Chapter 7: ~Chapter 7~
A sharp pain formed in Willow's chest at Percy's words. She held back tears at the thought of marrying that man. Percy looked into her face and saw the fear in her eyes.
"I know how James can be," he said softly, "ever since we were children, he has had a cruelness about him ." He leaned back on the bench. "When we go hunting, he takes so much pleasure in the kill. I think my father sees it as toughness, but I think he just genuinely enjoys taking life."
They sat in silence for what seemed like a long time.
"Percy, I don't want to marry James," Willow said finally.
"I don't want you to marry him either," he replied, "but he is the eldest aside from Dorian, not to mention my father's favorite, which means he gets first choice in the matter."
The princess thought of the way James had treated her in her room. She knew he would not be gentle with her, not the way she imagined Percy would. Alone, she often thought of how his hands would feel on her body and his lips upon her own. Staring deeply into his face, she pleaded with her eyes. She wanted him, not his brother.
"Please, Percy. There has to be something you can do!" She begged him. "My first night here, he came into my room and he..." Willow could not bring herself to finish her sentence. Tears streamed down her face.
The prince gently grabbed her hand. He could see how much pain she was in.
"I will do everything in my power to help, I promise you that." His touch soothed her and the tears slowly ceased. Percy pulled a handkerchief from his jacket and handed it to her. She dried her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"It's so unfair, I just wish I had a say in my own marriage. I wish all women did," she said, surprising herself. She had never spoke to anyone about how she felt. No one had ever listened. The prince nodded understandingly.
"Perhaps my mother can help us. James may be my father's favorite, but I am certainly mother's. The king, of course, holds all the power in the matter, but I believe he respects her. He might listen if she speaks on our behalf." He gave Willow's hand a squeeze. "Don't give up hope yet, my lady."
The two gazed into each other's eyes longingly. Willow felt so drawn to him. Never before had anyone made her feel like she could just be herself, but Percy did.
The prince then pulled her hand to his lips and gently kissed it.
"I must go for now," he said, "the King and my brothers are expecting me for a royal meeting." Willow watched his lean figure as he walked back towards the castle.
After their meeting, she could not rid her mind of him. She walked the halls in a daze, daydreaming of a fairytale wedding as Percy's bride. In her mind, she wore a grand dress of white satin and her prince, a fine suit. She envisioned the way he would remove her dress from her body and kiss her naked skin. It brought butterflies to her stomach.
"You look quite happy, my lady," a cold voice said, snapping Willow back to reality. James stood before her in the hallway. "What are you thinking of?" He asked.
"Oh nothing, my lord" Willow squeaked, attempting to walk by him. He grabbed both of her arms and pushed her against the stone wall.
"I have seen you with my brother, girl," he snarled, squeezing her wrists. "You will be my wife soon. I would prefer if you two stopped meeting, I don't want him soiling your virginity before we are wed." James looked menacingly into her eyes and pinned her harder into the wall. "Do you understand?".
Willow nodded her head, too afraid to speak. He released her arms. "Good girl," he said, turning and walking down the hallway.
The rest of the day, Willow stayed in her room. Charlize came to bring her to dinner, but she turned her away, telling her she wasn't hungry. Her stomach begged to be fed but she could not bear to see James' face. After a while, she had begun to fall into a fitful slumber when there was a knock at the door.
"My lady," a servant she had not yet met walked into the room, "The queen has requested an audience with you in her private quarters. Please follow me."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone