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River

My body felt like it was about to collapse with every step I took, yet I was seething with anger. I refused to speak to the King, but I believe my look has said more than what I could have said.

He had the power to change this, yet he did nothing. Nothing!

Flashback

I stood in front my father's grave.
"I'm going to join the games as promised Papa. And I know it will be hard, you told me it would. After what happened to Mama and I, I won't remain quiet—I will become a warrior."

End of flashback

I'm not even sure if I'll become a warrior now, I doubt I would. I didn't make it back in time.

I reach to the house, and I feel my legs give out on me, and I fall to my knees.
Shadow whimpers, rubbing himself against me, loud sobs wrecked my body.

I feel someone wrapping their arms around me, and by the familiar flowery comforting scent, I knew it was my mother.

"I got you baby girl."

--

Radnor
Back at the Clearing

"Alright gentlemen. This is it, the both of you have challenged to be General." The announcer says.

"You will both fight each other, and the winner will fight against the General for the chance of having his position."

Cole walked up to Carvon, his chest puffed out, and a cocky look on his face as they stood a few feet away from each other.

"We will have a fair fight. First man to yield, will move on to challenge me." Gor speaks from on the middle of the two.

"If I were you, I would give up now." Cole taunts Carvon, but the man doesn't respond. He just shakes off his shoulders, crouching down in position.

"Well alright then." Cole chuckles.
"Let's get this over with Gor. The faster I end this, the faster I can go deal with that wife of mines." He states making me clench down on my jaw.

He gets into position, both men prepared to fight. The crowd watches on in silence, the only sound heard is the wind.

"Till the first man yields." Gor says, stepping away from them.

"Fight!"
Carvon takes off in full speed towards Cole, the man taunting him by letting him come to him.

Cole goes to side step him, like one would a bull, but Carvon stretches his right arm out, swinging at Cole and landing a hard hit straight to Cole's face.

The crowd gasps in shock as Cole falls to the ground, and Carvon wastes no time climbing on top him, landing blow after blow to his face.

Honestly I was in shock. The rage the man had...it was as if his wounds before didn't matter.

"Get up Cole!!" His grandfather shouts but there was no way for him to get out from under that type of rage.

Carvon lands on last punch, before getting off him, a pleased look on his face. We all watched as Cole remained unconscious and his face bloody.

Carvon looked down to him, his breathing heavy.
"That's... for my sister." He says, and spits at him.

So that's his motive.

"We have our winner!" The announcer shouts, a slight humorous tone in his voice.

"No!! We do not!! Arrest this man immediately." Victor says running to Cole, but no one moves.

It was a fair fight.

"Why is no one arresting him?!"

"It was a fair fight Victor." My father states, standing from his throne.

"Now we will have the General challenge-"

"I do not wish to challenge General Gor." Carvon says and my father looks to him confused.

"Then you tried to kill the Prince that is treason!!" Victor shouts, and Carvon didn't even looked fazed.

"That was a fair fight!!" A man shouts from in the crowd and they all start protesting.

My eyes meet with a woman holding unto her daughter tightly, the girl looked no younger than 17. There was a resemblance between her and Carvon.

He could not of...dammit.

My father raises his hand in the air and the crowd gets quiet.

"The fight was fair, and Cole lost. Carvon will go on to be one of our warriors and Gor will continue being General of the north.

Our warriors will be knighted at the Northern Ball."

--

River

It's been three days since the Northern games and I have refused to leave my room. Mom and Max kept checking on me and I really appreciated it.

A knock sounds on the door, and Max walks in.

"Hey little big sis." I laugh a little.
"Ah! At least I got her to laugh."

I move my foot so he can sit on the bed.
"How are you feeling?"

"Was I stupid for trying?"

"Of course not." He tells me.
"You did what no one has been able to ever do. Went up against the Norm. Proved yourself. You may not have made it in time, but you made it."

I put my hands under my head, lying down on my side. I stare at the door.

I still haven't told them about what happened. I thought it best to keep it to myself.

I know it might be foolish of me, but I really didn't want to continuously be asked if I'm okay and I didn't want to cause any of them being hurt.

"What?" He asks.

I shake my head, sitting up.
"I love you Max."

He fake barfs and I push his shoulder, laughing.
"Why are you like that?!"

"You can't just say that Riv. Almost made vomit out breakfast." I shake my head and he smiles at me.
"Love you too River."

I reach forward, hugging him and he hugs me back.

