I don't own Teen Wolf.
Lydia Martin is trapped in a world where women are second class citizens. She dreams of a different place, of freedom to unleash the potential she knows she has but she's bound to societies rules, until her father announces that she is to be married.
Her husband is not what she expected. At all.
'Your father would like to talk to you.' A droll voice said from the doorway. Lydia raised her eyes from the book in her lap, and fixed the man in the doorway with a scowl. He looked ridiculous in red velvet pants with green piping. Lydia hated the livery her father had his staff wear.
'And I would like to talk to the stars but that won't happen anytime soon.' Lydia snapped levelling him with a sweet smile.
'He's rather insistent young mistress Martin.' The voice said.
'And I'm rather busy.' Lydia snapped. The man and she didn't recognise him, continued to stare stubbornly. Sighing Lydia stood up and rang for a maid. She fixed her hair in the looking glass, brushed creases out of her dress and picked up the novel she'd been reading. She daren't leave it lying around. Her father encouraged her to read this muck, yes, but Lydia made sure there was proper reading within its covers.
'Ms Martin, if you please.' The man said again.
'Alright!' Lydia snapped turning and heading out the doorway, not bothering to wait for him. She knew the trail to her father's study well, knew all the short cuts and quick escapes, so naturally, she took the long way.
Her father, a greying man in his fifties, was waiting for her behind a large oak desk. Beside him stood her oldest brother Ernest, and his heir. It was no secret that Ernest was her father's favourite child. Everyone had assumed that, as the only daughter, Lydia would also be favoured, but this wasn't so. Lydia wasn't the sweet child he dreamed of; instead she was strong willed and wild, defying him at his every turn. Her education was still a sore point for them both; he felt she'd received too much, she felt she didn't receive enough.
'You called.' Lydia said stepping onto the rug. Ernest scowled at her, he'd always had some sort of resentment towards her, and she often wondered if it was because she was a girl and perhaps he was worried that he would no longer be their fathers favourite. That resentment turned to distaste at the way she treated her father.
'I did indeed call Lydia.' Her father said, his voice weary. 'You're to be married.'
'Married. I'm nineteen.' Lydia said. Marriage was not what Lydia wanted from life. To have children to a man who wouldn't love her, to a man like her father who'd had three wives, who'd driven her own poor mother to despair with his appetite for other women.
'And if I'd had my way you would have been married three years ago but your mother pleaded with me…' He sighed tiredly, no doubt looking for sympathy for having another dead wife. Lydia had none; he had driven her mother to the grave.
'Does my husband have a name or shall he remain anonymous until I meet him at the alter?' Lydia asked.
'Your brother and I have decided to accept the offer from Derek Hale.' Her father said folding his fingers underneath his chin.
Lydia knew all about the Hale's. They lived in a large castle at the edge of the woods. It was a cold place, with sharp winds even in the summertime, and prone to snow half the year round. The people ruled under the Hales were hardened, warriors, blacksmiths and butchers, crops were grown, winter crops, all the year round. They were a harsh family and the women fought as quickly as the men did. Their ale was bitter and their wine sour, but they were clever engineers, and they had a lot of land and forest under their control. This would be a strategic union.
'I agree.' Lydia said after a moment's pause. Ernest scowled, expecting a fight he didn't receive, and even her father looked shocked for half a second.
'Oh, that's good then, now run along, there's a good girl.' He said and with that Lydia had left his study.
She didn't go back to her rooms, instead she went to the library, and headed into the map room. She found Hale land easily, they controlled about a third more than her father. There were notes on climate, terrain, population, and agriculture and battle tactics on the margins. She studied until she needed to change for dinner.
Her father sat at the head with his sons around him, Ernest to his right and Ernest's new wife clutching his hand like a sheep. Lydia hated her, hated them all as they discussed Lydia's upcoming nuptials. 'Hale will be here next week, and all being well, you'll be married within the month.' Her father said clasping his hands together.
'I'll be going to live with him I assume.' Lydia said as she pushed a pea around her plate.
'Of course.' Her father said.
'Then I'll need a new wardrobe.' She said.
Ernest snorted and his wife covered her mouth to hide a laugh. 'Another excuse to spend father's money.' He said.
'No, but Beacon Hills is a much colder climate than ours, I don't think delicate silken dresses will do me much good in the winter do you father?' Lydia said smiling at him. The pale blue dress she wore now was a favourite, but it wasn't practical for where she was going.
'Fathers already putting up a dowry just to get rid of you, and paying for your wedding nuptials. I doubt he'll be dressing you after next week. Let your husband take care of it.' Ernest said tossing his napkin onto his plate and leaning back in his chair.
'Someday, my dear Ernest, father will be dead, and this will be your land, your home, your very table. And someday, dear brother, I'll sit here at this very table and I'll embarrass you in front of your peers as you wish to embarrass me in front of my new family.' Lydia said sweetly.
'Oh do shut up Lydia.' Ernest said standing up.
'I'm bored of this anyway.' Lydia said standing too. 'I'm afraid I feel one of my headaches coming on, father, I shant be good company this evening. I'll head back to my bedroom and take a long rest.'
'Off you go.' Her father sighed. Ernest spoke loudly.
'I hope Hale at least gets one good son out of her before she turns into a simpering mess.' He said. Everybody laughed and Lydia clenched her fists. She paused, took a deep breath, and smiled sweetly as she walked to her room, already plotting her revenge.