Sold to an Arrangement (Rania Lark x Wander)

[Rania Lark]

She hadn’t even seen it coming. The devastating news came after a Jubilee ball celebrating her father’s years ruling as a just King and her mother being a kind and gentle Queen. She had been the jewel in her Father’s eye; that is, except for her propensity for education. Princess Susanna since she was small had always been fascinated by the world around her, her nose constantly buried in books that explored vast untamed lands outside the castle walls. They were places she would never see due to the protection of her constant guard and ladies in waiting. Her father had reluctantly agreed to allow her a tutor who taught her all about the history of her own land, as well as fantastical tales of adventurers and damsels and wars between regions, and knights! Susanna spent many nights up late with the tutor as he regaled her with tales of dragons, and witches and all sort of mythical creatures!

The stories grew with the Princess as she entered her teenage years. The tales of fantastical beasts turned to romances between knights and ladies! Of happy endings in which true love was found! These were stories that Susanna dreamed of at night; finding her true love and living happily ever after. While she dreamed, her childish looks grew into those of a beautiful young woman. Her soft brunette curls fell from around her ears to move down her back as they were constantly styled in the most beautiful fashion of the day. Her cerulean blue eyes were mesmerizing to all that gazed upon her. Her alabaster skin bore no scars nor imperfection as her ladies in waiting ensured that she was perfect in every way. Her clothes were always made with the finest of fabrics; velvets, furs, linens, anything she could have desired that complemented the beauty she had been born with.

However, unbeknownst to her, her parents had also noticed their daughter’s daydreams. They saw her wishful stares and heard her conversations of love and romance and adventure and it became too much. The King and Queen decided that their daughter was treading into dangerous territory. Her thoughts of adventure could very well end in injury or even death should she decide to act on them.

So this was where that caution had led them. The King negotiated a marriage between Princess Susanna and the Prince of a neighbouring kingdom. It was not only a marriage of convenience as the neighbouring kingdom had a reputation of being very strict with their royal women, it was also one of strategy. The marriage would cleave the two Kingdoms together in an eternal alliance. Each would be behest to defend the other from any raids or attacks which would strengthen both in the end.

The Princess however did not see the King’s explanation to be one of reason and she locked herself in her room for days out of protest, refusing to leave the kingdom. However, her protest did not stop the sun from rising and setting as days passed and the day arrived where she was to be sent to meet her husband for the first time; on their wedding day.

It had taken two guards and her lady-in-waiting to ‘escort’ the Princess to her waiting carriage. She had been dressed in a white dress, trimmed with the fur of the rare white fox. She wore a banded tiara encrusted with diamonds and a large sapphire that complemented her eyes. Around her neck, she wore a necklace of sapphires to match her tiara. Her brown hair had been half pulled up and threaded about the circlet around her head, creating a lovely cascade of loose curls and waves over her shoulders. However, despite all this finery, Susanna fought like a cornered rat, scrambling to get away as the guard’s held fast to her arms. They had to force her into the gilded prison on wheels and locked the door behind her, beckoning the driver to move swiftly as Susanna struggled to escape her impending fate. She didn’t want this! She couldn’t have been meant for this! It was then her gaze darkened as her panicked struggles turned inward, turned to a glowering stare as she contemplated escape. She began to go through every possibility in search of a way to get away from this arrangement, from this unwanted marriage...

 

[Wander]

“We have all arrived on this festive occasion for the entwining of these two souls in the bond of marriage.” Leopold sighed, shaking his head in disbelief at how he had gotten himself in this situation, while the parish prattled on with the marriage ceremony, sounding more like a guttural toad than a man thanks to his croaky voice.

‘Rebellious Prince’ That’s what they had called Leopold. And now here he was about to be wedded to a stranger he did not even know or wish to know. This girl standing beside him in the veil was a nobody to him and that is what she shall always remain, a nobody. If he could not get his happiness, neither would he allow his cunning, nefarious father to gain what he sought to achieve through leverage.

“NO FATHER! NO! Mercy! Have Mercy!” Even here the horrid sight wouldn’t abandon him and appeared like a nightmare. And that father of his, that symbiotic fiend, that creature, yes that was the word: creature for no human could be like him. The creature had put him in this circumstance. The battle may have been won by the creature, but the war shall be won by him. He turned towards the girl beside him and his deep blue hue of his eyes gazed at her through the veil. Golden tresses fell down in bouncing curls just above his shoulders. A royal of a royal bloodline of warriors, he was gifted with a large form, tapering and wide shoulders, evident nerves, his mail and vest were unable to hide his stature. More bull than man in his form, Leopold did not belie his name and was, at least physically, the model prince.

