"Why Grace? I thought I was through with seeing my suitors tonight."
"So did I, but your parents want to see you right away!"
"If it is not about my suitors, then what could they possibly want?" Felicity asked as she began to smooth out the wrinkles in her green silk dress. Grace opened the door and they started down the long staircases and hallways, heading toward the staircase that led to the ballroom.
"I do not know Princess, but I do know that your suitors have left the castle grounds!"
Felicity stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Grace with a look of disbelief.
"Why would my suitors leave like that?" Felicity asked, not sure that she wanted to hear the answer.
"I do not know Princess." Grace replied as they approached the ballroom staircase. "That could be the reason your parents want to talk to you."
Felicity took a deep breath as she slowly descended the ballroom steps looking for her parents. She found them sitting alone in their thrones, watching their daughter descend the steps. The room was empty, save for the guards. She nodded to her parents and smiled to them as she bowed before them.
"Grace said you wished to see me." Felicity said as she stood back up.
"Yes daughter. For the past two weeks, you have met many men, none of who seem to spark your interest." Her father said sternly.
"Except for one. That man that you met just tonight. Your father and I saw that he was the only man you seemed interested in. Therefore, you and Lord Mark will be married in five days. Your father has already ordered riders to announce the wedding date throughout the land and neighboring countries. Wedding arrangements are being made as we speak." her mother said.
Felicity stood there stunned by the news. She was to... marry... Mark! She saw her father point to something behind her. She turned to see what was her father was pointing to, and there he was, walking out of the shadows and toward her. He saw fear clash with supurise in her violet eyes as he drew closer. Kneeling down in front of her, he took her hand in his, once again gently kissing it. His hair fell over his shoulders and on to her arm causing her to shiver. As he straightened, his height once captivated her. Still holding her small hand in his large one, he turned to face her parents, but her eyes remained disbelieving on his handsome features.
"Your magesties, I thank you at giving me the honored at having your daughters hand in marrige." Mark said.
"It seemed that you were the only one that the Princess seemed intrested in." the Queen replied. "The King and I want our daughter to be happy, and feel that you will be able to take care of our daughter."
"Come my boy. Let us talk of your... financial arrangements." the King said as he raised himself from his throne.
Before Mark left with her father to talk about the future, he turned back toward her, bent down, and gently brushed his lips against her ear. Felicity watched as he left the room with her father. The Queen raised herself from her throne and approached Felicity, smiling to herself as she saw that her daughter was still looking in the direction that the men left. Felicity snapped herself out of her shocked stare when she felt her Mothers hand on her arm. Felicity turned to her Mother, giving her a confused look. The Queen smiled at her daughter and saw that they needed to talk. Taking Felicitys arm, the Queen began to lead the Princess through the castle and out to the garden.
"He is a very handsome man," her Mother said as they approached the Garden. "I am sure that you will be happy with him."
"Yes, he is very... handsome Mother," Felicity quietly replied as they approached a stone bench hidden deep within the garden and sat down apon it. "But... he is almost ten years older than I am."
The Queen smiled and sat down beside her daughter.
"Sometime age is does not matter in a relationship. I feel that he is a good man."
Felicity looked up at the dark sky and a strained sigh escaped her lips.
"I... just do not think I am ready for marrige or a family. I do not want to leave you and Father. I love living here. I do not want to leave my home."
"Daughter, you must accept your new role in life. You will not have to say goodbye to everything you love."
Felicity only nodded and understood.
