Amira

Twelve years ago...

Amira joyfully strolls through the bustling market with her mother. They pause to savor the fresh air, a welcome relief after their long journey in the carriage.

She beamed up at the older lady who swung her little hand left and right, both of them delighting in the heartwarming scene before them.

"Mother, look," she insisted, her eyes fixed on the exquisite music box on display, now available for sale.

"Do you want that?" her mother asked with a gentle tone, her honey-brown eyes reflecting warmth and understanding as she followed her daughter's lead.

As they strolled towards the Merchant's shop, her mother's gentle and affectionate voice echoed in her ears, "Alright, let's go and see what he has for sale, dear."

"Good day! Welcome, madam. What can I assist you with today? I am delighted to present our latest selection of finely crafted music boxes. Would you be interested in exploring them?" The merchant's greeting was warm and inviting.

Lady Aurora mentioned, "Yes, my daughter seems to have taken a liking to the exquisite craftsmanship and vibrant colors of your music boxes." The merchant nodded in understanding.

As Amira turned, something else caught her eyes, and in the brief moment her mother let go of her, she wandered off.

"Wow... Lady Aurora was amazed by the ballerina dancing inside the music box. But when she looked down to show it to Amira, her five-year-old daughter was nowhere to be found.

She scowls looking around at the busy market, she turns to the Marchant and asks.

"Sir, have you seen my daughter?" Lady Aurora asked the merchant with a worried expression, her voice tinged with anxiety. The merchant shook his head in response.

After handing over the payment, she proceeded to search for Amira.

"Amira!!"

"Amira, my dear?" she called out, her face contorted with concern and her voice filled with worry.

The coachman, with a respectful tone, called out "Lady Aurora" as he strolled toward her.

"The carriage is prepared, and we are about to depart. It looks like a storm is on the way, so we will need to find the nearest shelter for the night," the coachman announced before Lady Aurora interjected with her own words.

"I can't find Amira," she said, the panic evident in her voice.

His eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, 'She's missing?'"

"Yes Peter, she was with me a second ago and now I can't find her anywhere." Lady Aurora said.

"I'll head in one direction to search for her, and you can go the other way." The coachman suggested

They began their search.

Little Amira, with her wide eyes shining, stood in front of the bustling show. The vibrant colors and intricate display of art held her spellbound, as she took in every detail with a sense of wonder and amazement.

She clapped joyfully as the man skillfully caught all five apples he tossed up in the air.

With uncontainable excitement, she let out a joyous, victorious "Yay!"

As the bustling crowd swirled with activity, a sense of urgency filled the air. Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the commotion: "Run! The enemies are raiding!" The words reverberated through the crowd, igniting a frenzy as people frantically scattered in every direction, their hearts racing as they sought refuge.

The flames licked at the treetops where she stood, silently observing the chaotic scene unfold. People dashed in all directions, clutching their little ones tightly as they sought safety amidst the unfolding mayhem.

The sound of pounding hooves echoed through the air as the horsemen charged forward, their weapons flashing in the sunlight as they rode, striking out at anyone who dared to cross their path.

Little Amira, her eyes welling up with tears, called out for her mother, "Mama." Her small frame trembled with fear and uncertainty as she gazed around, searching for her missing mother, feeling utterly lost and unsure of what her next move should be.

"Amira!!!" The piercing sound of her mother's voice echoed through the chaotic crowd, causing Amira's heart to skip a beat. Suddenly, she caught sight of her mother frantically weaving her way through the sea of people, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and urgency.

"Mama" she called desperately reaching out to her with her arms stretched out and her wailing overshadowed by the village screams of terror.

"Here, here" Lady Aurora's voice soothingly reach Amira's ear.

Gently wiping her teary eyes with the delicate fabric of her fancy gown.

She then cradled Amira in her arms and decided to flee. Tragically, her escape was cut short when she was struck by an arrow, carelessly unleashed by the enemy.

Lady Aurora staggered and fell to the ground with Amira, feeling a sharp, shooting pain spreading up her spine. With gritted teeth, she tried to push herself up, but she was abruptly kicked by one of the attackers.

Despite the searing pain, she managed to gather Amira into her arms, shielding her daughter from the violent assault.

Amira, overcome with fear and anguish, cried out as she witnessed her mother's valiant efforts to protect her.

Little Amira awoke to the chilling silence, her mother's lifeless body still embracing her.

The air was heavy with grief as some survivors wandered, searching for their loved ones. Amira, with tears streaming down her face, called out in a voice filled with anguish.

She could feel the sharp pang in her chest as she whispered, "Mama? Mama, it hurts," to her unresponsive mother.

As Amira lay with her mother, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She looked up to see a group of men unusually walking through the snow-covered market.

"This one's alive," one of the men exclaimed, pointing at Amira.

The men quickly sprang into action, assisting Lady Aurora and carefully lifting Amira to safety. The young girl had sustained a minor injury to her face, and one of the men held her close in his arms.

A young boy who looked no more than fifteen approached, his striking silver hair shining in the dim light of the day. "Will she be alright?" he asked, his voice soft against the evening air.

"She's hanging on," the man holding Amira replied,

"Hmm," the boy hummed, his thoughts swirling amid chaos.

