Based on a AU gifset that I made on tumblr.
I'm just saying I threw in a ton of random titles here to not make it relevant to any history stuff because it's totally not.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Academy series or the Bloodlines series.
Chapter 1:
Beautiful dresses and intricate braids had never been on Lady Sydney's list of favorite things. She had never thought she would have to pay them any attention, but it looked like destiny had a different plan for her, or easier said, her father had another plan. Lord Jared Sage, Duke of Sage, was an ambitious man, and as proof he had already married off his two other daughters for the sake of connections, and now he was planning to sell his gem for the highest bidder. The highest bidder being the new king. Adrian I of the Ivashkov line had claimed the throne when the Mad King died before any legitimate heir had been born, and all of England had praised his arrival. After only half a year on the throne the kingdom had been raised as the taxes were lowered, giving its inhabitants a chance for survival.
His ruthlessness in making and abolishing laws was a striking opposition to his reputation as a lazy nobleman who chased more skirts than all of England combined. And now she was supposed to marry this man. She shuddered at the thought of ending up in a marriage like her sister, Catherine, known as Carly around family and friends. Watching her sister pain herself through marriage to a monster, made Sydney reluctant to ever get married to anyone. There would never be any guarantees for what could happen in the future, and Sydney did not like to gamble. She had sought her father out, asking him and begging him to send her to a covenant, telling him it was what she really wanted, but her father had told her a beautiful girl like her belonged in a matrimonial bed and not hidden away in a covenant.
And three weeks later her mother had pulled her aside to give her the sad message. With a sad smile her mother had comforted her with the fact that at least she would be queen. That might have comforted other women in the country, but it only left Sydney with an empty feeling in her chest. But she put on her best fake smile and told her mother it would be fine. Her mother had gone through enough pain in her life, she didn't need to mourn Sydney's problems too. After all, a woman's destiny is not her own, but simply a piece in a puzzle that others put down. Nothing good would come out of putting up a fight. Maybe she would have children if she married, she had always wanted children. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. A sharp pain on her shoulder brought her out of her trail of thoughts.
"I am so sorry, my lady. It.. it.. it was an accident, it.. it will not happen again," the seamstress stammered.
"It's fine. Accidents do happen," Sydney tried to comfort the poor woman who had been standing under the judging look of Sydney's father almost through the entire dressmaking session. "I can understand that you are nervous. My father can be quite intimidating."
"Thank you, my lady, you are very kind." the young woman managed to get through.
"You will make 6 new dresses for the arrival of the king," Lord Sage entered the room. "I trust my wife to pick the designs, but you will have them ready by then. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Your Grace," she said as curtsied before she went back to her work. Sydney suppressed a sigh as she pictured the endless hours she would have to spend with these dresses. She only hoped her future husband would be handsome, that would take away some of the resentments.
Adrian's point of view.
"How do we know they will keep their end of the arrangement?" Adrian demanded as he looked over the papers from his soon-to-be father in law, informing him they would be ready to receive him and his men in one weeks time. A King's greatest worry is war. There is nothing that empties the kingdoms resources faster than an army and the destruction of war. If entering a marriage would bring him closer to a longer lasting peace, he would do it without a seconds doubt. And the Duke of Sage might be arrogant and power hungry but he had all the reasons to be. He had built most of his dukedom by himself, only inheriting the title which his lands belonged too.
"Lord and Lady Southery are bound by family if you marry Lady Southery's sister. Their father is a powerful man, and he is loyal to us now, my lord." Sir Christian Ozera commented from his position opposite the table.
"Well, I guess you are right," the king spoke as he brushed his fingers through his hair. "I only hope she's not too ugly, given she hasn't married yet." Not that her looks mattered in the long run. The darkness makes all cats grey.
"On the contrary, my lord," his closest friend assured him. "There are many rumors about Lady Sydney's unearthly beauty. I myself laid eyes upon her as I delivered your message to the duke, and she is as stunning as a future queen should be." She must have been for his friend to notice her beauty since he only had eyes for a certain Lady Vasilisa.
"At least our children will be beautiful then, given their father's striking appearance," Adrian joked as he dragged his friend out of the dark chamber. "Now tell me, how is it going with my dear cousin?" He laughed as he noted the slight blush on his friends cheek as he mentioned the love of his life. If only her father had accepted the union between them. He would have to do something about his friends position, even if he protested.
Sydney's point of view.
They were late. Two hours late. That was two more hours she had to speculate as to how her husband might look or act. Two more hours that she had to handle her father's constant yelling. The poor servants were doing the best they could, but nothing would ever be perfect enough for the Duke. He had cast one long look at Sydney as she entered the hall, now with the finest of her new dresses and her neatly braided hair, and said; that now she looked like a proper queen. And that was probably the nicest thing he had ever said to her. Now, she was trying to sit as still as she could, clutching her hands together to stop the shaking. She was getting married today. The thought only now dawned upon her, and she rose from her chair abruptly. She needed a walk, if only a short one. Ignoring her mother's questioning gaze, she walked out of the hall and out in the gardens and she sat down on the bench at the end. A good enough distance for her not to hear all the commotion going on inside. She closed her eyes as she listened to the birds singing their beautiful tunes, and she felt herself calm again. A smile gracing her lips as she let the nature enclose her and fill her with joy. No thoughts of marriage or duties crossed her mind as she closed her mind off. She didn't know how long she was gone until her sister, Carly, touched her shoulder.
"Dear, the king is arriving soon. I think you should join us in the welcoming, don't you?" Sydney appreciated her sister's effort in trying to make her feel better with putting on a smile. She could still see the sadness in her eyes, and she would resent her father forever for making his eldest daughter marry a thug.
"Yes, Carly, you are right." She took her sisters hand and together they walked towards the house. Giving each other a sense of protection and love. Sydney was now ready to face her future husband.
It took another half hour for them to hear the sound of hooves against the gravel. And as the sound of hooves grew louder, Sydney's heart grew wilder.
The only thing grounding her was her sister's hands around hers, and her mother's comforting hand on her shoulder as she stood by their father. As she turned to look at her father, she was met by a cold stare and a clear message to stare ahead. Her breathing grew heavier when she saw the line of riders coming down the hill to the castle, and she couldn't help but feel a bit excited about her prospects. She was finally getting out of her father's grasp. She was now going to be queen, which meant her father had no real power over her now. She now watched the oncoming group with a calm demeanor that would make her father proud.
She could tell that the rider on the white horse was the king, so she let her eyes follow him as he and his group edged closer to them. Then he stopped right in front of them, and when he stopped so did the rest of his group, and he took of his helmet and her breath caught in her lungs before she manage to let out the breath she didn't know she had held. The king was beautiful, with brown hair that contrasted his deep emerald green eyes. Sydney couldn't do anything but stare as her father walked towards the king, bowing before he led him towards his daughters. Towards her. Only a years of training made her able to curtsy when the king stopped in front of them. Regretting her decision to look up when she saw a devilish grin as he looked at her. How her hand ended up in his she couldn't tell, but her skin tingled as he bowed over her hand, placing a gentle kiss on it.
"Delighted to meet you, Lady Sydney." His voice was like velvet.
"Welcome to our home, my lord." She replied with a smile. Maybe this marriage wouldn't be so bad after all.
