Gemini's diary

March 14th 1669

If it weren't for the great war that is to happen in three months, I am sure my seventeenth birthday would've been a good one. But alas, that cannot happen. Things haven't been the same in my Kingdom ever since Kantari, one of our neighboring Kingdoms, declared war on us for a reason Father and Mother refuse to tell me. Everyone is so scared! We've been sent numerous death threats, publicly addressed towards my family. I don't know what to do!
Father tells me all will be well. His smile is so reassuring I have no choice but to believe him. He says we are well prepared for war, and that I should not fret. But how can't I?! Things have gotten so tense lately. The peasants are always in a frenzy, and Mother looks nervous all the time. Father is the exact opposite. He is calm, calmer than usual. He spends all his time with our knights and troops and is determined to win this war.


March 15th 1669

Because I have turned seventeen years of age, Mother and Father want me to marry. They have chosen a handsome young man who's name is Lance. I know him quite well, and I won't hide the fact that we were once young childhood lovers. It is precisely why they chose him to be my husband.
Today Mother let me spend time with my soon-to-be-husband. Last time I saw him I was but a young thirteen year old girl, and he was a growing fifteen year old lad. We had played together and laughed together, until I broke off communication with him for four years. Now, Lance is a strong nineteen year old man with dark brown hair and exotic, captivating green eyes. His skin is fair and he has grown much taller.
Together we reminisced about the old days, told each other how much we missed being together, and confessed our true love for one another.
I felt so lightheaded and happy as I stared into his green eyes. I forced myself to forget about the approaching Kantarian soldiers, the ones we were to battle with in the near future, and concentrated on how happy we would be once we were wed.
We shared one quick kiss before he had to leave. In our Kingdom, you are allowed to see your fiancee only once before you see him again for the wedding.
In the evening, I had a private talk with Mother. I wanted to know when I would marry my childhood sweetheart, and she simply replied by saying it would be before The War.
Before The War...

March 17th 1669

The Kantarians are approaching. Father said so. More death threats are being targeted towards our family and the peasants grow tenser and tenser.
But today is also a happy day. A happy day because Father says I shall marry Lance tomorrow! How can I express my happiness with words? I'm beyond happy, beyond elated. Even The War can't upset me now.
For the wedding, I shall wear the silver dress my Mother wore for her's. It fits me perfectly. The wedding preparations have already been made. Tomorrow I shall see Lance and live happily ever after with him, just like in the books my Mother read to me when I was younger. The Kingdom is to celebrate this wedding, as Father says it will bring our spirits up and motivate us to win this War.
I must now lay my pen down. I have so much to do before the wedding.

March 18th 1669

Kantari tricked us! On the day of my wedding, the Kantarian soldiers attacked our Kingdom.
It was at around midday that I spotted them from the Palace entering the Kingdom, stabbing and gruesomely killing off any peasant in their way. I was shocked. All the breath in my lungs gushed out as salty tears pricked my eyes.
"The Kantarians are here!" I yelled as I ran down the stairs, hoping to warn Father. He had been nowhere in sight, and my instincts were telling me to get away, to escape the Kingdom before I was killed. But first, the sublime image of Lance popped into my mind, and I was once again reminded of his green eyes.
I exited the Palace doors, struggling to run in my dress.
I didn't even know where my fiancee was. I felt despair sinking into my bones. Everybody outside was running and screaming, frantically trying warn the other citizens of the Kantarian soldiers. Without even thinking, I ran to the Royal Stables behind the Palace and hopped on the nearest horse I could find. I was going to follow my instincts. I was going to run away...
But Lance! Mother! Father! What about them?
More tears streamed down my cheek as the horror of it all engulfed me. They were going to die. They were all going to die if they didn't run away now.
For a few seconds I debated whether to leave or stay, when a bloodcurdling scream rang in my ears. I turned around and there was Lance, a gaping wound in his chest.
"Lance!" I cried as I rushed to his side. He fell on his knees and cried in pain.
"Lance, what happened to you?" I was crying harder.
"The Kantarians," he said weakly.
"Where's Mother and Father?"
"Captured."
The hairs on the back of my neck rose. I could hear the Kantarians screaming, drawing their swords, killing my people. In no time they would find me hiding here in the stables.
"Lance, we have to go."
"No."
"But Lance!" I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. His eyelids were slowly closing behind his pristine green eyes.
I kissed his cheek. "I love you," I whispered.
He didn't reply.
Lance was dead.
Mother and Father were held captive.
The Kantarians were killing people outside the closed stables.
I climbed onto a caramel colored stallion, took one last look at the beautiful, kind man I was supposed to marry today, and rode out of the stables, feeling the wind whipping through my hair, ignoring the blood and gore that stained the streets, and fighting Kantarians. Many of them unsuccessfully tried to run after me.
It didn't take long for me to exit the Kingdom. But still, I continued riding, going as far away as possible and not wanting to stop. But soon enough the stallion got tired and stopped running. I sheltered underneath an oak tree to collect my thoughts.
As I write these words I am still under the oak tree, and I've made up my mind. Today my fiancee died and my parents are being held captive.I shall return to my Kingdom and die bravely with all my people, shed blood on the streets I once walked in and lie by the man I was supposed to marry.
These are my last words.