Not Part of the Bargain

((Closed for Seranova and myself))


“Marriage?” Wilkens chuckles, “They can’t be serious.”

“They are and I’m to give my answer this evening at dinner.” Sianna says softly as she and her second-in-command sit in the saddles of their steeds, parked on the ridge, which offers the only view of Lockwood; the neighboring kingdom to the west of Tyrr beyond the mountainous terrain. From this point the highest towers of Lockwood Castle can be seen. She’d asked Wilkens to go for ride, bringing him here so she might seek advice from the man she considers her most trusted friend.

“I’m surprised you agreed to give it any thought you’re a soldier, not some princess or courtier to be sold off. Agreeing to marry Lord Derrick means you leave Tyrr for Lockwood.”

“I’m aware of what it means and while my father never forced me into the role of courtier it doesn’t negate the fact that I am the king’s niece and since my uncle only has sons they are looking to me to agree to this union to further solidify the treaty.”

The raven haired beauty turns her head shifting deep blue eyes from the horizon to her friend, “It may not be ideal, but Derrick seems a decent man and he’s handsome. His interest in me in part is because I am a soldier; he doesn’t want some empty headed woman who only stands around looking pretty.”

“And you know this how?”

“From the letter he wrote to me and sent along with the official proposal.”

The burly warrior lifts thick fingers to scratch his beard in thought only to shake his head, “I don’t trust these people. You asked for my opinion and I say refuse. Don’t let them make you a pawn. You’re one of our best leaders and warriors.”

“I’m already a pawn.” Sianna smiles as leather gloved hands take up the reins and with a tug steers the steed away from the edge to head back to Tyrr Castle. “I don’t trust them either. It’s been four years since the last war and nearly a year since we’ve had any type of scuffle along the border. Hundreds of years of trying to conqueror and expand their lands. Are we to accept that the Regent… this Duke Montgomery wants peace? And then there is my father who was very clear about my duty. I’m lucky to have been given a choice at all.”

“And that’s the key, you have a choice.”

“Aye and if I say no...we both know my father is not one to cross, but if I say yes…” Sianna muses and holds up a hand to stop Wilkens’ objection, “Hear me out, if I say yes, then I travel to Lockwood under the guise of getting know Derrick better and while there I dig around… find out their true intentions.”

“Always the dangerous game with you.” Wilkens grins.

The two are silent the rest of the ride back. Sianna lost in thought as she considers her next steps. On the last stretch she snaps the reins and races her friend to the stables. They leave their horses with the stable boy and Sianna waves to Wilkens as she walks to the castle’s side entrance, “Say hello to Lorna.”

Once indoors she climbs the winding staircase four floors to where the family’s apartments are located. Changing out of her riding clothes into a casual blue gown she sits down in front of the vanity to run a comb through the waist length ebony curls and then selects a necklace. A solitaire teardrop sapphire on a white gold chain; it had belonged to her mother. Staring at herself in the mirror she prepares herself for the evening ahead; dinner with her uncle Richard – the king, his advisor Ramiro and her father. The one buffer will be her aunt Cybil, the queen and though they have had their differences through the years, especially when she decided to follow in her father’s footsteps; the woman has always been there like a mother.

The dinner hall is usually filled with the court, but tonight it is quiet and intimate; walking into the hall Sianna is instantly greeted by her father. “My dear you are the spitting image of your mother.”

Sir Logan approaches his daughter and offers his arm, which she takes, “We were just discussing the advantage of your acceptance of Lord Derrick’s proposal.”

Sianna smiles as she sits at the table, it seems there will be no pleasantries tonight and her decision will set the tone of the evening. There have been few times in her life when she felt the pressure of her station, and none as tense as tonight. Though she had decided to accept the proposal her stubborn nature keeps her from telling them straight off. “The conversation strikes me as premature considering I’ve yet to make my decision.”

There is silence thick with tension around the table with all eyes on her, but it is Advisor Ramiro who breaks the silence, “Lady Klynn –“

“Captain Klynn.” Sianna corrects him as she picks up the goblet of wine for a sip then looks directly at Ramiro. “Do not mistake who I am Advisor Ramiro, a warrior for this kingdom who happens to his Majesty's niece—“

“Sianna.”

