Alaya Frey

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she supposed her sister’s despise of the notion of marriage stemmed from experience. charlotte had heard tales that depicted marriage as blissful, and others that resembled a story aimed at giving one nightmares. one would not be so opposed to a marriage if it had been a good experience, she figured. and yet she imagined there was nothing wrong with such a union if respect was involved. love, on the other hand - even someone like her could figure out that that could very easily be missing. “alright, then we will leave sebastian out of it. but direct him towards me if he bothers you. i know sebastian is looking for potential suitors, so at least you would not be bothered by him for a while.”

it is easier to enter into such a match when you have never been in love before. those words lay heavy on her heart. she could feel an ache in her chest at the thought, bile rising in her throat as she fought back the tears that threatened to form in her eyes. she was truly doomed. how she hated herself for never having told him how she truly felt. they both knew, even if the words remained unuttered, that their hearts would always belong to one another. and charlotte knew that no matter how hard she would try to make it work with a suitor of her brother - and her own -choosing, it would never be him. he was gone. in  that moment, she understood her sister. even if alaya never spoke of it, charlotte could tell that the words she spoke were clear. she must have loved someone before her marriage. and charlotte herself was doomed to that very aching soul that her sister spoke of. she did her best not to let her voice break as she swallowed the lump in her throat. her hand reached out to cover her sister’s. she aimed to comfort her, but the younger princess knew the touch would comfort herself as well. “i am sorry you had to feel that,” she whispered, as a tear rolled down her cheek. “i cannot… i must… it is my duty, alaya, and i must do it. even if my soul will be doomed to an eternal ache.” her eyes averted away from her sister’s, fixing on the carpet as her vision blurred from the tears still unshed. “will he forgive me for betraying him? even if he is dead?” 

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Alaya had kept quiet throughout the whole torturous experience of her marriage for the sake of her kingdom. It had been her sacrifice for the good of Aryndale and it had only been when she discovered her husband’s treachery that she realised that sacrifice had been for nothing. She could have told her family, could have watched as he was flung into a jail cell and left to rot, but she wanted more satisfaction than that. She had wanted to see him suffer, and the price she paid for being able to cause that suffering to him was her secrecy. She had to let people believe the lie or she would be the first one they suspected.

Turning her palm up, Alaya clasped her sister’s hand in her own. There was this quiet understanding between them - that they had both been heartbroken and had learned to gather up those shattered pieces themselves. “You must do what you think is right. I will offer as much guidance as I can but I will not try to talk you out of it if you are determined to do your duty.” If a wedge had to be driven between siblings, she would prefer it to be between herself and the others rather than cutting Charlotte off from their family as well. “If he ever truly loved you, then he would know you do this for the good of the kingdom. One man should not think himself more important than the fate of an entire nation.”

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“you truly do not like the man,” charlotte noted with a soft chuckle as she gently laid the string of pearls down on the table in front of her. even if it was not the finest of gifts, or the most welcomed judging by her sister’s reaction, she would still be careful with the piece. she knew that her sister’s views about most men were clouded by doubt and possibly disdain. charlotte was too naïve to see what her older sister could, and that was the reason why she trusted the other’s opinions so much. “if he starts bothering you, we will tell bas. the lord will stop his efforts if his king commands him to.”

resting her back against the chaise once more, the younger princess could not help but nod. “i promise i will come straight to you should a name of a potential suitor be uttered,” she reaffirmed. alaya’s opinion would be all too useful in the circumstance. “i think it might be sooner rather than later. i am growing older now, and what’s better to form an alliance than a marriage?” she questioned, her smile faltering slightly at the thought. “tell me, alaya. how difficult is it to be with a man you can never love?”

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“It is more what he represents that I do not like.” Any suitor meant marriage and marriage was a cursed thing to her now. Lord Friedrich was just one of many who were trying to buy their future wives to use them and elevate their own power and status, and Alaya was finished being a pawn. “I do not need our brother to fight my battles for me, Charlotte. Besides, I would rather not draw his attention to my suitors in case he dares to consider one of them.” She would refuse even if he did pick one for her. She had not defied her king before, but this was Sebastian. As much as he tried, he did not command the same sense of control and authority that their father and eldest brother had before their passing. He was not the type to force her into an arranged marriage, more the type to nag her until she agreed, and she would never agree.

