LOVE & MAGIC

Chapter Two: Heartbroken

The Windams had reined over the other three Kingdoms – Lhite, Maltha and Circe - for a long time, outside the Windam's domain there was Fireland and Seaside. It was a hard earned peace. Most people where afraid of the Windam Valley's Army and even more scared of their legendary Wind Warriors.

I was born in the Lhite country, a princess among them. My father's territory had – like the other two under Windam Valley's protection – once been part of Terra; its last king had been killed by the Wind Warriors generations before. Once Terra hadn't been a nice place to live, it was ruled by the most evil people known to men: The Braeden. King Bolek –rumor had it – had been the worst of them all. After the defeat of Bolek, Prince Rafer Windam split Terra into three territories and gave them to other people to rule them. Still we were the Windam's allies no matter what.

The Lhite country was famous for its horses. We breed the best horses all around. All the Cavalry of the Windam's army was provided with horses from our lands. We were also famous for our horsemanship. I liked being a Lhite princess. If it was true that my parents left quite a bit to be desired, and I hated the servitude my father showed to King Christopher – the current king of Windam Valley – and I particularly resented said Windam king for taking away my favorite horse two years ago, but those were things I could live with. I had a sister who, though ostensibly shallow, was very righteous most of the time, an older brother who was my best friend. And best of all: I was in love.

Adam was the crown prince of Circe. I had known him since forever. Having escaped my "coming out party" at age sixteen I had found him in one of the gardens. He was all what a Prince Charming was supposed to be and I thinkit was the effect of the moon, but I found myself in love. Love had hit me so suddenly I didn't even have time to cry out. Blissfully so, Adam seamed to fall as madly in love with me as I did with him.

Maybe he did, maybe it was a lie since the beginning.

And I should have known, right? He was always so full on about keeping "us" in secret, claiming he didn't want anyone – namely my overprotective brother – snooping around his private affairs.

All I knew was that two years later I was standing at my sister's twenty first birthday party – in a stupid ball gown -hearing how he was engaged to her, my sister Emily, of all people.

And I swear I could hear my heart break when I saw Adam kiss Emily in the way he said he only kissed me. First I was shocked, then shock gave room to disappointment; disappointment to sadness and sadness to hurt. And that hurt fuelled my anger.

I ignored Adam after that. As if "us" had never happened. Once he corned me, asking for a chance to explain himself.

"All I want to know is," I said controlling my breathing to not let him know how much his presence still affected me. "If you knew, two years ago, that you were betrothed to Emily? Did you just kissed me and said you loved me as a cruel joke, pretending to be in love?"

"I wasn't pretending, Kaze" Adam said in that sincere voice that once could have made me believe anything. "I love you. But Emily, well, She is what its right for my people."

"Swell." I said as if I didn't care.

And walked away from him, pulling away instead of closer once and for all. I thought this was the lowest point in my life.

Things couldn't get worst.

But I soon learned that I should have cheered up, the worst was yet to come.

End of Chapter Two