The Warrior's Bride

Forced to marry against his will Abraham Van Brunt decides that he will never touch this woman… then he meets her.

1

Henry sighed angrily at his frowning son as he lagged behind the group on his stallion. Daredevil could outrun every horse in his kingdom but today he was unable to keep up with the group. "This game that you are playing will not change the outcome of this day."

Abraham said nothing to his father as he continued to look straight ahead. Orion his general wore the same expression as his Prince. He wanted him to run away but Abraham never ran away from a fight or a woman. He would see this thing through. They called him the warrior Prince. He preferred battles to the boring day to day activities of ruling over people. He was a hard man but just and wise beyond his years. He made sure that his father's kingdom stayed his father's kingdom. Abraham was not the only one plotting to get out of this marriage. His father's army all told him to pick the ugly one so that he would have an excuse to be away from the castle for long periods of time.

"Your brother is not acting as you are."

Ichabod chuckled. "He's angry that he has to marry yes but he's upset that I get to pick first. I told him that being the eldest even by one year has its advantages."

The anger in Abraham's powerful body increased ten-fold as his brother's words filled the air. Ichabod or Ich as he called him in private would pick the unappealing one so that he could continue his work building structure's within the kingdom.

Henry snorted at Ichabod and then returned his attention to his warrior son. He still wore his blade on his thigh and some light weight black pelt to stop a knife wound as if the woman would try to kill him. His long blonde hair flew in the warm wind unhindered even he had asked his son to bind it. He was a handsome man but right now his blue eyes were looking for a weakness not love. His chiseled face looked even harder and he seemed to grow larger and more frightening the closer they came to the estates.

Henry sighed again with anger. He wanted his son to know more than just war. Abraham was a Prince but preferred the company of his army. The loved him with no equal. The families of the army treated him as their own blood. Henry had never enjoyed such love and peace within his kingdom as he had now. He just wanted his legacy to live on with his sons and their children.

"This man William saved my life when England went to war with the French. I said to him that I would repay him and I will. He has a niece and the daughter of one of his servants who he has raised as his own that in dire situation. There is a law that allows the governor of the county to take these young women and hold them at his estate until a debt is paid."

Ichabod raised an eyebrow when he heard the circumstances of their soon to be doom. "Why not just pay the debt?"

Henry looked at his oldest son. "William has no debt. This governor just wants his way with him by controlling what he loves. He will never stop and I have agreed to save them."

Abraham continued with his silence as the group reached the top of the hill and saw the estate a few feet away. A beautiful woman with red hair could be seen picking flowers and heard laughing. The laughter coming from her was not one of love, it held a tone of devilment. Abraham was intrigued by her merriment until he saw the feather covered woman walking out of the horse stables. She was filthy. Her long hair was soaked in mud and feathers. He could not see her face but he could hear the curses coming out of her mouth at the red haired woman. Her soon to be victim started running but she was no match for the dirty woman. She pounced and tackled her prey to the ground. Abraham could see the fists pummeling the red head without any sign of stopping. Henry sighed when neither of his sons made any move to stop the carnage. He pressed his horse forward and galloped down the hill towards the combatants.

Ichabod moved over to his brother and smiled. "The red head is mine."

Angela saw her two wards fighting and ran outside with William to pull Abigail from Caroline.

"Abigail! Stop hitting her…. why are you SO DIRTY!" Angela forgot about the fracas and focused on her most beloved ward's appearance. Abigail had promised her that she would not mar the beautiful handmade dress that Silva had made for her. She wanted King Henry and his sons to see all her beauty. Angela just stared at the horrifying sight of Abigail as the group of ten approached them.

William struggled getting Abigail off Caroline but he managed. "Abigail stop this."

"She did this to me!" The dirty woman struggled in William's hold spreading the mud onto his clothing. William glared at his brother's daughter. He never wanted her there but he loved his brother and offered to give him a break from his greedy offspring.

Angela frowned. She knew that Caroline was of a jealous nature. She wanted everything that Abigail had and anyone else in the house. Having her leave and face the real world would show her that she was not as powerful as she thought she was.

