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Radnor

"Get your butts up right now!!!"

I watched from off the sidelines, as General Gor shouted at Cole and the others. All of them completely hungover from their horrendous drinking last night.

"We have very important games coming up in two weeks!! I told you we were to meet the King today, and the lot of you decided to drink until you don't even know yourselves!!" General Gor yells at them. He signals the other guys again and they threw another bucket of water on the almost naked men.

The crucial wind combined with the water in only their underwear, had them all shaking uncontrollably.

Cole looked completely pissed off, but he knew it was best not to go up against the general.

"You're supposed to lead by example!You're supposed to whip them in shape! Tell them not to drink!" He says pushing Cole against his chest. His fair skin turning even more red.

"My apologies General!! I take full responsibility!!" Gor scoffs. mocking him by repeating his words.

"Is that suppose to be a brave move? Am I suppose to be impressed!?" He shakes his head, walking over to me and Karlos.

"Why didn't you both stop them? They can't even hold up themselves!" He looks back at them, just as one of the men fall into another, making about four others to fall with them in domino effect.

"Have they ever listened to us?" Karlos replies.

Shaking his head, he turns back to them.
"Radnor and I will go to meet the king, since you imbeciles can't even function properly. I want every arrow in that shed, to be so sharp they can cut meat like a dagger, and you will do it as beautiful as you are dressed right now. Am I clear?!"

"Yes general!!"

"Pathetic idiots. Karlos see that they fulfill their punishment."

"Yes General."

"Come on Radnor, we're already late as is." He says walking off toward the entrance of the building.

--

We walked through the castle halls heading for the throne room. Gor was still very agitated about what happen and I have no doubt he is going to tell the king about Cole's mishap...again.

The guards open the doors, and we watched as the king sat on his throne.

We both took a knee as we reach him. Our right hands, crossed over our chest as a sign of loyalty.

"Rise."

"I thought more warriors were accompanying you today, General?"

"My apologies your majesty. It seems they are all hung up on liquor." Gor bites out.

"Hmm. Lead by that son of mines I'm sure."

"My apologies your majesty." He apologizes.

"No need for formalities Gor. Is everything prepared for the games?" He begins to report to him of our progress.

The General and the King are surprisingly very close. They've known each other since they were young. One boy became King and the other His right hand man and General of his army.

"All preparations are set and ready. We have a potential of 20 candidates to show up this year."

"Very good."
His eyes move to look at me.
"When will we ever see your face?"

"No time soon your Majesty." He chuckles.

He stands from his seat, walking down the stairs.
"The games are source of enjoyment for the people. Not only will we be recruiting new warriors, but also a new General might be chosen." He stops in front of us.

"Do you see anyone of potential to take after you?"

"Yes your majesty." I see him glance to me at the corner of my eye, but I keep looking forward. The King watching me as well.

He hums, walking away from us. Stopping at a little distance, and turning back to us.
"I'm starting to think this son of mines is not even ready to become King." He glances at me, and then back to Gor.

"I also have a feeling that this year's games is going to be a memorable one General."

He looks at me again, before walking off to the side door leaving us.

--

I stood outside by our horses waiting for Gor to come out. The King called him to his office to speak privately.

I hear snow scrunching behind me and I turn around.
"Come on boy. Race you to the waterfall." He mounts his horse, riding off.

I let out a tired sigh.

Getting unto Issac, we ride off after the man. Exodus' call sounds above me, letting me know she was here. I sometimes let her roam during certain times of the day. Though she was my pet, she had right to fly freely, but even then, she chooses to always hover over me.

When I reach the waterfall, he was already off his horse waiting for me by the edge.

"You could of at least tried to win."

"Not in the racing mood today Gor." I say getting off and walking over to him. Looking out at the view of the Northern Waterfall. The greatest wonder of the Northern Kingdom.

"What does he want?"

"He wants you to be King." My body tenses up.

"I had a hunch." He turns to look at me.

"You are the true heir to the throne Radnor. Not Cole. He's ready to announce your relation to the Kingdom."

I don't take my gaze from the waterfall, remaining silent.

