Join hands

"What was your name again" he said while putting the empty cup down.

"It's Salina Norman your majesty" I was staring at the cup of tea that was getting cold in front of me.

The maids comes forward and took the cup of tea placed in front of me and threw the tea in the bowl with the cup and did the same with his cup.

The maid standing behind her was standing with a new set of cups. She served the tea again, in a new cup, and again the was emitting the fog from the cup of hot tea placed in front of me with the reflection of my tear dried face on it.

"Salina Norman" he said, his face stoic "now I remember....you were the girl who caused chaos in my palace 18 years ago"

Caused chaos? On the top of that 18 years ago? Just how much of a big trouble I caused that the person who doesn't remember the name of the daughter of his most trusted minister remember what I did 18 years ago.

It must be a joke, what could a four years child do to make this devil remember it.

"Don't you remember it" his tone was sharp cutting even the slightest amount of soft breath I was taking "ah! How would you remember you was just a kid that time" his tone changed that of anger

I griped on my clothes under the table while trying to maintain a flawless expression on my face but just a glance and he smelled my fear. "It's okay...since it was a long time ago I wouldn't hold you accountable for not remembering it" his tone was back to the cold and calm one

"Anyway it's not a big deal now" he lift his eyes and look at me "we should focus more on what we were about to discuss right now...."

I remained silent when suddenly I heard a tap of his index finger on the table "ye...yes Your majesty" my voice shuttered slightly

Smile "good! So now that you know where you being sent, and also aware that what's waiting for you. Why don't you join hands with me"

Now this is something that I wasn't expecting. A complete bullshit

Join hands with you? The man who was just inches away from killing me. He must be joking right? I clenched my jaw.

The maids comes and serves both of us apple pies in a white plate with golden petals design.

He took a small bite of the pie with not less luxurious spoon "you know no one can save you right now". "Even your parents wouldn't be of any help to you"

"And as a daughter of a minister you must know well, how much of hatred they have towards us humans" he seem to say humans with a great pride

"And this marriage is nothing but a little trick they want to play to make us bow to them" suddenly his eyes flickers with a menace glitter "Now that I have gave you a little demonstration. you must have found out how much of value your life has in front of my eyes" leans his chest foreword towards the table with dark crazy eyes "you life is even less than the lives of my dogs....do you understand"

My pupils spread in shock, my hands under the table started to tremble as the scene of that dark room passed through my eyes

"Even if you father begs me getting on his knees I will not bother to send even my one soldier to rescue you" leans back on chair while crossing the arm around his chest "so it would be best of you join hands with me....Salina Norman"

Fear is the most effective way to convince someone. Since for a dying person anything is better than death....