It was a hot balmy day and the sun beat down on the courtyard filled with the brightly colored tropical flowers that grew in the center of the women’s land. The weather was miserable and no one was more miserable than me. I was the eldest daughter of the high king by his first wife, though all married women were his in addition to their husbands’, it was by her that his heir was born.

    I was nestled away from the rest of the women, desperate to get a glimpse over the wall from the highest point of the tallest tree. I sat here most afternoons, enjoying my peace until Vartiter, my half sister four years my junior came to ruin my day.

    “Akira!” she would call from the bottom of the tree. “Come down!” then she would make some remark about me ruining my dress.

    It was hard to believe we were sisters. Vartiter had porcelain skin, rosy cheeks, and pale blond hair, and a small rosebud mouth. I was the raven to her dove. I full dark lips, long ebony tresses and olive skin. The only trate we shared were out jade green eyes, marking us as children of the king.

    “Everyone is going to get ready for the ball tonight. Rumor has it father’s guests wish to have a peace marriage.”

    “Fine, I’m coming,” I sighed and with the grace of a gymnast, dismounted the tree, my long skirts fluttering on their way down.

    She had to drag me to my room where Am, my elderly handmaid was waiting to dress me. I complained the whole time. As punishment, Am laced my stays extra tight. She dressed me in a deep purple gown that clung to my full figure. My hair was done up in an elaborate fashion, but for very little reason, as layers of gauzy veils were draped over my head.

    Then I walked into the ballroom, a large marble chamber joining the women’s world with the men’s. It was empty except for the line of women, ages 16 to 26 lining one of the walls in order of rank. As the king’s eldest daughter, my spot was at the very head of the line, with Vartiter just behind me.

    Then came the men. There were three of them, my father, the king, one of his sons, and the blond haired blue eyed man who could only be the prince this ceremony was for. One by one, they walked from the lowest ranking end of the line to me.

    “This is Vartiter,” my father said. “Every report I’ve read says she is the perfect lady. My other daughter, Akira on the other hand,” he turned his attention to me. “She is much more stubborn, but perhaps you like a challenge.”

    “May I have a moment alone with the girls?”

    “That’s highly unethical, but given the circumstances, five minutes.”

    My father and half brother left, and the man turned to me, kneeling so I had the high ground.

    “Hello, my name is Celino. I hear you might be more than a little sheep.”

    I dared to make eye contact, gazing at his with hesitation, and defiance.

    “Good. I don’t want someone to follow orders.”

    “I can promise you I won’t.”

    “That’s important. I want someone who will challenge me and put me in my place. How would you like to do that?”

    Before I could reply, my father came back in. “Have you made your decision?”

    I offered Celino him a small nod then he said. “I have. I would like to take your daughter Akira as my bride.”

    “Are you sure? She is hardly the ideal of femininity.”

    “I’m sure.”

    “Very well, the ceremony shall take place tomorrow. Vartiter you shall accompany her as her handmaid.”

    With that we all filtered back into our cage. The women immediately pounced on me, ramming their congratulations down my throat.

    “I’m going to retire for the night.” I fled toward the empty hall all but running to my quarters.

    I hadn’t realized Vartiter had followed me until I went to shut the door. “I just don’t understand, why you?” she said as she barged into my room.

    ‘I’ve been wondering that myself.” I mutter.

    “Why not me?!” he voice raised in volume. “I work so hard to be what men want, but he picked you! Of all the girls for me to lose to! And now what am I? Nothing more than a wretched handmaid! I am nothing!”

    “Better than a whore who is nothing more than a bargaining chip for business deals,” Morgana snarled. “Believe me, if I could I would switch places with you in a heart beat.”

    “You must not say such things! You are lucky you stood in front of the wall, and made a man love you. The one thing we all hope for. You had hoped one never falls for you then a prince comes along and wishes to sweep you off your feet, and yet you wish to be a handmaid,” Vartiter shook her head incredulously, tears streaming down her face.

    “Very well,” Akira started unsurly, not use to having to be the voice of reason. “We can not change the paths laid before us, only push ahead. I will not treat you like a servant. I shall even permit you to marry if you like.”

    “You can not! Servants may not, must not, be permitted to marry! A handmaid's first priority must always be to her mistress, a wife to her husband.”

    “Your first duty shall be to you,” Morgana said with quiet instance.

    Vartiter took a deep breath. “I am sorry, My Lady. I am getting rather tired, I shall come to wake you in the morning, good night.” she spun on her heals and walked briskly from the room.

    Morgana changed into her night clothes then climbed into her large queen sized bed, knowing she will want to be well rested for the horrific day she will be forced to face tomorrow.

 

2: Chapter 2

    That night I had a restless, dreamless sleep. I only truly managed maybe three hours before Vartiter entered waking me for the day I had dreaded since birth, my wedding. The change in Vartiter’s status was noticeable from her appearance to her mannerisms. Her brightly colored gown had been exchanged for a shapeless shift. He long blond hair normally held up by jeweled combs not lay down her back in a single braid. Her face was clean of all makeup and cheer, replaced by a solemn expression of resignation.

    “Everyone is waiting for you, My Lady.” she whispered.

    “Call me Akira. This changes nothing,” I grumbled, climbing out of bed as slow as I could.

    “It is not proper for a servant to be so familiar with her mistress, so if you would please follow me. I have several duties to attend to.”

    She took me to the large bathing room where all the married women were waiting. They swarmed upon me like starving animals. They scrubbed at my skin with rose water, and my hair with scented oils, before dragging me to the next room where I would be dressed for my wedding.

    I could barely breath as they tightened my corset to an unreasonable level. A few garments later out came the next torture device. A hoop. They lowered the enormous contraption over my head, cinching it at the smallest part of my waist. The hoop was so large, it took twenty minutes to find a way to lower the dress over my head. Let alone how long it took to get the dress laced. They pinned my hair with diamond flowers and covered my face in makeup. Finally they covered all their hard work with a multitude of vails.

    “She’s ready.”

    Then I was lead to the room where the grand balls took place. I alone, fighting to see through my vails made my way to the room where the ceremony would take place, I waited, my mind left to question Celino’s motives.

    Why did he not pick Vartiter? Did he like the idea of a challenge? Of beating me into submission? Breaking me down until I was too weak to fight? Horrid possibilities were still racing through my mind when Celino and my father entered through the door that separated the men’s world from the women’s world.

    “Sign here,” my father instructed him. “Unless you would like a look at the other girls one last time.”

    “May your nation prosper.” he grabbed my arm and began leading me towards the men’s exit.

    “She may not leave that way. She and her maid will join your caravan in a private carriage.”

    He released my arm and I began to walk from the room as best as I could. No sooner had I returned to the land of women than Vartiter was at my side.

    “Allow me to escort you to your carriage,” she said with a frighteningly stoic expression.”

    I was paraded through the apartments while women and girls wailed their goodbyes, tears streaming down my cheeks. I was then taken into the part of the apartments where the cooks prepared his food. There was a plain wooden door. Vartiter opened the door to reveal a hallway which lead to a small windowless room with no chairs, only countless blankets and pillows of varying size and color. We attempted to arrange ourselves comfortably around my vails and hoop.

    “Why are there no windows?” I asked once the carriage began moving.

    “To keep the men from seeing you? This isn’t our nice safe home, We need to be protected.

    “Who knows what they might do in there,” I mumbled.

    “Bite your tongue!”

    “I don’t understand how you can put so much faith in this system.”

    “Because it is something to hope for and it keeps us safe from the outside world.”

    “Safe from what.”

    Before Vartiter could think of an answer, the carriage door swung open, filling the small compartment with blinding sunlight. There, still holding the door in his hand was Celino dressed in long riding pants and a long sleeved shirt, a smile on his face.

 

3: Chapter 3

“I don’t understand how you can put so much faith in this system.”

“Because it is something to hope for and it keeps us safe from the outside world.”

“Safe from what.”

Before Vartiter could think of an answer, the carriage door swung open, filling the small compartment with blinding sunlight. There, still holding the door in his hand was Celino dressed in long riding pants and a long sleeved shirt, a smile on his face.

