Chapter Text
“His Royal Highness has requested your presence in the throne room, princess. It’s time.”
Lena sent the maid on her way with a flick of her hand, not even bothering to look back at h as she took one last look at the palace gardens. She could remember running through the maze of bushes as a child, Lex hot on her heels as they played together. Life had been simpler then. When Lionel had still been alive and ruled with humility, when the only thing Lena had to fear was messing up a dress while she was playing with Lex. It lasted until she was fourteen, and then Lionel was gone and Lena was left unguarded. Lex took over as King as soon as the mourning period allowed and suddenly he was too busy to spend time with Lena. She was completely alone. Lillian took great joy in preying on her while Lex was away on business.
“It’s about time you learn how to be a good submissive wife,” Lillian had hissed at her one day as she forcefully dragged her to a study across the castle. Lena hadn’t fought back then and she regret it every day after. She’d been taught the principles of etiquette over and over; How to dress, how to sit, how to eat, what to say, etc.
She was a ‘proper woman’ by the time she was sixteen, and that’s when the thinly veiled threats began. “You’ll make a fine wife one day. Let’s hope for your sake the man with the biggest pockets has a soft hand.” It was no surprise to the women of the court that they were nothing but pawns. It was common for fathers and older brothers to sell their sisters for wealth or loyalties sworn. Lena should have been expecting it since she was little, but when Lionel had smiled at her like she had a small glimmer of hope kindled in her heart that maybe her father loved her too much to do something so horrible… She never thought the threat would come from her beloved older brother. The news had come to her two days prior. Not in person of course, Lex simply didn’t have time to spare, but in the form of a letter. She was instructed to pack what she wanted and be ready when her future spouse came to retrieve her. Lena, ever the rebel, packed nothing but a trunk full of her favorite books and another trunk of miscellaneous clothing items; a few dresses, most of her underthings, and of course her favorite nightgowns.
“It’s now or never Lena,” she mumbled to herself. With one last look over the gardens Lena turned away from them and faced her future head on.
The walk to the throne room was uneventful. She only passed a handful of servants and they all kept their heads bowed, actively avoiding eye contact and any other kind of contact. She strode into the throne room with her head held high, even daring to stare her brother head on as she walked towards him. She stopped at the bottom of the three steps that led to his throne and curtsied, just as she’d been taught.
“You look beautiful,” Lex said, a small proud smile on his face.
It was the first thing he’d actually said to her in months and if the situation had been different Lena would have loved the attention from her beloved brother. Sadly, he had just sold her and Lena was not going to take anything from him but his farewell.
“Thank you.” Lena was curt as she walked to stand beside and slightly behind his throne. Luckily she didn’t have to stand long. Only moments after Lena settled beside her brother the throne doors were opened.
The Herald stepped forward and with a booming voice called out, “Now announcing her Royal Majesty; Princess Kara Zor-El, heir apparent of Krypton.” Lena let out a sigh of relief that it was a woman, but she was quick to inhale when Kara strode into the room.
Kara exhumed confidence in everything that she was. She was dressed in a blue waistcoat and trousers with golden trim. Shining black riding boots clicked against the marble as she walked, and from her shoulders flowed a cloak dark as night. Their eyes locked and Lena felt herself drowning in the mystery of this woman. The urge to unlock all her secrets clawed at Lena’s heart and she had half a mind to run. The poor muscle was pumping faster and faster as Kara drew near and Lena was half afraid everyone in the room could hear it. Finally Kara came to a stop in front of them and gave a slight bow of her head. A strong play on her part; giving respect where it was due without undermining her own royal status. Lena had to admit the woman was brave.
“Your majesty, it is an honor to finally meet you.” Her voice was like silk, warm and smooth. If Lena hadn’t been flushed and flustered before the dark timbre of Kara’s voice made certain she was now. She would have swooned had she not remembered why Kara was here in the first place.
“Kara Zor-el, welcome to my kingdom. I hope it is to your liking,” Lex said as he gave her a lazy, uninterested once over before meeting her eyes again. “I presume you’ve brought what was promised?” His eyebrow rose, the only sign of emotion on his otherwise blank face.
“Two-hundred pounds of gold and one-hundred pounds of silver await you with my entourage.”
Two-hundred pounds of gold. One-hundred pounds of silver. For me? Lena was going to faint. Kara turned her attention from Lex and set eyes on Lena, her gaze intense. They simply stared at each other and Lena took the opportunity to look Kara over. She’d never seen a Fae before, had heard the stories of course just as any other child had, but this was the first time she’d set eyes on one of them. Kara was beautiful, the soft curves of her face and strong cut of her jaw angelic in the light of the sun shining through the windows. Her hair was golden, like the richest wheat, and hung in waves to her shoulders, the top-half braided with the rest tucked behind her ears. Those were of great interest to Lena as well, the way they tapered to a point at the very top. She met Kara’s eyes once more and the princess gave her a dazzling smile, one that drew Lena’s attention more than anything else. Plump pink lips pulled slightly over straight teeth, and when Kara’s grin widened Lena could just make out the sharpened points of her canines.
“Princess Lena, it’s an honor to meet you.” The plump lips were moving and it drew Lena’s attention back to the current moment. Kara gave her a low bow before taking a slight step forward, hand outstretched. Lena acted on impulse and stepped forward to offer her hand. Kara’s touch was gentle against her palm as she pulled Lena’s hand almost to her lips, stopping just a hair’s breadth away from the skin. As she pulled away Lena let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her hand cold as Kara retreated back down the steps.
“Likewise.” Lena mentally reprimanded herself at the lack of finesse.
“I relinquish my sister to your care, do with her as you will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have many things to attend to.” Lex stood as he spoke, then turned to leave. He gave Lena one last look, one that Lena would later analyze over and over, and then he was retreating from the room. Once he was well and truly gone Kara turned to Lena and offered her hand once more.
“Are you ready to leave, Princess?”
Lena stared at the hand offered to her for a moment before she laid her hand on it. Kara was still as a statue as Lena walked up to her, eyes flitting from the floor to Kara’s face and then back again. Kara maneuvered Lena’s hand to the inside of her elbow and began to slowly lead her from the room. They walked in silence through the palace, Lena trying for the life of her to be brave in the face of her new future.
They soon arrived at the front of the palace, and then they were outside. The Kryptonian travel party was light, with only a single carriage and four guards on horses. Kara led her to the door of the carriage and turned from her only to open the door. She gave Lena an apologetic smile before her hands were on her waist and she was lifted her gently into the carriage.
“It’s about a day’s ride to the border of our kingdoms, and then another day’s travel to the royal city of Kandor. We’ll take short breaks every few miles to give the horses a break, and to give everyone time to stretch.” Kara’s voice was soft and gentle, so very different from the way she’d spoken in the throne room. Lena adjusted her skirts as Kara talked, trying to get them in a more comfortable position. “If you need anything I’ll be at your service.” The door shut quietly, and when Lena finally worked up the nerve to look up Kara was gone. She peeked out of the carriage to find Kara giving instructions to the four riders. All four nodded and got into position as she mounted the carriage and took the reigns. The carriage lurched slightly as the reigns were cracked, and they were on their way. Lena gave the palace one last look before turning forward to face her journey head on.