka Castle "

Kheelan stared back at the vampire, his blue eyes locked onto the vampire's blood red orbs before asking, "When will you leave?"

"Tonight ", Rathgar replied without blinking an eye, "Have the King's bride ready by midnight"

As Kheelan fought to conceal his emotions,

Rathgar turned his back and began rolling down his sleeves and buttoning up his shirt. He moved towards a tall cabinet and picked up his jacket, proceeding to put it on and button up the front before turning back to them and speaking again, "Now if you'll excuse me, we have a long journey ahead and I have preparations to make. My men will escort you out of the camp"

Outside the tent, Kheelan looked up at the sky that had now turned dark searching for a single star but not finding even one. His thoughts were chaotic, wondering how he would tell his sister that she would be leaving tonight for a strange and unknown land to marry a man that she had never met. A man whose reputation was that of a cold-blooded, ruthless warrior who had never taken a wife because it was said that he had no heart.

Realizing that Ramsey had walked ahead of him and now stood waiting beside the horses with the other two men, Kheelan, breathed deeply and moved to join them.

The ride back to the castle seemed shorter than the one to the vampire camp but passed much the same, in silence. It seemed that not much time had passed before they were crossing the drawbridge into the castle. Night had fallen fast and everything was covered in a thick blanket of snow, while people huddled together in the streets watching and waiting for the men returning from battle....and for those that didn't.

Kheelan looked around at his subjects, nodding and trying to assure them with his eyes that all will be well as the cold and exhaustion crept slowly into his bones. Just as he thought that this ride would never end, they finally reached the gates of the castle.