Alaya did her best to conceal her concern for her younger sister, twisting her features into as relaxed a smile as she could. She really was worried for Charlotte. With the new peace beginning, she was sure their brother’s advisors were already whispering words of betrothals and alliances in his ear, and Charlotte was the easiest one to use in that political game. Alaya and Bennett were too stubborn and more likely to offend their potential matches, but Charlotte was sweet and kind. The harshness of the world had not yet changed her and Alaya would keep it that way for as long as possible. But as soon as her sister mentioned her own arranged marriage, Alaya’s smile faded. “It depends on the people. Look at Seb and Octavia, their marriage was arranged and not born of love, but they have made it work for them. It is easier to enter into such a match when you have never been in love before.” She swallowed. She made a point to not discuss her marriage, but she also never mentioned him. The one she had loved before she had been made to marry the duke for the sake of Aryndale. “But to love someone and then marry someone else? Not only does it break your heart but every day your soul aches with the knowledge that you betrayed the one person you never wanted to hurt. If you enter into an arranged marriage for the sake of alliances, you have to be prepared to give up everything about who you are for the sake of making that alliance work. My husband did not like to be reminded that I was a princess. It placed me higher than him and he thought a wife ought to be less than her husband. We needed his wealth to support our soldiers in the war and so I had to make the marriage work in any way I could, and that meant not seeing my own family.” He had done far worse to her than that, but she would not disclose any of those horrors with her sister. “It is only because of his death that I was able to come back. I suggest you really think about what you must give up before you become a wife, Charlotte. If I had known the cost, I am not so sure I would do it again.”

_

“You expect too much. Especially from betrothals and marriages. Royalty and nobility do not bother with the process of prolonged courting”, he explained. Most of the marital unions, he had observed during the years, were set in place, simply due to political gain on both sides. There was no room for love in the lives of the blue-bloods. Love was a luxury, which only the peasants could afford. If one wished to maintain their status, advantageous matches replaced love. “I have been married myself. And I did not pick my wife because of her inner beauty.” The wife was picked by his parents, to be truthful. But the reasonings behind their choice of a wife laid in her reputation and family. Something which he would take into consideration when choosing his next wife. “You don’t dream of marriage, Alaya?”, he asked playfully. “Isn’t that all of you women care about?”

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“I expect what I deserve, Elric. And what I deserve is to be respected. I am not against arranged marriage entirely, I would just have to be sure that my husband was a good man who respects me and won’t try to keep me caged. Love is irrelevant.” Something like her brother’s marriage would be ideal for her. Seb and Octavia’s betrothal had been in place since childhood and once they were wed they acted as equals in a partnership. She didn’t know if they loved each other, but it was clear to anyone that they trusted each other and worked as a team, not separately. “You got married to the woman your parents picked for you like a good little boy. You’re just lucky that she wasn’t a toad.” She knew he spoke in jest but she rolled her eyes anyway. “I have better things to do than waste my time planning a dream wedding, Elric. What about you? Are you counting the minutes until your wife is chosen for you again?”

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her hand quickly shot up to cover her mouth as a soft snort left her. “what he must have had in mind is miles away from the truth. if lord friedrich wishes for a pet, we will get him a dog. my sister, on the other hand, can only be turned into a treasure.” the cool pearls brushed against her lithe fingers as the string was dropped into her hand. charlotte’s thumb stroked over the gift, humming as she noticed the lack of smoothness of the pearls. “i must admit, i am not greatly opposed to pearls. even in their simplicity, they can be beautiful. although this particular string is not an example of the finest craftsmanship. i think our lord had been tricked into buying this piece.”

the thought of marriage was not foreign. it was a concept that had been with her since she was a child. for a brief time she almost believed that she never needed to worry about an arranged marriage. even when she denied her feelings, her father knew that she would have selected him if she was given a choice. and yet that was not an option anymore. charlotte was certain sebastian would not let her marry someone who would hurt her, but she could never truly feel comfortable knowing that a union might not be far off into the future for her. “they are probably unaware that i would be thrilled even if one gave me a freshly-cut flower as long as their intentions are pure. it is very easy to please me. you know that your judgement is one i trust blindly. i would never marry someone if you do not approve of them.”

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“I wouldn’t trust that man with a rock, let alone a dog.” She didn’t know enough about the lord to make too much of a judgement on his character, but men were all the same as far as she was concerned. They wanted their wives to be quiet and subservient while using their connections to get more power for themselves. A woman lost any power she had as soon as she got married, and Alaya had claimed hers back with the death of her husband. “I have no problem with pearls, my issue is more with the one purchasing them.”

