Chapter 1

"Lady Aria?"

Aria turned her head away from her window. Her maidservant Isabel smiled at her. "Shall I help you get ready? They are waiting for you outside."

Aria knew that. She had been watching them all morning, pausing to bathe and fix her hair. She hadn't even eaten breakfast this morning. Her stomach was in knots. It was impossible to keep anything down when the idea that soon they would reach Camelot that she wouldn't be on the return trip back.

"Yes, Isabel, I would love that. Thank you."

Isabel came over quickly to help her. She was excited for the trip, Aria could tell. Isabel had never been outside of the lands of Ricci before. It saddened her to think that perhaps Isabel would no longer get to see her anymore.

Aria had already taken her bath and was now choosing a dress to wear for the occasion. "I am so excited for you, Lady Aria," Isabel spoke excited, shifting through her dresses. "I've heard great things about Camelot. The people live well and are friendly, the climate is lovely, and the king's castle… oh, I can just imagine how you must feel! Getting married to Prince Arthur. Every girl in the land is attracted to him…"

"I don't even know if that's set in stone, Isabel," Aria interrupted from behind the screen. "Did you pack the turquoise dress?"

"Of course!" Isabel nodded. Aria thought of her dress- turquoise with gold lacing, a gift from her father when she turned seventeen. Alec had encouraged her to bring it with her to Camelot. It was the least Ricci-looking and the most Camelot-pleasing.

Aria slipped a simple beige dress over her head, thinking to herself. The House of Ricci had established their kingdom years ago and was considered a newer addition to the kingdoms across the land. Her father and Uther had made a pact to marry their children to one another as a sign of peace. Alec had told her of this news two years ago when Aria was only fifteen. They sat to have breakfast together in the great hall and Alec brought it up.

"It is a chance for us to guarantee peace, Aria," he had explained in his calm voice, looking at her almost hopefully. Aria was not one to throw a fit or scream or resent her father for the decisions he made. She was not a confrontational person at all. But the news scared her. In two years' time, she'd become a wife already and had barely turned eighteen.

"Will I have to live there?" she had asked, looking down at her plate.

"If all goes well, then, yes, you'll have to," her father nodded. "But please, don't fret, Aria. We have two years."

Those two years, Aria had not been able to visit Camelot at all. Her father went while she stayed back. And today, she would finally venture out to meet the King and Prince and the final decision would be made if they were going through with the wedding after all.

Isabel helped with the buttons on the back of her dress. Aria turned around to face her. "You look lovely, my lady. Shall we do your hair now?"

Aria sat at her mirror. Her chocolate brown hair came down in waves around her face. "Would it not be too presentable to if I just let it like this?"

Isabel thought for a moment. "No, I think it looks beautiful, my lady."

Aria smiled up at her kind maidservant. "Alright, then. Thank you, Isabel. I suppose I'm ready to go then."

Aria's belongings had been packed and were being loaded up right now. She made her way downstairs to see her father standing by his horse. He smiled when he saw her arrive. "Are you ready to leave now?" he asked her.

Aria nodded and hoisted herself up on her own white horse while Alec went on his. She took a deep breath.

I can do this. It'll be fine.

"You look lovely, Aria," Alec commented as they left the citadel. "I hope you brought along the dress I gave to you as a gift. Prince Arthur would be mad if he didn't fall for you straight away if you were to wear that."

Aria was silent for one moment. "Because I wouldn't normally look like myself," she said with an edge to her voice. She heard her father sighed yet she did not meet his eyes. "How can I truly be loved if I'm not myself, father? Answer me that."

"When you are married to the Prince, you will do whatever you please. For now, we are doing whatever will please the king and his son," Alec said. Aria exhaled sharply, looking up at the road ahead. Our apparel would be far too inappropriate for his Highness.

"You seem nervous, darling," Alec spoke up a few minutes later. Aria cleared her throat and tried to appear calm and cool. "Not at all. But I should be. I am, after all, going to marry someone I am just meeting."

Alec looked at his daughter, suddenly reminded of Aria's mother. A kind and loving woman, she was also strong, fiery-spirited, and sharp. Everything that Aria was now. If only she had not left them when Aria was younger.

"Well, you should be excited. We will be met with warm welcome and the finest of treatment."
"I wish you would allow me to see him and make my own observation of him before you decide on anything," she continued, "What if I don't like him?"

"Nonsense." Alec waved away what she just said. "Prince Arthur is the strongest of the knights and very good-looking. You'd be a strange one if you didn't like him."

Let me guess. Every woman in the land is attracted to this man. Aria knew it was wrong to think of these things and often spoke her mind but she felt it best not to argue with her father on the trip.

Fortunately, Camelot was not too far off. They'd make it by tomorrow morning if they took quick breaks.

After a few hours of riding, they set up camp somewhere to rest. Aria sat with Isabel inside their tent. Isabel was sewing something and Aria was flipping through an old book.

"Can I get you anything, my lady?" Isabel asked.

"No, I'm fine, thank you," Aria said, turning the pages. It was a strange book. She found it in the library while the court genealogist wasn't looking. Her father didn't like it when she read books but she did so on her own time when he wasn't around. This particular book had a lot to do with history, in the times of the Old Religion and even contained a strange language she had never seen before. Isabel was her lookout, making sure to tell Aria when her father would come close so she could put the book away quickly.