Her father says her name in that low warning tone, but she’s not interested in listening. If she is going to play into their wishes then she will do it on her own terms. “No father, I have every right to speak after all this is my life we’re discussing; a life I’ve risked countless times for the kingdom.”

“My dear…”

“Please Uncle allow me to finish.” Her eyes plead with her uncle till he inclines his head. A tight lip smile pulls across her lips as she looks to her aunt then back to her uncle, “When my mother died the two of you helped my father by treating my brother and me as your own. You’ve never asked for anything in return until now… and I understand why, which is why I wish to negotiate the terms of my engagement.”

The air in the room breathes a sigh of relief with her words, but it is Advisor Ramiro which eyes the young warrior suspiciously. “This is highly irregular that you should have any say in the terms of what will become part of the treaty.”

“Which is exactly why I will have my say,” pushing away from the table she stands to her feet with the wine goblet in her hand, she takes a sip and tries to slow the rapid beat of her heart. “I will tentatively accept Lord Derrick’s proposal and make the journey to Lockwood, so we may get to know one another before I decide whether or not I will marry him.”

“Sire, the lady’s proposal is little more than an open ended courtship and can hardly be added to the treaty as a condition.”

Sianna shoots a dangerous look at Ramiro then looks to her uncle, “With all due respect Sire, why should I give up my freedom and why are we rushing into this treaty? They’ve been our enemy for countless years!”

“Sianna sit.” King Richard begins in a calm voice and waits for her to comply before continuing, “My dear I understand your resistance, but with this treaty many lives will be saved. Those lives are worth more than your freedom and even your happiness. As part of the royal family and as a warrior of this kingdom you have sworn your fealty to me. All my doting on you these long years makes this difficult, but it is my command that you marry Lord Derrick.”

Sianna’s grip on the stem of the goblet grows tighter with each word until her knuckles are white and she realizes she never truly had a choice. The choice they afforded her was to come to the decision they expected. Anger flushes her pale skin a light shade of pink and she struggles to find her voice, clearing her throat she bites out, “As you wish, Your Grace.”

Upon her compliance King Richard signals for dinner to be served. The evening continues as if nothing had happened, but Sianna sits in silence barely touching the food on her plate. All she can think about is how this is her last meal as all agree she should go to Lockwood. Two messengers will be dispatched tonight to announce her arrival and she will leave tomorrow. Sianna tried to request men from her own squad to accompany her, but was quickly shot down by her father. It will be he who chooses the men who will be part of her escort and furthermore she will not ride on horseback, but in a carriage. Within two hours Sianna was stripped of her command and forced into the role of royal courtier to be sold off like chattel.

The news of Captain Sianna Klynn, now Lady Klynn's, engagement to Lord Derrick of Lockwood traveled like wildfire through servant’s gossip and by morning found its way into the marketplace and homes surrounding the castle and even to the military barracks. Sianna stands in her room staring out the window at the bustling of people starting their morning, a satchel lying open on her bed holds a few personal affects. The trunk containing the bulk of her clothing was already packed and being loaded onto the carriage. For all intents and purposes this will be one of the last times she’ll be in her home, at least as a single woman.

“Sianna.” Her father darkens her doorway, “I want you to know you make me proud and if your mother were still alive…”

“Don’t.” Sianna turns around to face her father, “Don’t you dare bring her into this… you and she married for love not as some advantageous union. I have a hard time believing she’d be happy for me.”

Crossing to her bed she picks up the satchel and then pushes past the hulking presence of her father before pausing at the door to speak over shoulder, “Next time we see each other will be at my wedding where you will quite literally give me away.”

Leaving their apartment she walks with heavy footsteps down the spiral staircase, satchel slug on her shoulder and tugging at the skirt of the silk dress, dyed a rich purple, to keep slipper covered feet from tripping on the hem. Her good-byes will have to be quick in order keep on the scheduled departure time of Noon, in order to reach Calloway Pass Inn by nightfall. The Inn sits on a crossroad, a neutral ground, between the kingdoms of Tyrr, Ti’Anay and Lockwood.

