Chapter Text
Caitlyn stared into the rippling water surrounding her, submerging her body in the warm waves that flowed and ebbed into the castle bathhouse. She held her knees to her chest as her ladies saw to it that she was clean and presentable before they embarked on her upcoming journey. Caitlyn shut down the thought- the mere mention of the horrible events that were to come. She had been dreading them since her mother had all to gleefully explained that she has to marry only a month ago.
***
Caitlyn had been outside the castle walls, like most days. Her mother, Cassandra, never seemed to care where she was as long as it was not the town. Rarely did Caitlyn think to go there, the meadows and fields that lay beyond her family home were more than enough for her. She spent her days reading amongst the trees and flowers, and for her thirteenth birthday the head of the guard gave her a bow with which she had become an excellent shot.
For years, she had narrowly escaped weddings and engagements with wild actions and rude comments. And now at twenty-one, Caitlyn was sure that her mother as well as all suitors had given up on taming her. Her actions had even worked so well that she quickly stopped having to go to as many parties and festivals in neighboring kingdoms, a result that had left Cait’s mother fuming. Caitlyn had not accounted for her mother continuing her search for suitor, however. And when Cait was called into the throne room, it was clear that nothing good could happen next.
“Caitlyn! My darling!” Her mother proclaimed.
“You called for me?” Caitlyn crossed her arms.
Cassandra waved away Caitlyn’s reaction, instead reaching for her daughter’s hands.
”I have wonderful news.” Cassandra smiled.
Caitlyns stomach dropped. She glanced around for her fathers face, to see if he’d come to her rescue, only to be met with a sorrowful expression.
“You are to be married to the heir of the North!” Her mother shouted joyously.
” Mother! I cannot!” Caitlyn pleaded, “I beg of you not to!”
Cassandra seemed shocked, letting out an exasperated sigh ”You do not expect me to sit here and let you waste away in the woods, do you? I will not stand to see my family die out because of this, Caitlyn. I’ve given you your time, but we all have things we must do. Don’t be selfish.”
Selfish?? Caitlyn could barely contain her anger, all she had ever asked was to be her own person. She thought of a million things to scream, to throw, to destroy in order to show her mother the extent of her rage; but as she stood in front of her parents, she was helpless to fight. All she could do was shakily stand there, and she had no clue why. All fight was gone, in the wake of her fury was an emptiness and a voice that said she was lucky she went this far without this happening.-
***
Caitlyn jolted back to reality from her deep thought by her chamber maid.
”Miss Cait, are you alright?” She spoke softly.
Caitlyn realized she had more tears streaming down her face, gently falling into the water.
“Yes, sorry, I’m just feeling homesick already.” Caitlyn mumbled.
As Caitlyn was dressed, she watched out her window as her belongings were pilled onto her carriage, ready to start the weeks long ride up North.
Her mother and father waited along with the castle staff to send Caitlyn off along with a trail of guards and more carriages. Caitlyn did enjoy the gesture she assumed her mother was showing as a way of goodbye, but she still felt heartbroken that her mother would sell her off to the highest bidding alpha. Still, she held up her chin and kept strong, the way a Kiramman should.
Caitlyn stood before her father first, he held her close as they embraced.
”I love you, please know that.” Tobias whispered, so quietly Caitlyn almost didn’t hear.
She held him tighter, hoping she could say what she meant without saying anything more.
Her mother feigned a cough, annoyed at Caitlyn’s drawn out goodbye.
“I trust you will do what is expected of you.” Cassandra said as she straightened Cait’s dress.
Caitlyn scoffed and looked away.
“I’m proud of you.” Cassandra said.
Cait nearly jumped, that was something she never thought her mother would ever say.
”Well, you better ge-“ Cassandra was cut off as her daughter hugged her tight.
They stayed there for a moment, before Caitlyn rushed to the carriage, hoping her mother wouldn’t see her cry.
Through out the carriage ride, Caitlyn went from bouts of sobbing to feeling better than she’d ever felt to wishing to through herself under the carriage. It was a myriad of complicated emotions, it felt like letting a bird out of its cage while you move it to another. She wasn’t free but for a moment, when she looked at the changing landscapes, it almost felt like it.
The ride to the North had been much longer than Caitlyn had expected, and each time she looked at the map they seemed barely further from home than before. As they rode from town to town, staying in inns along the way, Caitlyn had managed to learn a few things about her future mate; none of which seemed to ease her fears.
From what she had gathered, her mate was called ‘Beast of the North’ a name given during the war. A picture was painted in her mind of a strong and fearsome alpha, the type Caitlyn wished deeply would not be her mate. With every war story she worried of her happiness in the bleak kingdom she was shipped to.
Upon the last leg of the journey the line of carriages stopped, and Caitlyn could’ve sworn her belongs were being taken off. She opened her window, peering out to see her guards giving her luggage to a group of giant ragged people. Caitlyn sucked in her breathe, fearing she was being robbed, until her guard opened her door and guided her to go with the strangers.
”From here on, you’ll go with them. Vi sent them to come fetch you since they know the North better than us.” The guard told her.
”Vi?” Caitlyn asked.
“The beast.” The guard laughed.
And once again, all sense of home was stripped. She filled into a different type of carriage, it was strange, very different from the delicate design of her own. Large and sturdy, clearly meant to withstand weather much more intense than the South. As time passed her breathe became noticeable in the air and the ground outside went from autumn colors to a world of white snow and dark forest; She was here.