I was determined to look and act more regal than him, which would not be hard. He was an easily angered old man with a bad back and mostly bald. As to Marie, I would be professional and curt. I would flat at telling her that she should not expect anything from me and that I did not agree with this union and there was nothing she could do to change that.

I walked with complete confidence through the castle to my room. Once safely inside, I crumbled.

I opened my chest, took of the top layer of clothing and blankets and underneath revealed a handful of old keepsakes. There was two toy swords that Artemis and I were obsessed with when we were younger, battered beat up. There was an old worn out and torn photo album and a small box. The small box I left in there for the moment. The time and place for that would come later. Instead I dug out the photo album and sat there alone on my bed.

I leafed through it and found myself constantly grinning as I was reminded of simpler times. I also may have been smiling because more than half of the pictures had Artemis in them. They were better times.

My father had planned a welcome ball for Princess Marie. I knew I had to attend, but that did not stop me from being late and my attitude for the evening was regal but cold and curt.

As I danced with some lady whose name or face I do not remember, I glanced out the window into the forest. The gloomy forest had an eerie loom to it and the shadows within it seemed to dance around. For a moment I thought I could make out an figure, of a women maybe, it looked familiar, and it looked like Artemis. But it disappeared half a moment after I laid eyes on it.

I got swept away back into the fray and the finery of the dance. I found myself distracted for a moment by the glimmering gold, the smooth silver and the devious diamonds. While I was used to the finery, sometimes it took me by surprise.

Yet I took one look at the face of one of the servants. It was the face that showed just hinted at a life of sadness and loss. These people, my people needed me, they needed a King, someone to stand up for them.

The whole evening, I gave both my father and the Princess the cold shoulder. I spoke to them only when forced to and I made it immensely clear that I did not enjoy either of their presences. Finally, Marie worked up her courage to talk to me and stormed up to me red faced.

"You can't ignore me, I am your future wife and we will be stuck in this marriage for many years so you may as well talk to me." Marie said.

"I do not care for you and even though you may soon becoming my legal wife, that doesn't mean I owe you anything. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to retire for the evening. Good day to you madam." I said.

I was feeling rather snug and as I made my way out of the room, my father grabbed my sleeve and hissed into my ear,

"You forced my hand and I brought Princess Marie into the equation. Now I will make you marry her tomorrow evening. Now, get out of my sight."

He then forcibly shoved me out of the room and I ended up banging my head on a wall and I bruised up my head.

I didn't know what to say, so instead I stormed off, angrier than I even had been.

I don't know why but I found myself outside of my mother's bedroom and as I entered, I saw a blanket over her head and a casket on the floor of the bedroom. Her handmaidens were dressing her and there was a priest in the room. My heart lurched and I slammed the door and ran. I ran straight to my room, locked the door, barred the window and shoved my chest against the door.

I was numb. I couldn't understand it, I knew she would die soon, but why now? Why today? I needed her.

There was nothing keeping me here in this castle. My mother had been the only reason over the years why I dealt with my father. Now she was gone.

For those of you who are lucky enough to have not lost a loved one, I don't know how to describe it to you except that at first once the ocean of tears has finally vanished, you find yourself in a state of shock. Different people take it differently and I was shell shocked. I was numb to the pain and I didn't know what to do I couldn't believe what had happened and I was half hoping that is was just a nightmare and I would just wake up from it. So, I just sat there, staring off in the distance, numb, cold and alone.

Time passed by and I glanced at the clock occasionally. I knew I needed to meet up with Artemis around four and other than that, nothing else seemed to matter.

When, the clock struck four I was long gone. I was out of the castle, through the river and at the meeting spot sitting alone on the uncomfortable, old damp log.

It was frigid and I brought my cloak closer to me. I shivered, as I now finally understood why Artemis was so cold whenever I saw her.

A chilling breeze loomed through the forest forcing my teeth to chatter and I began to involuntary shiver. With it this breeze created creaks and groans from the tall redwood trees as the tall giants shifted ever so slightly. I disliked the forest and would much rather be somewhere with a heater preferably.

I was alone...and I hated it.