Commander Juhl stood tall before the small regiment formed before him. Hawk-like nose and eyes were framed by battle scars aplenty as the gray orbs scanned the group. These were his men, and he was proud to select a few for this honorable assignment. To the Commander, any assignment was an honorable one, no matter the politics behind the scenes. He was never much one to care for such things as the cloak and dagger world of politics, after all. To him, if it could not be slain with a sword or blocked with a shield, it had no place in his mind. A soldier to the core, Juhl had been decorated more than most officers his age, which was an impressive forty-two years. But the strain on his body had become evident over the years, stress and combat fatigue graying his hair and drawing taught his flesh. He was a man married to career, however, so his lack of physical attractiveness towards the opposite gender had never bothered him before.

"Today," he began, his voice a curious mix of bellowing gravel. "We choose a mere handful of you to escort Captain Klynn to Lockwood." He paused and raised his hands as several murmured their opinions towards the matter amongst themselves. "Silence! No doubt you have all heard the rumors spreading through this place like a schoolyard, but you will keep your views to yourself and follow your orders. I expect nothing less than your utmost reflection of duty and honor, as if your very lives depended upon the safe delivery of the Lady to Lockwood... And indeed they might! If I hear any hint of a bad report, I will take it upon myself personally to see that you are flayed alive! Is that understood?"

The collective response to the affirmative caused him to smile. They were a good group. He scanned them once more and pondered his selections once again. Four had been chosen, and now they would be revealed to the rest and sent on their way.

Klan Derihn would be leading the contingent, under Captain Klynn's final command, of course. The man was short, stocky, and every bit the soldier as the Commander. Maybe not to the entire extent of a sense of duty, but the man would follow and carry out orders with great exacting. His cropped blonde hair was barely visible behind the first row of men and women.

Hen Gull was a mountain of a man, and quite intelligent as well. He had also proven himself to be dependable in times of need, and would follow orders to the best of his ability. His hardened face with shaved scalp stood shoulders above the rest in the back.

Jayna Gull was Hen's sister, and while small, she was quite nimble and handy with blades of nearly any size. The Commander would never hear the end of it if he sent one sibling without the other. Her tightly tied red hair stood out in sharp contrast in the front of the group.

Jonas Barley... a young man, mid-twenties... the Commander knew almost nothing about him. He had been transferred from another regiment several months ago, and as of yet, hadn't been involved in any operations with the rest. The man kept to himself, as far as Juhl could tell. Average height and build, long dark hair tied at the base of neck, face fairly free of scars and blemishes; nothing set him apart from anyone else in the group, aside from his being the resident new guy. And that was the largest reason he'd been chosen. Juhl wanted to see how the man performed, to have Klan analyze the newest member and report back to him directly. The Commander needed to know every man and woman in his regiment could be trusted, so this was to be Jonas's test.

Once the names had been called out, the group was dismissed and dispersed. Juhl stood alone with the remaining four, giving them another look-over as he made his final instructions.

"...and whatever happens, you are to make sure Captain Klynn arrives at her destination without so much as a scratch on her. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir." The group responded quickly.

"Good. You all leave at midday. That gives you three hours to pack and be mounted and awaiting the Captain. Dismissed."


Jonas Barley adjusted the straps to the saddle placed on the back of his chestnut brown steed. His packs hung off the sides of the saddle, and he did a final check to make sure he had his supplies and weapons where they needed to be, and that everything was secure. It was just about time, and the four were in the appropriate staging area, awaiting the Captain's arrival. Jonas was careful to keep his opinions regarding this proposed marriage to himself, but he wasn't a big fan of the idea. His lips turned in a slight frown as his mind rolled with what he could see as the entirety of the situation.