She was relieved to hear that Charlotte would trust her opinion of her suitors. Alaya trusted their older brother, but men could be idiots and kings especially easily manipulated. Seb’s advisors could talk him into arranging marriages for both of them and she knew her brother could fall for it if he believed it was the best thing for Aryndale. Alaya had thought she had been doing the best thing for her kingdom back then and it had scarred her for life. She would not let the same thing happen to her sister. “I’m glad. You must come straight to me if any suitors are suggested for you. Everyone has their own agenda when it comes to royal engagements, my only motive is making sure you aren’t being married off to someone who doesn’t deserve you.”

his  mother  did  have good  taste  ,  he  knew  that  much  .  he  assumed  his  father  ,  had  his  mother  would  of  been  given  a  choice  ,  would  of  been  a  man  who  matched  his  mother  perfectly  ,  instead  political  influence  had  his  mother  marrying  a  king  ,  who  cared  little  of  anything  except  money  and  power  .     ❝           a  smart  decision  .  ❞     and  it  was  ,  on  a  personal  level  .  but  on  a  political  level  ,  a  level  in  which  he  was  trained  to  know  like  the  back  of  his  hand  ,  the  one  thing  his  father  had  instilled  in  him  ,  it  was  a  foolish  thought  .  she  was  a  princess  ,  there  was  little  in  the  way  of  men  who  held  a  position  higher  than  her  ,  money  could  not  buy  her  happiness  ,  but  it  ensured  her  a  marriage  of  someone  worthy  ,  someone  she  could  learn  to  be  happy  with  ,  and  perhaps  the  difference  between  her  home  overcoming  a  war  or  not  .  but  he  kept  his  words  to  himself  as  he  thinks  of  his  sister  ,  madelise  unmarried  and  thankfully  the  decision  up  to  him  with  their  parents  gone  ,  it  gave  her  a  luxury  that  perhaps  the  aryndale  princess  didn’t  have  .  a  pure  choice  of  her  own  husband  .

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“Well I have made poor decisions before. I don’t care to repeat past mistakes.” She had agreed to her marriage for the sake of Aryndale and even through all of her torment, she kept reminding herself that his sacrifice was for her kingdom, that she could endure anything he put her through if it kept her people safe. And then her husband’s treachery had been revealed and Alaya realised her sacrifice had been for nothing. She would not be fooled again. “I can do more as a princess of Aryndale than I can as a lady or a duchess. Unless some king wishes to make me his queen, I’m in my best position now as a widowed princess. Let the suitors turn their attentions elsewhere, I am sure there are women who would love to have them.”

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charlotte rested on the chaise as her sister’s company proved to be very entertaining. despite the misfortune alaya had encountered, the younger princess could not deny the fact that she was glad to have her back home. the company of a fellow frey was always the most comforting, and that of her only sister even more so. yet it was clear that their standing brought along suitors, eagerly hoping to get one of the frey’s princesses’ hand in marriage. 

a soft laugh reverberated through her lips as she watched alaya’s reaction, not failing to find humor in the situation. “lord friedrich did not spare any expense in getting you those pearls,” charlotte teased, reaching her hand out for her sister to pass the pearls on to her. “have you forgotten that men are terrible at getting gifts for women? if you get a wonderful gift from one, then he is either truly in love with you, or else he has great sisters who provide him with the best of suggestions.” she eyed the bracelet she wore around her wrist, a piece worn permanently for years as a reminder that such men did exist after all. charlotte did her best not sigh, but the dull ache was inevitable at the memories that were etched in her mind. “lord friedrich’s cousin did get me a gorgeous ruby necklace before we left aryndale. i bet their family is truly keen to have its blood mixed with royalty.”

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In the time since her husband’s passing, nothing had warmed Alaya’s heart more than when she had been finally able to leave her ‘mourning’ period behind her as well as that dreadful manor house where he had tortured her. The sight of her family palace had made her smile for the first time in years, and to be held by her siblings again after being kept from them for so long had only convinced her further that what she had done had been the right thing.

