Amira

Twelve years ago...

Amira walk through the market of her town along with her mother they stop to receive some fresh air after traveling in their carriage for so long.

She smiled up at the older lady who swing her little hand left and right both enjoying the scenerio before them.

"Mother look" she pulled eagerly staring at the music box on display which was place out for sale.

"You want that?" Her mother ask looking to where her daughter was pulling her, her honey brown eyes which Amira took after shone brightly due to the afternoon sun reflecting on them.

"Alright let some for you my dear" her mother sweet voice rang along her ears and she was taken to the Marchant who look at them.

"Hello Milady what would you like to get? These are our newly made boxes would you like to take a look?" The Marchant ask.

"Yes please my daughter here has caught fancy to your work can I see the prettiest one please." Lady Aurora said and the Marchant nodded.

Amira turn and something else caught her eyes, the brief moment mother let go of her, she stroke off.

"Wow.... She awe at the ballerina dancing inside the music box, she look down to show it to Amira only to find her five year old daughter gone.

She scowl looking around at the busy market, she turn to the Marchant and ask.

"Have you seen my daughter sir" Lady Aurora ask worriedly, the Marchant shook his head.

She paid him and went in search of Amira.

"Amira!!"

"Amira my dear??" She called her face laced with worry.

"Lady Aurora" the coach man called walking towards her.

The carriage is ready, we will be taking our leave now there seem to be a storm forthcoming, we will stay the night at the nearest__" The coach man was saying but Lady Aurora word interrupted him.

"I can't find Amira" she panic.

The man eyes widen.

"She's missing?" The caoch man said.

"Yes Peter, she was with me a second ago and now I can't find her anywhere." Lady Aurora said.

"You go that way and I will look for her this way."

They began their search.

Little Amira stood Infront of an ongoing show mesmerized by the colors and display of art.

She clap happily seeing as the man caught all five apples he threw up.

"Yaaayy" she screamed.

"Run the enemies are raiding" someone screamed from the crowd and soon enough everyone scattered, running about for safety.

Fire was set to the canopy she was watching the show people ran about with their children in hand.

Men in house came trotting through slicing and swiping at anyone in their way.

"Mama" Little Amira burst into tears not knowing where her mother was, she stood rotted at a spot unsure what to do.

"Amira!!!" She heard her mother scream and soon she saw her running to her through the crowd.

"Mama" she called desperately reaching out to her with her arms stretched out and her wailing overshadowed by the village screams of terror.

"Am here am here, come" her mother told her wiping her teary eyes with her fancy gown.

She carried Amira in her arms deciding to run, unfortunately for her she was hit by an arrow shot recklessly by the enemy.

Lady Aurora stumbled to the ground with Amira, she gasp upon the pain which spread up her spine.

Amira wail again looking at her loving mother.

Lady Aurora blink away the pain, attempting to get, she was kicked by one of the attackers, she pulled Amira into her arms covering her child from the beating she was receiving.

She breathe her last cuddling her child who had fallen unconscious due to the hash treatment.

Little Amira woke to her mother's cold body which still cradled her, the environment was now calm and still except for some survivors who are looking for their family.

Amira sniff and called.

"Mama? Mama it hurts" she told the woman who was unresponsive.

Sound of footsteps approach Amira where she laid with her mother, she look up to see some men walking through the now inside down market.

"This one's alive" one of them said pointing at Amira.

The men help moving lady Aurora away and pulling Amira up, the little girl was barely okay, sustaining little injury on her face. She was place on the arms of one of them.

"Can she survive?" A young boy asked walking forward Amira was unable to see what he looks like but she caught sight of his silver hair which stood out proudly in the darkness of the day.

"She's weak" the man who carried her said.

"Hmm" the boy replied.

Amira raise her hand catching him by his vest and clutching

her tiny fist on his shirt.

"Mama, Mama" she called.

They turn to look at the woman who laid dead on the floor.

He sigh and turn to his men.

"Bring them to the carriage we will take them to the border for their family to find". He cast a last look at the girl before walking away prying her hand from his cloth.

Present.....

Amira stood with her father at the front gate of the palace being of noble birth means she will get to visit the palace daily, but that was not the case for her.

She has two siblings two boys and three girls including her, her family disregard her existence untill now when one of their son marshall was taken as a hostage by the other kingdom along with their prince.

Her father being the king advisor had taken it upon him self to do the needful to release his precious son and the prince in exchange for a truce between both country.

They had lost the war badly inorder to avoid their country Rooth Hallow falling under the rein of Oaken Vale her father decided to marry her off to prince of Oaken Vale.

"Be good Amira, you don't want anything going wrong with your brother do you" Mr Barbarossa said looking at his daughter who was the youngest of all his children.

"I don't want to go" she told him her voice close to a whisper her eyes staring up pleadingly at him.

"Don't be stubborn child it only for the best if you go, they have demanded a bride for the prince and you are young enough to satisfy him" Mr Barbarossa said to his daughter.

"But father I have heard he nothing but a monster how can you send me off to him__" a slap from him shut her up.

Lady Miranda ran for forward from where she stood to calm her husband.

"Don't Barbarossa she's just a child she doesn't understand the manner in which she needs to speak, it my fault I have failed to teach some etiquette in being a lady I will take the blame " Miranda said to her husband.

"Fix her up" Mr Barbarossa said to his second wife before walking away.

Lady Miranda turn to look at Amira seeing the red glaring mark on her cheeks. She opened her purse and brought out a powder in which she use to cover up the mark.

"You shouldn't cause trouble for yourself child, you were never considered a family here, use the opportunity as a blessing and live a good life with the prince" Lady Miranda said drawing back her hand from fixing Amira.

"I heard all his wife never made it alive up to a week" Amira said her lips quivering.

"You will be fine" a Carriage came to a stop Infront of them.

"There, you are off to go, come on you shouldn't be waste any time the earlier the better" Miranda said.

Amira took steady step to the carriage her heart breaking times and times again seeing no of her family cared for her, none of them had come to offer her good luck.

She got into the carriage and the coach man set off to go, Amira who sat close to the window pulled the curtain aside to see her kingdom for the last time.

The rise was bumpy and uncomfortable for Amira since this was her first time traveling far from home, she fall in and out of sleep her head resting on the side of the board.

She was traveling in the carriage for three days straight only stopping occasionally to use the lavatory or to have a break.

The Finally ride through the gate of Oaken Vale the guards at the checkpoint making sure nothing of danger was being brought in.

She was surprised at the greenery and the warm weather of the place compared to the darkness and lone desert that was rumored

Standing Infront of the palace gate which was ten times better than that of her home. She was welcomed by a butler who introduced himself as Matthew and lead her in after asking the maids to take her luggage away.

The butler lead them through another part of the palace before he took a turn and Knock on a door.

"Come in" she heard a voice call from inside.

The butler opened the door and bow to one of the lady seated inside.

"Your highness" the man greeted.

"Matthew what do you need, she ask" her catlike eyes staring at him for answers her embedded gown which had a display of artwork Amira had never seen before stood out. She has a brown hair which was packed at the back of her head and a little grown sitting on her head.

"Your guest have arrived from Rooth Hallow" Matthew said stepping aside revealing Amira who stood fidgety at a side.

"Is she the peace offering offered by that kingdom?" some of the lady present asked.

Amira bow at the woman unsure how to behave and speak.

"You are welcome to Oaken Vale palace" the queen said. Amira courtesy to the lady.

"You room has been prepared I will let you retire so you will have enough energy for tonight event " the queen told her

Amira was led away by Matthew