MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

‎PORSHA POV

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‎"Are you sure of this piece of information, Anne?" I asked in a panic as I looked Anne straight in the eyes.

‎"Yes princess, I even have some eye witnesses who claim they saw him standing in the front lines, an eye patch on his left eye as he commanded his soldiers into battle" Anne declared and my blood ran cold

‎I messed up and I messed up good, what was I thinking hitting that slave just because he spoke down to me. Couldn't I have just ignored him like I always do, maybe all of this could have been avoided.

‎"I suppose you think this attack is my fault?" I asked calmly expecting the worst as I took a seat on my bed. I'm very much aware that she blames me for everything.

‎"No princess, not at all. I will never blame you for anything. It's not your fault that Leviathan was already in Vikland. He had at least a hundred soldiers with his, meaning the he had already planned this long before now. Nothing you said or did would have changed that" She explained to my surprise and my heart sang to my stomach.

‎"Don't flatter me Anne" I said in anger, turning away from her, "I know I messed up, I should have controlled my feelings but I didn't because I was petty and stupid. And now a lot of innocent people are going to lose their lives because of me"

‎At this point, I had already started crying uncontrollably, just thinking of all the blood shed that could have been avoided if I had only apologized to Leviathan.

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‎"Porsha don't cry, no such thing would happen" She said in a bit to calm my nerves.

‎"But what can I do, I can't help them on the battlefield, father forbids that" I explained in-between sobs.

‎"But you can pray right? God wouldn't disappoint you. I'm sure of that" She suggested caressing the back of my hand.

‎Her warm smile seemed to be a glowing lamp to my froze heart.

‎"You're right" I said confidently, as I wiped off my tears, “Anne please bring my Bible. I will like to offer a prayer"

‎"Right away Porsha" She agreed rushing out of the room, and a few seconds later she ran back in but not with the Bible I requested for but with a covered basket.

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‎"Porsha there's a problem" She voiced with urgency plaguing my intrigues.

‎"What's wrong?" I asked in a whisper, my voice shaking.

‎"This is a gift for you, from Leviathan" She informed, pointing at the basket in her hand and I froze.

‎"From Leviathan?" I doubted, and she nodded in approval.

‎"Where did you get that basket from?" I asked, scanning the outside premise of the basket for clues.

‎"A messenger left it at the gate with a message to have you open it, alone" She explained, but still a fear still lingered in the back of my chest.

‎"What is in it?" I asked my heart beating like a drum.

‎"I don't know Porsha. You have to open it to see it" She voiced with a hint of doubt.

‎"Are you sure it's safe to open?" I asked, swallowing a lump in my throat.

‎"Not sure princess. I fear there is something serious wrong with this package. I mean why would he send you a gift after everything you did to him?" She doubted, her points driving a nod in my brain. "I think we should get a servant to open it."

‎She was right Leviathan was obviously still mad at me and would probably want revenge so the best thing to do was avoid the package completely.

‎"Stop. Give me I will open it" I commanded, my hands trembling as I took the basket from her grip.

‎"Are you sure Porsha" She asked and I nodded. This was my cross to bear, I messed with Leviathan and now I must face the consequences.

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‎Swallowing a lump in my throat I placed the fairly light basket on my tea table. My hand trembling as I made the sign of the cross, and in a swift movement I flip open the basket cover. But what I saw next left me speechless. It was a sight I never thought I would ever see. It was the amputated head of the man I loved, my Ryder's head on a plate.

‎His eyes still wide open, his amputated neck characterized by clotted blood.

‎My heart skipped a beat.

‎My eyes doubled in size.

‎My heart hurt with immerse pain.

‎My lungs tightened and I couldn't breathe.

‎"No..." I screamed. releasing the cloth from my grip. My eyes spun, my limbs melting like wax, and next thing I knew I was laying on the floor.

‎"Princess..." Anne called out, and next my eye lids felt heavy and I succumbed to sleep.

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‎The bright morning sun shut through my window curtains, into my eyeballs. I groaned in my sleep, twisting and turning in a bit to comfort myself but to no avail the sun had already over taken the entire room.

‎I flipped my eyes open to my room ceiling, my head hurt immensely as I tried sitting upward but an alarming memory came flooding in. It was that of Ryder's amputated head.

‎"Ryder...." I screamed, upon the revelation I just got. Mom and dad immediately ran in, panic etched on their faces.

‎"Porsha, what's wrong my child?" Mom asked, her eyes swollen red as she held my cheek.

‎"Where is Ryder mom? Where is my husband?" I asked in panic, tears slipping from my eye balls.

‎"I'm sorry my dear" Were the only words mom could muster as she burst into tears. Her expression said it all, everything was true my Ryder was gone. I turned to dad who seemed to have a look of dismay on his face.

‎"Dad, please tell me the truth, is Ryder dead?" I asked in tears as I crawled out of my bed, the floor crumbling like egg shells underneath my weight, my eyes searching his for answers.

‎"I am afraid that is the case" He voiced with a steady tone. I slump to the floor, clutching on my hurting chest as I cried for dear life.

‎"No... It can't be. My Ryder can't be dead. He said he was going to marry me. I want my Ryder back mom" I cried bitterly, holding onto my mother's hand.

‎I cried out for a couple of minutes, but pulled myself together when I recalled the war between Ember nest and Vikland.

‎I rose to my feet, wiped off my tears. My heart burning with rage, as I grabbed my father's sword.

‎"Porsha, what's happening?" Mom doubted, fear engraved on her face.

‎"Nothing mom. I am simply preparing for war. Leviathan is going to pay for what he has done, even if it's the last thing I do" I explained, my voice laced with determination as I raised my sword to the ceiling. The fire of vengeance still burning red in my heart, it fe like I was repeatedly stabbed with hot iron multiple times.

‎"Porsha wait" Dad commanded, blocking my path. His action though pure seemed to send shock waves of confusion down my spine.

‎"What's wrong father? Don't you want to save our people. Leviathan is going to kill them all" I explained with urgency.

‎"There will be no need for violence Porsha. Our people are safe" He said plaguing my interest.

‎"What do you mean father?" I doubted as he pulled the sword from my grip. A spark of hope rekindling itself from the lost fire of excitement in my chest, "Did something happened to Leviathan, is he dead?"

‎Mom stepped forward, nervously taking my hands in hers.

‎"Not exactly my child. The thing is Leviathan and your father have come to an agreement. He will let no harm come to our specie and in exchange..." Mom said with a shaking voice, stammering on her own words but it was father who completed her statement "In exchange you would have to marry Leviathan as his 10th wife"

‎He voiced and I froze.

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