Chapter 2: His and Her Line

|Chapter 2: His and Her Line

Chaerin rode with the wind speed as she crossed the large field towards the valley. She must tell the princess about the news.

“Princess, the spy thou hast sent, is here.” Dari said.

“Let her in.” Alminah ordered.

Chaerin bowed before her. “ Princess.”

“Please speak. What happened to my father?” Alminah asked.

“A decree was sent out throughout the land.” Chearin answered.

“What decree?”

“In exchange of your father’s life and to end this war, a marriage will be done.”

“I do not understand your words.”

“One of the princes is to take your hand as his wife in exchange of your father’s life.”

For a moment, Alminah remained quiet, trying to deter things on her mind.

“What else did they ask?”

“I am not certain. But they will come here this sun down and claim you.” Chaerin said.

She exhaled loudly with a troubled expression. “They will free my father then?”

“After the marriage they will. They have to make sure they will get you before they set free our captain.”

“Very cunning.” She commented

“Prince Jion proposed it.”

“Who is he then?”

“The one who will marry you.”

At that very moment, Alminah already knew that her adversary will start the moment she will meet this person. She was actually planning to claim her father by force if they happened to bring him with them this sun down. But this particular prince had already read her mind, very wise indeed.

“Let them come hither.” She held her chin up. “Declare this to my people, we are to receive guests this sun down. Prepare them to be on guard on the borders.”