As he gazed at her through the veil, Leopold’s plump pink lips curled into an affectionate smile, offering her promises of love, of affection, of fidelity, dedication, and responsibility for the rest of her life. You are getting none of those things, woman. He thought furiously. My father may have coerced me into marrying you, but he will never succeed in getting me to do his bidding. He wants a royal heir, a male to continue his bloodline. But his bloodline ends here. You shall forever be longing for the joys of motherhood and I shall revel in my victory over the great King Gurtain.

Such was the tale of father and son. A practical Machiavellian, King Gurtain was nothing but a shrewd lord. His empire always held priority over his people. And this led to discontent, but stability for his empire was run upon the rock solid basis of stringent laws.

On the other hand, Prince Leopold was the heart of the citizens. They loved him. So, it was not surprising that father and son never came to terms with each other. The snake and mongoose can never be friends. Senate congregations were personal battlegrounds and while one law was brought in for prosperity of the state, it was countered by another for the betterment of the people.

You may have destroyed everything, father,
“Do you accept Princess Susanna as your lawfully wedded wife?”
But you will never win, not even over my corpse.
“I do.”

No more words were necessary, his cape waved in the soft breeze that travelled across the crowded confines of the basilica, it swirled like a white flag of surrender and defeat, a defeat of self, but not spirit.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may Kiss the bride.”

Leopold’s lips curled further. Kiss, He thought with disgust. He reached forward and lifted her veil. Susanna was truly an ethereal beauty. Any other man would be overcome with longing and need at the very sight of her. But Leopold was not any other man. He was unphased and unperturbed. He stared directly into her eyes. I am going to give this all of my passion, woman. Let this be your moment of glory. You shall never get anything after this.” Leaning in, he pressed his lips against hers in a kiss so passionate that no groom would ever have given to his bride. Arms coiling around her and holding her slender form against him, in his grasp like a python, lips pressed so hard, they almost hurt with pleasure, parting to let his tongue taste her lips and its confines within.

Releasing her, he wiped his lips and thought, Cherish it as much as you can. This was first and last.

 

[Rania Lark]

What Prince Leopold and the rest of the congregation didn’t know was that Susanna was having the exact same feelings of anger and defiance at the ceremony taking place to end her entire life. Once she had arrived at the castle, she was swiftly carted off to a large dressing room where her clothes were stripped from her and replaced with a wedding dress that was twice as large and ten times more ornately decorated. The bodice was cut straight across the top of her corseted breasts, the straps cutting across the tops of her arms, directly beneath her shoulders. The white satin was beaded over every inch of the bodice with both white and diamond beads that shimmered in the light. The skirt of the dress was layered over and over to expand the circumference out as far as was appropriate for the occasion. Her hair was restyled and piled atop her head in a mash of curls and secured with a tall, diamond encrusted tiara. Behind the tiara, a white veil was attached, the front of it pulled down over her face. Once the bride was prepared, the ladies in waiting along with two guards escorted her from the dressing room and down to the basilica for her impending nuptials.

The ceremony dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. The priest speaking of bringing them together and tangling them into one bond, or something of the sort. Susanna’s face was not as stoic as the Prince’s as his façade cracked only slightly over the course of the sermon. Behind the clouded veil, Susanna’s face was a grimace of disgust and anger. If she could have stomped her feet and walked out she would have; but the armed soldiers at the door would not have let her get very far, let alone the challenges of the cumbersome wedding dress. No, she would have to deal with the ceremony and perhaps weasel her way out of this arrangement later.

Unbeknownst to her, Susanna’s thoughts of the prince mirrored his. She would never touch him intimately, never bear him children and would only remain in the same room if they were being watched. There was no affection from her side either as the priest rattled off the wedding vows starting with the Prince. As he said the two words that would ‘entwine’ them together, the priest then turned to her.

“And do you, Princess Susanna of the Kingdom of Ventraille, take Prince Leopold to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Susanna gritted her teeth as she let out a sharp exhale of breath as she spoke. “I do.”

