Chapter 3

"AAGGGHHHH! How could they!" screamed Ashlan as she threw herself onto the garden grass. The bright, warm sun shone down on her as she remained completely still staring up at the big beautiful blue sky. However, Ashlan could not focus on the beauty of the day because all she could think about was this man. All she could think about was this man that was apparently going to be…. her husband!?.

It was these thoughts that brought upon the princess' last straw. Tears began to roll down her cheeks onto her dress, creating small tear stains throughout the fabric of her skirt.

This can't be happening…. I'm just now beginning to understand myself and now they want me to marry someone that I know nothing about, let alone ever met…. Is it so wrong for me to want to marry and fall in love on my own time…?

Ryou Bakura happened to be walking past the garden with her latest scroll when a faint sound of crying could be heard coming from inside the gardens.

Hmmmm I wonder where that is coming from?

Ryou took a quick look around the entrance of the garden and was instantly surprised to see her good friend crying on the ground.

Oh no what's wrong with Ash…. I don't think I have ever seen the princess so unhappy before…

"Hey Ryou! I've been looking for you! Joey was wondering if – "

"Sshhhhhhhh!"

"Did you just shush me!? Um excuse me but – "

"Malik! Be quiet! I don't want to disturb the princess! Something seems to be upsetting her…."

Both Malik and Ryou peered around the corner to try and sneak a peek at their obviously distressed friend. Both Malik and Ryou have been close friends with the princess for a very long time, not as long as Joey, but they still know their friend as well as they know themselves. Ryou was brought into the palace as a small child because of her intellect in the history of Greece and the rest of the world and also her skills in wielding magic. She has become one of the most powerful light magicians around. Ryou also has the uncanny ability to sneak her way around any security put in place. She is quite stealthy when she wants to be. At one-point Ryou was able to apprehend a thief trying to get to the princess to poison her by running in the shadows and completely blindsiding the thief before he even realized he was being followed. Ryou's magic and skills are powerful and sought out by all but all of it does not compare to the young girl's beauty. Ryou has an exotic type of beauty to her. She has very fair skin, so fair that it almost glows when in the moonlight. Ryou also has long white hair that reaches past her butt but most of the time she puts it up into a messy up-do to keep it out of her face while she is reading her scrolls or trying out some of her more powerful spells, she just finds that it gets in the way but refuses to cut it. Her eyes are a deep dark brown color which makes her look very innocent and angelic. Ryou finds herself most of the time wearing a flowing white strapless dress that is shorter in the front and longer in the back with a silver belt to accentuate her tiny waist. She chooses not wear too much jewelry but makes a point of always wearing her silver chain necklace that was given to her by her grandmother. Ryou is the quietest in the group of four girls and tends to be quite shy but when it comes to dangerous situations and looking out for the well-being of her friends, you do not want to mess with her.

Malik entered into the groups' life a little later on in their childhood. Malik was caught by the queen sleeping in the stables. Now, in most cases the queen would have had thrown the intruder out within seconds but young Malik was not just in any stall in the stable. Malik was sleeping in the stall of Lysander, a stallion that would not let anyone near him, let alone ride him. The queen took the next couple days to test her theory of Malik's uncanny ability to work with animals. Queen Layla was right in her theories, as any animal that was put in a room with Malik was instantly subdued and became as silent and calm as a lamb. Malik's skill became very useful when training horses for the army and other wild animals to use as protection or even pets. Malik also proved to be amazing in combat. No one ever wanted to mess with Malik because they knew they were not going to be coming out on top. The only difference between Malik and Joey is the fact that Malik makes a point of not looking like a gross sweaty man when she fights (not that Joey does). Malik thinks that the arte of looking sexy and feminine while still being strong and unstoppable in combat is very important. Malik is originally from Egypt which explains her golden tan skin. Malik has light blonde hair that falls to the middle of her back, which is usually unruly and messy while still looking absolutely amazing. One other thing that makes Malik such a gem in the beauty department are her lilac eyes. Any man who has ever tried anything with Malik has been shot down and reminded to never try again. Malik is also one to stay away from the typical flowing white dress that most women in Greece wear. Instead, Malik wears a tight black bandeau type top that just barely covers her chest, a long black skirt which has a very high slit on the right leg, which Malik claims helps her move in combat. Malik also wears two gold arm bands, a small gold chain that wraps around her midsection and a black band on her right leg where she hides her dagger in case of sticky situations.

Both girls worried for their dear princess and friend who was usually always in such high spirits. Malik began to whisper to her friend.

"What should we do? Do you know what has caused her to be in such a state? I swear if that Dartz guy did anything to our Ash I'll slit his throat."

"Calm yourself Malik. I'm sure there is a valid explanation for this rare occurrence."

