A/N: In accordance with Fictionpress' rules and my own sensibilities, this story contains no underage sex. It does, however, contain non-explicit child nudity, of the type I believe most people will find perfectly acceptable and in good, if slightly odd, taste. Enjoy the story.

Prologue: Ten Years

"I feel like such a criminal." I said as two of my servants fastened my new suit on. My father looked over to me. "Honestly, father, I really do. I'm half-expecting some men to barge in halfway through the ceremony to arrest me."

"Don't be silly." the ruler of Felmos answered. "The security has been tripled just for this event! You're getting married!" I stared at him. "Your wife is very lovely, is she not?"

"She's seven years old!" I roared. "I swear, I will not be surprised if the entire army of Krowas swarms in to save her!"

"This marriage was their idea!"

This whole situation had started one normal day. I was halfway through the noon meal when a messenger from Krowas, our northern neighbor, came in with an urgent message for my father. Felmos was a fairly small nation, though we were well-protected on three sides by a thick series of mountain ranges. Krowas, on the other hand, was absolutely huge; it was one of the three major nations of the world.

I had just taken a deep drink from my chalice when my father informed me I was getting married. In a fit of comedy, I sprayed his face with my drink. Mopping it up, he said that Krowas had announced its intentions to wed Princess Amalie to myself, Prince Tern. There was just one problem with this.

I was ten years older than she was. Amalie was a little girl. While horror rose up in me, my father explained that the girl's father could refuse her nothing, and that she had declared that I would be her husband no matter what. Considering the fact that Krowas could crush us in a single season, we could not refuse their demand. On the other hand, our nation would be essentially impervious to attack if we made this deal, so there was really no choice in the matter. My father added in an undertone that in our last visit to Krowas, Amalie had been very impressed with my skills.

But I could not help feeling like a criminal as the finishing touches were added to my suit. I had never even seen the girl, and already I felt like I was somehow violating her innocence. It was the kind of awful feeling that makes you feel like you are going to empty your stomach, except you're really not, but that acid taste seems to be there anyway.

My Doctor said it was a case of premarital stress. I was slightly more concerned about being struck down by divine wrath as I walked down the aisle, and if that didn't happen, being killed in my sleep. It wasn't even legal for a girl that young to be married. In either of our countries.

I moped as the ceremonies began on the other side of the sturdy door I had entered the room by. Weddings were supposed to be joyous events. I had been looking forward to a beautiful wife only a year or two younger than myself, not some little child I couldn't even touch without feeling revolted at myself.

"Ah, cheer up!" my father said. "It'll only be seven or eight years before she's of a reasonable age."

"It's the time before then that concerns me." I groaned. "Why couldn't this wait that long?" I hung my head down and stared morosely at the floor. It was a nice floor, with a nice carpet. Maybe I could claim religious obligation to count every thread in it before getting married? No, no, they'd never believe an excuse so bad as that. I needed something a little more reasonable. The best lies were half true.

"Princess Amalie was very insistent." My father mused. "Fortunately, Krowas has agreed that this is a permanent agreement, though she will have to live here with you even if she changes her mind later. The law does not allow you two to be separated in your place of residence."

"The law doesn't allow us to get married at all."

My father gave me an innocent look. I merely sighed as the gongs started ringing outside. Maybe this was a nightmare, and I would soon wake up from my sleep. Yes, I'd go downstairs, have breakfast, and have a good laugh with my father over such a crazy little dream. I pinched myself very tightly, but did not wake up. Moments later, the door opened, and the roar of the people was carried inside by the winds. They were just happy about having the northern border secure; none of them had to feel like someone who should be forever locked away in a moldy cell where the sun will never shine.

"You know your duty." my father said sternly. "Get to it."

With the deepest longing for a way out of this, I trudged out the door and into the aisle. The cheers rose as people saw me. A small figure in a small white dress was standing at the other end of the aisle. With a deep swallow, I put a hand to my face for a moment.

"I can't deal with this." I sighed. "Not the ceremony as well. Terth, handle it." Another presence that had been hovering at the back of my mind swarmed up and took over my body as my awareness pulled in and I slid to the back of my mind. My body moved down the aisle as Terth walked calmly forward.

The same Doctor who said I was merely stressed about all this (he was right, by the way) had noted that Terth was me and yet not-me at the same time. A sort of second side to me, if you will. I was never entirely sure how he had appeared, but we had been together for as long as I could remember, and he would help me with things when I asked for it. Terth didn't seem to even understand the concept of stress; he just did what he had to do. I watched from the back of my mind as the ceremony went on, brooding as the Priest carried out the traditional rites of our country to wed me to a little girl. I could see the amusement in his face as he went on with this.

"So do you, Princess Amalie, take this man to be your lawful husband?" the Priest asked.

"Of course not." Amalie said, crossing her arms as he looked away. "That's not my Tern." the crowd was silent for a moment, and a laugh came out of my mouth.

"You got me." Terth said. "He's been very nervous about this whole affair. Sorry, master, but it looks like you have to take it from here." he placed his hand to his head, and I was in control of my body again. Dangit, Terth!

"That's better." Amalie said approvingly. How had she known that Terth was the one controlling my body? "I take Prince Tern to be my lawful husband until the end of my days." the girl said clearly. There were a few more mutters from the crowd. The Priest looked at me.

"And do you, Prince Tern, take this… um… girl… to be your lawful wife?" he snickered.

"I don't have much choice in the matter." I muttered. "I'm going to regret this, I know it, but yes I take her as my lawful wife until the end of my days."

"Excellent." the Priest said, closing his book. "You may now… snrk… kiss the… pfft… bride... Prince Tern." He was trying so hard not to burst out laughing. I gave him a look of deepest loathing as I bent over and kissed Amalie on the forehead. That did it. I was now a married man, and any moment now, I was going to be struck down by holy wrath. I deserved it, too.

However, no bolt of lightning came, and cheers broke out from the crowd, along with more than a few laughs, as our nations entered into a binding agreement. The Priest couldn't hold it in anymore, and cried from laughing too hard as he sank down behind his podium. I made a note to myself to banish him from the Kingdom. How dare he enjoy my suffering so much. Amalie wrapped her arms around my neck, smiling happily.

"See, things are much better when you don't rely on others to do everything." the girl said, resting her head on my shoulder. "You were amazing at those games! Only someone with that kind of skill is worthy of being my husband, after all." she made a pleased noise deep in her throat.

Little brat. Yes, I had gotten first or second in most of the sporting events in the tournament Krowas had hosted a few months back, but that was because everyone else competing had not seriously trained in such things. I worked out with the King's Champions, my father's elite guard, so I actually had training that my competitors had never received. Believe me, a few months of preparation is nothing compared to fourteen years of it.

"I want to go get my presents now." the girl said, slipping out of my grip. She kept one of her tiny hands in mine and with surprising strength for a girl so small pulled me over to the forming line of people. Most of the gifts were given to her, I noted, baubles and jewelry and other glittery things she delighted in receiving. A few more practical ones were given to me, though, including a dagger of exceptional make and a new banner to replace the aging one that currently flew above the castle to mark my presence.

"Thank you, thank you!" Amalie said as she opened each gift, often kissing the giver on the cheek. Most of the people seemed entranced by her, probably because she was such a delightful little girl. Well, delightful to everyone else, anyway. I still felt like my presence alone was corrupting her, and I had barely even touched her. Was this going to be how things were for the next eight years?

How would I ever survive it?