Heart on Sleeves
Summary: When your people are in need of your sacrifices, how far are you willing to go to save them? This is the story of a Princess who puts the wellbeing of her people before her heart, and a Prince who learns that love is not an illusion.
Disclaimer: My original plot, characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
Thank you for clicking on my story and welcome to Heart on Sleeves. This story is set during the Medieval era. I hope you enjoy it!
"Unfortunately, their attempts to make Isabella change her mind were futile."
Chapter 1: Duty Before Heart
She took a deep breath as she fought to strengthen her resolve, trying to remind herself that this was the best possible choice for the betterment of her people. From her position at the head of the grand council meeting table, Isabella could clearly see the anguish in her father's eyes, sitting right across her at the other end of the table, making her question her decision for what must have been the tenth time in the past hour.
As she glanced around the table she found that every eye was fixed resolutely on her exquisite frame, as if their combined gazes could hold her back from leaving them. Mindful of their sorrowful stares, Isabella thought that it was time to be the princess she was meant to be and delicately cleared her throat, indicating her wish to speak.
"My dear court men, I wish you to understand that I have not made this decision on light grounds. Before presenting my choice I thought long and hard about what the future will hold for me should I choose to go ahead with this plan. Marrying the Prince of Forks will be the best course of action for our people. We…"
"But what about the best course of action for you my darling daughter? You expect to let me sacrifice your happiness this easily?" the King exclaimed in a sorrowful tone.
He paused for a few seconds, as if to draw confidence with his next words. "Surely there are other methods to consider. Our people have been persevering throughout this drought, and will continue to do so. We will survive this casualty."
"But at what expense father?" replied Isabella softly. She knew it would be hard for her father to let her go; after all, she and her brother were the only piece of her mother that he had left. The fact that she had all of her mother's features made her that much more dear to her father's heart. With her mother's fair skin, heart-shaped face, thin nose, dark brown tresses, prominent cheekbones and expressive chocolate brown eyes, Isabella was a vision to behold, a symbol of ethereal beauty in the Kingdom.
"We can ask for help from our allies, Bella" an anxious Jacob chimed in. Isabella looked at her younger brother with affection. Her beloved brother has grown up to be such a handsome young man. His eyes still held mischief and she wished she could preserve his innocence and shield him from the woes of the world. With his jet black hair, warm brown eyes, russet skin inherited from their father and princely features, Isabella knew the ladies of the court would soon start vying for his attentions. At the age of fourteen, their father started allowing Jacob to attend the court meetings in preparation of learning the fine dealings of the country's affairs and how to address these matters with a fair and adept hand. She wished her mother was alive to witness what a fine young man her brother was growing up to be.
Queen Renee's death came as a shock to the whole of Phoenix, and what a treacherous day it was in the Kingdom's history. At the ages of eight and four, Isabella and Jacob were strolling in the garden with the loving Queen. They were heading towards the stables to feed the horses at the request of young Jacob when a sudden commotion halted their steps. Queen Renee stood frozen with horror as a group of men on black stallions, covered in black from head to toe, were making their way towards the three royals with raised swords. The four guards accompanying the Queen and her children quickly sprang to action, brandishing their own swords and standing in front of the royal family in a defensive stance. "Run, my Queen!" shouted one of the guards, without taking his eyes off the approaching enemy. Heart pounding and limbs finally unfreezing, Queen Renee hoisted Jacob up in one arm and with the other she pulled Isabella's hand and took off running towards the stables, the only place she could think of to hide. They had successfully reached the stables and the Queen wasted no time as she pushed her children to the furthest corner of an empty stall. She looked at them with a tearful smile and lovingly caressed their faces. "No matter what happens, always keep in mind that I will always love you. I will be in your hearts forever." With those parting words, she gave them tight hugs and kisses to their foreheads, and then began covering them with hay. "Mother, what is happening? Who are those people? Why are they attacking us?" cried Isabella fearfully, pulling on her mother's hands. The Queen tucked her daughter's arms around her son's trembling frame. His large brown eyes were swelling with tears as the events he had just witnessed seemed to render him silent. "Take care of your brother my heart. Look after him well, I am placing my trust in you. Stay here and do not make any sounds, and do not leave this place until you hear your father's voice. Can I entrust you to do that my sweet girl?" rushed out the Queen, trying to quell her own panic. Young Isabella nodded tearfully. "I love you mama," she whispered back, a foreboding feeling rising in her body. "I love you so much Isabella. You and your brother have brought me so much joy. Remind him of my love as he grows up. I am so proud of the both of you, and I know in my heart that you will grow up and lead this Kingdom to great heights. Tell your father that he will always be my sun, but that the eclipse shadows the sun sometimes. Can you remember that my love?" Isabella once again nodded, her little heart constricting due to the unknown. With a final glance at her beloved children, Queen Renee hurriedly continued covering them with the hay until they were completely hidden from any prying eyes. She then stood up from where she knelt, and with a regal air she strode out of the barn to face the vigilantes, glimpsing the bodies of her loyal guards on the ground before looking up to meet the eyes of the seemingly leader of the traitors heading towards her. When the King reached the place of scrimmage where he rushed to as soon as he was told of the attack, all that he found on the ground was his true love's torn, bloodied shawl and the locket he had gifted her with when he had first proclaimed his love for her. He fell to his knees and pulled at his hair, yelling with pain at the loss of his heart. He avoided the shawl and reached for the locket, wrapping the chain around his hand as he brought it to his lips. Suddenly, he gasped and began looking around fearfully. "Isabella! Jacob!" he whispered to himself. When he saw no signs of them in the garden he drew himself to full height and barked to the guards, "Find my children now!" King Charles aided in the search himself and when he finally found his children after calling out for them by the barn, he took them both in his arms and thanked the heavens that they were safe. As he looked down upon their scared innocent faces, he promised them and himself that he would find the perpetrators and exact revenge on the people who dared take his beloved wife, their beloved mother, and the Kingdom's beloved Queen. The days following the attack were filled with search excursions, but after a year without a trace of her body, the Queen was declared dead and the people of Phoenix officially mourned her. It was hard for King Charles to accept that she was gone, but he knew that he would honor his life partner's memory and take care of their children and Kingdom until the day he joined her.
