Sickness and Health

Arthea kept scratching her shoulders, the straps of the dress she had to wear made her feel terribly itchy. The delicate smooth crimson silk with a golden trim around her neckline and the silver lining tugging around the waist was way new to her and she struggled to adjust in the kind of cloth she was an alien to.

Her hair was loosened from the bun and her rough hair has gone through sessions of combing to make it silky, pinning the edges of her hair into a small clutch, several of her brown curls were left open.

Arthea wanted to peel herself away from the fabrics, she was used to wear the soldiers uniform tightly fit covering every inch of her body from head to toe and tightly sealed her body unlike the deep neckline gown giving ample amount of space for the collarbones to display.

"Is it done yet?" grunted Arthea.

"Patience Arthea" Princess Alora whispered.

Grabbing the dagger in her hands, Arthea slowly slipped it inside her dress from the neckline, tugging it near her waist at the silver lining, she hid it safe within the smooth fabrics.

Crushing the petals of freshly blommed rose, adding the scents to it, Alora smeared the redness on Arthea's lips.

Arthea felt dumbfound at the reflection in the mirror, she couldn't recognize herself dressed up in a shimmering fabric ending near the toes, hair neatly curled and her face glowing.

"I am going to miss everything," Alora sounded dull as she spoke.

"Who will be the King now? That Beast?" Arthea quizzed.

"I have no idea Arthea, but our lives will be drastically changed, nothing won't be same again. Everything is going to end up in shackles just like our Royal Castle"

Arthea looked around the Princess Alora's chambers and reminisced the old times, when they had fun. She grew up protecting the Princess and their age gap has binded them together. As younger children they used to play hide and seek all around the Castle.

Whereas when the teens welcomed them, Arthea's duty was not just about guarding the chambers but also keep an eye on the affairs around only to gossip them with Princess.

"Remember the time when Kyle hooked with Jehoy? We blackmailed him to help you sneak out of the Palace and enjoy the full moon day by the lake?" Arthea smiled speaking about their old days.

"Yes" Princess Alora choked remembering Kyle, her brother who was brutally killed by the Army of that Beast.

"Promise me that you won't spare him Arthea, he took everything from us. From my brother to my fiance, make sure he repents all his sins. Don't give him a easy death, make him suffer" Alora choked as she requested Arthea.

With tears bubbling up her eyes Arthea nodded, placing her palm in Alora's.

They heard the doors being knocked.

Taking one last look at the Chambers of Princess, where Arthea spent most of her nights, she stepped ahead only to fumble with the fabrics.

"This is the reason I kept ushering you to wear gowns at times, but not for once in your twenty three years of existence you agreed with me" complained Alora.

"So Princess Alora has already predicted that there would be a day where I'd have to assume a fake identity and act according to that?" sharpness in Arthea's voice pierced Alora.

Princess Alora knew what they are doing is wrong and the mammoth task of ending the life of Beast is not any easy, even to Arthea, the brutal assassin.

The knocks on the door grew and Alora grasped Arthea's hand in hers and walked towards the huge doors.

"Remember that once you step out from here, you are no more the Royal Slave Arthea of Zender Clan, you are going to be Alora, the one and only heiress of Vrishnya Crown" Alora asserted shushing the pain of losing her brother and to be husband.

As the doors of room were opened, they had to face the same woman who ordered them previously.

"No luggage" she muttered pointing her index finger which has a huge long nail, at the bags in the hands of Alora.

"Then am I supposed to roam naked around you animals" hissed Arthea.

"That would be the decision of our Majesty. Right now you cannot carry one thing with you from the land of humans" disgust evident in her voice.

Why does they loathe us so much? They are the ones who create all the havoc, disrupt lives, treat humans as mere insects yet behaves as if we did ill to them… Sigh!

"We need to move" the woman spoke indicating that it's time for them to leave the place.

Arthea looked at Princess Alora who gave her a watery smile, pulling Arthea in her hands, Alora sighed as her tears flew sown. The images of their togetherness replayed before her eyes.

Pulling away, Arthea waved to Alora who waved back gulping the lump in her throat, Arthea was led through the hallway and she was scared to look at the various sort of Animals surrounding her.

Not wanting to dwell on her increasing fears, Arthea kept her head straight walking inside the doors the mysterious woman led her.

"Majesty's order is to bring Princess Alora to his Castle, their bond will be legitimated on the full moon day and she will no longer be the Princess of Vrishnya Kingdom" the Mysterious woman added Authoritatively.

I was never the Princess in the first place…. Though Arthea.

"I am going to miss you, my daughter. I hope you will make a great wife and do your duty" the subtle message in King Richard's words were screaming with clarity.

"I give my word to you King, I have been brought up with values to never step back and I will do everything possible in my hands to be a loving companion" promised Arthea.

Only they knew what is the determined task.

"Follow me" the mysterious woman guided Arthea who has now totally consumed the name of Princess Alora, yet not single trait through the hallway guarded by wolves and different creatures now.

Pointing at the carriage decorated with flowers the mysterious woman commanded 'Get in'