Amira, her small hand trembling, reached out and clasped the fabric of his vest tightly, her tiny fist clenching his shirt for comfort.

"Mama, Mama," she called out in a trembling voice, her eyes searching desperately for a response that would never come.

As their gaze turned towards the motionless figure of the woman lying on the floor, a heavy silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of ragged breaths and pounding hearts.

He let out a heavy sigh, weariness etched into every line of his face, and turned to his men, silently contemplating the heavy burden that lay before them.

As the boy spoke, he instructed his companions to escort the individuals to the waiting carriage, which would transport them to the border for their family to locate them. Before leaving, he glanced back at the girl one final time and gently untangled her hand from his clothing.

Present.....

As Amira stood beside her father at the grand entrance of the palace, she couldn't shake the feeling of longing and exclusion.

Coming from a noble family, she had always expected to have unrestricted access to the palace grounds. However, her hopes were shattered as her family overlooked her presence, focusing instead on her two brothers and three sisters.

It wasn't until the recent crisis involving the kidnapping of her brother Marshall and their prince who were taken by the neighboring kingdom that her family seemed to acknowledge her existence.

As the king's advisor, who was also the father of Amira took it upon himself to take action to secure the release of his beloved son, and the prince, and to establish a truce between the two warring countries.

Having suffered a devastating defeat in the war and to prevent their kingdom Rooth Hallow from falling under the rule of Oaken Vale, her father made the difficult decision to arrange her marriage to the prince of Oaken Vale as part of the truce agreement.

"Be good Amira, you don't want anything going wrong with your brother do you?" Mr Barbarossa said looking at his daughter who was the youngest of all his children.

"I don't want to go," she told him her voice close to a whisper her eyes staring up pleadingly at him.

"Listen to me, child. It's for the best if you go. They have requested a bride for the prince, and you are young enough to meet his needs," Mr. Barbarossa told his daughter.

"But father, I've heard he's nothing but a monster. How can you send me off to him?" His daughter's protest was abruptly halted by a sharp slap from him.

Lady Miranda rushed forward from her position to console her husband.

"Don't be upset, Barbarossa. She's just a child and doesn't comprehend the importance of proper speech. It's my responsibility. I have failed to instill in her the etiquette befitting a young lady. I will take the blame," Miranda spoke to her husband with concern in her voice.

Mr Barbarossa instructed his second wife to tend to Amira before he departed. Lady Miranda glanced at Amira and noticed the prominent red mark on her cheeks.

Sympathetically, she reached into her purse and retrieved a powder which she delicately applied to conceal the mark.

Lady Miranda gently withdrew her hand after adjusting Amira's attire.

"You shouldn't bring trouble upon yourself, child. You were never truly embraced as a member of this family."

"Embrace this opportunity as a blessing and live a good life with the prince," she advised.

"I've heard that none of his previous wives survived beyond a week," Amira murmured, her voice quivering with fear.

"You will be fine," Lady Miranda reassured as a carriage came to a halt before them.

"Time to go. You shouldn't dawdle, the sooner the better," Miranda pressed gently.

Amira, feeling the weight of her family's indifference, took composed steps towards the waiting carriage.

Not one of her kin had come to bid her farewell or offer her good luck.

As she settled into the carriage, Amira's heart ached with the realization that her family held no love for her.

The coachman urged the horses forward, and as the carriage rolled away, Amira gazed out the window, drawing the curtain aside to glimpse her kingdom one last time.

As the carriage ascended, Amira's stomach churned with a mix of misery and unease.

It was her first time journeying far from home, and the unfamiliar motion made it difficult for her to settle. She dozed off intermittently, her head lolling against the side of the carriage.

The journey had been long, lasting three days with only occasional stops for bathroom breaks and short rests.

At last, they passed through the gates of Oaken Vale, where vigilant guards inspected the carriage for any signs of danger.

Amira was taken aback by the lush greenery and warm climate of the place, a stark contrast to the desolate, sun-scorched desert she had only heard about.

Arriving at the palace gate, she was struck by its grandeur, far surpassing any she had seen at home.

A courteous butler named Matthew welcomed her and ushered her inside after exchanging a few words with the maids who took her luggage away.

The butler guided them through a different wing of the grand palace before he paused and rapped on a door.

"Please, come in," a voice beckoned from within.

With a respectful bow, the butler opened the door and addressed one of the elegant ladies seated inside.

"Your Highness," the butler greeted with reverence.

"What is it, Matthew?" she inquired, her feline-like eyes fixed on him, expectant. Her gown was an exquisite spectacle, adorned with unique artwork that caught Amira's attention.

The lady had lustrous brown hair elegantly arranged at the nape of her neck, with a few strands gracefully framing her face.

Matthew announced the arrival of a guest from Rooth Hallow, stepping aside to reveal Amira, who looked a bit nervous standing at the side.

"Is she the peace offering from that kingdom?" inquired some of the ladies present.

Amira, uncertain of how to conduct herself, bowed to the women.

"You are welcome to Oaken Vale palace," the queen greeted Amira, who responded with a courtesy.

"Your room has been prepared. I will let you retire so you will have enough energy for tonight's event," the queen informed Amira.

Subsequently, Amira was escorted away by Matthew.