Ugh, the words slipped out of her mouth like molasses. Slow and sticky as she sealed her fate to the Prince, forging an alliance between the two kingdoms while tearing apart two families.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

The words were like sour grapes over Susanna’s tongue as she grimaced at the thought of kissing a man she had just met and had never had any semblance of intelligent conversation with. She was a pawn, a piece of property to be bought and sold and this day, she was sold in order to further her own father’s goals! Her hands tightened around the bouquet of small white flowers in her hands as the Prince reached for the veil, lifting it up over her head and back over the tiara to expose her face to her new husband. Susanna met his stone gaze with one of her own, expressing her distaste for the union in her steely blue eyes. But then the Prince took hold of her and before she could protest, pressed his lips hard onto hers. Susanna’s eyes widened in surprise and shock as his hands snaked around her waist to pull her closer to him. Her back arched away from him as a quiet groan of protest vibrated through her throat. But she couldn’t move as he continued his assault over her, holding her firmly in place as his tongue snaked out from his mouth to run over her supple lips before pushing them aside to plunder her mouth.

Then just as sudden as he had grabbed her, his hands released her sending her bending forward slightly as she caught her balance. Wiping her own lips from the sudden onslaught, her eyes firing daggers towards him while her lips remained pursed and silent, fighting the urge to give the Prince a piece of her mind. That would wait until they were safely in private, away from prying eyes and ears that would seek to destroy both of their lives even further.

 

[Wander]

The first night. Men and women, alike, dream of this. They have such excitement, such anticipation, such hopes for it. They wait excitedly for the pleasures the nuptial bed presents to them: a world so removed from reality, where nothing but a seething pleasure and mutual desire exists, a need so severe, so perfect, it can only mean that heaven resides in the moment of a mutual orgasm.
How ironic it would seem then than a youth so vigorous, so mesmerising, and so strong as Leopold would thus be lost in disdain and detest of this very marital bed and the very nuptial pleasures men crave.

He was already in his massive bed chamber, a room decorated with a magnificent crystal chandelier, heated carefully with the warmth of maple wood burning within the embers of the chimney, providing it enough heat for the room to be as cosy for man as the mother’s womb is for the unborn.
The massive bed was soft, softer than the plush fur of a fox and firm in order to support the rigorous activities it was believed to undertake upon it. Sadly, this bed would only hold slumber and nothing else. There was a fragrance: flowers of all kinds, lilies, oleander, orchids, roses, daises send a conflux of fragrances across the room, making it smell as if in this tiny chamber the botanical magic of nature was gathered. This very room was enough to incite feelings and desires within man. How could they deny it?

He entered his chamber, stepping in, slowly clipping off his long white cape and discarding it. His helm no longer covered his head, the mail was not there. It was just Prince Leopold in his tunic, which happened to accentuate his handsome features, his massive chest, his chiselled form in a far more erotic manner than before. It appeared as if he was more of a sculpture by Bernini or Michelangelo than a man.

As was customary, his bride was already sitting on the bed in his room. The kingdom of Xanaphia was chauvinistic estate. Women here were not equals, they were the property of their wedded husbands, the items that could be freely used and abused. Man, here, did not have a wife, he had wives. And it was expected for Prince Leopold to have many other political alli...marriages after this first one and give the kingdom suitable heirs.

A derisive grunt erupted from within him when he saw her. How grotesque was the sight of this woman. Nothing....Nothing could make him want her. Slowly, with careful and measured steps, Prince Leopold stood before her, a towering figure and words erupted from within his lips like an ultimatum, his eyes staring into her soul, his expression placid like a mannequin.

“Do not think that the kiss in the church meant anything, Princess. It was a dross show before the world. Neither do I desire you nor do I need you. You mean nothing to me and you shall continue to mean nothing to me. This marriage was forced upon me against my will, under circumstances no one should face. If you had any future hopes and desires or dreams regarding a loving groom and husband, I am truly sorry and apologetic to crush them. But I cannot....” His expression now grimaced into one of pain and sadness.

