Chapter 8

Anama woke the next day with a pounding headache. She went to touch her face but stopped when she felt the pain in her wrist. Suddenly everything came flooding back to her. Last night, Semoculus, being beaten, and Hector asking her to marry him. She sat up and looked around. There flowers all over her room and the curtains were drawn back, letting the sunshine in. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Kia entered with breakfast on a tray.

"Here you are my lady. Breakfast in bed. Orders of Prince Hector himself."

"Oh. Thank you." Anama sat in bed and ate. The breakfast was much better today then it had ever been. When she was done, she decided to get up and move around. She hated lying in bed all day. She went to the mirror and instantly regretted it. When she saw the bruise on her face, she wanted to scream. It covered the entire side of her face. She slumped her shoulders and went back to bed. She pulled the covers over her head and lye there.

Hector walked in to find Anama huddled up underneath her sheets. He walked over to the bed and sat down.

"Anama. It is time to get up."

"I am not going anywhere."

"Why not?"

"Have you seen my face Hector?"

"Not since yesterday, no." Anama came out from underneath the blankets. Hector saw the severeness of the bruise. It was black and covered the entire side of her face.

"I look ugly. No one in there rightful mind would ever want me."

"I would. Remember I asked you to marry me yesterday?" Anama just nodded her head with a questioning glance. Hector stood up and faced Anama, "My father said yes."

"What!"

"He said yes. We are to be married when you are better."

"Oh my goodness! Oh, I'm going to be married? Agh!" Anama jumped out of bed and into Hectors arms and kissed him. She looked over his shoulder to the city behind him. She let him go and walked over to the balcony.

"You will soon be queen of all of this."

"Queen? Queen. That just seems like a fairytale."

"Don't worry, the people will love you. They look up to you. You will make beautiful queen. And a beautiful wife and mother and grandmother and everything else there is to be." Anama turned around in Hectors arms and kissed him.

"I love you." She said.

"I love you more." He replied.

Anama awoke the next morning with a feeling of happiness. She was to be married to the most wonderful guy in the world. She couldn't believe her luck. She began her life as a commoner, and then all of a sudden, she was a princess. How bizarre was that? She didn't think about it long because Kia came into the room with hot water.

"I will prepare your bath my lady. One moment."

"Take your time, Kia. No rush."

"Actually there is."

"What?"

"King Priam wishes for your presence in the Great Hall as he says goodbye to the King of Ithaca and Prince Semoculus. So we need you looking beautiful."

"Oh." Anama shivered as she thought of Semoculus. What and evil man. She got out of bed and went to the bath. Kia washed her hair with lavender oil. She washed her body and got out. She was dressed in a white dress with a dark blue sash wrapped around her. Kia pulled back half of her hair and let the rest hang down the back. She wore blue earrings and a golden hair piece. Her eyes were outlined in kohl and some blush was added to her cheeks. Kia rewrapped her wrist. Her bruise was still very visible. It looked as if she had coal smeared on her face. There was nothing she could do to cover it. It was left out in the open.

There was a knock on the door and Paris stuck his head in. "You ready slow poke."

"Shut up. Let's go." They walked down the hall when she noticed something. "Where is Hector?"

"He's already in the Hall discussing things with father."

"Oh."

"You look beautiful, if I may say so."

"Why thank you. Except for this huge bruise on my face. It looks like I got into a fight with a piece of coal and lost. I hate it."

"Well, I think it gives you an appeal. No one will mess with you know." Paris said with a smirk.

"Yea, like I'm such a fighter."

"You sound like me."

"You're a good fighter Paris. Not like Hector, obviously, but you know some combat. Like me, I know some things but nothing that even compares to Hector. Just face it; we weren't supposed to learn to fight. It's just like people should never sing. It's just embarrassing."

Paris and her just laughed until they reached the great hall. Anama shivered a bit. Paris placed his hand on her back and pushed her through the doors. As she walked in, she saw King Priam, Hector, the king and the prince huddled in a circle discussing something. They walked up to them.

"Excuse me. Father, Princess Anama, as you requested."

"Ah, thank you Paris. Come here child." Anama walked slowly over to the King with hesitation, keeping a close eye on Semoculus.

"There is my future daughter in law. Wow, she is even more beautiful in the sunlight. What do you think Semicolons?"

Semoculus just looked at Anama with a predator look to it.

"What happened to you?" asked the King of Ithaca. Anama just glared deathly at Semoculus.

"Your son did this your highness." Said Hector.

"Semoculus? Never, he would not even hurt a fly, then alone harm his own future wife."

"She's not his future wife anymore." Said King Priam.

"What?"

"Anama is not to marry Semoculus anymore. What he did to her was unacceptable and I will not have her treated like a piece of meat. The wedding is off. My deepest apologies for having you sail all this way, but you must understand."

"Semoculus is this true?"

"Father, I would never do such a thing. But if she does not wish to marry me and needs to make up an excuse then so be it. I wouldn't want her anyhow."

"That's a lie. You don't remember coming after me last night, trying to go to my chambers, practically forcing me to my room. You don't remember hitting me with your hand and having me break my wrist? It seems you have a forgetful memory Semoculus."

"Why you little," he said as he charged after her. Hector grabbed her and forced her behind him. He stood in front of Semoculus with a daring look.

"Do not come anywhere near her."

"And what will you do if I do?"

"I will make you wish you were never born. Now, if you wouldn't mind, leave this place at once or I will have to do something I really don't want to do." Semoculus and Hector sized each other up and finally Semoculus broke away.

"I hope you have fun with her. She isn't that beautiful anyway." Semoculus stormed out of the hall.

"I truly am sorry about all of this. I had no idea. My apologies my lady." The King of Ithaca took Anama's hand and gave it a small kiss. "I will make him pay for this. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate." The king turned and walked out of the hall after his son.

Everyone gave a great sigh. Anama broke out into a fit of laughter. Everyone looked at her as if she were nuts.

"And what, pray tell, is so funny?" asked Hector.

"The look of anger on Semoculus' face was just priceless. O I loved it." She kept on laughing. Pretty soon, everyone started following suit until they were all laughing.

"Well, now that we are all in good spirits, I think a celebration is in order. If I'm not mistaken, there is a wedding that needs to be planned. Come, come. Let us continue this during dinner." Said the King.

Everyone walked out of the hall. King Priam and Paris up front and Hector and Anama in the back with Hectors arm wrapped around her waist.