A crack of thunder galloped through the sky surrounding Jaqira Castle. Spring had arrived at last, following a brutal winter that had left Morgeideign and its commoners praying for a vapor of warmth. The storm danced around the grounds, singing a ballad that aided the children of King Paraxious in concealing their forbidden meeting. The pair, since the fourteenth birthday of Princess Uonata, had been hidden lovers. Her eldest brother Prince Raxsies had chosen the path of incest in his search of love. Their actions were frowned on, in fact, if the truth ever came to light, they would both be executed. That, however, did not stop Uonata nor her brother. His thirsting lust seemed to be unquenchable. Since the time she could understand, the princess had always been taught to heed the command of her male siblings. She had known life with her eyes to the ground and her actions ever eager to please the men around her. Such measures had seemed to doom the young girl of sixteen. Leaving her vulnerable to the harsh discipline of her father and the cruel judgment of their people.
There she stood, alone and cold as the beads of water adorned her velvet ballgown. She had managed to slip away from her ladies and wait for her brother's arrival outside. She hid in the shadows, careful not to make any sound. Fear and excitement ran up her spine and made her shiver. She could hear the soft and almost silent growls and vibrations of the dragons beneath her feet. For a moment the princess swore she could listen to their chains sliding atop the cold stone the beasts lived on. The girl felt sorry for them, most had been reduced to skeletons. Their magic was siphoned from them to keep Morgeideign and its people safe. Pressing the thoughts of remorse for the creatures from her mind, Uonata moved to stand under the bridge leading to the castle. The water was freezing, her ankles throbbed and cried out for her to run, but she never did. Her brother had told her to wait for him there, and so she endured the pain.
Minutes seemed like hours in the small moat. Finally, Raxsies made his way under the bridge, taking her hands in his. He looked over his shoulder several times, making sure no one had followed him. He was tall and slender, with thick brown hair and eyes that could shame the most clarified of emeralds. The prince pulled her into his arms, hoping to slow her shivering. He looked at her full lips and how they had come to turn a vibrant pink from the cold. He kissed her, rubbing her back in a supportive nature. The meeting was not like all others that preceded it. Instead, it was one of sad realization. The couple took a moment to look at each other. It had been weeks since they last were left alone to explore their lust. With a sigh, Raxsies came to speak.
"Sister, we must put an end to this relationship. Father has come to see you promised to another. You are to be married to Prince Alo'car Trazdeign. Your joining will ensure peace between our country and the native lands of Ota'ana." Tears began to rim the eyes of the girl. She was frightened, she was no longer a maiden, and her heart had been claimed by her brother. Uonata was ignorant of the fact that what she felt was not real love. It was primal attraction forced upon her by acts of mental and physical abuse. The princess fell forward, her knees growing weak as she clung to his clothes. "Please, brother. Do not let father sell me off to this man. I know nothing of their culture, I love you and only you and shall until my last breath. If they find out I have lost my maidenhead, our father will see me killed."
The soft touch of his index finger moved over her lips. "Shh, hush now sweet girl. There are ways to conceal your condition. I will be at your side every step of the way. If we do not succeed in severing our bond now, the penalty will be death for us both." The young woman did not understand how he could so quickly turn from her. She thought back to all the times he had come to promise they would be together until death did them part. Perhaps it was his age that allowed him to disconnect so easily she thought. He was ten years wiser than she was and for the duration of her life had always been close to her in every way.
The storm seemed to grow with fury, the winds picked up and suddenly, the biting chill of the went sank into her bones. "Raxsies, I beseech you. Do not leave me alone in this world. You have always protected me. My heart when it knew not how to beat. My mind when the laws of our existence saw it ground down into dust. You protected my body and taught me how to be a woman, one you said you would always love. If I am married to Prince Trazdeign, I will never see you again. Do not sever our cord of love. I will not survive without you."
The rushing footsteps of the king's men could be heard traveling atop the cobblestone above their heads. They carried torches in hand searching frantically for the princess who had been announced as missing. Raxsies pulled his sister into his arms, backing them both into the stone around them. They hid in the shadows until the men passed. Only then did Raxsies speak again. "I will always be with you. Perhaps, not as frequently as I have been but I will never forget what you are to me. You are the love of my life and my sister. As your eldest borther, I will always do what I can to ensure that you are safe. There is no place nor man alive that could keep me from you. Trust me Uonata, you may become his wife, but you will always be mine forevermore."
The princess wept slowly into his chest, her nails digging into the delicate fabric of his blouse. His words had failed to calm her. Instead, they made her look further into the future. A future lacking him embrace and intoxicating touch. Pulling herself together, Uonata nodded forcing herself to understand the speech recently relayed. "I will do as commanded brother. After all, I have no other choice in such matters." Stroking her strands from her swollen view Raxsies lead her from under the bridge. "You must return to your bedchambers. Father has sent many of his men to search for you when he found your ladies lacking your company. Go now and try your best to go unnoticed." He pressed her towards the courtyard, watching the grounds for looming eyes. Doing as instructed Uonata made her way inside leaving her brother to be swallowed by the rain.
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