“You must understand this. We shall be the future king and queen for the kingdom and nothing else. We shall not be husband and wife and never share the same bed.” Holding the bedpost, he added, “Sleep here. This bed shall be yours. And my place will be there...” He pointed to the comfortable couch that lay in the corner. “If anyone asks, my father, my mother, anyone, you must feign pleasures and joys of the bed before them as shall I. I do not accept favours. I shall pay for your silence. I know how the tales are about Xanaphia, about how women here are nothing but slaves of men, no rights, no freedom, confined to their houses. You shall not share the same fate. You have freedom, freedom to do as you please. Acquire any art, skill, practise whatever you like. None shall stop you for it will be my order. You will have freedom no woman is granted either in Xanaphia or anywhere else. You may choose men for pleasure as you will, I shall not object, but you must excuse this man and demand nothing from him. I am not demanding anything from you, but simply offering a deal.” He moved his hand forward, offering her to shake it, as if the physical sign of an agreement between two rational individuals.

 

[Rania Lark]

Right after the ceremony and the ‘happy’ couple made their exit from the Basilica, Princess Susanna was whisked out of the presence of her new husband to prepare her for their consummation. Her previous life was officially over and gone as now she was to serve her new husband in the aspect of bearing him a strong heir as well as a second son to ascend should the first not survive his father. She was to be a brood mare for the throne and her wishes for freedom were lost to her forever. Like a caged bird, her wings were to be clipped and her life would confine her to the castle.

Her ladies-in-waiting shuffled her off to a second dressing chamber, this one much larger as the future queen would wont to have. It was opulent, filled with gowns and jewels fit for one of her new title; but nothing in the room appealed to the Princess. She had no desire for any of the riches, nor the fine fabrics of the clothes if it had meant her freedom would be the payment. But she was not to protest anymore. She was married to the Crown Prince and her title would prevent her from any disobedience, lest she be cast out.

The ladies went to work removing the layers of fabric wrapped and tied about their Princess’ body. The large skirts were removed, the corset, the bodice, and her shoes. Her hair was released from it’s tie of curls as the tiara and veil were untangled from her tresses. She was dressed in the finest linen dressing gown with fur lined slippers placed over her feet. Her hair was left to hang down over her shoulders, framing her beauty with a brunette wave of hair. After a last glance to ensure her beauty was not hidden by any means, the maids escorted her out of the dressing room once again, this time to the marriage chamber.

She was escorted quickly, her steps silent as the maids shuffled silently as well. Once inside the room, they sat her upon the large feather bed with a solid wood canopy in the center of the room. With another flourish and check of their Princess’ beauty and readiness for her first night as a married woman, the maids departed and left Susanna to her fate.

The Princess didn’t have to wait long before the large, heavy door was pushed open and her new husband entered, his expression the same as her own as he stalked across the room, stopping before her seated form before he spoke. His words did not cut her as he seemed to be offering, but echoed her own sentiments of the entire situation. She wanted him no more than he desired her. Both of them were forced into this union without consent nor love and neither seemed to want to please their parents.

But Susanna was not one to speak without thinking and she listened politely to his statements, his lamentations of their relationship, or lack thereof, and what he commanded her to do in order to placate any curiosities of anyone within the kingdom. When he offered his hand, Susanna remained silent for a moment before she spoke, her words calculated and full of an intelligence rarely found from such a high born woman.

“You lament your lack of choice within this marriage yet you fail to realize that you are not the only one within this room,” Susanna replied, standing up from the bed, her linen shift falling around her ankles, “I would implore you to consider the individual’s circumstances standing before you. You claim that you had to endure circumstances no other should have to endure, yet you have no knowledge of the forcible removal and travel here from my own Kingdom at the order of my own father. My travels to a foreign land to marry a stranger who very well could treat me as your Kingdom’s reputation preceded.”

“I did not come here with some romantic story in my mind of a romance for the ages,” Susanna continued, “In fact, I would have much rather married a shepherd working out in an isolated field. At least then there could be love. Though you have repeatedly asserted that you will never love me and that we both must feign our ‘escapades’ in the bedroom, I would implore you to reconsider your assertion of never even getting to know me. I propose a counter offer, Highness. I will do as you request and feign a relationship for any curious eyes but I will do so without payment of riches. What I propose is that you at least attempt a friendship with me. I have no friends and no family within this land and though I will pursue my own interests, being the Princess will restrict any friendships with anyone other than those I will be deceiving.” With her final words, she held out her own hand, fingers held together for him to shake her hand.

