Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters however the story is my own.
I could not believe it. How could he just betroth me? Didn't I get any say in it?
"No!" I shout, finding my voice, but it doesn't come out strong as I choke back tears. No. No. No. Esmeralda and I…I was happy. No. No. No. I clear my throat and try again. I'm barely audible, but its better this time. "NO!"
"Why not, Jasmine?" My father says, regarding me with warning eyes.
He knows why. He knows I'm shaming him.
"I do not love this man." I say, telling a half truth. I did not love this man, but that was not the reason why.
"I have no heir. You are not marrying him because you love each other. Love has nothing to do with marriage. You will marry him to bare his children, giving me an heir to the throne." My father hisses, and the man just smirks, inspecting his dirty nails.
There is no way I'm sleeping with that man. No way am I 'baring' his children.
"Fuck you." I say, and run out. The guards start to give chase but my father must wave them down.
Slamming into my room, I shake Esmeralda awake.
I toss her a change of clothes, and a turban. I take a cloth and tie down her chest as hard as I can, then tell her to tie mine down.
"We're going. We're leaving." I whisper, and silently, she takes my hand and leads me to the window. We climb out and begin our journey as men, away from my father, away from my betrothed, away from life as a princess. And perhaps, away from Arabia.