"Knock knock. Aww. I haven't seen you two hug like this in a while." Mom gushes, coming in the room.

"How's my baby girl?"

"I'm better Mama." She kisses my cheek. She gently caresses it, using her other hand to caress Max' as well.

"You're father would be so proud of the both of you."

I look up to her with tears in my eyes. She begins to tear up as well.
"My warrior, and My doctor."

"And our Queen." Max says kissing her hand.

"Ugh! No more crying. Come downstairs I made my famous mixed meat sandwich and fries." She says, walking towards the door.

"Hey wait a minute!!" Max says getting up and running out the door. I laugh at the giant, getting up and following after them.

We'll be okay.

--

"But I'm telling you it's not like that. They're the sweetest."

"Sweet. They looked like they were ready to devour anyone who came near you."

They did to that man.

"The Northern Ball is happening tomorrow night." Mom says and we get silent.
"I think you should go."

"But I didn't win."

"But you proved yourself. You should walk in there with the most confidence." Max states.

"What's going on with you and Casey?"

"Don't change the topic Riv." I sigh.

"Those women, looked to you as if you were the start of change. The first woman to ever take a step forward to show that she was more than just a man's property."

"I spoke to Helga. She's the woman in purple who stepped forward. You're courage lead many of them to leave that house and stand up for themselves against those men. I heard Agatha, who was always being beaten by her husband, she spoke up against him. Hit him back." She explains.

"Women are stepping forward."

"You showed them that they can do greater, Sis." I keep my eyes down to the table, tears falling from my eyes.

"But I didn't win. I'm not a warrior."

"Yes you are." She tells me, lifting my head up.
"You became one from the moment you picked up that bow. When you stood up against Cole, when you defeated that giant of a man and walk out those woods. You are a warrior."

A firm knock comes at the door and we look to it.

This reminds me of when Cole came over.

Max gets up, going over to the fireplace getting his ax.

"I'm hoping it's the bastard."
Mom and I stay by the table, as he opens the door.

Only it wasn't Cole, it was another warrior. I remember him though. He was standing with Radnor and General Gor at the games.

He glances down at the ax in Max's hand, a smirk coming on his face.

"Good Afternoon,Somet household. I bring greetings on behalf of King." He says and we watch each other confused.

"The King?" Mom says walking forward.

"Yes Ma'am. The King requests for Ms. River Somet's attendance at the Northern Ball tomorrow night."

My attendance?

"But why?"

"I am sorry Ma'am. I cannot disclose anymore information. He looks forward to your attendance." He says bowing and walking back over to his horse, riding off.

Max closes the door, looking to me.
"Seems you might really have to go."

"But why would the King want me to attend the Ball?"

"Only one way to find out baby girl." I look to my mom. Feeling indifferent.

I honestly did not want to see Cole or his father, and most especially that Councilman.

"Umm...I'm going for a walk." I subconsciously say, walking over to the door.

"You don't have to go Riv." I look up at him, giving him a small smile.

"I know. I'm just going to see Shadow. We'll go shopping when I get back right Mom." She smiles brightly.

"Of course dear."

I walk to the closet getting my new cloak and walking out the door. Heading towards the forest line.

New Cloak

The moment I step pass the first tree, I'm met by the pack.

"Hey boy." He walks up to me, and I pet his head. Winter and her cubs walk up as well. The cutest little barks coming from them.

Shadow begins to whimper and I felt like I knew what he was asking.
"I'm fine boy."

"The King wants me to attend the Ball." He looks at me.
"I agreed to go, but I'm not sure." I say standing up and walking towards our cave.

I hear the call of an eagle and my heart skips a beat. I look around to see if I would find him. Shadow and they come to stand in front of me, looking to my left.

I make out his build standing between two trees and I calm them down.
"It's okay guys." I say stepping forward, as he walks out. His usual hood and black mask on his face.
"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." He replies. He didn't have his bow with him this time, but the very noticeable sword was on his side.

I nod, finally reaching him.
"How are you?"

"Better." I rest my hand on his chest.
Surprisingly my heart was very steady.

"They look ready to devour me." He says and I look behind me. Laughing softly, when I see them all sitting watching us.

"They're just protective."

"And they have right." His hand comes to hold my face, and I lean into his touch.
"Why didn't you report what the Council did?"

