The Road Less Traveled

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. In fact, there hadn’t been anything of interest here in Vespus for as long as I can remember. Tales of adventures, dragons and unicorns hadn't been the setting for our small, quaint kingdom for quite a long time. In fact many believed such creatures such as dragons were a myth, as even in Kingdoms beyond Vespus dragon sightings were rare. Unicorns were even rarer. It was also a widely known fact that being born with the gift of magic had become increasingly rare, though no one knew why.

That is the reason it had always been an uneventful life here in the valley kingdom of Vespus . Day after day the same routine. Everyday I use my own rare magical gifts to help crops grow in the kingdom, or heal the wounded until I almost pass out. Then I go home to get ready to “enjoy” yet another dinner with some asshole suitor. You would think considering I’m 28 years old my father would realize by now that I don’t want an arranged marriage to some snobby stranger. And snobby strangers who only want to marry me at my age because of my rare magical gifts and station no less, not because they love ME or even want to really get to know who I am. Let’s just say it all came to a head one fateful and magical day.

“Kaywyn…are you really going to wear THAT dress? You look like a pauper. “ My mother sighs from my bedroom door, putting her hand through her rare ruby colored hair. This is how it started. In fact, this is how it always starts. Her emerald eyes gazed upon me with disappointment. Unfortunately, I happen to look a lot like my mother, coloring and all. Yet another thing that makes me desirable in spite of my ‘insolent’ nature. My mother walks in my room shaking her head and looks through my closet…again. She does so with a mission in mind. She finds a mint colored dress with a gold accent and lays it neatly upon the bed. I look up at her and inwardly sigh to myself, ready for yet another lecture. As I said…just my daily routine.

“You always do this…when will you realize this is all for your benefit?“ She started. I sit there trying not to look as disinterested in her lecture as I actually am. Either way she presses on. “Not many women have this rare opportunity. Many women in their late twenties wouldn't even have suitors, no matter how beautiful. And on top of it we’re letting you choose! You are a lucky woman, and you seem to be very unappreciative of that fact!” Her mother started as she paced around the room. “ You are a beautiful and gifted woman. And a princess at that! Any man would be lucky to marry you! We only want you to make a decision so you will be happy, but you reject everyone. Please give this man a chance? Please stop being selfish for once think about not just your own future but of the kingdom and us. We’d like a grandchild, and the kingdom needs an heir some time this century!” At the last sentence I just couldn’t bear it. I had finally had enough, so my anger got the best of me.

“I’ll go to this dinner tonight…but know this: This isn’t what I want for myself! Even as you so kindly put it, suitors come around for my status and powers, not because they really want to get to know me! I want a marriage to someone who wants to be with me for me. And if you cared for me at all you’d keep that in mind instead of forcing the idea of a loveless marriage to some stranger of YOUR choosing down my throat!” I was surprised at myself but I was screaming at her.

“I didn’t realize how ungrateful you were for our guidance all these years! You are a princess and that comes with responsibilities! We only want what is best for-” My mother started raising her voice. But little did either of us realize just how much I was at the end of my rope until that moment.

“I’m going to stop you right there! You don’t want what is best for me, you want what is best for you! You want what makes YOU look good to everyone else!” I screamed. You know, I’ve always wondered why it is that the only noble thing a distinguished woman can do in this kingdom is get married to a man with money or power? It’s positively asinine!

Just then I could hear my father’s footsteps “What is going on here? I’m hearing yelling all the way from downstairs!” he said, looking to both me and mother for an answer. My mother of course chimed in first.

“Our daughter is complaining about our choices of suitors for her and screaming at me for it! Of all the ungrateful things!”

“Is this true? Kaywyn, explain yourself right now.”

“I’m complaining that you’ve never asked me what I actually want.. And I can tell you I don’t want to marry a stranger! Even with your “choices” I feel trapped and bound, like my life isn’t my own. Have you once consulted me about the type of suitor I would like before picking them? Or even let me pick someone for myself that isn’t on your lists? Or maybe try to understand I might not want to get married at all? No, no you haven’t!” At this point I knew I had to stand my ground. I had finally outwardly stated my intentions to them. Perhaps I could even make them understand, make them realize how suffocating it feels to not feel like your life isn’t your own. Then my father opened his mouth…

“I know your mother has been trying to drill into your head how lucky you are Kaywyn. Not only are we trying to find you a suitable match, we are letting you choose one of your liking, which isn’t something normally done, especially by royalty! We have responsibilities. We know you won’t have a love match right away but that doesn’t mean you won’t grow to love one another, if you choose the right man. And as far as I am concerned I believe your mother and I have been more than fair with you. In fact I believe we’ve given you too much freedom. After today’s escapade I’m giving you an ultimatum: Choose one of the suitors we pick for you within the month or we’re going to choose for you, like it’s normally done! End of story!” My father stormed off down the stairs. With a gloating smirk my mother said “Get ready and be down within the hour…” as she followed my father down the stairs. So…there went the idea of my parents understanding me and my needs. Wonderful.