"Radnor." He pushes my shoulder, for me to look at him

"This Kingdom is founded on some stupid principles Gor. Have you forgotten how they kicked my mother out? How they got rid of her because of her beliefs? The same beliefs that made me the man I am today." He sighs.
"Those council members being removed will be my first act as King."

"Then do it."He replies.

"I'm honestly tired of the ideologies, we have been taught Radnor, and so is the your father. He admits that he was young and stupid. That he should not have agreed with the council over your mother, but at least he still took care of both you. Gave you that house, provision and a position in the army." I roll my eyes.

He's a coward.

"Gor-"

"Your mother was a woman who was never afraid of what anyone said. She was different, and her views on things were against the norm. It would of broken traditions that our forefathers had instilled in the North for generations, but it made sense." He says and I turn away from him.

"It's because of you're mother, I started treating and viewing my wife and daughters like they weren't property but human beings. With you as King...you can finally change things. Make the people see what your mother made us see, what she taught you."

The Northern Kingdom was founded on two things...Servitude to the God of Heaven, and the traditions of our forefathers. However my mother made sure that I was not naive to the ways the Kingdom had. The mistreatment they had towards women.

She told me that when she first married my father, he treated her like she was his property to use however he wanted. But no matter how badly he treated her, she didn't let him break her.

She couldn't let him break her.

She said that even after he had done the unthinkable, and though she felt like she had truly been broken that day, she still chose not to give up.

Marriages in this Kingdom were solely for benefit. Sexual and for financial benefit. Rarely would you hear of someone getting married for love.

Rarely.

My grandfather, the elders and the council saw my mother as a nuisance. They believed she was starting to make my father weak and that she didn't respect the kingdom's traditions. When simply a man had saw the damage he had done, and wanted to change.

So to keep their ways, my grandfather had my father choose. Either he got raid of her himself, or he would.

To protect her, he sent her away and they had him marry Cole's mother.
The definition of what they call a perfect wife.

I only got to know of Gor when he showed up to our house, bearing food items. Said that my father had place him in charge to make sure we were okay.

I guess he still loved her.

Did I hate him? Yes.
I remember it was a few days after we buried her, I was 11 when she passed. Gor and I were coming back from training and to our surprise a man sat by her gravestone crying.

That was the first time I met him.

To say we were both surprised would was an understatement. I never expected to meet him and did not want to meet him, and he had no clue of my existence.

Apparently my mom asked Gor not to tell him of me, because she wanted me as far away from the royal life as possible.

Do I still hate my father?

No.

Have I fully forgiven him?

No.

Do I think he should of fought more for my mother's honor and that he is a coward?

Most definitely.

"If I am to become King.." I turn back to him.
"A lot of things are going to change Gor."

"I would expect nothing less." He replies.

I stare at him.
"When does he plan to do this?"

"After the Northern Games." He replies immediately.

"And what of Cole?" As much as the boy despises me, he was still my half brother.

"He'll still have the title of Prince. And maybe the position of General, if he gets his act together."

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River

Everything was back to normal in the Somet household. Mom and I making breakfast, while Max was at the medical building today for an exam.

It's been three days since I've last seen Radnor and I couldn't help but feel a little eager of wanting to see him again.

I wonder if he felt the same.

"You still haven't told me who the man is."

"Mom!"

"Don't Mom me. Who is-"
A loud knock sounds on the front door, cutting her off. We glance at each other confused.

We're not expecting anyone today.

Mom washes her hand, the knocking on the door getting harder and I feel myself get a little anxious.

"Stay there River." She instructs me.

"Mom we shouldn't answer." I whisper.

"Stay there." She pulls the door open a little but quickly slams it close.

"Why is this scum at my door?" She asks looking at me. I watch her confused.

"Who?"

"Why is Prince Cole at my door River?!" She locks the door coming over to me. My eyes widen.

"Is he the one that has you blushing like an idiot? Because if he is, I will disown you right here right now young lady!!"

My mouth opens and close like a fish.
Here I thought mom would be happy about him taking a liking to me, when in reality she's mad.

