New story my loves! I will be continuing my others, this just popped into my head and isn't going anywhere. Richelle Mead owns VA.

Arranged

RPOV

"Father!" I exclaim, in a rather un-lady-like fashion, "It's not fair! You promised me!"

"I promised you, Rosemarie," he says, exasperated, "that I would let you marry for love if you found someone by your eighteenth birthday. That was yesterday so I've arranged for you to marry the Ivashkov prince. And you will."

"But I have found a man I love," I whisper, "He's great. You know him already and-"

"I don't want to hear it, kiz," he snaps, "You will marry Prince Adrian Ivashkov in a month's time. No arguments." Tears pool in my eyes as I realize what I have to do.

"I hate you!" I cry, running from the room, "Mother!" I find my mother in her chamber and collapse in her arms. She runs a hand through my hair.

"I take it your father has told you the news?" she asks. I look up at her with wide eyes.

"You must talk him out of it," I plead, "I have already found the man I love. I know you won't approve but you both said I can marry for love and if you look past his flaws and his past, you'll see, he's a wonderful man."

"Who is this man?" mother demands. I look her dead in the eye.

"Dimitri Belikov," I state, boldly and confident. She stares at me gap-mouthed and wide eyed.

"No. That man is no man at all," she tells me harshly, "He is a beast. You know what he did to his father."

"But you don't!" I shriek, "His father was a horrid man that beat him and his mother and his sisters constantly! Why do you think he was found innocent of the crime?"

"Because the law is corrupt," she states, glaring at me, "That man – that beast – should have been sentenced to death as soon as they found him, bloody and nearly possessed above the body of his dead father. That is no way to behave in a just, perfect society."

"That's just it, mother. This is not a just, perfect society. There is war and pain and rape and murder but Dimitri is no murderer. Yes, he killed his father but it was not in cold blood. His father had been abusing him and his family for years on end. He was just stopping him from his own crimes."

"It is every man's choice how he treats his family," mother reprimands me.

"How can you say that? His youngest sister was only five when this happened. She was near death with how much his father beat her. He saved his little sister and his mother and his older sisters. Any of them will tell you," I explain.

"He is twenty-five years old -" I cut her off.

"Adrian Ivashkov is twenty-three."

"You are eighteen. He has obviously corrupted your young brain," she continues as though I never spoke, "Now, some time away from this beast should help clear your head. You will marry the Ivashkov boy. End of discussion." I huff angrily and storm out of her chamber and into my own. I fling myself onto my bed and scream into a pillow. I stand and reach behind me trying to undo my corset.

"Jill! Mia!" I call out the door of my room. They arrive a few moments later, "Would one of you mind undoing my dress?"

"Of course, madam," Jill says, walking to my side and untying my corset for me.

"Thank you, Jill. And remember, call me Rose," I say smiling at her, "I am rather angry at my parents."

"Oh, we heard part of your argument, Rose," Mia tells me, "I don't understand why you're so unpleased. Prince Adrian is a very attractive man."

"He's not the one I love," I pout. I dismiss my maids with a wave of my hand. I'm usually much friendlier with them but I am far too upset to be nice to anyone. I hear my parents talking in the hallway. Father locks my door. I know he does it so I don't sneak out but it makes me incredibly angry tonight. I undress quickly and slip on my night dress. I pace back and forth, thinking of how I can tell Dimitri. Several tears fall down my face. I finger the heart-shaped locket hanging from my neck gently. He had given it to me last week, saying it was the perfect way to keep him close to my heart when we're not together.

"It's not fair," I whisper, crying. I sit at my desk, lightly the lantern. I pull out a pen and piece of parchment and begin to write.

Comrade,

I write to you, my love, to ask for your forgiveness. I know I do not deserve it but it would soothe my mind to know you do not hate me. It is truly not by any fault of my own but I know it will still anger you. My father has arranged for me to marry Prince Adrian Ivashkov. I told him that I already love another but he will not hear it. He used to tell me I would be allowed to marry for love, but now that it comes to it, he has arranged it for me. I have begged my mother to talk to him for me but she will not. She thinks I should marry a prince. I told her it's you that I love but she says you are nothing but a beast of a man. And I know that you are. But you are my beast of a man. I am so incredibly sorry that I could not tell you of this in person but I have been confined to my room until tomorrow when Prince Adrian comes to meet me. I do not even know him! I am so furious with my father and wish I did not have to go through with this but I do. There is no escaping my fate as the Mazur Princess. I love you always, my dear beast.

Your beauty, your love,

Rosemarie Mazur

I hear a small ping from my window. I glance over, just in time to see another pebble hit my window. I rush over and see Dimitri standing below, grinning. He waves when he sees me and I hold up a finger, signaling him to wait. I run back to my desk and put the letter in an envelope and sealing it. I hide it in my dress and go out onto my balcony. Dimitri climbs up the lattice to meet me. He kisses me gently on the lips and I wrap my arms around his waist. I look up at him, thinking this would be the last time I get to gaze upon his rugged beauty.

Review for a virtual cookie!