As I was getting ready I sulked in my room while the servants got me dressed in the dress my mother chose and did my hair. I am not proud of myself saying this but I cried until I was deemed ready for dinner. When I went down to dinner I met yet another man who pretended to want to win my heart. In truth I don’t even remember his name. It’s not important anyway. What is important is that it got me wondering a lot about my parents’ motives for giving me such a time frame now of all times.

As I got out of my bath and got ready for bed that evening the reason suddenly hit me like a lance hitting a jouster in the head. My father wanted me engaged by month’s end so that he could announce the engagement at the festival for the 250th anniversary of the kingdom’s founding. This festival was yearly but this year’s celebration was rumored to be particularly magnificent. Again trying to make the kingdom, and therefore himself, look good.

Now I understand that both my parents believe that me getting married and having kids is what is needed for the kingdom’s sake. I sometimes think they truly think it’s for my own benefit. But fact is I don’t want to rule, even if it is what I’ve been bred for. Literally. And my old teachers can keep on saying that those who don’t want power are the best people to have it, but that doesn’t mean I should have the kingdom’s power and be the queen. Power can corrupt even the kindest people with the noblest of intentions. And besides that even if I were to be the queen, whatever douchebag I’d be married to would technically have more power than I would anyway, even though it’s my kingdom. Obviously because I had the audacity to be born a female. Gods I hate all this patriarchal bullcrap. I suppose the only good part is that I was underestimated. What people around me don’t seem to realize is that I may be stubborn, I may be insolent, but one thing I’m not is stupid.

Now I’m sure you want to know how this all pertains to the dragons coming back to Vespus? Well I’ll skip a little ahead then. I had that month to my advantage. Did you really think I was going to just sit there and go “I’m just going to do just as I’m told and give up all control of my own life”? If you think the answer to that is yes you definitely haven’t been paying attention.

I made a plan and began putting it into action. It took nearly the entire month to prepare, but I knew if I didn’t do something I’d be trapped. I’d be forever put in the gilded cage of a royal, loveless marriage. To me that was a fate worse than death.

I began by secretly acquiring clothing to look like a peasant, especially clothing fit for travel. I ended up sewing what gold coins I could get into handmade pockets within the acquired skirts and petticoats and hid them away outside the castle. I watched closely how the peasants spoke, walked, and acted towards others. I also went and found a mixture of herbs to dye my hair a golden blonde color, as the rarity of my crimson hair would more than likely give me away. I also hid some jerky and other provisions in the forest during my daily ride out to town.

Then the day came. I remember being nervous, wondering if my plan would work. Or even if it did, how far would I have to go? What new world awaited me? There were a lot of unknown situations, but in my heart I knew it was better than the alternative.

On the day of the celebration I told my parents I had made my decision. They were overjoyed believing I had chosen a suitor. Now I didn’t technically lie to them persay, I just didn’t tell them what TYPE of decision I had made, and let them assume with their smiles. I told them I was going to get dressed, that I would see them later (now that part was a lie...), and walked away. As I pretended to take my bath I instead crushed the herbs for hair dye and made it into a soaplike paste to put in my hair and covered it to let the dye sink in. I got dressed in simple traveler’s clothes, took a small bag with my dress (so they still thought I was wearing it), and climbed out of my bedroom window. When I was far enough away I found a brook and quickly washed the dye out of my hair and got redressed. The dye worked, so far so good, but I only had a certain amount of time before they knew I was gone and not just getting ready, so I had no time to waste. And everything was going according to plan.

As smart as I am, however, I made one big mistake. I didn’t prepare a horse for my escape. This was a bad oversight. That means if the guards did recognize me in spite of everything they would be faster than me. Which means I’d still be trapped, and I’d be in a lot of trouble on top of it.

So when I heard the galloping of horses with guards getting closer and closer, even as I ran, I panicked. I was sure they would find me and return me to my cage, this time with no chance to escape. But at the darkest moment, when I could swear I heard them right behind me, a miracle happened.

I heard hooves from behind me. I thought it was a guard, but to my shock and awe I saw her as I looked behind me. She came into the clearing as graceful as a swan. Her alabaster body shone like the moon. Her horn was as sharp as a knife. The sight of her took my breath away. What happened next shocked me even more.

Now it is said that unicorns only appear to the pure of body. That was something made up by, you got it, men. After all, if this were true then this magnificent creature would have never appeared before me. Now from what I learned in my studies, and now my experiences, they appear before the pure of heart, the pure of soul. Makes more sense, doesn't it? I humbly would never have believed that of myself, but there she was.

All this happened in the matter of seconds, even though it felt like hours. Without speaking she kneeled down by me, motioning me to get on her back. Finally coming to myself and realizing that she was my only hope, I climbed onto her back. She was faster than the guard’s horses, so I would finally be able to get away. I would finally be free.

What I didn’t know was this was only the beginning of my adventure. I ran away to take control of my life, to create my own destiny. Little did I know that I was also creating my own adventure. And yes…There were dragons.