Time's Begining

This was a piece I orginally planed to turn into a short novel (about 72 pages) for a scholorship but I never actually finished it. I have most of it all planned out just haven't written it. Tell me what you think and if you like it I may have to fix it up and continue!
------------------

Nathaniel Dillanger stood looking out a large window with his hands clasped behind his back and his brow furrowed in thought. Orange light from the setting sun made strange shadows dance across his handsome face revealing the depth of his anger. Things were not as the young prince thought they should be.

Across the huge hall a pair of large mahogany doors swung open as two older men entered. The king of _ proceeded into the room followed by Isaac, his aging father.

“Nathaniel,” Isaac nodded at his grandson in greeting.

The prince nodded his greeting then turned on his father with fire in his dark eyes. “How could you let it come to this!” he yelled advancing a few steps towards his father.

“Son,” the king said calmly, “Things you do not understand are at work here.”

“I understand just fine! You are too greedy to stick to your treaties!” Nathaniel’s anger crackled in his voice, “You build up your army then deny them the land you promised! By any standards that clearly starts a war!”

“That is not what happened boy! Hold your tongue!”

“You are starting a WAR!”

“War is just a game boy.”

The prince pushed past his father and rushed for the exit. He paused with one hand up on the door. “War is not a game. It is the life of your people and when your kingdom is millions of acres of land, three hundred acres is not worth the death and destruction caused by war.” With this last testament Nathaniel left the room.


Miles away a young woman sat staring out the window of her room as the last rays of light reflected off her blue eyes. Darkness spread across the land she had been desperately searching, dashing any hope of peace during the coming years. Sorrow filled her whole being and threatened to spill from her eyes. Footsteps echoed from the hall and she composed herself as a woman entered the room.

“Darling?”

“Yes Mama?” the young girl sighed.

The woman sat beside her daughter and brushed the girl’s long dark hair from her face. “How are you feeling?”

It took a moment for the girl to answer. “Sad. War is a… horrific endeavor. I do not understand why King Dillanger would let it come to this.” Her words came faster, “Father would never…”

“Yes, well,” the woman interrupted, “King Dillanger is not your father. We can never understand the inner workings of another kingdom. Others may think that the way your father rules here is not the best but they could not truly know.”

“Yes Mama,” said the princess with a smile.

“Now get some rest. Our day will start early. I’ll be along in the morning to help you get ready,” Said the queen as she started to leave the room. As she shut the door behind her she whispered, “Sleep well, my sweet Elizabeth.”

Sleep came slowly to Elizabeth, but it seemed as if she had just drifted off when she was being shaken awake. When she opened her eyes the moon was starting to fade with the rays of morning light.

“Lizzy!”

“What Gregory?”

Her little brother smiled at her, “Lizzy! Someone’s here!”

“Gregory, it is probably just some one concerning the war…”

“No! He is young! I think he is here for you…”

“What!” Elizabeth sat strait up in bed. “Who is it?”

“Come look out your window! You can see him arriving from here…” Gregory was already at the window staring down at the courtyard before the grand entrance.

Elizabeth joined him at the window and saw many of the castle’s staff running about the yard. As two men opened the outer walls a single black horse and rider galloped through and came abruptly to a stop. Using the momentum the rider dismounted in one shift movement. He stood tall and proud with an air of royalty and even from that distance Elizabeth noticed how handsome he was.

“Gregory, go find out what you can please.”

The prince smiled and hugged his sister, “I will not be long.”

“Thank you…” she smiled back.

Once she was alone she changed out of her sleeping clothing into a simple dress and waited for Gregory to return. It seemed like an eternity before she heard someone running up the hall.
Breathlessly, Gregory entered the room. “He… is not here… for you,” he said through gasps.
Elizabeth fell to her bed in relief. Her eyes closed as she took deep breaths to sooth her nerves.

She was not to be courted today.

But then, who was this strange young man?