"Arranged marriage? But Charles that's so..."1
"So what? Expected? Normal? Darling, you know I only want what is best for her, and frankly I think this would be best, Jack is the prince of our very kingdom, and what more could we ask for? He wants our daughter, and we aren't even royalty...we're lucky that his magesty is even willing to consider letting him marry her. We should be greatful, and so should she." Charles explained, with a hint of irritation in his voice.2
"But what if she isn't? You haven't even told her yet and you've known for a week! A week and I'M just now hearing about it, Charles...you must please consider her feelings...if you don't...and you simply push her out the door she will never forgive you."3
"She will, when she realizes that I did what was best."4
"Have you even asked why Jack is so interested in our Anna?"5
"Of course not, who am I to question the prince?"6
"But don't you find it odd...that a prince, who has his choice of many princesses, many beautiful princesses, from any of the other kingdoms that are within a stone's throw...why our Anna? It doesn't make sense to me, Charles...something isn't right."7
"You only say it isn't right, because it isn't what you want!" Charles exploded, causing Marie to lower her eyes, and close her mouth.8
"I'm sorry...of course you know what is best for her. She is your daughter too."9
"Exactly. If I thought something was strange with Jack's decision, then I would certainly question it, but I don't see what is so wrong about a young man being interested in our daughter." Charles replied, then stepped up to his wife and kissed her softly on the forehead. "I simply what is best for Anna...and I know that the prince would do better by her than we ever could."10
"I know." Marie agreed and smiled ruefully at her husband, she couldn't help the feeling of unease that had settled into the pit of her stomach, a feeling that she had learned to trust and rely on since she was a young girl, but she knew she would never be able to convince her husband to trust in her feelings.11
***12
13
"Anna...please come in here, I need to speak with you." Charles told his daughter, he was standing in the doorway between the living room and the small kitchen.14
"Daddy?" Anna asked, sounding worried. The tone in his voice was the tone he always used when she had done something she shouldn't have. She nervously began to fiddle with her tattered grey skirt and walked into the kitchen.15
"Have a seat, Anna." He commanded, but not with the firmness he would have if she had been in trouble, but still the tone of his voice made her heart pound nervously.16
"Have I done something wrong, daddy?" Anna asked, sounding younger than her age. Charles looked at his daughter, there was worry there, and yet a look of stubborn determination, Marie recognized the look easily enough from where she sat, accross the table from where her daughter had taken a seat. At twenty one, Anna was well passed the normal age for a girl to be married, they were normally given away by sixteen, the oldest before Anna had been eighteen. Charles had began to worry about his daughter, so determined to work and help to feed herself as well as her parents, that she had not even been interested in boys, she had been courted a time or two, but it never did last long.17
"We have found someone to marry you." Charles stated.18
"Charles!" Marie exclaimed with a glare.19
"I have talked to someone who has decided he wants to marry you, Anna."20
"But daddy...I want to find someone my-."21
"Anna...you are twenty one...you should have been married and started a family of your own years ago. You know this...I can't continue to have these conversations with you."22
"Daddy, I enjoy working with you and with mother..."23
"It isn't right, Anna! If you're going to work, it should be for your husband and your own children not your parents, we will manage very well. We don't have to have your help anymore, Anna. Please realize that I am worried about you, I want you to be taken care of."24
"Daddy...you don't have to worry."25
"It is not an option, Anna...it is not a choice for you to make, you've waited too long for it to be an option."26
"What do you mean?"27
"I mean, you are getting married, and that's the end of it!" Charles exclaimed with righteous anger flooding his face, and Anna flinched. It was a rare occasion for her father to raise his voice to her.28
"I will NOT! You can't force me to marry someone I don't love."29
"Love isn't important, Anna...your well being is important, you can learn to love." He replied still glaring in anger. Anna stiffened, she felt as if she had been slapped.30
"I won't marry him...whoever he is...I don't even know him...I will meet my husband on my own, without your help, and it will be my choice...but if you're so determined to get rid of me, then I will go." Anna replied and stood. She walked to her tiny room and began to gather clothes into a bag. She pulled her long brown hair into a tight bun, and tied a rag around her head to keep sweat from dripping in her eyes, just as she did when she worked in the gardens with her mother.31
As she walked back out of her bedroom, she heard her mother and father bickering quietly in their own room, and she slipped silently out the front door. Ten paces away from her front door, Anna stopped and turned to look back at her house, her green eyes were swimming with tears but with a stubborn sniff, she straightened her back and continued her journey. She had no idea where she was going, it wouldn't matter which Kingdome she went to, one way or the other, someone would find out she was there and would come looking for her...or maybe they wouldn't. Which would hurt worse...the fact that they wouldn't care enough to come and get me...or the just leaving...and never looking back and never seeing them again? Anna wondered as she continued to walk, the sun beating down on her with a vengeance.32
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