I. Contentment – a source of satisfaction
"Miss Evans! There you are! I've been searching all around the castle for you!"
Lily Evans was on the beach standing with her feet in the water. She had been sitting in a large hollow rock that made a sort of cave with the sand. It had been her hideout since she was a little girl.
"You mean, you of all people had know idea where I would be?" she was talking to her first maiden, who had been with her since her birth. Her name was Belqua. Her hair was always wrapped up in a tight bun clipped at the back of her head. She took Lily's hand and led her away from the beach toward the castle.
"I didn't think you came here anymore. You haven't been out here in ages," Belqua said.
"I was just feeling so – so frustrated today," Lily said.
"I know, Lily," Belqua said, putting her arm around her. "But that is your duty. You marry and become a wife. Unless you want to end up an old maid like, myself." She chuckled at her own joke.
Lily smiled. "I know, I know. But I just want to choose whom I marry. I don't want anyone to have to choose for me. Especially not my father."
The Evans family had been one of the most prestigious families in Oloro for ages. Lily was to marry Benjy Fenwick, much to her dismay. Benjy was a prestigious general in the army sent overseas to fight the Blacks. He had always been kind to Lily, but Lily thought of him as dull and boring.
"It'll all turn out right, Lily," Belqua said. "Don't you worry. Don't you worry."
"I hope sooner rather than later," Lily grumbled.
"Well right now, you should be in your chambers dressing for dinner," Belqua snapped as they neared the castle steps.
"You think this room would look better in brown?" Sirius Black asked, as he kicked back with his legs thrown over his throne. James Potter was sitting at a table shuffling cards.
"If your going to change it, don't change it to brown. Change it to yellow or something," James said, beginning to deal out three piles of cards. "Care for a game?" he asked.
"Yello? I don't think so," Sirius said. "Deal me in."
They began to play with their other friend Remus Lupin. They were into their third round when the chamber doors swung open and in stomped a group of sullen looking wizards.
"Sirius, where have you been? We have been looking for you. There has been an attack on the southern border," said Lucius Malfoy, a commander of one of the fighting units.
"Don't get your hair all tangled, Luci," Sirius joked. "I'm sure you all are doing a fine job for me."
Malfoy cracked his knuckles and took a deep breath. "Please don't ever call me that again," Malfoy said.
"Sir, we need your authority to make any further advancements," said Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Sirius said, waving his hand at the group. "Do whatever you need to."
"Thank you, sir," Lestrange said, bowed with the other men, sans Malfoy, and left.
"I don't think they get it, yet," Sirius said.
"Get what?" Remus asked.
"That they're the ones that are going to make all the decisions. I can't," Sirius said.
"Well, I think you need to take some authority," James said.
"I think I'm doing a fine job, given my circumstances," Sirius scoffed, looking at his cards.
"Well, what are your circumstances?" James asked.
"Uh I'm young," he said.
"And foolish?" James added.
"Yes, and foolish."
"And ugly?"
"And ug—wait!"
"Well, yeah, but they're not going to be around forever," Remus said.
"Yeah, I know that," Sirius said, defensively, "and I do make decisions. I was the one who decided the location to build the new bridge."
"Yes, but I think with you so uninvolved with these dealings, it might come off to other countries as a sign of weakness, you know?" James said.
Sirius looked at him and then back at his cards. "Yeah I guess you're right. I need to start getting involved. I knew I made you my second for some reason," Sirius said, punching James in the arm.
"Ouch," James said, returning the favor.
"Benjy has been killed," Lily's father announced over dinner one evening. "The Blacks killed him during the excursion. Lily remained silent. A wave of relief washed over her, but she dare not show it in front of her father.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I know he was a good fighter."
Evans cleared his throat. "He was," he said. "His father is a wreck. But he was also your betrothed."
The rest of the meal proceeded in silence, until finally Lily was excused. She raced down to the kitchens to see Belqua.
"Belqua! Belqua! Benjy has been killed!" she exclaimed.
"I wouldn't go shouting that with glee around the grounds, if I were you," Belqua warned.
"I know, but I'm just so relieved," she said.
"Yes, I know you are," Belqua said. "But I heard we lost a lot of men in that battle. Scrimgeour doesn't know what to do next."
"Hmm," Lily said.
"Now, Miss Evans, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to finish up," she said.
"Ok," Lily said. "I'm going to take a walk around the gardens."
"Now? It's 10 o' clock!"
"Oh don't be a worry wart, Belqua."