"Anything interesting, Aria?" Isabel asked, feeling rather bored from sewing all day.

"It's all so strange," Aria sighed, "This language… do you know what this could possibly mean?"

She showed Isabel. "I can barely read, my lady. It's unfamiliar to me."

Aria shut the book. "I need to find someone who can translate it for me. Do you think there will be someone like that in Camelot?"

"I'm sure Camelot will have people who will answer all your questions."

Aria put the book away and laid back, suddenly feeling tired from the trip yet didn't want to shut her eyes. Her father's observation was right. She was feeling nervous. The idea of being given away to someone else and never going back almost made her want to fight her father's authority.

But she knew she could never defy him. After what they'd been through with her mother betraying them and leaving with another man, Aria promised herself she'd never let Alec down. And if that meant marrying a man she never met before, so be it.

"It's hot, isn't it? Shall I get you some water, my lady?"

"Yes, please."

As Isabel left, Aria's lids slowly fell. The sleep she was deprived of last night took over just now and she allowed herself to nap just for a little while.


Prince Arthur wasn't normally nervous. And if ever he was, he would be very discreet about it, never tell anyone of how he was truly feeling. A good king should remain calm no matter what.

His father, King Uther, stood next to him high above the castle, waiting for the king and his daughter from Ricci to come to Camelot. Arthur was looking his best and ready to greet their new guests. He knew what this meeting was for. And he wasn't sure if he liked it.

"All I'm saying is, I've never met the Lady Aria before," Arthur said, "What if we don't like each other? What if we grow to love each other the way a husband and wife should?"

"Arthur," King Uther interrupted, looking at his son sternly, "There is more to this than just a marriage. It is a step towards peace, a work in progress between our two kingdoms. And someday, you will become King and you will need to produce an heir."

"I can't do that with someone I love?" Arthur questioned.

"Do not make me repeat myself," Uther sighed in an exasperated tone of voice. "You know why this has to be done."

Arthur fell silent. He did not want to upset his father any further so he nodded. "I understand, Father. I will do whatever it takes."

"Good," Uther replied, looking satisfied. Ahead, they could see them coming, the King and the daughter leading the way. "The Lady Aria is dressed in a strange way."

"They are from a different kingdom, it would do us well to respect their customs."

Arthur wasn't complaining. The Lady Aria was a beautiful girl despite how the fact that she dressed differently than other royals that Arthur had met. The House of Ricci must have been an exceptionally exotic one. "Does she have a mother?"

"The Riccis have a complicated history, Arthur. Best we not get into it at the moment and go greet our guests."

Arthur followed his father down to the square to welcome King Alec and the Lady Aria. They entered the citadel. Arthur went to help the lady off her horse. He walked to the side and held out his arms to help her down. She looked ready to resist him but thought better of it. "Thank you," she murmured, looking up at him. Arthur found himself looking into a lovely pair of warm brown eyes.

"Of course," he replied, smiling slightly at her. Aria smiled quickly then turned to follow her father.

"Welcome, old friend," Uther said, grinning at King Alec.

"Uther, at last, at last!" Alec said back, smiling at grabbing Uther for a firm hug. "Thank you so much for having us stay here."

"It is merely our pleasure," Uther said, holding a hand up.

Alec turned to bring forth his daughter. "Allow me to introduce my daughter, the Lady Aria."

Aria stepped forward and bowed before the king. "Ah, Lady Aria. Nice to finally meet you." Uther took her hand and kissed it. She smiled politely. "Likewise, sire."

Arthur moved to stand next to her father. "This is my son, Prince Arthur. Arthur, you've met King Alec before but not the Lady Aria."

It was Arthur's turn to kiss her hand. Her skin felt soft as he took it. "Pleasure, Lady Aria."

"All mine," she said quietly, smiling politely once more.

"Arthur, why don't you show Lady Aria to her chambers. We'll have your belongings up soon," Uther said.

"Of course. If you would follow me, my lady." Arthur escorted Aria to her chambers which were rather close to his. He opened the door and let her take a look around. "I do hope it's suitable for you."

Aria walked in and looked around. She smiled to herself. "It's more than that. I will be very comfortable here."

Arthur felt a bit surprised by her manners. She actually had good ones, unlike most royals he had met before. "If there is anything you need, my lady, please do not hesitate to ask," he added,

"My chambers are down the hall and I'll be more than happy to help you."

Aria turned around and looked at him. "Yes, my lord. Thank you so much."

Arthur nodded. "I shall see you at the feast tonight."

She nodded in return as her maidservant walked in. "Oh, my lady! Your room is so lovely and spacious!" She stopped and stared at Arthur. "My lord!" She bowed quickly. Arthur looked at her strangely.

"This is Isabel, my maidservant and friend," Aria introduced, holding back a chuckle.

"Pleasure to meet you, sire!" Isabel grinned.

"Er… yes, you too. If you will excuse me." Arthur acknowledged Aria one last time. "My lady." He left, not sure of what just happened.

A/N: Hey there! Hope the first chapter was somewhat appealing. It's somewhat slow but it'll get way more exciting. Your reviews are greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!