 

[Wander]

Being raised in a swamp makes one believe that everything is ugly. It makes a toad believe that fresh water cannot exist. Leopold was not a bad man. He was born in chauvinism, raised in it, and hated it. Thus, when he gave Susanna the kind of freedom that no woman in Xanaphia or all land was given, he believed she would be overjoyed, suffusing with gratitude. Her reaction, however, left him utterly confounded. This woman was quite different from any ordinary woman he had met. In fact, she was the complete opposite. She was not willing to just accept all liberties, she was had conditions of her own. Impressive!

What surprised Leopold even more was her demand. Friendship! She wanted friendship? This was utterly unexpected. All his life that was the only thing Leopold ever wanted himself. Friendship. Something he never had and never could get: A friend.

Her hand was placed before him and Leopold stared at it as if he was an ardent catholic and was given the chance to look at the Holy Grail. “You desire friendship?” Exclaimed Leopold. “My lady, I am a prince. People covet and crave the bond of friendship with one such as me. All my life I have had men and women inching, like leeches, with promises of companionship and friendship only to attach themselves upon my person and suck some royal blood to fatten their hides, coveting riches and fame that would otherwise be acquired through the price of strife. And here, finally, there is a person to whom I am offering it all without the despicable friendship and you ask me for it instead.”

A smile...the very first in front of Susanna; a curl of the lips so genuine, white teeth shining within the dim lighting of the room presented itself before the beautiful woman as Leopold wrung her hand vigorously. “Before you accept or decide to undergo the ordeal of friendship with me, my lady, let me confess to you what the word ‘friend’ means to me. I have never accepted any friends in my life. It is clear that it is so because I have only had sycophants who wanted nothing but to befriend the prince of Xanaphia, not Leopold. A friend is synonymous with selflessness; a friend is someone who seeks to place his friend before himself; a friend is someone who stands by in all circumstances, good or bad; and a friend is someone who does not desire anything but the companionship of his friend. For me that is friendship and that is how I give it. I have never given it to anyone before because none has ever desired friendship from me in the same way as I did. Every word is subjective and its meaning changes from person to person. I told you my meaning of ‘friend’ and if yours is the same, you may accept my friendship and I shall willingly give it to you. If it is any different, then a friendship between us shall not work.”

Leopold had released her hand now, staring into her eyes. He grabbed a pair of pillows from the bed and started to move towards the couch. Without turning, he added, “You have time to think, my lady. I practise horse riding and swordsmanship within the confines of Dandak forest each morning. There is a trail that leads right into the forest all the way to the Mahin waterfalls. That is where I practise my skills at archery and swordsmanship. If my friendship is acceptable to you, then I shall meet you there tomorrow at dawn. And if I am there alone, I shall believe the friendship was never meant to be. You may choose any horse from our stable. The one that you select shall be yours and no one shall touch that stallion or mare. You can select any weapon from the armoury as you desire.” Walking up to his couch, Leopold laid the pillows and put his head between them. “Goodnight, Susanna.” He intoned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Dawn broke, and light shone upon the river like little sparkling beads, reflecting off the magnificent waterfalls like a magical event of nature. Leopold’s horse, Agro, stood grazing upon the lush green grass while he practised with his sword. One swift stroke, his hair ruffled through the breeze, while he thrust it across, piercing the air with a whishing sound.

The bow and quiver of arrows lay upon the ground, practice for later. He looked down the dirt path along which he had arrived and waited, hoping Susanna would come. Why was he hoping? Did he expect any person to be strong enough to accept such compulsive terms of friendship? One never could. Then why did he have hope? Why did he think she would come? It was imbecilic to be even thinking so. Better to forget her. The world was hopeless, people were selfish and she would be no different.
Another stroke, and the force of his long sword cutting into a tree sliced it in two. She won’t come. He assured himself, preparing for another strike.

 

[Rania Lark]

Susanna was not willing to deceive everyone around her and wallow in the impending loneliness of not having someone she could be completely open with and it seemed like the one person that could fulfill that role was standing before her, the man to whom she was now married, who, by his own words, wanted nothing to do with her. But she would be unable to confide in anyone else and she was now trapped within this life and he was the only respite from the lies that would slowly surround them.

Susanna watched as the Prince stared at her hand before explaining his aversion to her offer of a friendship. How he had been taken advantage of and how those who did it were leeches, parasites with nothing more than power and wealth in their minds. Both of those were unimportant to Susanna for she had them already.