Lockwood wanted to solidify a treaty. Lord Derrick of Lockwood sought the Captain's hand in marriage. Jonas had only met the Captain in passing, but she didn't seem the type to marry for political reasons. Of course, he could have simply misjudged her. But how noble were the intentions? How far could Lord Derrick, Duke Montgomery, and the whole of Lockwood be trusted? So far, all they had known of their neighbor was war for centuries, apart from periods of uneasy peace, such as the last four years. Had they really ended a conflict like that in only four years' time? Jonas couldn't say, but he was willing to bet that there was something much deeper than he would ever know involved in this situation. He sighed heavily and patted Tabitha's nose. The chestnut mare looked at him with blank eyes.

He turned to watch as the other three of his unit discussed last night's drinking, morning meal, and the Gull's family cooking practices while they waited for the appointed time.

"Mother always prepared duck so succulent, nobody left the table with even crumbs on their plate."

"Why would I not be surprised that you would eat her out of house and home, Hen?" Klan smacked the burly man's stomach and laughed out loud. "You certainly have the mass to make it happen."

"A man isn't a man without a healthy appetite."

Jayna chimed in now. "Hen, there is nothing healthy about your appetite!"

More laughter, which died slowly as Klan glanced towards Jonas. "What about you, Barley? Any good cooking from your family? We're trying to see who's home we can invade the next time we need a good meal."

Jonas closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "No..."

The pause that waited for Jonas to elaborate seemed to stretch awkwardly, until finally, a hushed yell that the Captain had arrived caused the four to shuffle quickly next to their steeds and be ready to mount at a moment's notice. Silence followed in the moments that they waited. Each pondered the meaning of the mission, each held their own ideas as to what would happen and why.

Jonas tried to push the thoughts out of his head. It wasn't his concern. But despite his efforts, he couldn't help the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Sianna Klynn

“You are a vision, an honest and true beauty; it’s a shame I’m a married man now that you’re no longer my captain.”

Sianna shoots Wilkens a dirty look. He chuckles and she punches him in the arm as she steps off the last step and stands with him in the alcove. “Even without a military rank I still out rank you as member of the royal family and soon to be lady of Lockwood.”

There is no disguise of contempt in her voice on those last words. The betrayal of her family an open wound, but she is too stubborn to compliantly allow them to decide her future. Turning to the left she presses her hand against the wood door already cracked open and looks out at the courtyard to the caravan readying to leave and recognizes the soldiers standing in a huddle Klan, Hen and Jayna all solid warriors from Commander Juhl’s regiment. It’s no surprise her father asked Juhl to select from those under his command they were all fiercely loyal, but there is one who stands apart from the group, he’s younger, closer to her age and handsome. She recalls he moved to the capital only a handful of months ago and they briefly met one evening at Merrick’s Tavern he sat among the men and yet sat apart. Wilkens follows her gaze and smirks, “You’re an engaged woman.”

“Mm. It appears my father is trying to prepare for any mischief I may have planned.” She says with a playful smirk, “but I won’t let them get in the way of our plans. Is everything ready?”

“Aye, I have Parker standing by to saddle up Emory. Avery, Sarei and I have morning drills schedule and will meet you at Calloway Inn.”

Sianna nods reaching to her side and grips her fingers around Wilkens’ forearm, “Thank you.”

Leaning down he presses a kiss to the top of her head, “See you soon.”

Wilkens steps away from her side to continue down the hallway leading into the castle as Sianna steps through the door and into the courtyard. Last night after she’d returned to her room she had a message delivered to Wilkens along with a saddle bag packed with clothes and her broadsword in its sheath. Her plan is to ride out of the capital in the carriage appearing to obey the mandate that she arrive in Lockwood as a member of the royal family should. Once they arrive at Calloway Pass Inn plans will change. She will still ride into Lockwood to meet Lord Derrick, but she will arrive dressed as a soldier and with her trusted friends. Commander Juhl’s soldiers will either comply with her orders or will be dismissed. Even if they ride back to the capital to report her actions it will be too late. If this engagement happens it will be on her terms; however first priority will be to discover the true intentions of Lockwood.

