Prize Bride Chapter 1

Why am I here? Well that's easy enough. My father ordered me to come down and said that if I didn't he'd disown me. And everyone knows what happens to ladies who are sent out into the streets. They are shunned from all society, well that I don't really mind, and they are treated like whores, well that I do mind.

So because I fear to be turned out by my father I am now sitting on a cushioned chair overseeing the tournament that will decide my husband, my fate. So far I am very disappointed with the contestants I have seen so far. Their all old, have beards, and their dirty too.

Now I'm sure you're thinking that I'm just exaggerating but I swear I'm not. I'm only sixteen and here my father is holding a tournament so that he can give me away to the best possible husband. Truthfully I'd rather marry a pig than any of these men; at least a pig can do something.

I watch as the next pair of men race towards each other on their horses with their little sticks and smash into each other. What joy to have a husband who can smash a stick on another man's head. Then they'll move onto sword on horseback then sword on foot, then just bare hands. If any of these men were good looking I wouldn't mind watching them wrestle each other while half naked. Unfortunately they're all at least forty five years old, and are quite disgusting. I wish someone would ban men like them from having their bodies shown.

And why would all these men want to marry me you ask? Well that's fairly simple. My father.

My father is the duke of Torrence. The fearless and most loved knight and ruler in all the land, not to mention he's also the richest man in all the land other that the king himself. And so what better way to get to my father's money than by marrying his daughter. Although I don't see why any of these men are bothering since it's more likely for them to die before my father does.

And why would such a wonderful man be selling his own daughter if he is such a valiant knight? Well that is a bit more complicated to my mind. You see my mother died right after my younger sister was born, my sister died a few months after. My father was heartbroken and swore that he would never remarry. And then he realized that he only had me and he had no sons. So he decided that he would only marry me to the man who was worthy of being his son. Worthy meaning he is able to whip everyone else at things like smashing sticks on each other's heads.

So here I sit under a canopy hoping and praying that the next old geezer to step up has a heart attack before he can finish the match. They all come up to me before they fight saying that they do this in my honor. If they really wanted to honor me they could do something a bit less drastic. Like saving me from a fiery dragon or something. But this way of gaining my honor is making me sick.

This tournament has been going on for three days. The king himself is to come and watch the last match it is so big. And every man who can get on a horse is here to try to smash each other to death with sticks.

On the last day of the tournament the last man will take on any challengers who dare to fight him. Whoever beats him gets me. Or if he stands unbeaten then he gets me. It's all thanks to my father's brilliant plan that it will end this way.

Who wants to get married anyway? All that will happen to me is that my new geezer husband is going to have his babies with me, that alone makes me puke, and I'm going to be his little subservient wife. Like hell I'm going to do that! The moment he marries me he'll regret the day he was born.

Oh look there goes Sir I'm-A-Dumbass smashing another stick on Sir I'm-Too- Good-To-Take-My-Helmet-Off. I hate this life.