“What on earth are you doing?!” Vartiter shrieked. “You are not allowed here this is the women’s car!”

He just smiled. “I thought it must be boring riding in a carriage with no window. We have some spare horses and my sister left a few extra pairs of her riding pants if you want to borrow them.”

“That sounds delightful,” I replied, barely hesitant. “Only I’ve never ridden a horse.”

“Don’t worry get changed and I’ll show you.” He tosses me a pair of pants and a long sleeved shirt like the one he was wearing then shut the door.

“Akira! Surely you aren’t serious!” Vartiter hissed as I struggled out of my uncomfortable and restrictive clothing.

“Oh that’s so much better,” I sighed when my corset was off. I shoved on the new clothes, ignoring Vartiter’s misgivings. “Have fun sitting here by yourself.” I opened the door and jumped out.

Celino walked up beside me, the sun glinting off his blond hair. “Don’t worry riding isn’t that hard.” He motioned a servant to come over, leading a large white mare. “This is Daisy. She’s a real sweetie. I brought her along in case you like to ride. Put your foot in the stirrup and swing your other leg over.”  Once I was on the great animal, he handed me the reins. “Don’t move.”

He returned a few minutes later on a black stallion. “This is Stephen. When you’re ready to go, lightly kick Daisy’s sides.”

This set us off at a slow walk as we headed towards the group who had long since left us behind.

“Can she go faster?” I asked.

“Of course just give her another kick, but most riders go at this pace for a few days at least.”

I gave him the same cocky smirk Vartiter had the misfortune of seeing on more than one occasion, before giving Daisy a kick that sent her into a gallop.

“Akira!”

I looked back and laughed at Celino. I didn’t realize when I looked back I had jerked the reins with me. Daisy rose onto her hind legs, bucking me from her back.

“Akira!” Celino jumped from Stephen’s back and ran to my side. “Are you alright?” he knelt next to me.

“It was fun until the end.”

“I’ll have you get actual lessons later, but I think you should take a break. If you want you can ride on Stephen with me. I had just assumed you would prefer to ride by yourself if possible.”

He seated me on his horse then climbed behind me. “Hold on tight,” the next thing I knew we were flying down the road.

4: ch4

The caravan arrived in the first outlying village of the country of Amaora. I was still riding with Celino and could barely hold in my amazement and joy when I saw women and girls lining the streets with the men.

“We don’t believe in locking our women up in prisons,” he whispered in my ear. “Here all of our citizens are free. The place we’re staying is just up ahead. The first part of the ceremony will be there.”

I stiffened.

“Don’t worry, I assure you married life won’t be anything like it is there. I will never force you to do something you don’t want.”

We were spending the next few days in a large, lavish country cottage. As soon as we walked through the door, nobles swarmed around us,

“Everyone, make room,” a small, middle aged,  red haired woman in a loose tea green dress. “Hello, deary,” she pulled me in for a hug. “I’m Lady Mayte Eremor Celino’s aunt.” she turned to him, hair bouncing. “I’m going to show Akira to her room. You remember where you stayed last time, yes?”

Before he could reply I was being lead away. “I’m sorry. I’m sure it isn’t as nice as you're use to. Your maid is already inside. Call if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” The chamber was small, but comfortably furnished, a few chairs, a small fire place, a table, a dresser, and a double bed. I didn’t have time to look any closer before Vartiter descended upon me.

“Can you imagine your mother’s horror if she had seen your behavior today! You have the nerve to steal the heart of the man father had intended for me! Then he makes me your servant while you act like a heathen! You were alway a bad seed to begin with!”

“Better to be a bad seed than a mindless sheep.”

There was a tap at the door. “Akira,” Mayte’s voice came from behind the door. “I came to see if you would like to go for a walk in the garden?”

Without a word to Vartiter I exited the room.

“Oh I thought you would have changed out of your travel clothes.”

“I’m not overly fond of my other clothes.”

“Would you like to borrow something of mine for now? Then tomorrow I can take you shopping.”