This is not a prequel. Though there may be similarities to consequences. Hope you like it. Remember to leave a review. – Jaz
CH.1
Valondra sat on the edge of her bed she was only sixteen she wasn't ready for marriage especially not to a man that she didn't know. No, it hadn't happened yet but she was sure it would. In the society her forefathers had created a woman was nothing more than an accessory. She couldn't spend the rest of her life in a marriage without love. Love? What in the hell was love? Why was it that poor peasants could write such beautiful poems and stories about an emotion that royalty weren't given a chance to experience. Her own mother told her that love was for fools and the poor. A marriage of convenience was not what she wanted.
The Orion Order and Antar have been at war for centuries, too many men had died neither nation wants more casualties. Peace talks have begun. Now Valondra was familiar with political policies she knew that the political way to end this war was for each side to make a sacrifice. But why should she have to be the sacrificial lamb? Where were her rights?
A knock sounded at her door. Her maids entered and she prepare for bed. That night she found it hard to sleep, tomorrow was the meeting of the provinces maybe she could convince her father to let her sit in. Her father wasn't as down on women as some men but he still didn't advocate women's rights. Being of royal blood offered Valondra opportunities that escaped other girls in her world.
The sunlight spilled over the horizon she looked out to see the beautiful view that her balcony provided beautiful black sandy shores and lilac waters of the Porphyrian Ocean. A servant came to get her for breakfast and thus began a day in the life of the Princess of Antar. She wore long sweeping skirts made of the finest wool and crown adorned with pearls. The meeting of the Provinces was schedule to begin a half hour after breakfast. Valondra ate and entered the conference room she sat toward the back of the group and listened. People spoke of harvests, raids, droughts, and one man in particular spoke of change.
Lord Khivar of the Elysian Province brought forth a question that plagued everyone's minds.
"My King I mean no disrespect there is no anarchy in what I must say." He glanced around the conference room. There were three rows of 12 the first row were the council of 12 Elders, the second was the 9 provincial leaders, and the last row was simply an audience of on lookers. Meeting the eyes of each council and provincial leader he made sure that he was heard, that they were looking at him, listening to him. "Our planet is vast, change is necessary. We have been at war so long that entire provinces have been wiped out. We the people of Elysia and of all of Antar demand that something be done about. I don't mean to cause trouble I feel that it is time that the monarchy step down."
"This is an Outrage"
"how dare he?"
Screams of objections sounded from the crowd of onlookers.
"Hear me out. Am I to trust my people into the hands of a leader who was born into his position? This war was started by a former King who betrayed the Hospitality of the Orion Order. We do not need to be" the crowd got louder. "WE DO NOT NEED TO BE SUBJECT TO A LEADER WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS THAT HIS PEOPLE POSSESS. I BELIEVE THAT THE MONARCHY SHOULD BE DISSOLVED AND THAT A DEMOCRACY SHOULD TAKE ITS PLACE."
"ORDER!! ORDER!" King Zuric demanded. All got calm. "The young lord has spoken his peace as have each of you. I understand his concern over the following generation but I can assure him and any others who feel that way that my son Zan is more than qualified to take over as king. He has been trained and versed in the ways of politics since birth…"
The conference continued on but Valondra tuned out. Her mind was on the man, the lord from Elysia. A democracy? A government for the people by the people. She had been raised that the safety and stability of the people came before her own. So why weren't they a democracy? Probably the same reason women's rights were limited. No one wanted to give up power they only wanted to obtain it. Control was the goal of a monarch just as it was a husband over his wife. What did the future have in store for one such as her?
The following day Valondra saw Lord Khivar from her balcony. He stood alone on the beach watching the surf come in. Curiosity led her to his side.
"Beautiful isn't it?" she asked
Khivar turned surprised from his thoughts. He saw her, the princess of them all. Removing his attention from her beauty, he lowered his head in a formal bow. "Greeting your highness"
Valondra smiled he was so handsome. "There is no need for formality." Valondra drew her attention from him to the waters that spread out before them. "I heard your speech yesterday."
"I meant no offence, your highness"
"I was not offended but… I was impressed. My brother is young and our uncle was an ass. A young foolish king who abused his power at every turn. Your fears are understandable, and your bravery must be acknowledged. Not many men would have been so bold as to denounce the king to his face."
"I did not denounce the king." Khivar retorted.
"No, but isn't that what demanding a democracy is? The king being stripped of his title and comforts, for him and his family to be laid bare and all so the people can replace him with someone more qualified?"
"When you put it that way, I suppose it did sound as though I was denouncing him. All I meant is that our planet is dying, even with provincial leaders things are still in chaos. There is war on the streets as well as in the skies. If we were a democracy, or maybe turn the provinces into separate monarchies, that would give the provincial leaders more power and resources to bring our warring lands peace and order."
"So you want to be king?"
"No. I want my people safe."
"All of your people?"
"Of course."
"What of the women in your province?" Khivar was confused by the question.
"They are the same as all women."
"Exactly. You see. As a man you don't truly care for the rights of women. We bare your sons but we don't get your respect. Wives are commodities to be traded for property and power. You want democracy for the people. You want the people to choose their leader but that's not what you mean at all. You meant that the men are to choose their leaders. You want the men to cast their votes. You want your women to be subservient and illiterate because you know that women are the stronger sex despite the lies that have been told by men for eons in an attempt to heal and expand your egos." Khivar watched her as she yelled, debated, and kicked up sand.
"Are you done?" he inquired. She nodded, "I hadn't really thought of it that way before."
"I'm sorry for getting upset and lecturing you I've…I've just had a bad week that's all."
They walked along the beach with her maids and each of their guards trailing them at a distance. They discuss current politics and the unfortunate consequences of war. He spoke of history though he asked her opinion on many events and outcomes. They discussed and debated literary plot lines. After a lunch and a discussion on hunger and poverty they agreed to talk only of themselves. He listened to her and she to him. She was surprised to learn that though being a lord was not as far up on the hierarchy as a princess he still dealt with the same things as she and her family did. He seemed to have far more responsibility than she had previously thought. He did have a valid reason for thinking that the monarch was useless since he did seem to be providing for his people without government intervention. He listened to her and provided the necessary feedback she could be certain whether he truly believed the things he spoke of or if he was just placating her. But at least he seemed to care.
Khivar left a day later promising to visit again. Valondra wondered of her fate and that of her people. She thought more on the topic of love and wondered if the increase of her pulse signified a growing love for Lord Khivar and if it did? Did they stand a chance?
Her seventeenth birthday came months later, she danced with Khivar and they took a midnight stroll along the beach. They talked of Elysia and its magnificence, they spoke of their world as a whole and he even shared his dreams and goals with her. The more she learned about him the deeper she was able to see into his soul. She truly was falling in love with him. They shared a kiss in the Maze Garden he took to calling her Val. He stayed for two weeks before returning to Elysia. He wrote her letters after he left, her world felt whole, carefree, and perfect but it didn't last.
Thanks for reading.