So... Lots of explaining to do. First off, Project Titan is going to be finished relatively shortly. I have just finally completed my divorce and that took up a lot of time, but now I'm back. In my time away though, I came up with this idea for a story that I just have to write. It might last ten to fifteen chapters, maybe more, if you guys like it. It's different than anything I've done, so I'm not sure. Let me know if you want it to continue. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter One: The Viewing
Koriand'r's POV
I sat in front of the mirror that hangs just above my wooden desk in my bed chamber, looking myself over very carefully, trying to find anything about my appearance that is even slightly off. I meticulously examine everything from my straightened long red hair, to the elegant purple sun dress that has been selected for me to wear today. Even as Princess of the island nation of Tameran, as well as the other eight kingdoms, I normally do not make such an effort to look so presentable on most days, but today is not most days. Far from it in fact.
Being a royal comes with many responsibilities. This is a fact that I have learned well in my sixteen years of life. You must make sure your subjects are taken care of, make sure they have enough to eat, clear water to drink, roofs over their heads, and so forth. You must also make sure that their home country, in my case, Tameran, is safe to live in and for their children to grow up in. This is accomplished by having many knights to patrol the city, a strong army to defend against all potential invaders, and marrying sons and daughters of lords from other territories to make Tameran's alliances stronger.
Marriage. That is why today is different than all other days. My father, Grand Ruler of Tameran and king of all nine kingdoms, Myand'r, has decided it is time for me to be married, just as my sister, Komand'r was at my age. I do not fear the concept of an arranged marriage because I have known my entire life that I would not get to marry for love. That is for the commoners, and a privilege they have that I envy greatly, but I know I have a duty to my people and this country. Plus, my father, as cold as he can be at times, has been generous and has allowed me to pick my own husband, which is why on this day, Lords from all over the nine kingdoms are arriving with their noble sons in order to seek my hand.
It sounds quite romantic if you do not understand the politics of it, but I assure you, this is nothing like the fair tails I heard as a little girl. It's simply business. I know the next few weeks will be filled with each option proclaiming what they can do for Tameran and why strengthening the alliance with whatever suitor's country I pick benefits my family and this country the most. It is sad that love has nothing to do with it, but as I said earlier, it is my duty.
I hear a knock at my thick, wooden chamber door and by the deep booming voice coming from the other end of it, there is no doubt who it is. "Come my Koriand'r. It is nearly time for the viewing ceremony. No need to keep your guests or your father waiting. You know how impatient the old man is," my Uncle Galfore bellows. The viewing ceremony is where myself as well as the other members of my family get to formally meet my suitors, though I am not allowed to talk to them, nor them to me, hence why it is called the viewing. I see them, they see me, I talk to their fathers briefly. That is it. Pointless I believe, but is how things have always been done here.
I stand to my feet in my heals, making my already tall frame look even more so, and walk over to the door, opening it to reveal my monstrous looking uncle. Most men would cower in his presence and with good reason. He stands over 7 foot tall, has arms twice the size of my head, and has a scar over his left eye from the Great War, which occurred seven years before my birth. He once was the greatest warrior of Tameran and has fought and won countless battles in his time. Songs are even sung of his greatness on the battlefield, but now that he has aged, his sole task is to take care of me. Still though, I know that if it came to it, my Uncle could lead Tameran's army to victory against any opposition. He did not earn the nickname the 'Red Maned Lion' for no reason.
In truth, he has raised me since birth and has been far more of a father to me than my father ever has. I certainly love him like a father, and I do believe that he views me as his own daughter as well, though he could never admit it.
He smiles widely enough at me so that I can see his missing teeth and brushes my red hair behind my ear. "You look beautiful, my princess."
I intertwine my arm with his much larger one and smile up at him. "Thank you, Uncle. Are you ready to accompany me?"
He laughs. "To marry one of those stuck up nobles who have never held a weapon a day in their lives? Never. I ought to kill them all and run their fathers straight out of Tamera," he say jokingly. ...At least, I believe he is joking.
"Let us not do that, Uncle," I ease him as I head out of my chamber door and begin to escort him down the hallway, my arm still intertwined with his. We navigate the maze of castle hallways until the light of the courtyard comes into view and not long after the chattering of the many guests can be heard. Once I come into view, everyone in attendance stands, as is customary here when a member of the royal family enters the area, as apposed to bowing like they do in the more northern kingdoms.
I smile gratefully at my guests and continue on my way to the long rectangular table where my father, my mother, Luand'r, and 10 year old little brother, Ryand'r all sit, patiently awaiting the arrival of my uncle and myself. Once I take a seat, the rest of the guests do as well, and shortly there after my father, the king of all the lands, stands to his feet, his face as serious as ever as he scans over the crowd consisting of noblemen and women from both Tameran and the the rest of the world.
Unlike my Uncle Galfore, my father is not a monstrous individual. He is somewhat tall, at 6'2 or so, and has lean muscle, but he is not known for the fear he inflicts on the battlefield, but then again, his combat prowess is not why he makes an excellent king. He is intelligent, a great commander, and more importantly he is fair, not only to Tameran's citizens but to the other nations as well. He does not need to be feared. He has something better than that. Respect.
"Thank you all for coming today. I know many of you have been traveling for weeks or even months to be here today for my daughter, Koriand'r's, viewing ceremony, and I am truly humbled to have you all in my home. I have been Grand Ruler of Tameran for twenty years, and king of all other kingdoms for ten and during this time all of you lords have supported my claim to the throne, which is why I would have no one else but your sons marry my daughter, so please, at this time, the viewing will begin."
