Long ago the Royal Harridan family, of the Western Continent, betrothed one of their nieces to the Prince of the Eastern Continent. This gesture would forever change the world. There are a multitude of stories that occurred during this period. However one woman was able to benefit from this conflict. From her humble beginnings she rose above the conflict to become a warrior Queen. This is her story.
Zahava awoke much earlier than usual. She put on her simple dress for the day and descended into the living room. Instead of breaking her fast with her mother and father she had something else on her mind: the boy from the farm up the dirt road, Layne. They were both 19 sun cycles old and were over the age at which they could marry. Her parents didn't like him that much and believed he was a troublemaker. He had a habit of scaring cows at neighboring farms. She had joined him on a few occasions and had been spanked by her father for participating in such an act. But she loved him. And it was worth a few slaps on her ass to enjoy a prank with the boy she loved.
She grabbed a bucket and began to wander up the dirt road. She whistled an old folk tune as she made her way further up the road. The morning mist still lingered in the air and the smell of early morning countryside filled her nostrils. It was a morning typical of the western continent. She looked up to the sky and saw dark clouds gathering. Maybe it would rain later in the day. It would be needed. The crops were in desperate need of natural rain and this would hopefully provide it.
She continued up the path towards Layne's homestead for a few paces before a man in shiny armor burst from the side of the road. Zahava let out a gasp and dropped the bucket and stood in fear. The armored man clumsily drew his sword and pointed it towards her.
"Freeze vile woman," the muffled voice yelled.
She remained still as the man approached her. A piece of his armor fell off of him as he made his way closer. Soon another piece fell off, followed by another, until three or four pieces fell off. He lowered the sword and pushed it into the dirt.
"Surprise," the man yelled as he raised his visor.
"Gods be damned," she yelled out as she recognized Layne, "where did you get that?"
"Found it in the woods by the tavern," he replied.
He pulled off the helmet and reached forward and kissed her on the mouth.
"Is it heavy," she asked after his tongue slid out of her mouth.
"Not really," he laughed, "cumbersome but not heavy."
She bent over and picked up the bucket. He removed the sword from the dirt and collected the pieces of armor. He wrapped his arm around her waist and they continued down the dirt road.
"You really frightened me," she giggled.
"I'm sorry," he replied, "I couldn't resist."
She looked over the armor and noticed the tabard of the Harridan Family, the royal family. It looked new and unworn. Something was amiss with the armor he wore.
"Where did you really find that armor," she asked.
"The woods by the tavern," he replied.
"Seriously," she asked.
"I found it in the woods," he replied, "behind the tavern, my uncle is the barkeep. He thinks a knight abandoned his duties and drank himself to death at his bar."
"And why would a knight do that," she asked.
"It may have to do with what the royal family did," he replied.
"And what did they do," she asked.
"You hadn't heard," he said in shock.
"No," she replied.
"Well," he started, "the family betrothed one the Queen's nieces to the Aapian royal family Prince from the Eastern Continents."