The Choice of Katrina

Chapter One: The Truth

Disclaimer: Lets see...that characters I own are Her Royal Highness Katrina Elizabeth Lemone Saler, George, The Duke Phillip, The king and Queen (in this story in anyway), and all of the maids and stuff that doesn't sound familiar to you.

The ball in question was that of Her Royal Highness Princess Katrina Elizabeth Lemone Saler in the event of her marriage to The Duke Phillip Margot. The two were only 17-years-old but were arranged to be married the morning following the ball. Princess Katrina, dressed in a marvelous blue satin ball gown, was perched upon the balcony ledge looking out at the ocean. Her tiara, neatly placed upon her head, sparkled in the moonlight and was suddenly grabbed by someone behind her and taken off her head.

"What is a lovely woman of your sort doing here on the ledge of a balcony instead of mingling with her guests?" Her father, King Frederick, stated. He had a smile on his face and gently placed the tiara back on his daughters head.

"I'm just not sure if I am ready to get married." Katrina replied. Her face was that of an angels, soft, pale, and kind. Her smile was fragile as she looked up at her father. His smile faded quickly with her words and his expression seemed disappointed.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know. I know I have to so I don't even know why I'm telling you this." Katrina said, quickly getting up and walking down the steps into the dark garden.

"Where are you going?" Her father asked.

"For a walk. I'll be back soon." Katrina replied, walking away down the path. She found her special place, just on the shore of the ocean, where she usually sat to think. It occurred to her that this was the first time in months she had thought about her marriage. She looked out and thought hard about what she was doing, and finally decided she had no choice. She closed her eyes and then opened them again. Only this time there was a huge ship coming towards the shore. It had huge black sails and a ghostly aura that made Katrina shiver. She turned around to go back inside. She looked around the ballroom for her mother, but was unable to find her. She went upstairs to the bedrooms and saw her mother talking to one of the maids.

"Now that Katrina is to be married, I'm worried about her father coming to get her. What if she finds out that my husband, the king, is not her real father? Do you know how much that would jeopardize the kingdom?" The queen said.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The kingdom would be rather curious, to say the least." The Maid answered, pouring hot water into a basin.

"My Katrina must never know. Although I am sure that her real father will show up tonight. The word about the ball had to have reached all over the Caribbean."

The maid nodded, curtsied, and exited the room. Katrina had to hide behind the open door so she wouldn't get caught. So her father wasn't a king. Her father was a pirate. And he was probably the one captaining the ship she had seen outside. If she wanted to meet her father, she had to either get to him first, or deal with the embarrassment of him storming the ball and getting hanged. Katrina quickly ran downstairs again and entered the main hall. Guards were standing everywhere. She couldn't make a clean escape without the king and queen hearing about it. Running towards the corner to hide, she ran head on into one of the kitchen boys, George.

"Many pardons, Your Royal Highness! I didn't know..." Katrina placed a hand over his mouth before he could finish his sentence.

"Shhh! I am trying to escape! Do you want to be the kitchen boy who gets me caught?" Katrina whispered.

"Of course not, Your Highness." George whispered back. "But I would be honored if I could be the one who helps you escape."