It was never easy knowing your entire existence revolved around marrying a man you had never met. My father was the King's brother-in-law; as such it was determined fit that one of his daughter's would one day marry the King's son. It was completely out of my control, decided before I was even born. By the age of six, I was already receiving lessons on how to be a lady, how to walk gracefully with your head held high, how to bow, how to curtsy, when each would be deemed appropriate. When I was twelve I graduated into obedience lessons. I was told never to speak-up unless asked my opinion, and even then to keep my voice soft and quiet and to answer in as few words as possible. Naturally, being the daughter of a rich and powerful lord, I rebelled. Naturally I was punished. This went on till my 16th birthday when they started to threaten starving me, should I disobey the rules of a lady. I was given very little food as it was, in order to be skinny for my future spouse, I was sure I would collapse and never wake-up should I stop eating altogether. It was arranged I would marry when I was 18, and he was 21. I realized long before I was 17 that this marriage would be born out of politics, and that I would be lucky should I get to speak four words in day before nightfall. I was also given lessons on how to be a good wife in that department as well. As future Queen Of Gonder it was expected I would conceive an heir before my 20th birthday. It mattered little to me, as I realized that whether or not I should give birth to an heir by that time, was up to the Valar, and I had little influence in the decision process. I only hoped they'd show me grace and grant me this wish. That if nothing else, I would be allowed to write my thoughts in a journal that no one else could read (except of course Isulder, as my husband he had ALL the authority), and that I would be allowed to visit the library every once in a while and read, and learn. After all, it was my spare time in the library that had allowed me to teach myself elvish, a quality no one else knew I had. "Every wife deserves a secret kept, every husband should have a secret told" went the saying among the nannys assigned to take care of me. My knowledge of the worlds and languages outside the city's borders, was my secret. I would keep it under lock and key for many more years.
Notes: This story will jump around a lot, but I hope it won't be too confusing. The first chapter was supposed to be in italics, I have no idea why it didn't download as such. Please review!