“Yes, princess.” Chaerin bowed as Dari initiated the orders.

~~~

At sun down, many knight riders came along with prince Jion. It was like a whole battalion was escorting him. They had finally reached the valley where they passed the borders of it. The prince noticed all the guards in the borders of it. It was like the whole valley was secured with all possible attacks. He was not sure who planned it but it made him more curious about this cursed princess. For many years he had joined in the battle against these barbarians, he never thought that fate will allow him to actually capture their chief and entered into this dangerous valley of the savages.

The whole ground of the valley tremble as the palace horses rode into its wideness unto the large tents rested in the center of it.

Alminah was already outside her tent, waiting. She beheld the number of those riders coming their way. She looked sideways to see her own army was preparing.

The riders stopped in a distance from them. One representative got off from his horse and reluctantly approached them. Dari blocked his way and spoke in native tongue.

“Hear the decree of the king.” The palace representative announced.

“Let us hear it here.” Dari said.

Jion became irritated with the situation and come over with his hoarse. The tribe’s army was in alert.

“People of this land, we come in peace. We are to get the princess in exchange of your King’s freedom.” He declared. “ Where is she?”

Alminah then revealed herself, yet wearing her veil.

“I am the one you seek prince of Romania.” She hissed in obvious hateful words.

Jion then get off from his horse and approached her. She can see the mischief on his face as they were an inch distance.

“You welcome us so well, princess.” He said sarcastically referring to those guards in the boarders.

“I am cautious from the likes of you, prince.” She said.

“I hope ye do not mind the welcoming I am going to give ye when we get to my land.”He said.

“I’ll look forward to it then.” She said in equaled poison on her voice. “But you are expected to bow before my presence, prince. This is my land. Bow to me.”

Jion was rather displeased by the way she stared at him that it almost invited him to plant a dagger on her face if not for her guards around.

“I am really sorry to be rude.” He then said. “But your father is in my land. So don’t expect me to follow you, princess.”

Alminah, upon hearing it, flinched. She must always consider her actions towards this person or they will seek to kill her father.

“One word for you, young man; I will not stop to tear down the palace brick by brick if you dare touch my father.” She then said in anger.

However, Prince Jion was not even terrified by her words as he looked at her with his soulless eyes.

“Let us not delay the proceedings now and come with us. Alone.” Jion said as he turned his back from her.

Alminah abruptly turned to her tribes.

“Nubu rei la abba nim. Ami sie amma ni azzae. Shetai ami no acar raba.” She spoke in her native tongue.

(People of Teuton. I shall go with them. I will claim back our king).

Dari approached her wearing an anxious look.

“Dari, lori maken naapar. Shetai ami no acar raba.” She placed her hand to his shoulder. He bowed down to her.

(Dari, you lead my tribe. I will claim back our king).

Alminah then went to those riders. They had prepared a special carriage for her but she refused to ride it.

“Give me a horse. I will ride with it.” She ordered.

Prince Jion signaled his men to give her one. Minah was still wearing her veil as she ride away from that valley. There were no traces of hesitations on her actions like she had been preparing to leave her land for the first time.

Prince Jion and his battalion of riders followed her and were catching up with the pace of the tribe’s princess. She was sure the daughter of Teuton.

Reaching the land at night, the town people were on the street, lighting their houses and the streets waiting for the arrival of the riders from the forbidden valley.

 The riders passed by them with a shout to everybody the arrival of the prince and the daughter of the tribe’s chief.

“Make way people!” one rider shouted as the people crowded the road. They peeked through the carriage wishing to see the rumored princess. They didn’t notice that she was with the riders in a horse. Behind those veil, was hidden an alarmed façade as she saw people in their odd clothing.

“Make way!” The man shouted again.

 Alminah was startled when someone grabbed her shoulder. She turned to the person. It was the prince. He then turned to the town people.

“This is she, ye are looking for!” he announced. She was quite certain that mockery was in his voice.

As expected, the town people were astonished on the way she dressed up. It was not quite lady like as suited to marry a royal blooded man. She was a trace of her aborigines and a proof that she came from those native tribes who are living like a vagabond.

Alminah wanted to push his hands off her but she suppressed the urge. Instead, she held her chin up and spoke in low voice. “I didn’t know that the prince would love to waste his time on the street announcing senseless things. No wonder you haven’t defeated my tribe for many decades now.”

The prince put on more pressure on her shoulder which made her slightly whimpered. “You are in my land now, princess. Don’t say anything as you please or I swear to cut your throat after your father.”

Hearing his threat, Alminah cowered in fear to lose her father. “Forgive my insolence, your highness.” She even bowed to him.

“Good. Now you are listening.” Prince Jion said and ordered his men to make way.

They were able to reach the palace. A lot of the nobles came to see the maiden to be married by prince Jion. But to their dismayed, the princess wished not to be seen by them and went straight to her room as directed by her chambermaid.

“Shuna,” Alminah called one of her chambermaids.

The servant put a distance from her when she spoke up. They were still afraid of her. She was the rumored cursed princess from tribe Teuton. Who knows what kind of witchcrafts she can perform in eyes snap.

“Tell me where I can find the palace’s dungeon.” She said. She still had her veil worn around her face. The moonlight hits the large window of her room and illuminated throughout her dark room.

“Y-you can pass through the tunnel after you turned left from the front exit of the palace hallway.” Shuna answered. She was terrified to be her chambermaid for this night. She made a step back when the princess stood up and went to the window. She opened it and let the wind blew her long wavy hair. There was scent of a wild flower embracing the whole room. She put off the veil from her face and let the sky witnessed it. Shuna was out of breath, staring at her fairness. The princess’ beauty illuminated in the dark and her scent was extraordinary pleasing.

Shuna knew that the princess was no ordinary at all.

“Shuna,” She called again.

“Y-yes?”

Alminah turned to her which frightened Shuna. Her eyes became sinfully crimson red. “Do not tell the guards that I am going out.”

And without a word, the princess jumped off from her window. Shuna run to see her. They were in high elevation from the ground and yet she found the princess running after landing on the grassy garden on that certain direction-the dungeon.

~~~

King Teuton felt it. The drumming of his heart alarmed him. He waited. He was certain that his daughter was here. Not a moment, she came.

“Shetai…”She called out. Teuton then came near her. The thick strong bars stood up between them. “Shetai, ami zak oel nati.”She held her father’s hand. (King, I came to see you.)

