Castle Image

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Chris. Chris was not just anybody. Chris was a Prince, only sixteen years of age. Unfortunately, he had just experienced the death of his father, Douglas. With his father's death, Chris started to feel the pressure of his upcoming position to take the throne and become King, after his father. Although Chris adored his father and everything he had done for the Kingdom of Marten, he was not sure taking over and being a ruler was what he desired. He had never imagined he would have to prepare for something so early on. He thought he would have many more years to decide what he truly wanted for himself and his own life.

He was the only full-blood heir to the throne, but, he had a half-brother that was two years younger than him. The half-brother, Josh, had been conceived when Chris's father, Douglas, had taken a second wife besides his mother. Josh was the opposite of Chris and always imagined himself as a ruler and thought he would make a great King, even though the throne did not belong to him.

Despite having different mothers, Chris and Josh had always been extremely close and did everything together. They had grown up play sword fighting, hiding around the castle, and participating in fake battles against one another. It had occurred to them that one day, one of them would have to step up and lead the Kingdom. But they avoided the conversation, knowing they both thought different things.

After much consideration, Chris decided to abdicate his claim to the throne in order to let Josh take place as King over Marten. He knew Josh was the one who truly wanted to rule and lead the people. Josh was honored by the opportunity his brother had presented to him and gladly accepted.

In order to produce heirs for the throne after his rule, Josh would need to take a wife or have multiple wives. In order to find a rightful suitor and wife, Chris agreed to go to surrounding towns and find women. He first began with the neighbor town, Lamar. Chris had been to Lamar on many occasions growing up and felt that the daughters of King James would make agreeable wives for Josh.

After getting to Lamar, he set up a meeting for King James in order to present his idea of having his two daughters become wives of Josh. At first, King James was extremely hesitant to let his daughters go because he was unsure they were ready to take on the role of wives and began to try and produce heirs. He knew the pressure that came with needing to have sons and being at the command of a King. After time and conversation, Chris convinced King James that the daughters would have amazing lives in Marten and that he had no reason to worry.

And so the following morning, the daughters and Chris set off for Marten...

Author's Note: This story was based off of Bhishma going to the Swayamvara in order to find wives for his half brother. In both stories, there are two brothers and one needs to be married. In the Ramayana story, Bhishma goes to the Swayamvara knowing that the options are between three daughters of the King of Benares, Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika. Bhishma decided that he would attempt to secure all three of the daughters as wives at the tournament, not just one. Bhishma set off to compete and was determined to secure his prize at the Swayamvara. Bhishma was impressed upon arrival at the beauty of the three daughters, dressed and ornamented in fine clothing, surrounded by royal umbrellas and cars. Other men had come to compete for the daughters but none compared to Bhishma's talent as an archer. Bhishma competes in the tournament and impresses all with his abilities. He takes down horses, elephants and all charioteers that attempt to stop him with his arrows, until they give up and accept defeat. Bhishma, very cocky, laughs as he does this and is pleased with himself. He wins the royal prize and begins to travel back home with the three daughters to be wed to his brother.

Bibliography: Bhishma at the Swayamvara by Sister Nivedita