The morning sun is bright. In spite of the dress Sianna’s gait is smooth and swift, graceful; the dyed silk dress clinging to the curve her breasts, narrow waist and round hips. Stopping several steps from the door of the carriage she pulls the satchel from her shoulder to hand to the footman before her attention is distracted by a pair eyes belonging to Jonas.

You’re an engaged woman.

A smirk touches her lips those dark blue eyes holding his gaze for a moment longer thinking the engagement is only a means to an end on both sides. Lockwood wants a treaty and she wants to know the truth. Jonas may make a pleasant distraction, but she’ll have to play that game carefully, looking away she meets Klan’s gaze and gives a short nod. “Prepare to leave.”

Her uncle and aunt approach with her father walking two steps behind. If she didn’t have an alternative plan in place she might feel a stronger resentment to the situation, but she knows once she’s uncovered Lockwood’s leaders intentions then she’ll be free of this ridiculous engagement. Turning to face her family she bows her head and dips into a curtsy to greet the king and queen. She is careful not to meet her father’s gaze.

“Sianna,” King Richard begins, “We’ve come to wish you a safe journey. You make me proud niece. Not only as a strong warrior of Tyrr, but also for accepting the responsibility of what it means to be part of this family.”

Queen Cybil steps forward and embraces Sianna in a warm hug. “Have a safe journey my dear.”

Returning the hug of the woman who is more of a mother than aunt she straightens up and meets her father’s gaze to exchange a silent understanding. She wants to smile, but stubborn pride keeps her anger in place and she turns away without a word. With the help of the footman she enters the carriage and settles back, gaze locked on her family till it lurches forward and begins its journey out of the castle walls.

Reaching for the satchel she opens the flap and pulls free three small painted portraits, dropping the bag aside she leans back against the cushioned bench and stares at two men and a woman. The woman looks like her only blonde and more petite; Sondra Alden Klynn, the mother she never knew. Would she be happy with this decision? Many have said she held a sense of duty and though she had loved Logan Klynn she had been given to him because of his part in ending the ten year war with Lockwood.

The next photo is of man who could be her twin Liam Klynn, her brother eight years her elder who currently lives in the wastelands of the east. He’d had a terrible argument with their father and disobeyed a direct order during the last war which earned him a decommission. It didn’t matter that Liam’s instincts had saved a hundred men from an ambush; he’d embarrassed their father, who was too proud to admit his error. The result was her brother leaving to find a new life. She misses him terribly and wishes he was here to fight on her side.

Finally, Sarris crowned prince of Ti’Anay and once her betrothed. They’d had a secret courtship and were nearly denied their engagement. A tragic love story caught by many the poet and bard. Losing him to a Lockwood assassin meant for her during the last war almost broke her spirit. The thin line scar below her left breast is where the tip of the blade, which had run him through, pierced her skin, but not far enough to cause any serious damage.

Staring at the photo as the carriage rattles down the dirt road she speaks quietly, “I wish you were here. Then again if you were I wouldn’t be in this situation. They want me to marry this man from Lockwood he’s the nephew of the new steward. We’re not even certain who the rightful heir of the kingdom is and my family is willing to agree to this arranged marriage to bring the kingdoms together under a peace treaty. Peace with Lockwood. Can you imagine?”

Leaning her head back her eyes look out the small carriage window to the rushing blur of green and brown they are already outside of the castle walls. Taking in a deep breath her gaze tracks upwards to the ceiling and then out the other window where there are gaps in the trees giving way to a view of Lake Tyrr and passed them to the mountains which border Ti’Anay. She still remains close with the family especially his sister Annais, who will one day be queen.

Scooping up the pictures she returns them to the satchel and fidgets on the bench; she wants to be riding horseback not wearing this dress and confined in this small box of a prison. Four hours by carriage at least they left at midday so there will be no need for a lunch break. They’ll arrive at the Inn in time for dinner with a change of plans on the side. Convincing Juhl’s men won’t be easy, but she may still have sway using her rank and a small speech. She’s not running away from her obligation she’s merely meeting it in true Sianna fashion.