A/N: Thank you for reading! And now I can go back to my assignments!
Chapter 1:
Stepping out onto the dais, Darien was met by a sea of women. Aware of his friends and relatives shooting daggers at his back, he ignored them, focusing on the task at hand. If they believed every word that came out of his mouth then they were fools. With no intention of marrying the winner, he felt guilt lance through him as he stared at the hopeful faces. It was unfair of him, but he was a Prince and no law would allow him to marry anyone below him. It was a fact; yet it seemed the women did not care. Drawing a breath, he thought of his father and his purpling face. He did sincerely hope he was feeling better. In truth, the contest was purely organised out of revenge. It was his way of getting back at his father, who had taken it upon himself to shape his future. Still feeling guilty, he swallowed and put on his charm. He would see this to the end.
"Welcome, my good people of Earth. Welcome to the archery contest for women only!" Amid the cheers, he flashed his most winning smile. "As with all contests, those who fail to hit the target will be eliminated from the contest. Best of luck, ladies. May the best woman win. I look forward to meeting my new wife."
As the Prince of Earth moved to take his seat, the atmosphere was palpable with excitement and lust. As women giggled and crowded closer, Serena balked. She hadn't realised the prize was the Prince's hand in marriage. Despite everyone knowing, she had simply tuned out; the only words sticking in her head were archery, contest and Prince. If she had known what the prize was, she would have never entered. Turning to leave, the competitors hemmed her in, leaving no space to escape. Turning back to where the Prince was seated, her expression darkened. The Prince was a rotten man, and though time had changed his appearance over the last few years, it did not change his personality. She knew first hand what he was really like.
They had met ten years ago. It had been a brilliant day when the first Queen of Earth had come to visit the poor. Traveling in her company, the young Prince sneered at everything he saw. Being one of the very few girls in the village she had counted herself as one of the boys, even dressing like one just to fit. On that particular day, they were playing with stones seeing who could throw the furthest. Of course the Prince thought he was better than everyone else and began to jeer, taking particular interest in her. Having had enough of his ridicule, Serena had simply turned around and thumped him, forgetting their positions and height for one moment. Punching him in the face, She got him good, splitting his lip. And before anyone knew what was happening, they had launched into a wrestling match, Serena giving it all she got.
That was when her father came running, pulling her off the rotten brat before clouting her across the ear. Then he had apologised profusely to the young Prince who was indignant, shouting cruel words at her father. The Queen hearing the commotion had emerged from one of the huts and immediately went to see. She was unimpressed by the scene but with her father groveling and begging for forgiveness at her feet for long minutes, she bid him rise and spoke softly. Then looking to her son, she gave him a disappointed look before taking him away. That night, her father had tanned her hide so hard, she couldn't sit for a week. After the incident, the villagers had been sure the young Prince would never return, but he did the next time his mother visited. With him, he had brought his friends and got his revenge. They beat her and tore at her clothes, even cutting some of her hair before they were chased away by the village boys. After that, the Prince stopped coming. It wasn't a memory she liked to visit.
As the voice of the adjudicator snapped her back to reality, Serena watched as the competitors were lined up in ten columns, each column containing at least twenty women. Across the field, targets were positioned at least 50 meters away. One by one the archers first in line were asked to prepare themselves. Jittery nerves caused the competitors to drop their bows. Shaking her head at the idiots who kept dropping their bows, Serena forced herself to remain still. It was either that or strangle them. As the adjudicator inspected the competitors, he nodded in approval. Walking back up to the top of the line, it was time to begin.
"Ladies, ready! Notch. Draw. Release!"
Arrows whistled though the air as strings twanged, the archers watching eagerly as the arrows thudded against the targets. As women cried or squealed with delight, the number of competitors grew smaller and smaller. When it came around to her turn, Serena breezed through the first stage of the competition, her quarrel hitting the bullseye straight on. Hearing the cheers from onlookers, she smiled thinly. There was a way out of the competition, she thought. All she had to do was lose. But, her pride would not let her. She was not hailed as the best archer in her village for no reason. And here was a chance to prove her worth. Besides, the Prince was watching; and that was all that concerned her. Blocking out the rest of her sub-conscience, she prepared for the second stage.
As competitors were eliminated and targets moved even further, Serena found herself one of the two remaining. Looking at the competitor, she was surprised as she met the violet gaze of the beautiful young woman. Raven-haired and as pale as snow, the woman did not look impressed. She looked angry even. Deciding then and there, that she would lose to the girl, Serena wished her a happy future.
As the men readied the targets, they took up their positions. Standing as straight as she could, Serena trained her eye on the target in the distance. Aware of the tension that gripped the audience, she raised her bow and pulled back the fletched arrow. Sliding a quick glance at the competitor on her right she noticed she was in the same stance, her violet eyes focused and determined. With her pretty face set in concentration, Serena smiled at the young lady as she inched her aim to the left.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen. The last two competitors of the contest!" The adjudicator announced. "Ladies! Ready! Aim! Release!"
As strings twanged and arrows whistled high in the air, the thudding sound of the arrows meeting its target filled the silence. As men went to inspect the results, the winner was announced over the wind.
She had won. By the skin of her teeth. Realising what it meant, her eyes widened in horror.
A/N: Thank you for reading. I have no knowledge of archery, so please forgive me. I hope I filled in the basic parts of it!