Henry got down off his horse and his sons and the other seven riders followed his lead. William frowned at Abigail and then looked back at Angela. "Please take her inside."

Abigail flicked more mud at Caroline's face when she removed the mud that transferred from Abigail's fist from their fight. Caroline screeched and tried to kick her but Abigail moved. William blocked their view of each other. "We have guests!"

Caroline lowered her head and relaxed. Abigail slowly turned her head and saw the group of men watching them. One of them was to be her husband… oh GOD. Abigail ran towards the back of the house. Angela snickered and ran after her. William sighed when he heard Henry chuckling. "They are just spirited and that is a good thing."

Henry walked towards him and gave him a bear hug ignoring the mud on the man's clothing. He was delighted to see him well.

Caroline kept her head down trying to play the demure woman but they had seen her locked in battle with Abigail. Abraham watched the woman play her demure side and found it to his liking. She was full of mischief. Ichabod smiled at her.

"Father I have made my choice." Caroline slowly raised he head and felt the mud drip down her face and onto her light pink dress. She coyly smiled at Ichabod. She knew that this man was the eldest and would inherit most of his father's kingdom.

William and Henry separated. "Please come inside and we will wait for Abigail and then proceed with dinner. You will be married in the morning."

Caroline had all the attention. She drank up all the looks and gawking that she received. Even the big blonde stared at her. He was very handsome and powerful. Caroline knew that he would suffer with Abigail but that was fate.

"Why was she fighting you?" Abraham asked as he set down his mug. Caroline stared at him for a moment. He seemed not to believe anything that she had said earlier. He only stared at her and drank his drink.

"She has a mean streak and blames me for everything." Orion grunted as he looked at his Prince. He smiled at Caroline's answer until they heard the footsteps on the stairs. The men immediately stood and watched as Abigail appeared.

She wore and off shoulder olive colored dress. Her hair they had wrestled into a curly bun at the top of her head but a few strands had managed an escape. Her shapely brown legs and thighs could be seen as she walked down the stairs towards them. The gown adhered to her small waist. Her true form would only he known to her husband. She had a smirk on her face directed at Caroline. In fact, all her expressions were directed at Caroline. She was planning her revenge and had completely forgotten about their guests and the steps. Her foot misjudged the depth of the last step and she tumbled forward into her future husband's arms. Abraham held the light bundle easily and tightly. Her breast smashed against his chest as she stared into his eyes. The long blonde hair that covered some of his face could not shield that penetrating gaze or his chiseled features on his face from her. She could feel his muscles against the dress ready to snap her in half at a moment's notice but refrained to do so. A thrill ran through Abigail's body that was unnerving to her. She was use to the contempt that she felt for men not this curiosity. Suddenly the bright glare of the sword on his hip caught her eye and took over her mind.

"Did you bring an extra sword?" She whispered to him while trying to catch her breath. A smile formed on his lips and a frown filled Ichabod's countenance. Would Abraham let him redo his pick?

Dinner was the most interesting affair that Abigail had ever witnessed. She thought that the King would talk about their battles but her father only wanted to talk about Lord Solomon and his plan to get his land. Abigail suggested to him that if he would just give him Caroline that that would cure Lord Solomon of wanting anything from him ever again. Of course chaos erupted at the table after those words were spoken. Caroline flew into a rage and started talking about all the men that Abigail flirted with. She was trying to portray her enemy as loose and unfaithful. Abigail clutched her knife.

"I do not flirt with any of them! They are weak minded just like you."

"Then why do you have that knife wound on your thigh; a jilted lover's revenge perhaps?"

Angela pulled Abigail back into her seat. "That is enough Caroline! Abigail does nothing unacceptable…... most of the time."

William and Henry chuckles joined others around the table at Angela's response. Abraham and Orion however did not share in the enjoyment.

"When was this wound given to you?"

The chuckling stopped when Abraham spoke. Abigail looked across the table at him. He did not seem pleased at the moment nor did his general.

"It was nothing…"

"That is not what the Prince asked you." Orion countered.

Heat shrouded her body as she stared in the darkening blue eyes of her future husband. "Yesterday, it fell out of his hand after I hit him with the wood."

"Abigail why didn't you tell me this?" William glared at his frustrating daughter.