As Ryou shifted back to looking at the princes she accidentally kicked a small stone, creating a small disturbance, but enough of a disturbance to notify the princess that she is was no longer alone.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" cried the sniffling princess while trying to compose herself.

The two girls poked their heads around the corner and entered the garden "It's just Malik and I princess, no need to worry."

"Oh… Hi girls…. How are you?" asked the princess, trying her hardest to mask the fact that she had just been crying for the last 10 minutes.

"We are fine…. But we are more concerned for you…. What's going on Ash? Is everything alright?"

"Oh, everything is fine, nothing out of the ordinary here…. Just my parents trying to control my life and making me marry a man that I have never met before so that he can become King and produce him an heir and… and….and…. I just don't know what to do anymore!" the princess cried, finally breaking down into tears, yet again.

The two other girls looked at each other with sadness for their friend. The three were silent for quite a long time but Malik was the first to break the silence.

"Look! The reason why I was coming over was to come grab you and Ryou to go for a ride. Joey is meeting us at the stables. Come on it will be good for you to get out of the palace."

Ashlan took awhile to answer Malik and Ryou's persistent stares but she finally gave into their puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, alright already! Thank you, girls, I don't know what I would do without you…"

The girls headed off to the stables to meet Joey. Just being with her friends and seeing their smiling faces was already putting the princess in better spirits, at least higher spirits than she was five minutes ago.

Meanwhile in Egypt….

"You did WHAT!?" shouted a very irate young prince.

"Atem, please calm yourself. You knew this day was coming. You are 19 years old. I am not getting any younger and I am hoping to pass the crown on to you in the coming years. However, I would feel a lot better about making you Pharaoh if you had a queen by your side to help you in ruling the Kingdom. Plus, having a queen is the only way you can guarantee yourself an heir.

Pharaoh Aknamkanon knew that his son was not going to react well to being told that he had gone ahead and arranged a wife for his son. He was quite pleased with the arrangement made with King Alexander to marry his only daughter, Princess Ashlan. The princess was known by all for her beauty and kindness but the prince would hear nothing of it.

"Father! I am not interested in marrying right now! Plus, when I am ready to find a wife, I want to be sure of it because I do not plan on keeping mistresses."

"You gave me no choice son. You continue to ignore Lady Anzu and Lady Vivian even though they would be perfectly suitable as Queen. You ignore any of the Noble women around the city and any passing princesses that have accompanied their fathers on business you have shunned and ignored. I cannot leave this life not knowing that my son will be married to someone acceptable of the crown! I am sorry son but this is the way it shall be. I have made up my mind. The princess is beautiful and – "

"You're acting as if you're going to die tomorrow Father! I don't care how beautiful she is! Beauty says nothing about a person! What if she is a spoiled brat and we have nothing in common? How am I supposed to spend the rest of my life with someone like that? … You got to marry for love…. Why can't I?"

"I was able to marry for love because I found your mother at a young age. You however, are running out of time. The princess will arrive in two months' time and the wedding will proceed a month later. Until then, you will continue your lessons and ready yourself to take the throne."

"BUT-... Fine…." with that, the young prince leaves his father and the throne room.

This is not what I asked for in life…. Why can't I just be pharaoh and not have to give up so much of me to get there….

Maybe the princess will be okay….

Ugh, who am I kidding. She is probably a spoiled brat who only cares about jewelry and her looks just like all the rest of them.

Back in Greece….

"So, do know who the man is that you're supposedly going to marry? What does he look like? Is he sexy? Hopefully he isn't too ugly, that would a real mood killer." Joked Malik.

The girls rode side by side through the streets of the kingdom. The conversation so far had been about the princess's slightly annoying predicament of marrying someone she had never met.

"I didn't even give my parents the chance to tell me his name, let alone ask if he is good looking or not." the princess giggled at her friends' constant thoughts about males and how good looking they were.

"Give Ash a break Malik. How would you feel if you were just told you were to marry someone from a different kingdom that you have never met" yelled Joey.

"I probably wouldn't mind it if he was a sexy prince- "Malik was cut off before she could finish her sentence by a punch to the arm from Joey. Malik threw Joey a menacing glare before realizing her mistake and seeing the sad look on their friends' face. "Sorry Ash…."

Ashlan quickly tried to cover up the foul mood that she was in a put up a happy front for her friends that were trying so hard to make her feel better.

"It's not a problem…. I guess I should have waited around to find out who the guy is… I was just so upset!"

"Don't worry Ash, whatever comes your way next, we will be right by your side through all of it." Ryou stated as the rest of the girls nodded their heads in the princess' direction.

The rest of the ride was spent talking about food, clothes, boys, magic etc. Ashtlan almost forgot about everything that had happened earlier on in the day… almost….

Just as the girls were getting back from their ride, the warning bells rang clear through the kingdom….