The Union

The Union

“Is that them?” The guard standing next to me did not respond.

“They are so young. Surely someone has noticed how young they are.” My mutterings went unacknowledged. I glanced again at the children. The boy, his sandy hair falling over his forehead peered at me from inside the luxurious car. The girl, her hand firmly held in the larger hand of the boy, smiled at me.

“This is ridiculous. They are children! They should be swimming and playing!” Again, my voice seemed to go unnoticed.

Slowly, the children were escorted from the car. The velvet rope separated them from the growing crowd. Guards surrounded them, hid them from the gawking view of the many hungry onlookers. A trumpet sounded.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Prince Thomas and Princess Leah. Make way for their entrance.” A man in a white tuxedo held out his hand to the Princess. Tears came to my eyes as I watched her small fingers grasp his larger ones. Her innocent smile took my breath away. This wasn’t right.

As they passed me, Prince Thomas stopped in front of me. He crooked a finger at me until I leaned down to his level. “Do not worry, m’lady. All is well.” His small hand reached out and caressed my cheek, a sign of friendship.

The tears that fell freely were hot against my skin as the children entered the large church. We, the crowd, followed them inside.

“Please, be seated.” Again, the man in the tuxedo spoke, his voice gentle as he stood between the Prince and Princess upon the long stage at the front. I sat in the third row.

“We have gathered here today to witness the betrothal of these two families. One day, they will rule the world together. Today, as children, they have been promised by their parents. Let us pray.”

As every other head bowed, I watched. The girl, Princess Leah, smiled at me before bowing her head to pray.

Something inside me wanted to scream. This was not how this was supposed to be. They were too young to be promised. They should be playing and singing. Laughing. Instead, these children stood solemnly, waiting for their lives to be determined.

“Please turn and face each other.” The children did as commanded, grasping hands, they faced each other.

“It is the will of your parents that you be joined today. The union of the two royal bloods will forever unite the world in peace. Prince Thomas, is this your will also?”

I watched, begged that he would say no.

“It is, Sir.” He smiled. There was too much wisdom in that smile. He knew too much.

The man nodded. “And is this your will also Princess Leah?”

She was silent. She watched the boy, reached out and brushed a lock of hair from his eyes. “It is.”

I wanted to jump up and down then, tell her that she had made some huge mistake. I knew her. She didn’t want this. She too was wiser than her years. She knew this would not bring peace to the world.

“Then so be it. It has been decided. On the first day of the thirteenth year of Princess Leah, these two will be joined in marriage. Let all present be witnesses unto that promise.”

I sat upright, sweat trickling down my face. The dream, the same as it had been for years before, had again haunted my night. The woman standing at my bedside wiped a cool cloth across my forehead, her gentle hand offering comfort.

“Is today the day?” I questioned her weakly, fear filling my heart.

“It is.” She knew. She felt my grief, my fear. She knew there was no hope for me after today.

“And he has already arrived?”

“He has.”

“Is he still beautiful?”

“He is.”

“I am afraid.” Tears rolled down my face, burning me with their reality.

“Do not fear. He is not so bad. You will balance him. It is your destiny.” She stepped away from the bed and gathered a white satin dress in her arms. “You will be beautiful today.”

I wanted to fight it, and yet my legs swung over the side of the bed and I allowed her to dress me. The satin was cool against my skin. She placed the ribbons in my hair, the wreath of lilies around my head. She wrapped the thin silver chain around my ankle and held her hand out to me.

All was quiet as we made our way down the long hall. Each maid we passed curtsied, each servant bowed. I tried to smile at them, to show them my bravery. They were all pleased, excited even.

The joining room was sparkling. Silver and gold lined each wall. The man in the white tuxedo was back, his eyes full of laughter and joy as he reached out to embrace me.

Across the room, a boy stood quietly, watching me. He did not smile, but winked at me. He had changed. His hair was no longer cut properly, but fell past his collar and over his eyes. He wore a black tuxedo with red accents. He was still beautiful.

As my mother led me down the aisle, she held my hand tightly. I could feel her fear and it heightened my own.

“You are stunning.” His voice had deepened. It was no longer childlike. He held out his hand and my mother placed mine in it. It was cool, but not clammy.

“Please face each other.”

We did.

“Eight years ago, on this very day, you promised yourselves to each other. Today, that promise will be fulfilled. Is it still your will to wed this woman, Prince Thomas?”

He nodded his head, “It is.”

The man smiled. “And is it still your will to marry this man, Princess Leah?”

I wanted to deny it. “It is.”

“Then let Good and Evil exist separately no more. Today, we have bound them together in balance.”


Word Count: 1,000