Dixon and Denah stood in the same position, her hand atop his, but each was clearly not interested in the other. Since the day Denah was born she was groomed to be the future Queen, and since the day Denah was born Dixon had been groomed to have eyes for no other. He was never allowed to be alone with a lady he wasn’t related to, and in his house, she was always referred to as his future Queen.
Unfortunately the lengthy wait did nothing to stir his desire for her. Both had seen portraits of each other, and were well acquainted with the faces of their future spouses, but on this day, the first day they had actually met, they felt more like an old married couple than the newly betrothed. There was to be no love in this marriage. They both knew that. The primary purpose of this marriage was to provide the kingdom with an heir that could be traced back to the first king by both mother and father. If they happened to fall in love with each other, well that would be a bonus.
Denah wasn’t looking forward to the loveless marriage. She had seen it tear her father apart. She couldn’t count the nights she heard her father cry himself to sleep, alone in his bed, while his wife shared the bed of his father. Denah looked into Dixon’s eyes trying to see if there was love there, but she could see he was lost in his own world. Dixon looked back into Denah’s eyes trying to see if there was anything behind her hard exterior, but he saw nothing. He could see she was hiding her true self behind a wall. This wait, which had already lasted so many years, was taking a toll on him. He wanted a son. If he were to die without leaving his kingdom a prince…
He wanted to marry a girl from another kingdom years ago, but his parents insisted he wait for Denah. She was 15, he was 29, nearly twice her age. Dixon was pulled out of his thought when the doors to the grand ballroom opened and Denver and Danica walked into the hall full of cheers and smiling faces. He took a deep breath. “Well,” he said “that’s are cue!” He looked at Denah with a smile, but she only looked ahead with a face that could have been etched in stone. Denah was well aware of the ‘tantrums’ Dixon had been throwing lately.
They entered the hall to a bevy of cheers, streamers and confetti. This was the first time the future King and Queen had been seen together in the same room. They walked a wide circle around the room, and joined Denver and Danica in the centre for a traditional dance. Dixon tried desperately to elicit some response from Denah, but to no avail. As a last resort, he broached a subject which he knew was a sore spot. “Do you see how happy everyone is?” Denah remained silent. “There will be much merriment around the kingdom when we marry…” Denah looked away, a tear in her eye. “And a son for the kingdom… wouldn’t you he happy with a son?” Denah shot Dixon a fiery look. She knew exactly what he was after, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She knew her rights as a woman in this kingdom, set in place by their own great grandfather. She would wait until she was 18, and there was nothing anyone in the kingdom could do. “Would you like to be known throughout history as the king who took a child bride?”
Dixon was shocked at the degree of her candor, it showed on his face and Denah knew she had hit her mark. “Well all I’m trying to say is that there are many a peasant girl your age who are married and withchild.” Dixon was making a valid point, but Denah would have nothing of it. “And I am NOT a PEASANT GIRL” she shouted.
The music stopped and all eyes were on Denah. She threw his hands down and stormed out of the great hall, followed shortly thereafter by her ladies. Dixon could feel 4 sets of angry eyes the back of his head, as both sets of parents knew exactly what he had said. Dixon, feeling very embarrassed, straightened his suit jacket and cleared his throat “Continue.” he signaled to the band, and left to follow Denah. He needed to patch things up if he would have any chance at a happy marriage.
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