Duty and Destiny

“Mother, you aren’t going to allow it,” Archer couldn’t interrupt his father when he was still having a private word with Gabrielle. He now had to rely on his mother’s sensibility, but her sweet nature would probably go against him. Before she could answer he turned his plea to Leora, the practical of the two.

“My daughter is old enough to know if she’s ready for marriage,” Ilana turned to Randi. “A lot of sacrifices and responsibilities come with marriage.”

Struck out. But then a thought came to mind. Tradition. There was no way his younger siblings could get married before he did. “It doesn’t matter. You can’t get married until Adalia and I do, and there is no telling when that will be.”

“What’s your problem?” Adalia punched him in the arm, irate.

He winced in pain. “I am sure your brother is a wonderful man but, Novia is still a little girl who believes in fairy tales and happily ever after. I don’t think she’s ready for this.”

“Are you sure you aren’t speaking about yourself,” Adalia whispered in his ear, making sure no one but he heard.

Their younger siblings marrying would rush their wedding. Neither of them was ready but with this news they would have to be. Adalia squeezed his arm to reassure him but there was stiffness in his muscles she wouldn’t understand.

Archer’s whole body had gone rigid from fright. He hadn’t thought of that. But now he had to, and he had to make sure that no other wedding took place until he was ready. He took a couple of deep breaths and when his body relaxed, he felt Adalia’s finger’s wrapped on his arm. It won’t be too bad, he thought as he looked into her caring eyes. They seemed compatible so far, but that could only be because they had only known each other for less than a day.

Less than a day. “You have only known each other for hours,” a new reason why they shouldn’t marry came to mind. “At this point, the time it would take to plan your wedding would be longer than the life of your relationship.”

“Archer!” Novia pouted once more.

She wasn’t changing her mind. Archer was about to give up when their father’s joined the debate. He couldn’t read the looks on their faces. Years of not giving information away on their faces had left the two men expressionless.

“We’ll allow it,” Gabrielle said.

“But Adalia and Archer have to agree to the marriage. They have to give their blessing since they are older than you, the heirs, and you want to marry ahead of them,” Lionell completed.

Adalia shot her brother a look of approval and high fived him. She hugged Novia then said. “Welcome to the family.”

They all waited in silence for Archer’s decision. He could tell that Adalia saw the stubborn clench in his jaw and knew he would say no. “Please excuse us,” she grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side. “Think of it this way, if they get married an alliance would be formed and you and I won’t have to get married.”

A confusing thought came to his mind. He knew how he felt about getting married, but he felt hurt that Adalia would use their siblings’ marriage to get out of her own. He pulled his arm out her hand and walked out of the room, leaving an echo of gasps behind him. Archer retreated to his room. He lay on his bed as he tried to make up his mind about how he felt about Adalia and the marriage.

He sat up when he heard his door bang open. He already had a threat and a curse on the tip of his tongue. But when he saw it was his little sister, gasping as tears rushed down her cheeks he swore under his breath. Archer watched as she paced around his room in full circles.

“You are mean...and...And... bad...and...and...mean,” her finger pointed at him each time she made an accusation.

He hated seeing his sister that way. Archer gave up; there was no point in him being this stubborn. Plus, there was the chance that he would be let off the hook once Randi and Novia got married.

“If you smile, I will agree to the marriage,” he opened his arms out to his sister and she rushed into them.

He went back into the dining room and announced his decision. He saw Adalia’s smile, and he thought that she was happy to get out of their marriage. He went to her and whispered. “I will speak to my father. Maybe we won’t have to marry after all.”

He went back to his room and shed off all his formal clothing. Archer was back to thinking about his nonexistent relationship with Adalia.