Pennie Had been the person I loved most growing up so I honored her request. We got dressed and announced our engagement at dinner that night. All my sisters, my mother, and my brothers were there. Our announcement was met with cheers and appraisal from everyone except two people. My Mother felt we were too young to rule a kingdom and my brother Jacob simply said he was disgusted by our marriage. Jacob was a year younger than me and had always been trouble. He was ignorant, rash, and merciless. I feared what would have happened if my father had named him as his heir.
Two days later the arrangements were made. That morning the castle divided in two. On one side all the women prepared my sister for her wedding while on the other side all the men seated the arriving guests in the ballroom where the ceremony would take place. I looked into the mirror nervously as I saw myself adorned in the traditional blue and gold robes of a king. The fact that I now ruled the land was finally setting in. I felt my stomach churn and my legs shake as I thought about the future. A knock at the door brought me back to the present.
“Come in.” I said.
“Good morning sir.” Jeremiah said. He walked in holding a pillow with a majestic silver crown decorated with sapphires and rubies sitting atop it. “I have the crown.” He said.
“Thank you.” I said. I placed the crown on my head and was surprised to find it lighter than I had imagined.
“You’re nervous aren’t you?” Jeremiah chuckled.
“Of course, shouldn’t I be?” I laughed.
“Oh you certainly should. You’re going to have a wife now; it’ll be much more difficult to handle her than to handle a kingdom.” He laughed.
“Thank you Jeremiah.” I said. “You’re a good friend.”
We both made our way down to the Ballroom but were stopped in the corridor by two guardsmen wearing black armor. They refused to let us pass the hallway.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I said.
“We have orders not to let you go any further.” They both said, with their hands dwindling over their sheaved blades.
“By who?” I asked angrily. Suddenly the doors lining the hallway burst open and a dozen other black armored men surrounded us.
“By me.” A voice said form one of the rooms. My brother Jacob stepped out of the shadows.
“Jacob, explain yourself!” I yelled.
“Oh don’t you know brother?” He said. “I have found your leadership skills to be quite unfit for a king, and am relieving you of your title for the good of this nation.” He smirked.
Before I could say anything I felt a sharp pain hit the back of my neck. My vision blurred, my legs gave out, and I fell to the ground. My last memory was of feeling my face hit the cold stone floor.
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