“Hmm, how interesting that he would choose a string of pearls rather than jewels. Perhaps he had this in mind.” She wrapped the pearls around her neck for a moment to demonstrate how the length of it could turn the necklace into a collar and leash. “I think Lord Friedrich is hoping to turn me into his pet.” Unwinding the necklace, Alaya dropped the string of pearls into her sister’s hand for her own inspection. She knew that Charlotte was right in her assumption of men. On the rare occasions where her husband had given her gifts - usually in a public setting to trick people into believing he loved her - Alaya had always known he hadn’t chosen them himself. Love was beyond him, and he could pay for people to select gifts on his behalf. She remembered the horse best. A beautiful chestnut mare that was as swift as the wind and tried to bite anyone who approached her. Alaya had been the only one able to tame her, and it was the only gift from her husband that she had kept, knowing full well that it hadn’t come from him, not really. Perhaps he had paid for it, but such a gift could only have been suggested by someone who truly knew her, and that was her family. “At least your gift was more expensive. They probably consider you more of a prize for being younger and never married whereas a bitter widow like me is expected to be thrilled at the slightest bit of attention. But no one in that family is good enough for you, Charlotte, no matter what they spend.”

matthieu  had  always  beena  quiet  man  ,  a  quiet  child  even  .  he  was  a  listener  before  he  was  a  doer  .  his  mother  would  say  that  was  a  quality  his  father  didn’t  share  .  and  that  was  a  good  thing  .  his  late  father  had  declared  loyalty  to  iilyria  for  no  other  reason  than  glory  ,  but  matthieu  didn’t  seek  glory  ,  he  strived  for  something  better  .  a  safe  world  for  his  children  ,  for  his  family  .  a  chalice  of  win  dangles  from  his  grip  as  he  focuses  on  the  surrounding  monarchs  ,  not  bored  ,  but  simply  calculating  as  if  he  were  still  on  some  battlefield  .     ❝              affections  shouldn’t  be  bought  ,  for  one  thing  .  ❞      ice  blue  eyes  turn  on  the  woman  .     ❝  and  if  my  mother  seen  those  ,  she’d  call  it  a  disgrace  .  ❞

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“Then your mother has good taste.” The pearls dropped back into the box with a clatter and the lid snapped closed. Alaya’s affections couldn’t be bought even with the finest jewels in all the kingdoms, let alone a paltry string of pearls. There had been an accompanying note from the lord of how he thought she’d suit them and would wear them in his honour at the next banquet, but she had barely skimmed that letter before tearing it into two neat halves and disposing of it. Perhaps she would wear no jewellery at all next time, simply to make a point. “I make a point of judging people on their character and actions rather than what their money can buy.” A lesson she had learned from her marriage, sadly too late as she had become trapped in it before learning her late husband’s true nature.

_

“Clearly.”, he agreed, a playful smile dancing across the corners of his lips. Earlier that day, he had decided to pay the eldest Frey princess a visit, as he considered it only proper, taking into account the close bond that had arisen between the Freys and the Hardings once his darling sister had become part of the royal family. “You should not judge him too harsh though. He just believes your interests are the common interests of a woman - jewelry and impressive appearances.” Many of the women born into royalty or nobility could be easily fitted into that box - typical representations of their time, he had observed. It made them bland and interchangeable in his eyes. “What is the way to sway your affections, then?”, he asked. “In case a noble gentleman comes my way, deeply enamored by your charms. I may take it upon myself to assist the hapless fool.”

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“Even if those were my interests, the man still believes I can be bought.” She tutted and let the pearls drop back into the box, each bead clicking together before she snapped the lid closed. It was an easy assumption to make, since her late husband had been impressively wealthy and she had been practically sold to him to secure funds for the war effort. At the time she had done it for Aryndale, but Alaya had no intention of allowing herself to become trapped like that again. “My affections can only be won, not bought. I would have a suitor at least attempt to get to know me at the very least before I gave him a moment’s attention. But a new bow or quiver of arrows never goes amiss and could quickly give a boost to my opinion of someone.” She chuckled and shoved the jewellery box out of the way. Perhaps she would return it to Lord Friedrich, but more likely she would make a gift of it to one of her ladies maids. “Don’t get any ideas, Elric. You are supposed to support me in remaining single, not encourage men in their vain pursuits of making me a docile little wife again.”

One of the latest offerings she had received had her rolling her eyes as soon as she opened the box. “A string of pearls from Lord Friedrich.” She pursed her lips and dangled the necklace from one finger to display it to her companion with distaste. “Clearly the man has done no research into my interests if he thinks my affections can be swayed by this.”

rachel skarsten, 30, aryndale, cis female. ––– i believe that is alaya frey, the princess of aryndale. they are 30 years old and are known to be very charismatic & strong-willed, though they can also be very scheming & guarded. they remind me of a string of pearls choking the throat, the scratch of quill against parchment and the sound of laughter that cannot be traced back to its source.

TW: abuse, death