A Change of Destiny

"Sister! Come I have great tidings I want to import to you!" Sir Luka called jovially from across the great hall.

Removing herself from her attending ladies, Lady Bonnie approached her drunken brother with great apprehension for anytime her half-brother was happy it spelled ill for her. Her brother's knights bowed respectfully while making room for her by the hearth.

"Come join me sister." Luka said, indicating the empty spot on the bench next to him. He offered her a goblet of honeyed ale as she settled next to him.

"What tidings did you wish to impart to me dear brother?" She asked demurely, taking a sip of her ale.

"King Niklaus of Mystonia is in search of a wife and decreed that all eligible maidens of the land are to travel to Mystonia for consideration."

Bonnie stared at him blankly for a minute. "Forgive me brother, but I do not understand.

"What is there not to understand, mm? You are a maiden, and you are eligible." He explained as if speaking to a child.

"Brother mishap you misremembered but I am bound to the sisterhood of Qetsiyah after the fall harvest." She said softly.

Luka drained the rest of his ale before throwing his goblet down breaking it, causing Bonnie to jump, and drop her ale.

"I have misremembered nothing, but what good would your dowry mean to a bunch of nuns? Did they not make a vow of poverty, and chastity? And have you misremembered our last harvest? We lost half of our crops, due to blight along with many women, children, and knights due to starvation.

Bonnie shook her head she had not forgotten; she had said many prayers over the bodies of loved ones for their safe journey to the Other Side.

"No brother I have not misremembered." She wiped away a tear that escaped. "Be that as it may a sacred vow was given to our Holy Mother, and I fear risking her wrath if I was to repudiate her."

Grabbing her long chocolate locks and pulling her head down roughly to his mouth he spoke harshly in her ear.

"I have turned my eye to many of your unnatural dealings, I shielded you from those who would name you witch and have you burn. As not only your lord, and brother you owe me your obedience not some bitch goddess I have no loyalty to!"

"Brother please you are hurting me." She pleaded.

"Not until you hear me well my sister. You, and your ladies will prepare for the journey South where you will present to King Niklaus so that you will become his wife." He finished shoving her head away from him.

"Brother please I beg of..."

Luka slapped her hard in her face causing her lip to bleed, and to fall to the ground. "Remove yourself from my presence before I beat you into submission like father did to mother." He said turning his back to her.

Bonnie looked up at him in fear, and hate wiping her bloody lip before getting off the ground. "My lord." she said curtsying to his back.

Her ladies rushed to attend her as they left the great hall.