Then the Prince went on to explain what his definition of friendship was. Susanna remained silent as he recited the promises required to attain what he considered ‘friendship’ with a slight smile on her face. His ‘oath’ sounded very much like the wedding vows she had read in many of her books and heard from her tutors of those who wed for love with a promise to be the rock for the other for the rest of their lives. Despite her amusement at his recitations, Susanna remained silent, deeming it better to keep her opinions to herself concerning the similarities lest the Prince find her words insulting and plunging her into the loneliness she feared.

The Princess remained still as he released her hand before gathering up some comforts for his night on the opulent, plush sofa, explaining his deal to her and if she agreed, she would meet him where he practiced the next morning as the sun crested above the horizon.

“Goodnight, Leopold,” she replied, curtseying slightly as she climbed into the marriage bed, alone. That night she did not sleep as she had already made her decision for the next morning.

Before the sun rose over the hills outside the castle, Susanna sprung from her bed and padded through the corridors back to her dressing room. Inside was one maid and she looked up surprised that the Princess was awake so early the day after her wedding. Susanna did not explain, instead explaining that she wished to go riding that day and would need appropriate clothing. The maid quickly set to work, selecting a white ensemble of tight trousers along with a white bodice with lacing up the front over a linen shirt. All of this would be covered by a long white coat that would drape over the rear of the horse, enabling her to maintain her femininity while riding straddled over the back. Once her hair was pulled up into a loose bun of curls away from her face, Susanna was ready. However, she was not to go alone.

Despite Susanna’s protestations, the maid insisted that she accompany her Mistress on the ride, lest she lose her position and potentially her life should anything happen to the Princess. Susanna was forced to reluctantly agree and the maid was sworn to silence before they even left the dressing room. The maid eagerly agreed, glad that her position was safe.

Susanna chose a snow white mare that seemed to have a gentle spirit, her weapon merely a bow and arrow for defense from afar should they be set upon. The maid stared in shock at the idea of an armed women in Xanaphabia but wisely kept silent about the entire ordeal. She was provided a grey mare, smaller than her Mistress’ and they began their ride into the forest.

Susanna rode silently, all the while thinking of how her and the Prince would be both the relief and reprieve from such an oppressive life. They would both be honest with one another and relieve the stress by speaking openly while in private, venting frustrations and dealing with problems they both would face. He would be the only beacon of hope that would light up the night of her new life of servitude beneath him. That was why she rode to him.

Emerging into the clearing just as an arrow screamed through the air at a target, Susanna and her maid dismounted from their steeds. The maid remained an arm’s length away and silent as a small smile spread across Susanna’s face that he was indeed here and that his words last night were not some sort of test of her new life. She exhaled slowly, her blue eyes sparkling against the blue waters of the falls as the sound of running water filled the clearing.

 

[Wander]

Leopold was hopeless He had completely given up hope. He was correct! None could be trusted. Everyone sought something, desired something from another. A friendship was the last thing anyone craved and Susanna could be no different. “Agro!” He called out and the horse came galloping forth across the lush green lawn. He was a sturdy stallion, a massive beast with thick lush hair upon his mane and a long tail that hung behind him. He was completely and entirely black, almost invisible in the dark of the night except for the spot between his eyes: a diamond shaped white patch, as if a mark of his belonging to Prince Leopold. Caressing his hand over the beast’s hand, Leopold sighed and said, “I don’t think she’s coming, Agro. This is the price you pay for trusting humans. They are despicable. Thankfully, I have you. You don’t ever betray or hurt. You are always so faithful, aren’t you?” The horse nudged against the prince who then, bent over to grab a clump of grass from near his feet. He fed the horse the grass he so plucked only to be aroused by a sudden sound.

“What’s that?” The Prince exclaimed and suddenly lifted his long sword, ready for an ambush or battle. To his surprise, it was not an enemy or any kind or foe; it was a white mare riding towards them...a recognisable one. Leopold tended to all the horses in the royal stable in order to acquaint himself with them and he knew her, it was Ferina. When he looked up, he knew he could not be mistaken. Princess Susanna had come. She actually did arrive!

Putting his sword down, the Prince lifted his bow and quiver of arrows. He aimed it straight at the target on the tree. The string tensed and, the moment he released it, the arrow swished through the air, bending and swerving with the wind, perfectly hitting its mark. A bull’s eye!