I scoff moving away from him.
"Like it would make any sense. That man had me dropped farther out than anyone else! I had to run away from the men that carried me, because they couldn't keep their hands to themselves! Fell over a cliff and was almost raped by one of the same men, before I could even reach the clearing!" I yell in anger.

"And now the King wants me to come to the Ball, for what? To commend my bravery!" I was so angry and frustrated. I just... I couldn't anymore.

What kind of King lets his people face these problems? No one even wants to visit the North because of the stories they heard.

"The King might have reason for wanting you to attend." He says walking up to me. He wraps his arms around my waist. My eyes widen in shock as I suddenly hiccup.

He chuckles, pulling me closer to him.

"Were- were you shocked when I entered the games?" I've been thinking about it for awhile now.

"No I wasn't." I feel my cheeks warm, at his confidence in me.

"Will you ever show me your face?"
I ask, slowly passing my hand over the front of his mask.

"Soon." He replies and I nod.

"Will you be at the Ball?" He nods.

"I hope you will be there as well." He says and I look down, watching my fingers as I trace his chest.

He holds unto my chin, lifting my chin up.
"No one will ever hurt you again River."

"How are you so sure?" His thumb gently caress my chin, the atmosphere around us coming very intense.

It's amazing that after not seeing each other for such a long time, I felt just as drawn to him as the first day I met him.

He leans down closer to me, our eyes never leaving each other.
"Trust me, I know."

Pushing back fear, I tip toe, lifting up the end of his mask, pressing my lips to his. They felt very soft against mine, almost addicting.

The thing was making the moment very awkward, so he pulls it off. But before I could even admire his face, he smashes his lips back into mine.

The gentleness before, replaced with an intense need.

I felt breathless. A range of emotions I have never felt for a man before, filling every area of my being.

He pulls away, pulling flush against his chest.
"I shouldn't kiss you."

"Why?" I whine, and I feel him chuckle.

"You're engaged to Cole." My face drops, and my entire body fills with anger. I try to pull away but he tightens his hold.

"I'll kill him before I could even marry him."

"And what if I want I want to marry you?" I gasp in shock, staring at his chest with wide eyes.

I feel him move away, and once again his mask in front his face, his hands tying the back.

"You want to marry me?" I ask in disbelief. He couldn't possibly.

"I want no one else." He replies confidently.
"Will you marry me River Somet?"

This is how you ask a woman to marry you. Not barge into her house, have your men sexually harassed her mother to force her to marry you.

A big smile overtakes my face.
"Yes."

--

I make my way back to the house, after telling Radnor and the pack goodbye.

"What a cute couple." I freeze in my spot, not even bothering to turn around.

I didn't have my dagger on me. Oh God please.

"Just to let you know River." He says walking around me, roughly grabbing my neck.
"You are mine. And when my father announces me as King at the ball, I will claim you. Then I'll make you into the most obedient whore to ever live."

He tightens his hold, and I feel my airway become blocked. I grab unto his hand and he roughly pushes me away from him, causing me to fall.

"Wait and you'll see."

--

When I returned back home, Mom and Max were both waiting for me. Hopefully they didn't see his hand marks on my skin.

"Ready to go?" Max watches me suspiciously and I try to hide it more.

"Come on you two let's go. Ms. Reign is probably waiting on us." She says, rushing out the door.

"Did something happen to you?"

"Just a little unsure about going." I tell him and he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

"I know you're hiding things River, and I'll only let it pass this once." He lets me go, opening the door holding the door open.
"Let's go."

I pass by him, thanking him as I did.
We walk over to Ms. Reign's house. A few of our neighbors greeting us as we passed.

When we get to the house, a gleeful woman greets up.

"Well hello there! Come in Come in."
She politely smile, going in.

"I'm sorry but, where is Ms. Reign?" My mother asks and my brother and I watch the woman suspiciously.

"She had to step out for a bit. But I will be helping out today. My name is Ria Willow. You can call me by either." She says. I look to my mom and she looks at me.

"Well then, shall we start?"

--

Max and Mom are inside trying on their clothes. It's nice to see how excited the two were.

Ms. Reign had already had our outfits made for us before she left, so it was just for us to try them own.

"It was really brave of you to join the games." She tells me. I smile a little and she comes to stand next to me.

"You know...he'll never win." I stare at her suspiciously. From the moment I met her, I felt there was something strange with her.

"How do you know that?"

"Trust me I know." She tells me.

She walks over to the open closet taking out what I would assume is my dress. Bringing it back to me.

"I think it's time for you to take your true place River."

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