My father glances at me out of the side of his green eyes and nods slightly before taking a seat back in his chair. I nod slightly back before turning my attention back to the first suitor to take the floor. Two large, muscular, fair skinned men with black hair approach our table. One is clearly around my age, judging by his young face and the other, slightly larger one is someone I know as Lord Kal-El of the warrior nation of Krypton, the nearest country to our own. I have seen him before briefly, when my sister had her viewing two years ago, and on a few other occasions as well. His son, who seems emotionless, like many of their people appear, is quite hansom by any measure, so am intrigued what they have to say.
"Princess, Koriand'r," Lord Kal-El begins with a bow. "As you are aware, we are from the mighty nation of Krypton where I serve as lord in allegiance to your father, the king of all kings." He motions to his son. "This is my first born son, Kon-El. He's a mighty warrior and future lord of Krypton. If you to shall be wed, I will pledge my entire army to your father, and everyone here knows that the Kryptonian army is the the most deadly of all."
A I mentioned earlier, on this day, I am not allowed to speak with my suitor, nor they to me, as tradition dictates, so I only address Lord Kal-El. "Thank you for your time, my Lord. I look forward to getting to know both your son and the ways of your country better in the coming weeks," I answer in the most diplomatic way possible, just as I have been taught from the time I was young.
He smiles and bows once again before returning to his seat, his son following behind him. The next to step up is a man with long grey hair and an eye patch covering his left eye and beside him, his son, a smaller boy with blonde curly hair. I know this man as Lord Wilson and his son as Grant Wilson. I have never spoken with them before or even seen them really, but I have heard things about the Wilson family from other Lords. Those things were not the best to say the least. "Hello, Princess," he bows to me in the most smoothly elegant fashion I have ever seen. "I am Lord Slade Wilson of House Wilson and Lord of Wintergreen, and this is my son, Grant," he introduces the blonde hair, blue eyed boy next to him. "If you choose my son as your betrothed, I pledge that twenty percent of Wintergreen's crops will be shipped here to help feed your people."
I nod. "Thank you, Lord Wilson. A very generous offer. I look forward to speaking with your son in the weeks to come."
They bow and return to their seats. I do not find any interest in his son as far as appearance, but it is unfair to judge him without talking to him first, so I shall wait and see.
Six other lords come and go, showing off theirs sons and pledging this and that to Tameran, but to tell the truth, I found it extremely difficult to pay attention after the fourth one or so, but then something quite interesting happens. The ninth and last suitor steps forward. It is Lord Bruce Wayne of Gotham, the largest industrial nation in the world. The reason I know this so surely is that he is the richest man in the world by quite a large margin. Most believe that if he truly wanted to, he could buy an army big enough to take every kingdom in the world, but it is clear he has no interest in that.
At his side is boy with spiky dark hair and blue eyes that are just like his fathers. He is probably no more than twelve, thirteen at the most, but age does not typically matter when it comes to arranged marriages, so this is not the thing I find interesting. However, standing just behind them is the most gorgeous human being I have ever seen in my existence.
He is about 6'2 with dark hair that hangs to the side over his eyes and is clad in black armor with a blue bird symbol on his chest plate, but none of this is what catches my gaze so thoroughly. It's his eyes themselves. They are blue, but not a normal one. They are ghostly almost. The only thing I can compare them to is ice, and they are the most beautiful things I've ever seen. His face is the definition of perfect, completely symmetrical with a perfectly square jaw, and the way he stands radiates confidants. It is clear that my family does not scare him in the least, and for some reason, I find that wildly sexy.
His gaze meets mine and my eyes instantly dart away from him, just as Lord Wayne begins to speak. "A pleasure to greet you, Princess," he bows. "As you know, I am Lord Wayne of Gotham, and this is my only biological son, Damian," he motions to the young boy at his side. "If you are to wed my son, I swear to give Tameran access to Gotham's vast industrial resources and of course I can help with any financial problems in the future."
"Thank you, Lord Wayne," I respond, trying to force myself to not look in the direction of the armor clad man behind them, who for some reason I believe is smirking at me. I don't know if it is my imagination or I actually see him doing this out of the corner of my eye.
Lord Wayne and Damian bow before heading back to their seats, the mysterious man in their company following them. I lean over to my Uncle Galfore enough where I can whisper in his ear and no one shall hear. "Uncle, the man with Lord Wayne, do you know who he is?"
My Uncle nods and leans back toward me. "His name is Sir Grayson. He is the adopted son of Lord Wayne. I believe his parents died when he was a young boy and Lord Wayne took him in for whatever reason. Apparently the boy was good with a sword and eventually he became a knight. Now he is the commander of Lord Wayne's entire army at only twenty years old. I've heard many stories of him through noblemen chatter. They call him the "Black Wolf."
I glance at Sir Grayson, who is now standing guard over Lord Wayne and Damian at their table, one of his hands grazing across the handle of his sword. "Why do they call him that?" I ask, turning back to my Uncle.
He shrugs. "I've only heard stories, but one thing is for sure, the boy is one hell of a warrior to have a nickname like that. It is too bad you can't marry him," he jokes.
"Yes, too bad," I mumble, my eyes fixated on the young, but still older than me, Knight of Gotham. What is it about him that has me so entranced? Maybe I shall find out sooner or later. I do have a few weeks to get to know him, and suddenly I am looking forward to the days to come, but I am not sure if that is a god thing...
So, continue? Yes? No? Maybe so? Review and tell me. This story rides on you guys.