Anagha Baheti

I ran down the hallway and marched up to Father’s council chamber. Miranda caught up to me just outside the door, grabbed my hand, and tried to pull me away as she whispered soothing words in my ear. I jerked my hand free and marched into the room making myself as noticeable as possible.

Father was hunched over a table, nodding along as the important people from all over our kingdom counselled him. At the flick of the curtains, they had stopped talking and were now looking at me, unsure of my presence amidst the war council.

“I need an audience. Now.”

Without moving his eyes from the table, Father waved a hand, and the room emptied itself. Miranda was the last to leave, and only at my insistence.

“What is this nonsense?” I threw the royal decree on the table, and the red and blue markers denoting the two armies were thrown in every direction. Father calmly called for a squire and ordered him to pour us wine.

“I wish it were nonsense, my child, but this seems to be the only way to stop more bloodshed.”

“You gave me your blessings to marry Edward.” I accepted the goblet from the squire and took a deep swig. The arbour red left a spicy taste in my mouth.

“And now I must take them back for the sake of my people. For the prosperity of our kingdom, I must bear the pain of your heartache.”

“My heart is not mine to give away any longer.” I slammed the goblet against the table, spilling the wine and staining the ends of my sleeve red.

“I know, my little dove. I know.” Father closed the distance between us and pulled me in for an embrace despite my resistance. He stroked my hair, like Mother did all those years ago to soothe me. His gentleness coaxed the anger out of me. With the anger gone, fear was free to reign my mind. “I wish things didn’t have to be this way, little dove. I truly do. Alas, the situation grows dire with every beat of my heart. I want to keep my people safe, but I also wish to give you every happiness your heart desires. The situation has progressed against us, and I cannot give you to Edward, but I can give him to you. It won’t be what you want, but know in your heart, my little dove, this is the best I can do. I am adding Edward to your dowry.”

I pulled myself out of Father’s arms and took a few steps back.

“I would do my love a great disservice if I made him my paramour. When I walk into the sept to take the holy vows, I want him beside me, not a foreigner barbarian old enough to be your father.”

“What would you have me do?” He grabbed my shoulders. His nails dug into my skin, but I didn’t let that show on my face. “Pull the scarecrows from the fields and pile them against the seasoned soldiers knocking down our gates? We need more men, but we can’t contact our allies. What little force we can muster starves under the siege. My generals can’t face our enemies in the field, so my daughter must face them in the chapel. Save the unnecessary bloodshed, my little dove. Become the leader this kingdom needs.”

The helplessness in his voice added to my guilt in heaps. He was only asking me to do my duty. I looked up at him, and he thrust a parchment into my hands. The broken seal held two halves of a lion’s paw.

“These are the terms the barbarian offers us. Read carefully and talk to Edward before you make your decision. I will honour your decision, as I always have, but please, little dove, think long and hard about what is at stake.”