-Prologue-
The princess, Rachel of the Roth's blood was playing with a friend of hers, Richard of the Grayson's. They lived in neighboring kingdoms, Richard, in the Gotham-land, and Rachel in Azarath.
"Let's play Birds!" Robin told her.
"Okay, I'll be a Raven." Rachel said.
"I'll be a Robin." Richard replied. They ran around the fields flapping and making bird noises. It wasn't long before they got tired and slumped on the grass right next to each other.
"You're my best friend Rachel." Richard told her. Rachel looked at him in surprise and smiled at him.
"Yeah?" Raven laughed.
"Your family was the one who sent me to live with King Wayne. After my real parents died." Richard started to look sad.
"It's the least we could do." Rachel shrugged.
"Well it's true. You've given me so much, I should give you something back one day." Richard replied.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Rachel asked.
"I don't know. One day I'll find it." Richard answered.
"Well, in the meantime, tag!" Rachel stood up and pushed him gently.
"Hey." Richard just stood there for a moment, and then started playing as well.
"My tiara!" Raven touched the top of her head but nothing was there. Richard was standing there, waving a sparkly object in his hand.
"Got your crown!" he teased.
"Gimme! It's not a crown." Rachel swiped it out of his hands and placed it slanted to one side of her head.
"When will you get a crown?" Richard asked.
"Father says I will when I get married." Rachel replied.
"Really? Huh." Richard thought about his own fate.
"It's almost supper. Want to join the celebration at my castle?" Rachel asked.
"It shall be!" Richard pointed to the sky and acted nobly. The two children laughed and raced each other to Rachel's castle.
A Few Years Later
Rachel and Richard went horse riding through the streets of their kingdoms. Forward and back from land to land. The only place their parents did not allow them to go was the forest. The forest with the one mountain, upon it, was a large cave. For they believed that something dangerous was hidden in there.
"I wonder what it's like there." Richard pointed to the single mountain that stood up from all the trees.
"Father wouldn't tell me about that mountain." Rachel spoke in a soft, curious voice.
"Well, what is there to tell you? You've been reading all the scrolls you can get your hands on." Richard laughed.
"I've read all the scrolls in my castle, of course I wanna see what kind of stories yours holds." Rachel replied.
"Scrolls. Pfft. I'm going to be battling with the crusaders! Or be my father's lord." Richard started jabbing his sword into pretend enemies. "In search for my real parents." He added.
"Of course." Rachel rolled her eyes and pulled on her horse's reigns.
"How do you know?" Richard smirked.
"We grew up together, how could I not know?" Rachel was talking as if Richard was hopeless. The two just sat on their horses looking up at the mountain.
"Wanna go mess with the villagers?" Richard asked.
"Not a good idea." Rachel replied.
"Suit yourself." Richard slapped his horse and rode towards the kingdom.
"You are hopeless." Rachel said to herself and shook her head. "Yah!" and rode off in Richard's direction.
-Flashback ends-
Rachel looked at herself in her mirror. 16, and betrothed. She gave a sigh of relief, for she had not been betrothed yet. But her father, King Troilus Roth, has been sending more and more suitors to the kingdom. She put on her diadem, the way she usually put her tiara when she was a child (slanted), and walked out of her chamber. Nobody was in the stone hallway. Not even one of her servants. Then she remembered, everyone was in the banquet hall. She made her way down to the bottom level of the palace, into the dining hall.
"Daughter! You have awakened." The King strode to the doorway. Rachel automatically knew he was drunk, for he never greeted her this way.
"Good morning, Father." Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Hello daughter! You have given me great pleasure, so today, I shall bring in another suitor for you today." And he slumped off back to his seat at the table.
"My daughter!" Angela Roth, the Queen, rushed towards her as well. "Why is your diadem placed on your head that way?" she neatly organized it upon Rachel's head.
"I usually put it this way." Rachel spat.
"It's not fun and games anymore!" Queen Angela had slapped Rachel across the face. Rachel tried not to cry. Ever since what happened, she promised nothing will get in her way of becoming the person Richard had wanted her to be.
"Go sit in your seat. We have something to discuss about." The queen grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the table.
"My humble servants! Today I have passed a new law, If Rachel does not wish to marry today's suitor, I shall have to pick for her." the King announced.
"No!" Rachel stood up. This was an outrage. She should be able to make her own choices, and never by force.
"Sit down!" the Queen hissed. Rachel slowly sat back down.
"Now enjoy the feast, for today, my daughter will be betrothed!" the King announced, and starting eating again. Rachel got up to leave. She ran out of the hall and up to her chamber where she cried on her bed.
"Let her go." the King stopped his wife from chasing after her.
Raven thought all about her future, the family she'll have, and her friends. They were all certainly doomed by that evening.
let me explain for a bit. I know the beginning is RavenxRobin, but you'll see what happens as it goes on. ;) (it's all part of the plan) anyways plz review!