Abigail could not take her eyes from Abraham. "I…it was nothing… he…"

"Why would you feel the need to hit him if it were nothing." She had no answer as Abraham continued staring at her. "I want him invited to the wedding."

Angela smiled at the Prince staring at her daughter but not with anger. Oh no he held no anger towards her. She watched the Prince's eyes travel along Abigail's exposed flesh as if he already knew the feel of it.

"As you wish my Prince." Angela replied.

Abigail stood beside her door waiting for her mother to go away so that she could prepare for her plan to murder her cousin in her sleep. She would need a weapon and the only weapon that she saw was the one that Abraham carried. She waited until she heard Angela's footsteps descend downstairs and then she slowly opened her door. Her parents and their guests were in the library having wine. Caroline thought that is was a good time for them to go to bed because tomorrow was a big day. Abigail did not share those sentiments but Angela agreed and shipped them off to bed. Abigail only wanted to stay so that she could steal Abraham's blade. He would let her close enough to take it.

She scurried down the hall towards the other side of the house where their guests were housed. She knew which one was Abraham's room because Silva had told her. She would have gotten the knife for her but Abigail liked to do her own dirty deeds. Abigail listened at the door of Abraham's room to make sure that it was empty and then she opened it, walked inside and closed the door behind her.

Abraham slowly made his way down the hall towards his room to remove his weapons. He was so use to wearing them all the time they became part of his body. Now, that he had a future wife he would have to remember to remove them. He could hear someone breathing inside of his room and slowly opened his door. She was still wearing the gown and touching his knives and holding them up to the light to see how straight they were. She reached into his saddle bags and pulled out a black knife and smiled at it.

"What are you planning on doing with that?" Abraham leaned against the dresser in his room and folded his arms across his chest.

Abigail gasped and faced him with surprise on her soft and gorgeous face. She did not relinquish the weapon. "For a man of your size you are extremely quiet."

Abraham just stared at her until Abigail sighed. "I am going to gut someone and I will not tell you who."

He stood still for a moment then unfolded his arms before slowly walking towards her. Her breathing changed as he cornered her between the wall and his body. His powerful fingers touched hers and Abigail released the blade and stared up into his blue eyes. He was truly handsome at this distance. She felt her body trembling and tried to stop it but she knew it was because this man was one not to toy with as she had done with other men.

Abraham set the blade on his bed beside him. He then pulled one out of the sheath on his thigh. "This one is sharper."

Her smile made him chuckle as she reached for the weapon. He pulled it back. "You cannot gut her before the wedding. My brother has first choice and I will not see you go to him."

Abigail reached for the blade again but Abraham pulled it back further and stepped closer to her. His movement caused her attention to return to him and his proximity to her body. She could feel his heat and strength ebbing towards her like an army rampaging a small town. He stared down at her with a dark expression as Abigail stared up at him.

"You agree to my terms."

She slowly nodded and he slowly gave her the blade. Abraham moved back. "You should go rest tomorrow will be a very long day for you."

Abigail walked from his room with him watching her. She told herself not to look back as she made it to the door and stepped into the hallway. She did not want to see the dark look in his eyes or feel the unnerving sensations she felt on the steps. She wanted tot keep her mind on killing her cousin Caroline. Abigail smiled at the blade in her hand thinking how much this was going to hurt. Just as she rounded the corner, she began to realize that today would be the last time that she would walk from his room because tomorrow she would be his wife.

Author's notes : Thank you for reading this new story. I am working on Demon Envy and will draw names from a hat to select the order of update on my other stories. Sorry for the delay, I hope that you continue to read my meager offerings.~Frostbytefire

P.S

To the guest that reviewed this story asking if Abigail is black and why this is not an issue, in the violent era that my characters live in race was the last concern on their minds. They were more concerned about which side you were fighting for theirs or their enemy. Abigail's color will not cause an alarm to anyone. She is loved by her adopted family and by Caroline in her own way. Henry and his family care more about allies than the color of your skin. Abraham just doesn't want a wife even though he finds her looks agreeable. He does not care about the color of her skin and neither do I. Unfortunately this is just a story and not real life.