The Testing

Prince Mahon stood at the window, paying more attention to the birds than to his father’s words. He was dressed in full regalia, royal blue slacks, frilled white shirt and blue jacket. The buttons were silver, as was the thick circlet on his brow. His royal sash, fitting tightly against his chest, was a light blue, lined with silver. His boots, black as night, shone almost blindingly in the sun that filtered through the glass window. He was jolted out of his thoughts by his mother’s irritated voice.

“Mahon! You could at least pretend to pay attention to your father. This is very important.” She snapped. Though she loved him dearly, Queen Celatheria was becoming more frustrated with her eldest child by the moment.

Mahon tore his eyes from the window to stare at his mother. She was also dressed in her finest dress and full regalia. Her dress was a soft rose pink with a darker pink sash tied around her waist. Her royal purple sash lined with gold hung across her chest, and her gold circlet rested against her red curls. His mother didn’t often curl her hair, preferring to wear it in an elegant bun, but today was a very important day. Mahon’s twelve-year-old sister, Arlinaria sat next to their mother, dressed in similar attire with a silver lined pink sash and silver circlet. Mahon glanced at his father, taking in the gold lined sash and royal crown adorned with jewels. His father’s frown matched the seriousness of his dress, and for a moment Mahon regretted his inattention. However, his frustration with the situation won over and he spoke quickly.

“I have heard this over and over since I was Arlinaria’s age. I already know what is going to happen, and I don’t see the point of belaboring it further.” The king sighed before speaking.

“Celatheria, Arlinaria, could you please wait in the throne room for us? I need to speak to Mahon alone for a moment.” Daredren said, his tone making it clear that it was not a request, but a politely worded order. Celatheria gave her husband a stern look, silently urging him to set Mahon straight, before standing and leading their daughter from the room.

“Mahon, I understand your frustration…” He began.

“How can you possibly? You aren’t the one about to marry some random girl just because she was smart enough to get through the testing grounds in one piece!” Mahon said hotly.

“If you truly know the law as well as you claim, you’ll realize that I was once in your shoes. I love your mother very much, but I had never seen her before the day of our betrothal.” Daredren said.

“I don’t know if I really believe that Father, you and mother seem to love each other so much, how is that possible if she was chosen for you?” Mahon responded.

“I believe it is time for me to impart some information about the ceremony to you” Daredren sighed before continuing, “The testing grounds were created to provide the best possible match for the heir to the throne, the best possible queen for the realm. However, they do more than test a woman’s strength and ability to rule. The grounds are imbued with ancient magic, which knows ever heir deeper than he could possibly know himself. The woman that survives the grounds does not do so from mere strength and wisdom, but because the grounds allows her to survive.”

“I don’t understand…” Mahon began.

“If you would let me finish, perhaps you would.” His father responded irritably.

“Sorry Father, please continue.”

“The grounds choose the woman based on her compatibility with you. The woman the grounds choose is your one true mate…a soul mate if you will.” Daredren finished.

“But I still don’t have a choice in the matter, and what if the grounds choose the wrong woman?” Mahon asked.

“That is not possible. The grounds can only choose the one that is your best match, the one you would choose yourself.”

“Then why not allow me the chance to choose for myself?”

“Once that was how things were done. All the young heirs had the ability to pick out their soul mates. An ability that many desired themselves. They were sent out on their seventeenth birthday to travel across the kingdom and find their mate. For the first five princes, there was no contest to their mate, for each girl was of noble birth. The sixth prince however, found his mate in the servant’s quarters of the palace. This caused an uproar, how could a servant be a proper queen? Due to the discontent of the people, the prince was forbidden to marry his mate, and forced to marry a nobleman’s daughter.” Daredren said.

“What happened? Wasn’t the prince miserable?” Mahon asked.

“Yes he was, and so was the kingdom. Because the fates were thwarted, they cast a curse on the kingdom. A plague swept across the land, eventually inflicting and killing the queen. Now that the prince was king, he was able to thwart the people’s desires and married his true love. The curse instantly lifted, and the kingdom was prosperous again. The king used his magic to create the testing grounds, and the law. Now no matter the rank or status of the girl, the grounds decision is final. No one can force the prince to marry someone else, because he is immediately betrothed to the woman that emerges from the grounds.” Daredren finished his tale, keeping a close eye on his son. When Mahon sighed and looked again to the window he knew the prince understood.

“Alright Father, I understand the importance of the ceremony now, and am ready to accept my fate.” Mahon said.

“Shall we join your mother and sister then?” Daredren asked.

“Yes.”

Mahon and Daredren entered the throne room. The announcement of the prince’s impending betrothal was formally made, and the guards were ordered to collect the candidates. They were given strict orders to gather every girl, noble or servant, and to be gentle and courteous to every candidate. The town crier announced the order in the town square, where Lord Nathaniel Titan and his family were shopping.