Prologue:
Dark and stormy.
That was the weather in these times.
Some would say it's the gods representing the emotions of their people. Others would say it's just been a wet year.
I know better. There are no gods that watch us. If there were, they'd have put an end to the suffering they've created. They supposedly made the human race. Along with other species. Humans however, tend to have technicalities. Humans are complicated. With their wide range of emotions and complex brains to help them problem solve. You see that's the thing about humans. We have the ability to learn from our mistakes and find solutions. Yet here we are, in the midst of a war.
We've had wars before, sure. Over land, government, drugs, even women. All of the wars my ancestors have fought seem weak in comparison to this one. You can hear whispers on the streets. Calling it 'The War of The New Century.' Terrifying really, or I assume it is. Since the war started the castle staff haven't been allowed to leave the castle grounds save for Holliday's. They rave and preach about how it's for our own protection, and the protection of the help of course.
We all know it's because they don't want crucial information getting out.
However it seems to always find an outlet. So the Royal Guard haven't let anyone out of sight. Leering around, always asking questions, looking for a mole when it could be one of their own. It most likely is a Royal Guard member. They are the only ones who are never questioned. Unless it's by me or my parents.
Ahh yes. The sticky subject of my parents. They used to be nice. Relaxed. Loved being around the common folk even if they were advised against 'slumming it up' by the court advisers. It was nice, it was sunny, everything seemed calm. That is until it wasn't. My fifteenth birthday if you can believe, the tragic night my grandfather was killed. No one speaks his name anymore. He was a great man. Ended most poverty by reaching to kingdoms across the sea. It was incredible for the time. Hadn't been done before. He died a saint, he wasn't, but the people need a god figure to believe in during these troubling times when the real gods won't show.
My grandfathers death started the war. The assassination was pointed at the opposing kingdom when a cloth with their royal crest was found under his dresser. It's been heavy since. Poverty has risen yet again with all of the kingdoms funds going into weapons and knight training instead of the local homeless shelters my mother helped start up. Store prices have gone up. The people are scared. And worst of all, none of our over sea kingdoms refuse to help fund our war. On both sides. Which leaves both regimes in a bind.
The Black Kingdom. It's described as chaotic now. The kingdom before the war was incredible. In the old books, during history, they'd describe it as lustrous or enchanting. With flowers blooming everywhere. The economy at an all time high. The people were thrilled by the new gadgets and sword craft from the kingdoms over seas. At the center of this empire stood The Most Nobel And Acnient House Black. A royal family, with their single queen that ruled with a strong fist. She was powerful and merciless. Unrelenting in battle and terrifying upon approach. She was Bellatrix Black formerly married to Rodolphus Lestrange. Once her parents died however, and she took over the thrown, he mysteriously died of a rare virus.
She now rules along with her nephew, prince Draco Malfoy. He is, charming and cold. He stands tall but he hasn't quite inherited that Black essence of superiority. He likes being around the philosophers other than the knights like most young princes. The younger maidens loves him. He never shows interest though. He isn't liked by everyone however, he isn't a Black. And that causes a problem for the noble house. The last king had no sons. So with their eldest daughter being married to a Lestrange they assumed the Black rule was over. Once Rodolphus died, the Black family stayed in power. Bellatrix has no sons or daughters. So prince Draco is the best heir in the family. Son to the youngest of the three Black sisters. Unfortunately the middle of the three left to go marry a commoner, a shop keeper. Highly frowned upon by the kingdoms but no ones seen her in quite some time.
Queen Bellatrix, as she's referred to, may have yet to produce an heir. A bastard would be taken over prince Draco at this point to settle those in the kingdom who are opposed to him. Queen Bellatrix has been told to not take lovers though. As the castle gossip has stated. She's whispered about through the castle when the maids think no ones around the corner. They say she's beautiful. A god amongst people even. The dark beauty of the land. Her beauty isn't her main asset, as that title goes to her fighting. Queen Bellatrix is known for being trained by their kingdoms best fighters and has never lost except once. Her skill and determination is what makes her a ruthless and deadly fighter. She can strategize wining battle plans in minutes. And when she's out in the field, she is a sight to see. No one against her in the war has been able to talk about how she wins. They're either all dead. Or too incoherent to explain her fighting skills. It just shows how intelligent she really is.
Back to my parents, they were devastated. The 'Old King' as he's referred to now, was their one salvation in living the easy life. While the Old King did his part politically, my parents were the face of the kingdom. They dealt with small matters, like religious affairs, or placements of new villages. Now they have to be both the face of the people, and the face of the government. They aren't really cut out for politics. It's how we got here after all.
In this musty carriage.
On my eighteenth birthday.
The Old Kings death day.
Riding to the kingdom we're at war with to discuss how they will sell me to prince Draco so the war will finally come to an end.