Chapter Four: Vivian

                                    

                                          

Chapter Four 
Vivian
I walk into the Enchancian palace keeping pace behind my parents. The castle is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The huge white towers with purple tops are gorgeous. 
We stand behind the large wooden doors as we wait to be announced. While studying under King Magnus I learned how to make the perfect entrance. I found it stupid at first, but now I feel more confident as I push my shoulders back and lift my chin allowing my hair to fall over my shoulders. As soon as the doors open my eyes immediately catch James'. It's my first glance at him in a year, and he looks better than ever, if possible. His blonde hair effortlessly framing his perfect face. His sharp jawline sticks out every time he turns his head, and I know that hiding underneath his suit is a toned six-pack that goes wonderfully with his silhouette. I have to bite the inside of my cheeks to keep from smiling every time I look at him. 
I follow everyone into the dining room, trying to keep my eyes up and away from James. I then see the rest of my friends. I rush to them hugging them all and telling them how much I missed them. Magnus would not approve of the way I rushed at them. I couldn't help myself, though. Not seeing my friends for a year was torture. When I get to Sofia I hug her and squeal telling her we most definitely need to catch up. I'm almost as excited to see her as I am to see James, almost. Everyone then clears away as we are brought to our assigned seats. 
By some chance, I was seated next to him. To James. I try to muster the courage to say something, anything to him, but I can't think of a single thing. What an idiot. I internally scream at myself. 
Instead, I follow along with the rest of the group's conversation. 
The seating arrangement is different than usual, instead of sitting with our families, we sit alternating boys and girls. I'm sitting next to James. Across from us are Sofia and Hugo, next to them are Hildegard and Zander, across from them are Axel and Astrid, and Amber and Clio are sitting across from each other on the end. Zander says something I'm not paying attention to, and everyone laughs. I notice that James is not paying attention either. Instead, he is looking down and fidgeting with a loose thread on his suit. 
I'm definitely staring when he turns and looks at me. We lock eyes. It's only for a split second, but I feel a rush of heat throughout my body. Never once in all my years of stealing glances at him has he ever returned the gesture. A sudden flicker of hope goes off in my heart. It makes me want to smile and kick my feet and freak out for hours. I so would have if I weren't surrounded by the rulers of some of the most powerful kingdoms in the world.  
I quickly try to shut all thoughts of James down. If he hasn't liked me for this long, he never will I tell myself. 
I look around desperately trying to focus on something else. Everyone is talking with the person next to them. Hugo and Sofia laugh, Zandar compliments Hildegard, Astrid argues with Axel, and Clio and Amber whisper. 
"So...how was studying under King Magnus?" James asks, bringing my attention back to him. 
"Good!" I reply, a little too excitedly. "He's a little much sometimes, but a good king nonetheless," I add controlling myself a bit better.
"I know what you mean." 
"What have you been doing all year?" I ask. 
"Mostly training with the rest of the knights." I almost forgot he's a knight. Great. He just keeps getting more and more out of my league. I wouldn't say I'm ugly, but I'm nowhere near the kind of person James should be dating. 
"Sounds like fun!" I say a bit too late. 
"It's whatever." He's blushing. He's blushing? James doesn't blush. Why is he blushing? Is he blushing at me? He starts to say something else, but King Roland interrupts him.
"Attention everyone!" He announces. "Children, you might be wondering the reason for this gathering. This might come as a shock to some of you, but there are opposing kingdoms attempting to overtake the Ever Realm. Now I'm not going to beat around the bush, this will lead to war. Blugona and Karitzion especially have been advancing on our northern border. We suspect they will make a move on one of your kingdoms next." I'm numb. I look around the table and everyone is speechless except for Amber. She looks... Unphased.
"Your parents and I have already discussed an alliance. We have all agreed upon uniting our kingdoms through marriage to make our alliance stronger than ever. You will all be arranged to marry one of the royal children around you." 
I don't think I've ever been more shocked in my life. My thoughts start going a mile a minute. War? Arranged Marriages? Who will I be married to? Is it James? What if it's Hugo? I can't do that to Sofia! What if it's Axel? I can't marry him, he's crazy! King Roland starts talking before I can let my thoughts roam any further. 
"The betrothed will be Hildegard and Zandar, Sofia and Hugo, Astrid and Axel, and Vivian and James." 
This can't be real. I must have misheard. Surely this is all some crazy nightmare. But I can't wake up. 
I'm going to marry James. 
Oh. My. God. 
Oh my god!
You'd think I'd be excited about getting to marry the love of my life, but Panic is surging through me. I need to get out of here. 
"Why isn't Amber getting married?" Hildegard asks. I hadn't realized Amber hadn't been betrothed until now. Clio too has not been betrothed. So why us? Why me?
"She was arranged to be betrothed to Desmond, but the Kingdom of Mezbez has fallen and is now under the rule of Blugona." King Roland explains. I hear the gasps of my friends around the table. I don't gasp. I don't do anything. I'm in complete shock. I can't think. I can't do anything. I can't take it anymore. 
"Excuse me," I mutter so low I wonder if anyone even heard me. I don't care though, I run to the bathroom with Sofia not far behind.