Painful Fate
Chapter Three
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me except King Alan, Queen Rosalind, Princess Aruella, and the Tortallan ambassador Duke Antious of Salisan.
Alanna curtsied before King Alan and Queen Rosalind.
"You may rise," said King Alan.
Alanna rose and stood before them. For a long time, there was a perpetual silence.
Then King Alan spoke. "Alanna. Our kingdom is in great need of an alliance with Tortall. You have done a disservice to our kingdom by endangering this treaty with Tortall for which a marriage is necessary. You have not only endangered your chance for a marriage with Jonathon of Conte, but also your sister's.
You do not wish leave Clarus but it is necessary. For alliances with Tortall and Joppa, you and Aruella must both leave Clarus."
King Alan stopped for a moment and looked Alanna in the eye.
"I shall be honest with you about your sister's situation, because you will and probably already do know about your sister's situation. Since Aruella was twelve, we have been trying to secure an alliance with Tortall or Joppa through her. But as you probably know, neither kingdom was willing to – until you were of age. It was then that we began peace treaty negotiations with both kingdoms. We have not decided on which of you to send to Tortall and the other to Joppa. That is a major factor in having alliances with both kingdoms and that if one kingdom were to back out of negotiations, there is a possibility that the other would. With your actions today, it is possible that Tortall will back out of the negotiations on the grounds that your actions were not fit for any noblewoman and certainly not for a princess and future queen. If Tortall should back out, we would only be able to secure an alliance with Joppa, or possibly not at all. You see that your actions can tip the balance between having two alliances or none at all. I hope you will keep this in mind in the future."
Queen Rosalind smiled at her kindly.
"Alanna, you are no longer a girl," she said. "You must understand what your actions mean for Clarus. If you leave for Joppa, you must play the part of a queen, a dignified, ladylike, and magnanimous noblewoman who aids her husband during his reign. I know the Joppan court is much like our own, but if you are there, you will be expected to play the part of a queen, not a young girl. If you go to Tortall, you shall be expected to play to of a refined princess; a proper, obedient, and ladylike noblewoman. Things like those take time to learn. That is why we have hoped you would become a proper young lady of your status, as Aruella is. That is why from now on, you are expected act according to your status. You are dismissed."
Alanna curtsied and walked out of the atrium. The moment she was beyond anyone's sight, she ran to her niche in the palace gardens.
She curled up and stared angrily at the ground. I hate these treaties. She wanted to be free and no longer a princess. I could run away to the woods and live on berries and nuts and be free. But deep inside of her, she knew that she never could. She had her duty to Clarus and besides, she would never make it to the woods. She got up and walked towards the balcony that overlooked the sea. It was her favorite one and made her feel calm when she was angry. She wondered if the palace in Joppa would have one; she knew the one in Tortall wouldn't, as it was inland. She saw Ambassador Salisan walking towards her. She tried to avoid him but she could not. He bowed.
"Your Highness," he said with a condescending look and continued on his way.
She looked after him with distaste. Would all Tortallans be like that – condescending and arrogant? Would the prince be like that? She walked towards the banister of the balcony and looked out at the sunset. She felt calm and at peace. She heard someone walk up behind her. It was Aruella. She looked sad and mournful.
"What's wrong?" asked Alanna.
"Eleanor said I was fat and that I would never marry!" she cried.
Eleanor was the daughter of the duke of Clothine and icy in both looks and manner.
"She's wrong. I'm sure of that," assured Alanna.
"No! It's true and I know it is!" sobbed Aruella. Then she straightened and said, "I shouldn't be burdening you with my problems. I'm sorry about what happened yesterday."
"Don't worry, it's not that much," lied Alanna. She didn't want to tell her what Mother and Father had said or Aruella would just get sadder.
"I suppose we should go into dinner," said Aruella, looking at the sky. They turned around and walked down to the dining hall.