“Ini fir amia waraang, hilkiah.” Teuton said in low voice. He grieved that his daughter would come across this. (This really sorrows me, princess.)

“Muchul ha.” She smiled to him. “Ini mas shetai, muchul ha.”

(This is for king, I’ll be fine.)

Teuton looked at his daughter’s eyes. He bet the moon had shined its lights in full at the dark sky. Her daughter’s eyes would be this red blood when it’s like that. He was beginning to worry about his daughter’s welfare in this palace. What worsened his anxiety was the fact she will be married to the person who had long been in the field of war; always seeking to overthrow his tribes. Now that he was presenting himself to marry his daughter, he was afraid that the man was plotting conspiracy.

“I was not wrong to find you here.” Teuton and Alminah turned to where the voice originated. It was prince Jion. “The dungeon guards are in deep sleep now. Is that how you work your witchcraft, princess?”

Teuton whispered something on his daughter’s ear in their native tongue and the princess nodded.

“I am visiting my father. There’s no harm in it.”She said bowing. She was not wearing her veil now and that was what the prince noticed.

“Look up to me when you are talking.” He ordered.

“You do not really wish it prince.” She said not looking up.

“You are subjected to hear my every command here, princess. Now look up to me.” He sternly ordered.

As if teasing him, the moon hits her face as she slowly looked up. “ As you command, prince.”