Lily walked around the gardens. If she couldn't get out of the castle grounds to think, she would often wander around the gardens. She breathed in the floral scent of the flowers around her. She began to think about the future. She felt liberated, now that Benjy Fenwick was dead.
Now she could explore the world. She could travel, and meet new people. She could fall in love with who she wanted, wherever he may be.
Just then, a door swung open. Lily jumped and hid behind a rose bush, where she wouldn't be seen. She peered out to see who had interrupted them. She recognized her father and Scrimgeour.
"That attack was damaging, Rufus," Evans said.
"I know, I know," Scrimgeour said, rubbing his hand on his head. "We have to do something."
"But what?" asked Evans.
"Maybe if we give them something…" Scrimgeour began.
"Yes," Evan agreed. "Something to distract them. An offering to show them our peace!"
"But what could we give them?"
"A woman," Evans said. "One to marry their King and become Queen. One to tame him and soothe his irrational ways."
"But who? We can't give him a peasant. They'd take it as an insult," Scrimgeour said.
"We will give them my youngest daughter," Evans said. Lily's jaw dropped.
"Would you be willing to make that sacrifice?" Scrimgeour asked.
"Yes. I have Petunia to keep in the area. And Lily is much prettier, more his age too."
"Well then its settled," Scrimgeour said. "We will offer them your youngest daughter, Lily Evans. Thank you for helping me, old friend." They hugged and retreated back to the castle.
Lily bustled out of the bush, in shock. What do they think I am? Some flower? Some boat that can be passed on as a peace offering? she thought.
She felt enraged, sad, angered, betrayed. She didn't want to be given away to some man she'd never met before. At least she knew Benjy Fenwick. She sat down on a bench and began to cry.
"They're offering you a girl," said Ludovic Bagman.
"A girl?" Sirius exclaimed.
"Yes, one for you to marry," Bagman said.
"You hear that, James? They're offering me a girl! I really am king, aren't I?" Sirius said, happily.
James rolled his eyes. "Don't let it go to your head."
"What should our answer be?" Bagaman asked.
"Well, yes, of course," Sirius said, automatically.
"But sire," Bagman said, "we should be careful in our dealings with them. Accepting this offer could lead us into a hole we can't get out of."
"Well, I'm king, so what I say goes," Sirius said. "I want the girl."
"Yes sire," Bagman said.
"Really, we must think this through," Malfoy said. "I'm not so sure if it's such a good idea."
"Oh Luci, you're just jealous because no countries are offering you girls," Sirius said.
"I asked you not to call me Luci," Malfoy said clenching his fists.
"Oh, yes you did, didn't you? Sorry about that. But I am the king," Sirius said once more, "and I do make the decisions around here."
"Only when they concern you," Malfoy blurted out. "Not when they concern the well-being of this nation!"
"Ah! Excuse you, Mr. Malfoy!" Sirius exclaimed. "Who decided where the new bridge would be, huh?"
"What does that have to do with anything? That bridge is an entire waste of time and money!" Malfoy said starting to get frustrated.
"Was not! It's highly useful. It'll save me at least three meters walking distance to get to the dining room, and I won't have to step in mud!"
"Exactly my point! It only benefits you!" Malfoy argued,
"Ahem. What my colleague, Mr. Malfoy means, about the whole girl issue," Rodolphus Lestrange cut in, "is that we should really consider all the options before we decide anything for sure." He cleared his throat. "Why don't I go over there and work things out a bit?"
"That might not be such a bad idea after all," Sirius said. "But I'm sending my second with you. James, you always wanted to travel overseas didn't you?" Sirius asked.
"Well, yes I did," James said, stepping forward.
"Perfect then! When will they be expecting us?" Sirius asked, gleeful.
"In fourteen days," Bagman said, looking at the parchment.
"Great! Er – how many days does it take to get there?" Sirius asked.
"Two days by boat, sire," Bagman said.
"Wonderful! Then you will leave three days early, so James can spend some time looking around. Wouldn't you like that James?"
"Yes, thank you very much," he said gratefully.
"Then is everything settled gentlemen?" Sirius asked. "Because I would really like to continue tending to my own business."
There was a grumble of agreement among the men and they left the chamber. Sirius lay back down on his bed and threw a ball up in the air and caught it coming down.
"Wow, a girl. For me!" he said happily.
James smiled at his friend's obvious excitement.
A/N: Thanks for reading my story. It is loosely based on Tristan and Isolde, with some differences. I'm going to try and finish this before Deathly Hallows comes out. Please review!!