"Go upstairs-"
The door slams open, and our heads snap to the door. Snow flying in as it does.

The men rush in coming to us.
"Go River!" She shouts pushing me away protectively. But before I could move, we were already being held captive.
"Stop this Cole!!"

Another guard closes the door, standing in front of it. It's a total of six of them including Cole.

"It's really nice to meet you Mrs' Somet. You see.. it has come to my attention that River is indeed of marriageable age. So I came to take her as my wife."

"I'll never marry you!" I shout, fighting against the guard, but he tightens his hold.

He hands the flowers to one of his guards, chuckling. He walks over to me, pushing my hair behind my ears.

"Don't touch me!!" He roughly grabs unto chin, holding my face still.

"I'll have fun breaking you firecracker." He leans down to kiss me, but I fold my lips.

He looks down at my lips, stepping back laughing.
"She folded her lips." He points out and they laugh.
"How cute."

"Do you really think that would stop me? There are other places I can kiss you River." He says with an evil glint in his eyes. They slowly travel down my body and I feel sick to my stomach.

"Leave her alone!" My mom shouts. The guard holding her, covers her mouth with his hand.

"After the games, I will become General. At the Northern Ball, I will announce to the Kingdom that you are to be my wife. You will also come to the games and will support me at the challenge. Do I make myself clear?"

I don't answer and he chuckle darkly. He points to the guard holding my mother, keeping his eyes on me.

"Rape her." My eyes widen in horror. The man holding her wastes no time, push her too the ground. Pushing up her dress. Her screams cutting through my heart like the sharpest knife.

"No! No please! Don't do this!!" I shout, fighting against the man holding me.

"I'll be there!! I'll marry you!! Just please...don't let him rape her." I cry.

He raises his hand and the man stops. He stays in his position on top her.

"GET OFF HER!!"

"Aaron." Cole sternly calls and the man gets off her. My mom immediately pushes her dress down, tears running down her face.

I watch her roughed up state in horror. The men in the room, didn't even seem affected by what he did. Smirks littering all of their faces.

The guard chuckles, still watching her.
"Such a beauty." He says, stooping down in front of her. Tapping her cheek.

Cole shakes his head, chuckling. He turns back to me, folding his arms across his chest.
"You will marry me River?" I nod, crying.

"Words."

"Y-yes." I say looking down at the ground defeated. His hand comes to my face lifting my head up.

"Save those tears for when your under me sweetheart." His words only make me want to cry more, but I hold back.
"I'll see you at the games." He says, leaning down and kissing my lips. This time I don't fold them. I don't want anything else happening to my mother.

"Good girl." He praises and I feel myself become sick.

"Come on boys." He says and they all walk to the door. I run to my mother, hugging her tightly.

"Oh and River..." I look to him.
"Don't disobey me. Or next time I wont stop him."

He walks out the door, closing it behind him.

"I should not have forced you to go to the Inn." She cries.
"I'm so sorry River."

"No I'm so sorry mom. I'm so sorry you had to-"

"Shush. It's not your fault baby girl. It's their's." She says, holding my face.

"I won't marry him Mom."

"How River? The only person that has power over him is the King. He has the advantage."

"Not if I join the games." I say, looking her directly in her eyes.
"If I become a warrior, I'll have right to choose my own path. I will be able to protect you."

"They won't let you achieve that easily River. They'll try everything to make sure you don't win." She says crying
"You're n-not just fighting to become a warrior River. You're going up against the very foundations of The North. But...I know you can do it." More tear fall from our eyes.

My heart swelling with pride.

"Your father always told me..if there is one person he knew could spark change in The North, it's you."

"I won't fail Mama."

"I know baby girl." She wraps her arms around me and we sob into each others arms.

The door pushes open, Max rushing in with a big smile on his face.
"I passed the...what happened?!"

Mom and I look to him, with tearful faces. He comes over to us, getting down unto the ground, pulling us into his lap.

"I got you darlings."

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Okay guys.
Muse for:
Prince Cole

You can imagine someone else if you choose.