Prince Leopold knew that Susanna had arrived. He could witness her through the clearing, but pretended not to notice, feigning concentration upon the task he had at hand. Carefully reaching behind, he slowly pulled out not one, but two arrows from his quiver. He knew that she was watching him. Placing both arrows on the string, Leopold tensed it, pulling it as much as his arm could pull, the string stretched to its limit, aiming both arrows at once upon the target.

It all happened in less than a second Leopold, did not release the arrows, but turned, the arrows pointing now at Susanna, the sharp tips of the arrowheads glistening as they reflected the golden rays of the morning sun. Without any warning, he released both arrows, and they flew across the sky, their arc and motion evident but almost invisible to the eye.

The arrows parted ways, not moving parallel, but diagonally in opposite directions, both charging towards Susanna. It seemed as if both were aimed at one eye each, ready to pierce her skull completely. But then they swished past her, missing her by a hair’s breadth, only grazing either ear and with an audible thudding sound, they hit the targets nailed upon two trees behind her. The two may not have hit the bull’s eye like the first one, but they were lodged into the target boards.

Leopold grinned, a genuine smile of joy. “I had not expected you to come, Susanna.” Said he, “You are made of stronger fibre than I had imagined. You constantly seem to surprise me.”

He then saw the maid behind her and was instantly angered, realising that the handmaiden must have insisted upon accompanying the princess. “She is with me now. Leave us.” He commanded. The maid, fearful of the prince nodded and made herself scarce, but only to linger within the forest, at a distance where she could be ready at a single call from her mistress. She was faithful servant.

Reaching down, Leopold fished out two blunt swords from the pack he carried and said, “You now have a friend to confide in. And I have a friend I always sought. But you also have a sparring partner.”

He tossed one sword in her direction as he said, “I wish to see whether you are as beautiful with your swordplay as you are in person.” His eyes were upon the beautiful white dress and how it managed to accentuate her beautiful curves. Just the sight of her created a tension within trousers, which he had successfully managed to subside.

 

[Rania Lark]

The movement happened all too fast that Princess Susanna did not have time to react as the two arrows came screaming at her, barely missing her as they embedded themselves into the wooden targets fastened to two trees flanking her where she stood. Her horse whinnied slightly with surprise as Susanna turned to see the sharp tips of the projectiles, embedded deeply in their wooden housings. It was a cruel joke the Prince played on her and Susanna was not one to take such things lying down. Turning back around, her gaze narrowed and her arms moved to fold across her chest.

“Is that any way to treat one who has agreed to such a contract of friendship?” she asked shifting her weight from one foot to another, “I did not agree to such treatment.” Her voice was angry yet soft, as if she wasn’t actually serious about her annoyance at such cruel treatment, as the Prince’s face broke into a joyous grin.

The maid herself actually let out a quiet yelp of surprise and worry that her Mistress was going to be hurt or killed by such foolery. However, she immediately realized her misstep and covered her mouth just as the Prince took notice of her upon her own mare. The maid turned to Susanna as if she was waiting for the Princess to allow her to stay to ensure that nothing awful befell the two despite the Prince’s order to leave them. Susanna waved her hand indicating that she was indeed safe with her new husband and the maid obeyed the orders, turning her horse to walk a few meters back along the trail; still well within ear shot of the two should anything arise.

“A what?” Susanna exclaimed as Leopold pulled two swords from the pack on the ground, handing one of the blades to her. Susanna had never fought with any type of weapon in her life. She only took the bow and arrows to appear feircesome while not knowing how to wield the weapon. A sword she knew even less about. Taking the sword cautiously, Susanna held it in her hand as the Prince explained about how he wanted to know if she was as beautiful fighting as she was in appearance.

“Your Highness,” Susanna explained, “I have never used such a weapon in my life. My expertise lies in scholarly studies, not swordplay. I have never even held a blade.” It was true as even her stance was one of confusion and of a severe lack of knowledge within the art of battle. Her weapons were her books, not blades.

“However,” Susanna quickly regained her footing within the challenge and the conversation, “I am open to learn if I had such a teacher who would be willing to instruct?” The Princess pressed the tip of the sword into the ground as she playfully looked around her before returning her gaze back to Leopold.

“Do you know of any instructors who possess such a knowledge?”