Dream: Unexpected Alliance

Date: 1/8/2021

I was a faery prince being married off to a vampiric prince for political gain. I had never met my betrothed. Only been shown a picture of him. His picture made him seem like he could be kind and elegant. So I had hoped of him. As it drew nearer to the time of the wedding… I had been sent to meet my betrothed in his kingdom. My traveling companions consisted of two knights that were greatly trusted by my parents as well as my psuedodragon familiar, Mazha. We traveled for quite some time to get to the Vampire kingdom. Once there we were treated as just barely above commoner status. This caused us to have to keep our guard up while Mazha stayed camouflaged and on my shoulders. We eventually found ourselves close to the castle only to be turned away by its guards. Them stating that no royals outside their kingdom's royals were allowed entrance. I could feel my magic bubble up with my annoyance but I calmed it. We headed to the nearest tavern to grab drinks and reevaluate our plan. In time we were having some laughs with some of the other patrons. ------------------------------------------------------ It was at the tavern where my betrothed appeared. He walked over to us and harshly grabbed my wrist. He tried to force me out of the bar, gaining glares from our current company and my knights. "Time to leave, dear." The Vampire prince seethed. I yanked my wrist from his grasp as Mazha growled low at him. "I can walk without such force, dear." I spat that last word out. The vampire prince rolled his eyes and led us out of the tavern. One of my knights quickly paid our tab only for the vampires we'd been drinking with to give it back to her as thanks for the company. They paid our tab for us. "You should be more respectful to your future husband." The vampire prince scolded. "I could say the same to you." I quipped as we headed to his carriage. Just before reaching the carriage, I noticed a man unconscious on the ground. I stepped from our path to the carriage and headed over to him. He had a bit of bruising on one hand and a few cuts on the bit of exposed torso. I gently awoke him. "Sir can you hear me?" I asked him, "I need you to wake up." His eyes slowly opened as he looked up at me, "Why?" I blinked in surprise, "Were you asleep? No matter. I needed you awake so we could at least move you somewhere you won't get stepped on." "So you just don't want me to inconvenience others." The man said with a sigh. "No. I don't want you to get hurt worse than you clearly are." I told him a bit harshly, "Don't twist my words." It took a bit asI and one of my knights moved him onto a bench by the tavern. My betrothed continued to fuss in his carriage but I wasn't having it. He even threw up by the carriage at one point. I sighed as my knights both scowled. "I wish you safe travels, young prince." The man we'd helped whispered, "But I'd be wary of that man's intentions if I were you." I nodded and gave him a bit of coin, "Go get yourself seen. You've been injured." He nodded to me, "Get going. He isn't likely to stay tame over there." I nodded once more and climbed into the carriage. Mazha stayed on my shoulders. My knights walked alongside the carriage. "You shouldn't be so kind to everyone. They'll eventually turn on you." The vampire prince told me. "Better to know it was because they were bad at heart and not because I was unkind to them." I stated with a huff.  He scowled at me but remained quiet.  I just shook my head and looked out the window. A single thought crossed my mind, "I wish I could just marry for love with no regrets… instead of be forced to marry for political gain." ------------------------------------------------------ Many nights had passed. I was being taught the politics and traditions of this kingdom at the time. All in preparation for the marriage to come. Over this time I was under constant supervision by any family royal that was currently free. I got to learn and understand quite a few of them. All but two of the younger ones had seemed greatly unkind. Eventually I got a night of freedom. My two knights had stayed as my guards, sharing a room next to mine. Mazha continued to be my main line of defense and loyal companion. She helped me sneak out the castle for a night so I could get some fresh air. So I could be more like me. "Finally got to step out of there gaze." I heard someone say. I glanced around and noticed the man I'd helped several days back. He smiled and walked over to my side. "You really shouldn't be out alone." He told me. "I'm never really alone." I responded as Mazha made herself more noticeable, "Mazha is always here to protect me if my abilities fail." Mazha gave a huff of pride and nuzzled my cheek at those words. "That's good to know." He stated and held out a hand, "I'm Avikor. May I know your name?" I shook my head, "You may call me Kryn. You should know better than to try and get a faery's true name." Even so, I shook his hand with a smirk. He shook my hand as well and grinned. "Oh I know. I just wanted to see how mad they'd driven you." AvIkor said with a laugh. I let go of his hand and shook my head again. "Not that mad." "So, Prince Kryn, do you know the truth of wishes?"  "Not necessarily." "It's said that even a wish spoken in the heart can be heard by those who can grant them." Avikor's expression was now serious as we headed towards the tavern. "Heh I doubt that. I haven't once seen proof that my wish could come true." I told him, "On top of that, my wish would cause too much trouble for all involved." "Yet you still wish for it," he seemed more to state than to ask. "Yes because I want to help both kingdoms...but not the way they want me to." I told him honestly, "Though you clearly already gathered that." Avikor nodded, "You should be careful before speaking that wish aloud though. Never know what being will choose to grant it." We ended the conversation there and went to the bar counter. Some of the patrons recognized me from the other day and had us join them at their table. We chatted and drank up while playing some cards. Mazha was even given some different treats like some fish and chicken legs. ------------------------------------------------------ The night went on and soon enough it was time to leave. Mazha and I waved goodbye to the crowd as we left. We walked on towards the castle. We snuck in the way we escaped and grabbed a nice hot bath. I changed and got ready to deal with the night's studies while Mazha rested on my bed nearby. "Well Mazha, it'll be a long night." I whispered. Mazha just made an almost humming sound and curled up by my pillow.  "Yes, you should try and rest. I have some papers to look over." I told her with a smile. The next couple days passed and I was soon forcibly woken from my bed by one of the footmen. After getting changed I was rushed down to the main hall. Mazha was quietly huffing while on my shoulders. I noticed both my knights standing alongside the knights of the house.  "What's going on?" I whispered to the footman. "We have a powerful guest visiting." He told me quietly, "A vampire god." I blinked in surprise and just nodded as if that made enough sense for all this chaos. I couldn't remember my family ever putting up such a fuss when the Archfey would visit. Soon enough the doors of the castle opened up and there stood a very nicely dressed… Avikor??? He waltzed in wearing a well-tailored suit. He was far more cleaned up and together than he'd been the past couple times I'd seen him. He winked at me before looking at the bewildered vampire royals. They all dropped to their knees and bowed their heads to him. Almost as if given a silent command to do so. "I've been watching your reign these last few years, highness, and I must say I'm unimpressed." Avikor told the king. The king grimaced at those words but couldn't seem to speak. "Not only did you create a thieving economic gap between you, the nobles, and everyone else…" Avikor started as his tone became harsh, "You also declared that pompous child of yours the next ruler when there are far more suited leaders in your family. You even stole away this faery from his kingdom to try and scare off your adversaries when that child of yours is more likely to try and execute him on their honeymoon." Mazha growled at that remark and I used my magic to keep her in place. "I did what was best for…" the king started but his voice was silenced. "What was best for your legacy maybe, but not this kingdom." Avikor told him, "Until the ones I choose come-of-age I will take over as ruler here. You, and your wretched child, will help me clean up the mess you've made on my lands." His eyes darkened as he made sure they understood his intentions. He nodded in satisfaction before turning his gaze on me. "Prince Kryn, you don't have to remain bound to that contract. We can ally with your kingdom in another manner. However, I would still like your aid here. The people who have met you here will listen to you. Through you and them… we can begin fixing things properly." I gave an awkward smile, "I can certainly try." Avikor nodded as if that was an acceptable answer. He then took the reins of the castle, and kingdom, and started on his plans for change. ------------------------------------------------------------ Months went by. The former king and prince had been moved to a new home that was built for nobles. The prince's youngest cousin and her husband were asked to stay. Along with their parents. Avikor saw great promise in them as possible rulers. They were both far too young to lead now, not even half a century in age, but he felt they both could in time. Dahlia was being trained as a warrior so she could lead their militia and handle the strategies. Andros, her husband, was being taught more on the ins and outs of the political game. Dahlia's parents were helping them both to make sure neither forgot to care for the lower class people. As the years wore on I had started getting used to the vampire kingdom. I'd gone back to visit my home now and again. Avikor and Mazha both at my side to make sure they knew the alliance was set but not through marriage. It was set through a strong trust.  I still had those thoughts now and again. Of wanting to one day marry for love. Though anymore, I find it better to keep my mouth shut on that. Mainly because my idiot heart was in love with a god and that was not going to be an easily won battle. (I awoke after that.)