Just recently I began to think back on the whole affair, now as we all refer to as the Bride Snatching, even thought that event was only one part of the story. At of my time is now spent resting, Marie is always nagging me about that. It was her who suggested I write down the story.

"I wouldn't know where to start, Marie." I protest, rubbing my sore feet with mint oil. Marie burst into laughter, nearly knocking over the bowl of herbs next to her.

" I don't mean to laugh, Meg, but it's so simple a solution. Start at the beginning. One day your great grandchildren's children will ask about you, perhaps. And if you write it down you know they will get the true story, without romantic exaggerations." Marie says.

I sigh and rest a hand on my bulging belly.

In truth, that's all the affair is, a web of other stories that come together. However, like Marie suggested, I'll start at the beginning, with my childhood.

~*~

I was born to a country knight who already had a gaggle of babies. Three girls and a boy to be exact. From the beginning I stood out from the rest. Not in appearance, for we all looked the same, with slender, tall bodies and curly gingery hair. I had a different aura around me though, a gentleness my wild sibling would have done well to acquire. While they were always taunting the dogs, bating the cats, and tossing pebbles at the chickens, I had a sort of hospital for injured critters I found.

Though there were many of us, we were wealthy, and could afford luxuries of all sorts. But as money never does, it did not ward away illness. And the sweat attacked our happy home. One by one, I watched my siblings die, then my parents. I too caught the wretched disease, but fought it off, though it weakened my heart forever. But the daunting blow was not my own illness, but the loss of a whole family. I was alone in the world, left quiet, sickly and aloof.

My father had a friend who had fought beside him in the war, an influential, rich friend. The duke of Northumberland, a good friend to have. At the death of my parents, I was sent to live with him, in the dreary, unpleasant lands of the North. He had several children, the daughter jealous of my delicateness, my beauty they did not have. Their brother became my protectors, my comrades, and in spending my days with them, I grew stronger and smarter.

I was betrothed to the oldest son, Henry, when I was just 14. I did not mind, in fact I was overjoyed. Henry had always cared for me, and loved me in a way I knew was not strictly brotherly. I was ready to be his wife, but God had others plans. Well, actually Logan had other plans. And that is truly where the story begins, not here in my dismal childhood, but in that adventure that began on my wedding day.....

Author's Note:

Well, what do you think? An odd idea, but an actual one some people truly had. This was originally support to be in fantasy, but I switched it to historical. Please read and review!

- Allesandra Thornbird