Golden [bxb]

Chapter Four

The next day, my father called a meeting between Athena, Commander Arthur, a few other dignitaries that had been here from the party as witnesses, and myself.

As we gathered at his meeting room, waiting for them to finally put it back together the attack of the mysterious and valent vigilante the night before, we all stood in silence. Commander Arthur stood between my sister and I, but even with the barricade separating us, I could feel the tension radiating off her. 

Athena and I hadn't spoken since she exploded. She was absent most of that day, even for the meals we normally shared. I gave her the space she needed, kept my fidgeting hands in pockets, but everything in me really wanted to reach out. I wanted to tell her what had happened, to watch her cry out in joy when she learned she wasn't going to have to marry the evil king. And I needed her advice. 

If I thought about it too much, my heart would quicken, and I would begin to panic with the thought of what was heading my way. Without my sister there wasn't anyone else I could come to, so I shook the thoughts out of my head and tried to focus on something else. Like what this meeting would be about.

Who was I kidding? I knew exactly what it was going to be about as I stood at the door, trembling in my shoes with my eyes shut tight. 

I still wasn't ready by the time the door creaked open, but nobody waited for me. A guard opened up the door and gestured for the waiting group outside to come in. We stepped into the room silently, only the sounds out boots against the wood clicking in the room as the attendees took their seats at the meeting table. 

I was the last to enter the room, and, as such, there weren't enough chairs. So, I took my rightful place in the corner next to Commander Arthur, who patted my back to comfort me. It was a gesture I didn't know I needed until I felt his reassuring touch, and I leaned into it as appropriately as I could. 

A long silence fell over the room as we watched for my father's signal. 

King Bastian set his quill into its container and folded his hands together, casting a long dreadful look over the room. A somber chill ran through the attendees. Then, he cleared his throat, and the chill turned to full-blown ice. 

"I have called you all here to witness the signing of the treaty," the king addressed them. "You have all heard the terms. I have already signed our draft with the..." He paused as he thought of how to address the Omorrowan king and clenched his fists for restrain. "Opposing party. Now, we must sign the final. Any objections to the terms before it is witnessed?"

"Well," one of the dignitaries spoke up. "Are we really expected to just hand over Her Highness Princess Athena to these barbarians?"

Another long silence filled the room. I nibbled on my bottom lip, clinging to Arthur's armored arm. The tension was making it hard to breathe in the room. Until, finally, my sister stood.

"I'm ready," Athena said, nodding her head dutifully as she stood in all her regal glory.

She caught the awe of the room in that moment; every eye was on her and her brave acceptance of what she was tasked with for the good of the kingdom. I kept still in the corner of the room, trying to fixate on anything other than her and my father, but soon the king cleared his throat and took back the attention of the room.

"My honorable daughter," the king began, reaching his hand out to take hers and guiding her back to her seat. "I am swelling with pride at your courage, but your hand is not the one the Savage King has asked for."

I watched my sister's face soften into relief— before it twisted green with illness at the next thought in her head. She shot back to face me then with her mouth parted in trembling shock, and, clenching her fists for a prayer of restraint, she raised her brows in pity. For the second time, I saw true terror in her eyes.