Isabella shook herself from the memories of that fateful day. Her father stepped right into both parental roles despite his status as King; royalty do not usually have any kind of personal interaction with their children until they are old enough to be included in stately affairs. They were extremely close to one another, and having to leave her family behind was as hard for her as it must be for them.
She needed to tread cautiously. She knew her father to be a wise man, and felt confident that he would soon give in to her request, as it truly was the best course of action to help their people.
"The number of reports concerning children and the elderly dying is increasing day by day. We know not when this drought ends. The crops have all shriveled and died, and wells have been dry for some time now. The emergency storerooms have been severely depleted. I cannot continue to see my people suffer any longer father. I beseech you to not attempt to dissuade me any further from my decision. We must accept their condition. We cannot afford to turn down their offer for they are our only hope. Please father, I stand resolute in my decision to agreeing to the marriage, and I will not back down anytime soon," replied Isabella firmly, refusing to break her gaze from the King's eyes until he did so himself.
Isabella knew she was throwing herself into the unknown. The Prince of Forks was a mystery to their Kingdom. Even his name and age were unknown to them. She feared he would be an old and unfeeling brute, but she was determined to not let any of that fear show on her face.
The silent court suddenly broke into indignant clamors, pleading with their beloved princess to rethink her choice. Unfortunately, their attempts to make Isabella change her mind were futile.
In an act of utter hopelessness Sir William Black, one of her father's closest advisors, stepped forward and asked the Princess, "What of your fervent views on love? Your reputation as a romanticist precedes you Princess. The whole Kingdom has come to embrace your opinions on love. You preach people to marry for love yet here you are, willing to compromise your beliefs in the name of saving your Kingdom. We know not a single thing about this Prince!"
Princess Isabella blanched, clearly not expecting this confrontation. Sir William was right. For as long as she could remember, Isabella held onto the steadfast belief that one should marry out of love, certainly not out of a sense of duty. But this was Phoenix they were talking about, her beloved Kingdom. She wouldn't allow her people to suffer any longer if she had the power to change that.
The court seemed to hold their breaths as they awaited her answer. Even the King was focused intently on his daughter's face, wishing to see a slight flicker of hesitance in her eyes to put a stop to all this madness.
Isabella stood up regally with head held up high, and a steely determination crept up into her voice, "My Kingdom is worth it. My decision remains as it is. If I must sacrifice my ideals on marriage then so be it. My people come first. Please do not worry about me. All will be well."
The King stood up and walked towards his daughter. All members of court were now on their feet as well, respectful of their sovereigns.
With an act of fatherly affection which the court was used to, the King hugged his daughter fiercely and whispered a few choice words in her ears. He then took a step back, placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her questioningly.
Isabella clutched her father's hands in hers and nodded in assurance. Yes, Isabella of Phoenix was ready to accept her fate.
The King sighed resignedly, and keeping his emotions in check, turned to address the court men, "Let the scribe write to the Masen family immediately. Tell them that we have accepted their offer to see us through this drought, and that my daughter has agreed to marry their Prince in return."
He deliberated for a few seconds and then added, "May this be the right choice for all involved parties."
With those final words, the King turned on his heels and exited the room, the Princess and Prince soon following suit.
The court thereafter sprung into action, preparing the documents that would alter the course of their beloved Princess's life.
Chapter End Notes:
I would appreciate your thoughts! Who do you think is this unknown prince? What do you think will happen? ;)
Next update will be in the following week.
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