Lady In Red

1

Like a passing autumn leaf, I was brought from my home to a new world. Where people couldn't be trusted, the folk tales different, their traditions different. The only question I held to myself as I sat before my mirror, was will I wilt and turn into nothing as I stepped into his world, or will I be taken by someone, cherished and loved like the last leaf of autumn.

~

"Death awaits her"

Whispered one of them who stood between the hurdle of women. The gossiping mannequins with their frilly bottoms, married and nothing to accomplish in their lives. "My sympathy with that child. How could her father do such a thing"

Spoke another prude woman with her hand over her lips as if to silence her voice but that won't do any good. Their voices are louder than glass breaking against this marble floor.

"Miss Ruby Williams"

I turned my attention from the chattering old woman to the knight who had supposedly walked up to me while I was distracted by the thoughts of others. He bowed slightly and looked down at me while his hand was directed toward the doors leading to the library. I picked up my grown and walked toward the double doors with an anxious heart. It felt as if my chest would burn through my ribcage any minute. My hands were sweaty and trembling. No matter how hot the humungous gown made me, my neck had chills.

The guards opened the double doors and I heard the ballroom go into silence before slight gossip of men and women began again. Possibly about what I was going to face as the daughter of a man who sold me off as bait to pacify the kingdom's quarrel. That man, my father, The Duke with his head hung low looked up as the King with all his glory stood ahead facing out the arch-stained glasses and his hand behind him.

"Do you know why you are summoned here, Ruby? My dear niece"

"Apart from the sympathizing gossip, I heard on my way here My king, No. I do not" I chose to stay illiterate about the real agreement. I wanted him to have the courage to say it himself. "Well, I shall be blunt then-" The king said, his hand now twisting the globe on his desk beside him to fidget as he paused to push the words out his mouth.

As I await the dreading news, I held my breath. My corset was getting tighter each second as my ability to hold my tears back and breath ceased to continue.

"I promised to grant Prince Edward your hand in marriage a month ago, I was told you two got very close through this arrangement and possibly lo-like each other -"

That was the pause I hate the most. I felt like I would fall to my knees any minute.

"But, It seems that some arrangements cannot do. Your father had no choice but to make new arrangements. That is, break your engagement with Edward and have you marry someone else" I broke into tears, my lips sealed shut as I could not speak against the King's words. His eyes finally looked at me. His brows creased as his lips opened to speak but I could see that look of worry in his eyes.

As my eyes rolled out those never-ending tears in vain because there was nothing anyone could do for me I took in deep breaths as the King spoke again.

"My power will have your back as you wed the- creature of a man. Do not fret. You will have my guards to protect you. I will make sure you will be treated as a queen should be."

My head shook from side to side slowly in disappointment. There is no power of guards when they enter the fort of another kingdom. There are only pawns in the games.

"You cannot even name the man she will marry"

A voice from behind me spoke. I heard the heels of her shoe click as she walked past me. Her long black hair sent a slight smell of orange across my face. Her golden robes dragged across the floor as her crown reflected the fire burning in that dark library.

" Lycan, Xerxes Lycan. The king who burned down a city and cursed whoever may walk upon it, kills innocent humans, salves animals, and is the ruler of all wolves who walk upon this land. She is to marry the son of Chaos itself."

I stood there as the queen spoke for me. The only human alive who could. I stood there, with my heart twisting second by second as the Queen and The King argued while my father watched this unfold.

"You are sending your niece into a land of pure evil"

"The pact is already made your highness, The treaty signed, There is nothing to be done! If we break this marriage all hell will break loose"

The queen turned to my father. Her eyes sent a duke towering over her state to his knees. "Do you realize how much of a shame you are to society, Sir Aiden Williams?"

I saw my father gulp. The king closed his eyes in defeat and gave a sigh.

"I have to come to that child's aid while her own father sold her to a man who isn't even human. I had taken great pleasure raising your daughter under my wing as one of my ladies in waiting Sir. Giving her all that was required to be a princess on a day when she marries the right man. Prince Edward! It seems so, that all my teachings were in vain!"

I couldn't hold back as my throat choked. A soft cry filled the echoing walls of the library as they turned their heads to me. I stood there helpless, while my tears ran down my chin and my mouth trembled while I suffocated in that dark place.

The Queen was not the type of woman to feel emotions. It was a belief that after the loss of her third child, she became a ruthless ruler. And she could bend any and everyone under her feet but that dark King. He could never be bent. He was a werewolf, an enemy.

I never cared for who they were. I saw them as creatures made by god-like we were. They were respected and were much more powerful. I never saw them as an enemy personally, I only saw them as humans with a different life.

But breaking my marriage with the man I loved, sending me into the hands of a man who enslaves thousand. Where I would have no protection of my title nor my kingdom was so cruel. My father had betrayed me. The Queen looked at me with eyes of sorrow, which was something she never did.

"You are a disappointment to your daughter," She said her last words to him as she stormed out of the library. She stopped as the doors opened.

"Ruby, I expect you to be in my privy chambers tomorrow"

I didn't even nod as I ought to. I just glanced at my father once before turning around and walking out the doors. I went straight down the halls to the back of the castle and out the gardens.

I couldn't even see him for the last time as I would just break. I imagined my life with Edward, and now it was destroyed.

***

She twisted and turned in her bed all night as the new moon darken the sky, the clouds were heading toward the castle as mist covered the grasslands. Winter was near and the leaves shed as a chilly breeze ran across the grounds. It was a beautiful night indeed however for Ruby, it was a night she would never forget filled with dread. And soon her eyes closed as she could no more shed tears and think.

That morning she walked through the walls of the castle towards the Queen's chambers reporting to her duty as everyone man, guard, maiden and worker stepped aside and bowed, some only watched as Ruby walked past them. She noticed their behaviour, but she chose to let it pass like the wind.

From the first day after the announcement of the Kingdom's treaty with King Xerxes, Ruby became a Queen to another throne. As she walked the halls of the court, all those who stood ahead stepped aside and bowed as they ought to. She was no longer just a woman born in the royals. She was no longer a young maiden serving under the Queen. The high respect she was held under in the last few days of her life in her birthday kingdom had only been seen as a sacrifice.

"Your Highness"

Ruby gave her greetings with courtesy as the Queen turned around and stood up from her vanity. Ruby walked towards her curtains to tie them back but her hands were stopped. She never looked up to the Queen.

"I am truly sorry for what has happened."

Ruby shook her head softly with a smile of sorrow and pulled her hand back. "It is my duty now."

Queen glanced at the other maidens and the room was left of just them two. And the doors shut close the Queen walked towards her desk and sat on her chair.

"And it is my duty as the Queen to tell you about what will be expected of you-"

"An heir" Ruby whispered, with her back towards the crown she glanced at the Queen once before turning her head towards the windows again. She watched the cloudy sky and took a deep breath.

"If my head is hanging on a blade until I produce an heir then yes, The king will have his heir"