An orc ...
An orc?
She shook her head, surely her eyes must be deceiving her.
"What is the meaning of this?" King Anir's voice boomed like thunder. His face twisted with anger and he rose from his chair. "Seize them!" he ordered. The sound of swords unsheathing rang from every knight and pointed toward the Prince—who, surprisingly, maintained an air of composure. Though his eyes scanned at the knights, and Ophelia could see the thought that lay behind his gaze.
Could he survive this?
No, she knew the answer.
A wave of guilt washed through her. It was her fault he'd come here. It was the magic of the spell that summoned him to leave his orc kingdom and to travel all the way here. If he is killed, then it will be her hands the blood rests upon.
She stepped forward and rushed passed her father, slipping through the armed men, though some tried to catch her. She halted in front of Prince Charming and splayed her hands outward in the air, creating a barrier between Charming and her kingdom. "Stop!" she cried.
No knight would dare raise a blade to a princess, and immediately they tips of their blades dipped. "What is the meaning of this?" King Anir demanded.
"It is no crime to request my hand in marriage," she challenged her father. "If you shall put him to death for doing so, then I shall vow to never marry. Even if you tie me up and drag me to the alter, I shall not say yes."
"Orc bandits have wrecked havoc on trading routes for centuries," King Anir countered.
Ophelia expected it and was ready. "This brave prince has done what no other orc has dared to do, and that is to create peace between our kinds. You would execute him for trying to solve the very thing that you dare deny him for?"
The king stared at his daughter for a long while, then he sighed. "Stand down," he ordered, and the knights stepped back into their places, swords down. "Well then, daughter, what say you, hmm? Shall you take this orcs hand in marriage?"
She turned around, facing the orc. He looked down at her, his long, black hair draped into his face. He squared his shoulders and Ophelia eyed how broad they were. His face was calm, and he stared down at her with his violet eyes. Which were kind, she noticed. He waited patiently for her answer.
She shook her head. "No, I will not," she decided. "But you and your guards are welcome to stay here for until the new month. If we are to align our kingdoms, you must first win my heart, Prince Charming of Orkvard."