Page 2 of The Princess and The Warrior

I watched as my father stood, stroking his salt and pepper beard. “Step forward, Trax Varanger.”

Even though my father was slightly elevated on the platform, they were nearly eye to eye. “I shall give you the highest honor I have to bestow. To reward you for being our kingdom’s fiercest warrior, you will now be a member of the royal family, bound to this throne. I give you my daughter Althea’s hand in marriage.”

My heart stopped as my eyes dropped to the warrior’s bloody hand. I felt the entire room full of people turn to stare at me, as all of the air in my body seemed to dissolve away. The swish of the ladies’ skirts, and the slight murmurs of surprise, circled the room.

I was being given as a reward, a prize , to the giant brute. Not only would he be the first person to touch me since I was a child, he’d be the one to...take me...at the consummation ceremony. I wasn’t so naive that I didn’t know what that was all about.

The lights grew dim and the floor began to wobble. The voices around me grew quieter as the stones of the floor shot upward toward my face.

2

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Trax

This was the proudest day of my life. Although I was still nursing many deep bruises, sword gashes on my forearms, and a possible chipped bone or two, I had led our army to victory, conquering the evil kingdom of Skrinton for good. Or hopefully, for at least the next decade. And now I was receiving an audience with my King.

An hour ago, when my general dragged me to the palace to receive my commendation, I expected a medal, or perhaps an ornamental sword. Instead, my general had pulled me into a quiet meeting where we were informed that the King was giving me the hand of his youngest daughter in marriage as a token of his thanks.

Although I had heard that the King’s daughter had turned nineteen, I didn’t think that he would be betrothing her so quickly. And certainly not to a warrior. One would assume that her hand would go to a member of a neighboring royal family, or at the very least a noble, someone with an elevated position.

As she had entered the room, it was as if an ethereal light shone around her. Her creamy, slightly olive skin, full, sweet lips, and deep brown eyes all made me feel tight and awkward through my stomach.

Admiring her from afar was a secret hobby of every soldier. Nobody dared speak of the lust we all felt if we were lucky enough to have her pass by us. The idea of dishonoring her in any way was unthinkable.

Yet now I was being given her hand in marriage, and expected to perform the consummation ceremony.

Looking over to Althea as the news was announced, her hands fluttered frantically as she looked over to me. Her eyes half closed as her mouth fell open, then she pitched forward, fainting dead away.

In a blink, I lurched awkwardly to catch her, laying her at her horrified mother’s feet. Guilt flashed through me as I realized how terribly I had just broken royal protocol. Female royals are never touched until they are wed.

“A thousand apologies, your Majesty, but I couldn’t allow the Princess to break her nose on her wedding day. With your permission, may I carry her to the window for some fresh air?”

The tight-lipped woman nodded, and I gently carried my bride-to-be to the furthest window.

“Princess, can you hear me?” I murmured.

She began to stir, and I brought my lips to her ear. “Please, be still. I won’t harm you. This will be the only chance we have to talk before the ceremony.”

“Hmm?” Her eyes fluttered open, then I felt her body tense in my arms.

“Please, just listen. When I was invited here by the King to claim a prize for my victory in battle, I expected some trinket, not a beautiful wife. I’m just as shocked as you are. Yet we cannot break tradition. I’m sorry, I know you likely expected a very different husband. All I can promise you is that I’ll try my best to care for you .”

Her hand reached up and her fingertips traced the scar on my jaw. “Did that hurt?” She was obviously still dazed, yet it warmed my heart that her first thought was worry for a stranger.

“Yes, m’lady, but that’s nothing. My only concern now is for your comfort.”

My hand stroked gently along her back as she wriggled against my touch. It was hard to imagine never having shaken someone’s hand, or not hugging anyone for the past fourteen years. She was clearly enjoying being held, even if it was just by a lowly commoner such as myself.

Her dark, soulful eyes looked up at me as her luscious lips fell open. “Oh my. After the wedding. The, ah...ceremony...”

I held her close as she shuddered. “I’ve already thought of a plan, your highness. But you’re going to have to trust me.” Placing her feet on the ground, I kept a hand on her back to steady her. “This entire matter will go more smoothly if you try to relax, and pretend to be happy about it.”

She nodded. “Very well.” Her eyes closed for a moment as she took a slow breath. Then she looked up at me sadly. “I’ve always hated it when huge groups of people are staring at me, especially at official ceremonies.”

“That can’t be helped right now. But I should tell you,” I leaned in to whisper in her ear, “you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. If you’ll forgive me for saying so, the only reason I didn’t faint myself when I saw you was that I had to catch you.”

Her laughter rang through the room, and I looked up to see the King beckon us. Releasing my hold on her, I took a step back. “Let’s get married, your highness.”

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