1⁰ The invasion

In the Summer Kingdom

Bella

Static in place as I watch the scene unfold in front of me. Shouts and sounds of swords clashing amidst the rough fighting. An invasion, in the palace! I remain unresponsive as I am abruptly whisked away to the royal hideout. 

"I found the princess. "

I heard a deep, and hoarse voice the same, time behind me. Making a slip I looked back, noticing men coming in our direction, but they were not soldiers, but invaders who were chasing us with blood in their eyes. 

Dread overwhelmed me, and consequently I stumbled into the wreckage of the castle, falling.

"Princess." said the soldier helping me up. 

" I'm fine."

" Move on, that I will stay to stop them."

"I'm not going without you." pronounce, at that point I am pulled hard being placed on a man's shoulder. 

"Let go of the princess." 

I listened to the soldier speak, but long afterwards only sound of swords filled the room. 

"Let me go." I say trying to get rid of the invader. 

"Quiet, princess. You are our triumph the king will do everything we order to get his heiress back." he communicated triumphant for his achievement of having me. 

"He will never do that, the kingdom comes first for him." I say the truth. 

"If he doesn't do what we ask, you die in front of everyone."

My body shook at his cold statement, the tears were already coming down non-stop. 

"He's with the princess."

In the midst of crying, I felt a distant voice speak, but it was all quick. I felt my body being thrown to the ground, all my bones throbbing with pain.

" Princess run as fast as I could." one soldier warned, as another struggled with the invader. 

I ran as fast as I could, but stopped, looking back. Seeing the soldier being killed without mercy. I walk in desperation, my whole body aching, as I walk awkwardly down the hallway, but feel my body being pulled into a room abruptly. 

"Let me go." I say, struggling. 

"Calm down princess, it's me, Jake."

"Jake." she pronounces hugging him. 

"I'm scared."

"Rest assured, the invasion is already at an end. I'm going back into battle, don't go anywhere."

I agreed, keeping myself hidden, waiting for the chaos to pass. With my hands in my ears, not to hear the torment outside. The hours passed, and no matter how hard I tried to stay awake, I couldn't, and gave in to sleep. 

"Princess." I feel my body being moved, gently. Slowly I open my eyes, seeing Esmeralda.

"Esmeralda." I say quickly hugging her, realizing that I was in my room. 

"Calm down, everything is okay now."

"How is everything okay? What happened?"

"Everything is back in order, and the castle is in the state it was in before."

"How can that it happens ?

"All the servants spent the night working, and the battle was only in the southern part and a small area."

" Did many soldiers die?"

"Not much, you don't need to worry about that, now get up, lunch is almost ready."

 I didn't say a single word, I made everything monotonous by worrying about my subjects."

"They will have a luncheon, with nobles from another kingdom. The king has communicated that no one is to report what happened yesterday." communicated Esmeralda as she opened the door. 

I left the four of them, walking to the living room, I found everything, sitting at the table, as soon as I entered I received a look of repression from my mother, because of the delay.  They acted as if nothing had happened, everything there was as I had anticipated: my father was sitting, talking business with the king.

We walked around the castle all day, I realized that my mother did not take the queen, to the battle site. I left her in the living room and headed for the garden, the day was ending and giving way to dusk, the most appropriate time to breathe and enjoy the beautiful stars and the great beauty of the moon.

 This place brings me a sense of freedom, because of the fresh air, and because hardly anyone sees it here. I like being alone like this, I walk through the vastness among the many flowers until I reach a big tree, seeing its red fruit, which makes me want to try it.

 Carefully so that my dress doesn't get caught in the branches, I climb up and pluck the fruit, and taste it from above. But a movement in front of the castle, makes me come down from the tree, but on the way I slip, I close my eyes waiting for the fall, but I feel safe in the air. I open my eyes seeing a boy I have never seen before in my life, but I can tell he is royalty by his clothes.

 "You have to be careful, it's not proper for a maiden to disappear into a tree," he says, setting me down. 

"Don't tell me what is appropriate for me, my lord!" I pronounced, heading for the castle. 

I left the boy standing in place.

I headed towards the palace, straight to my room, and after closing the door, I became aware of my mother's presence. 

"Where were you?" she questioned.

"In the garden," I replied.

I didn't know why she was there, if she hadn't been in my room for a long time.

"I will cut to the chase, the kingdom is in crisis, and you will have to marry the crown prince of the spring kingdom." She pronounced. 

I stopped what I was doing, looking at her to see if it was really what my ears were hearing.

"What did you say." she questioned.

 "That he is getting married on his birthday. He is the son of the king and queen who are staying at our castle."

"I'm not getting married." I said determinedly. 

"Yes you will, there is no other way to save the kingdom." said my mother approaching me. 

"I will not marry!" I communicated in an altered voice. 

"Don't you dare raise your voice to me!" She slapped my face. 

"How can you have the nerve?" I asked with my hand on my face, tears were already falling. 

It's unbelievable, that she had done it. 

"Don't think about doing anything absurd." she said as she left. 

My body trembles with fear, I can't let her decide my life. I am running away, I quickly grabbed a coin purse, my hand on the doorknob, my fate is in my hands.

But I stopped to remember what happened last night, my marriage would be a way to keep everything safe, from the other kingdoms that could take advantage of the poor financial condition. To invade and take the kingdom for themselves.

But I don't want to sacrifice myself, I'm aimless.