Chapter 3

SUMMERS KISS

Some people would say that life was all about toiling and sweating under the harsh kiss of the Sun while trying to eke out a living and set a few more morsels on the table.....but not Anna.

Anna believed that life is indeed a bed of roses and sweet smelling fruits and all creatures should be filled with kindness for one another while trying to redeem those beings whose souls might have been given up to a life of wanton violence and anger.

Some would say she thought this way because she happened to be the daughter of King Stefan but as the saying goes "people will say whatever they want to say, no matter what you do" Anna never cared less.

"Anna!!" Screamed the palace matron as she looked all over the palace garden for Anna. "Anna, come out this instant or I'll feed your rabbits to the dogs".

Anna, who had been hiding beside one of the statues in the garden, then ran out gleefully while sprinkling a handful of petals over the matron's head.

"Anna, go to your room this instant and change up, your father wishes to see you and for the gods sake, walk like a noble lady instead of running around the place like some market woman's daughter", the Matron then turned back and began heading to the palace kitchens.

Anna, who was a joyous girl, didn't allow the matron's strict Nature to dampen her spirits so she bounced over to her room in the palace while laughing and admiring the tapestries that hung within the palace.

Anna upon getting to her room spied a new light green dress hanging from her wardrobe and she stood for a while to gaze upon it in a state of awe.

The dress which her father had procured for her from some traveling merchants a few months back was a beautiful silk dress fit for only the noblest of peoples.

Sewn from the finest fabrics gotten from the greatest silk farm in the land; Silas Silks and studded with shining jewels gotten from the mines just below the edge of Gorgon Mountains, the dress was one that was made to both amaze and allure the viewer into falling in love with it's beauty...and Anna was one such starstruck viewer.

Anna walked slowly to the dress while taking in it's beauty and reached for it, she brought it down from the hanger and immediately snuggled it up to her body to better feel the quality of the dress.

She then dropped it gently on her bed and walked into her bath to wash up.

King Stefan, 25th Lord Of Grelania and Protector of HumanKind looked out of his palace windows on the 5th floor of his castle and was pleased with how well his kingdom was faring.

Ages ago, the Werewolves had waged a brutal and bloody war against mankind but if it were not for the sheer determination and sacrifice of thousands of human warriors all would have been lost.

Victory was gained at the end of the war but it was not without cost, King Stefan lost his Queen and mother of his only child Anna during the final battle to push the werewolves from the plains surrounding Grelania.

Peace was won and the kingdom of Grelania was finally at rest but the same couldn't be said for the heart of King Stefan.

King Stefan was shaken from his thoughts as he heard the gentle creaking of his palace doors as his daughter Anna all dressed up in the silk dress he had gotten for her then walked gracefully into the room.

Anna who was beaming with smiles from chin to chin upon seeing her beloved father then walked up to him and embraced him.

"Daddy, how have you been?, the palace Matron informed me of your request for my presence and I came as fast as i could".

King Stefan then gazed down upon his young daughter and held her palm while using his free hand to set his crown properly.

"Anna my child, you should realize that you're a girl and one of noble birth at that. As much as I love you, I cannot permit you to frolic about so carefree. It's a rough world out there and as such you should be very careful".

Anna then looked up to her father's face with sulky eyes and whined. "But Daddy, running around and feeling the wind in my hair is what gives me joy".

Anna then stepped back with her hands behind her back, face bent and spoke almost in a whisper.

"Also watching my rabbits run about the place while I throw little carrot sticks for them to munch on is kinda funny".

King Stefan with a sigh then kept his arms akimbo and shaked his head.

"Anna, speaking about your rabbits. I heard that you got them from a merchant from Burnt Side Forest. You do know that such creatures can get wild at times, you should be very careful with them".

Then King Stefan set his arms straight and with a serious look about what he said to Anna. "If I happen to hear or get word that any of those rabbits as much as bite you in any way whatsoever, I'll have no choice but to put them down for good".

Then the king rubbed Anna's arms playfully while trying to cheer her up. "Look alive my dear, we wouldn't want to spoil such a fine dress now would we?.

There's a feast coming up this evening, I'll be introducing you to the son of the Lord-Militia. He's such a fine young man and he'll be happy to meet you."

Anna upon hearing this, took a step back and shook her head. "No, Daddy I don't want to meet the Lord-Militia's son.

Last I heard of him was that he's a proud and arrogant man who looks down on the poor and prefers to spend his time basking in military glories".

Anna then rubbed her arms while looking sideways. "No, Dad. I do not wish to meet such a fierce man."

King Stefan at this point had lost his patience at Anna's stubbornness and nearly screamed at her.

"Look here Anna, I'm the king. Every decision I make day and night is for the betterment of this kingdom and for the survival of our people.

Your meeting with the Lord-Militia's son will result in a union that will further increase the protection and loyalty that his father currently has for the kingdom and myself.

I'm only telling you this so that you will be better prepared to meet him. These are troubled times, travelers going missing and werewolves being spotted in Burnt Side Forest.

The future of this kingdom must be guaranteed therefore it must be put in such safe hands as those of the Lord-Militia's son. Abide by my rule as your king, this I command".

Anna upon hearing these words turned and grabbed the hem of her garment and walked briskly out of the palace sobbing quietly.

Harold, Lord-Militia of Grenalia then strode into the palace while throwing a confused glance at Anna as she walked past him.

"My King, I take it that Anna didn't accept your decree so happily." Harold said as he walked over to where the king was standing.

"I'm the King so therefore she'll obey my command as such title demands, she's still a youngin.

She'll grow older later in life and come to appreciate my decisions."

The King then turned to Harold, rubbed Harold's shoulders and said to him "I hear you have news for me".

Harold then nodded and replied to the King. "Yes, my Lord.

As of this morning, our spies among the traveling merchants reported that a couple of travelers had gone missing in Burnt Side Forest and a bunch of bloody clothing was all that could be recovered".

Harold then straightened up and looked into the King's eyes.

"My King, the werewolves have begun pushing their luck.

They're probably kidnapping our people to gain information as per our defenses. We need to be prepared for another attack".

King Stefan then laughed a bit and gave Harold a friendly pat on his back.

"You see things where they do not exist, my good friend and soldier.

The werewolves wouldn't dare attack us after the outcome of the last war. Hell!, We even killed their leader, an Alpha Wolf for that matter.

They can't dream of attacking us for a long time to come".

Harold then wrapped his fingers together in a fist. "My King, we need to be prepared for anything militarily speaking".

The King, while walking to a table to pour himself a glass of Valgian wine, said to Harold.

"Right now, the only thing we should be getting prepared for is the union of both our children, nothing more and nothing less".

King Stefan while raising up his glass with a smirk then said to Harold. "Go and get your son ready for the feast tonight, there is much to celebrate about".

Harold with a bow then left the palace while rubbing both his palms together with a nasty smile growing on his face.