Prince Jion was stunned by her fairness as it glows more in the moonlight. He found her eyes were crimson red and he cannot help it but to be drawn at it. He felt a strange tingling all over his body as if he was cast with a spell. Then he slowly found himself suddenly drop down to sleepiness.

~~~

The morning sun was not even giving its shine to the whole city. The townsfolk and the nobles speculated it to be a bad luck since today was when the marriage hast to take place between prince Jion and the unknown cursed princess.

“Prince Jion, the royal family was waiting in the baron court.” The male servant informed him. He was now groomed up for the wedding, wearing his finest one to show his superiority as the prince of the land. He had heard that some other nobles from all provinces came to witness the event.

“I will come after a moment.” He said. Then again he stared at the mirror and lost again in thoughts. He was sure that he went to the dungeon and found the princess there, conversing with her father. He was even certain that he saw her face and her eyes. But he wavered that it actually happened when he found himself soundly sleeping on his bed in the morning.

To answer his curiosity, he called Shuna, the chambermaid of the princess for that night.

“Did she go somewhere that night?” He asked her.

“No, your highness. She slept immediately.” Shuna answered.

“I see.” He nodded. He then thought it to be a dream then.

 At the baron court, there waited the nobles and the pope who will legally unite the prince and the princess. First to walk in the hall was the prince. Every fair maiden felt the desire to replace the one he will marry. He was stunning and very authoritative in his clothing. His reputation as the prince complimented a lot about him. He got good education in fighting skills and in different aspect of science discipline. He was a man that every damsel, both ordinary and elite, could have always dreamed of.

Then the princess entered in. Prince Jion frowned upon seeing her outward appearance. She didn’t wear the wedding dress that the chambermaids prepared. Instead she wore those traditional tribe clothing with some bells clinging around her waist. A veil was still covering half of her face as she proceeded in front of the pope. The high priest smiled at her but he couldn’t get response from her. She just stood beside the prince, waiting for whatever ritual he will be performing.

“Stop murdering me with your stares, prince.” She murmured in lowest voice possible. Prince Jion greeted his teeth in great anger. He could even hear the mockery of the other nobles from different elite family. He is marrying an absolute savage and tasteless person today. And this woman who was titled to be a princess, just managed to ridicule his long built reputation on her own way.

“Wait until this is over, princess. I swear you will regret this.”He hissed in low voice.

 The pope spread his arms and looked at the two individuals.

“Today, we witness the union of two people. Prince Jion and Princess Alminah. We had long wanted to stop all the plagues of this land. War destroyed many lives and took away those that are dear to us. But today, it will come to pass that the wedding will cease all of this.” The pope’s voice resonated through the marbled walls of the court. Everyone listened. The royal family was there. The queen was showing clear displeasure about the ceremony and the King waited in silence. Prince Woon feared the welfare of his brother. He must admit that he admired him for making the decision. Now the war will finally be concluded starting today.

 “ I hereby pronounce thee husband and wife.”

 It was just a brief ceremony of the wedding.No vows since the two parties involved weren't in love. The king threw a large feast over all the land. Many had rejoiced when the wars hast been put to an end. The people merry at their heart’s content throughout the night, nobles were served with finest wine in gold vessels.  Prince Jion and Prince Woon sat together with the other princes and princesses from the other lands.

“I should have known that the way to prince Jion’s heart was to rage war against his kingdom.”Princess Yoona threw a joke which made the other guests on the table laughed.

“Maybe this is just a barbaric trap to trick the royal family? They will rage war until it’s decided to put an end to this through a wedding.” Princess Shin Me added. They laughed again.

“I heard it that this tribe loves to steal and to plunder. Your highness! You should be careful by now. We cannot tell what trick would this savage do to plunder all your royal estate!” The daughter of monarch joined in, princess Jessica.

Princess Jion just smirked while beholding her wife shrunk in silence amidst them. She was not even eating her meal.

“What wrong? Can’t eat it? You want raw meat?” Prince Jion asked sarcastically.

Everybody was very arrogant to Alminah. She could feel the belittling of those elites on how she dressed up and brought up herself before them. She had no one to turn to in this place. She heard that her father was already sent in the valley where her tribes tarried. She suddenly felt the melancholy within her. How she missed their tents, the scent of those wild grasses and the continuous hissing of rattle snakes around the jungle. Somehow she preferred to mingle with those jaguars and wild fowls in the air than to be in here. A husband that was purely arrogant and self centered and those elites who were puffed up by their pride because of the precious fine gems and clothing they wore on their bodies. Those were somehow making her puke in disgust.

“What’s wrong? Can’t pull off a single word?” Prince Minho made a fun remark.

Prince Jion held his glass wine. “Maybe she can. In her strange native tongue.” He chuckled.

“Hey princess, can’t even show your face to us? Why wear that veil? Perhaps you are hiding some ugly scar from us?” Prince Key added and dare to touch her but she immediately caught his hand.

“Don’t touch me with those filthy hand of yours.” She hissed. Everyone was put to silence as she stood up and glared at the prince.

“Sit down!” Prince Jion ordered her.

Alminah turned to every princes and princesses in the table. “I may appear funny before you. You all act childish and prejudice towards me because I am different from your standards. I know my place here. This marriage was a political move, I am aware of it. But trust me, you don’t want to provoke a princess who came from the Teuton tribe. I take pleasure in plundering riches from cities to cities.” Alminah smiled in mischief to the princesses. “Who knows that I might curse your kingdom one day or even curse you from this night. One wrong word from your lips would be thy end.”

Everyone was frightened of her warnings. It was like a spell which made their bones shivered seemingly touch by the cold winds. Alminah went her way to her room without saying another word to them.

 Prince Jion being displeased with her display of attitude followed her. There in the hallway to her room he caught her arm.

“You insolent person! Face me!” He commanded. “You had crossed the line and dared to speak ill to them!”

“Didn’t you happen to hear yourself, prince? You speak ill to me first and to my tribe. You spoiled all your pride belittling somebody like me. I didn’t agree on this marriage to fit in your taste but to end this war. In case you forgot, you all do belong to the high class. Thus, you all should take lesson on how to act as one because I didn’t see any nobleness on you, YOUR HIGHNESS.” She disentangled from his grip and marched to her room. Once again, he was left with no words. He was lectured by a mere native princess.