The Bride Price

"You will marry the Summer King," King Allan, her father declared in front of his entire court.

Princess Caroline felt the wind knocked out of her as she stood in the center of the throne room, in her favorite silver gown feeling dazed.

"I will not," she whispered softly.

"You will," her father reiterated.

"How can you force me into this, without my consent?"

"Do you know who the Summer King is?"

She threw her questions angrily back at her father.

"He is a king." Her father said simply.

"He is a monster," she spat out.

"He kills with no mercy and leaves cities in ashes."

"What kind of father bids his daughter for the sake of peace to the devil himself?"

"That is enough young lady! As long as you are part of this court you will obey my decrees!" Her father thundered, now furious with her that she dare insult him in the eyes of so many of the Winter court nobles. He sat upon his sapphire throne his expression hard as the ice beneath his feet.

Queen Lysandra, her step mother watched in cool detachment, her emerald green dress a stark contrast to the icy blue hues of the throne room. 

Before the king could say anymore, the queen spoke.

"It has been arranged you will leave tomorrow morning at first light."

"I expect you will make us proud and this court, after all you are serving your people in doing so."

"Their lives matter to you, do they not?"

Princess Caroline remembered her position in that moment. Yes the lives of her people mattered, even if it were her burden alone to bear.

Not wanting to embarrass her father anymore than she already had, she pleaded with him instead.

"Father, please reconsider, there must be another way?"

"There is none," the king replied swiftly.

"Do I mean so little to you?" She pressed further.

The king looked at her and she saw the sadness that tinged the corners of his eyes just then.

"You mean much to me but even you must leave me, your people need you."

This caused an outbreak of whispers and soft chatter in the throne room as the nobles discussed the matter amongst themselves, with some in agreement and some in total disagreement.

"Sire, perhaps it is not the safest option for the princess, we do not know if the Summer King will honour his end of the contract drawn," Lord Bartholomew took a step forward, for he too had three daughters and could not imagine parting ways with them even if they did get married.

"The contract has been sealed and signed, the Summer King will uphold it. There is a clause that protects the princess, should any harm come to her. The contract will be considered null and void." The king stated firmly.

"I believe this is the step forward our kingdom can take in achieving peace and recovering from war," Lord Chester spoke out, his voice rang clear in the throne room.

"I trust the princess will be in good hands with our enemies, for what greater cause could she possibly serve besides this one?" He asked boldly for all the nobles to think and give their support.

"I have with me the ring for the princess from the Summer King himself, it is to represent his commitment in strengthening our ties and forging a stronger bond of peace between our realms."

The king ordered the messenger to present the ring to Princess Caroline. He stepped forward and handed her a gold box atop a silver tray.

"You will wear it, to honour the bargain." Her father declared, looking at her with no emotion in his ice blue eyes.

She looked at it and then at her father.

"When hell freezes over," she replied sarcastically.

"Guards take her away," Queen Lysandra ordered.

The guards ran towards her but Princess Caroline stretched out a hand towardds them and they froze in their place.

"I see I will have to do this the hard way," her father muttered beneath his breath.

King Allan stood up and walked towards her, when he was within reach of her he flicked his wrist and muttering to the air summoned a thick ice wall effectively trapping her in the center of it.

Princess Caroline muttered a curse and willed the wall to turn to water, but her father's power was too strong for her to fight it alone.

Her father stepped into the center, passing through the ice walls as if they were not there to meet her.

"Daughter..." he said softly.

"Father," she replied angrily.

"Your kingdom needs you at this time. Caroline, please do not fight it. Comply with the Summer king's demands. I know it will be difficult. But you are our last hope. Do not fail us now."

"What about what I want, what I need, Father?" She asked as her anger gave way to fear and then to sadness.

"The life of a royal is always predetermined since birth, you have always known your duty and prepared should this day come."

"You are my daughter and I can only plead that you will be willing to make this sacrifice."

The flood gates of tears broke and Princess Caroline fell to her knees and wept.

Her father placed his hand on her forehead and sang her lullaby, she crumbled beneath the enchantment that her father wove to put her to sleep.

He carried her out of the throne room and to her chambers where he carefully placed her on the bed. He ordered his guards to secure the doors and stand watch throughout the entire day and night till the dawn approached them, when she would leave her homeland.