Zenarra stood on the balcony surveying the rocky, desert terrain that surrounded the palace. She has been home for only a month but was restless already. She missed her little house in The Valley of the Moon. She was called back to Lunaris by an urgent message from her mother begging her to return and fulfill her obligation to marry Prince Tomar, leader of the Dorchas Clan. Their marriage was arranged at birth by the two most powerful clans, the Dorchas and, her clan, the Solas. Zenarra had hoped to escape this arranged marriage by leaving her home planet and starting a new life on Earth. But she was tracked down by a sensor that had been implanted when she was an infant. When she found out about it she had it removed, but she couldn’t ignore her mother’s plea. Queen Denarras had been her greatest ally when she was growing up among seven brothers and a powerful father, King Samar, head of the Solas Clan. Samar had died, under suspicious circumstances, on a hunting trip last Spring and Zenarra did not want her mother to face the Dorchas Clan alone.
So here she was dressed in her gown before the official engagement dinner that was to happen that evening. She felt so uncomfortable in this formal attire.
Image by Cajsa Lillihook on Flickr
You look lovely darling. Zenarra turned to see her mother was standing behind her.
I hate these formal affairs mother and don’t like wearing this heavy gown. All the jewels and weight of this headdress make it hard to walk.
I know dear, I felt the same way the night of my betrothal to your father, Denarras eyes glistened as she gazed at her beautiful daughter and thought, Oh Zenarra you are so much stronger and braver than I was when I married Samar.
Are you ready? Our guests are waiting for us to begin the banquet, Denarras reached out for her daughter’s hand.
I am ready, mother. The two women walked together toward the banquet hall.
As they entered the hall, Zenarra’s eyes scanned the room. All of the important male members of the Dorchas and Solas Clans were seated and she could hear their loud voices and laughter. She noticed that they were laughing and smiling but the glint in their eyes betrayed a deep mistrust. Zenarra saw Tomar seated at the large table at the front of the hall. The bridal table was on a raised platform so all the guests would have a clear view of the couple. Zenarra’s eyes sought out another. Lord Jennar was the leader of her father’s army. She saw him standing in the shadows behind Tomar with the rest of the Solas Honor Guard. Their eyes met and she slowly nodded her head. Jennar leapt forward and grabbed Tomar by the hair. Light gleamed off the sword that quickly ran across Tomar’s throat. The Dorchas Clan leaders rose as one and cried out in rage. The Solas Clan was ready with swords drawn to begin the battle. Zenarra rushed her mother to a safe hiding place behind a wall in her bed chamber.
What are you doing, Zenarra? You will bring destruction down upon this house, Denarras’ eyes were wide with fear.
I could not marry that evil man, mother. It is time for us to fight against the oppression of the women of our clan. It is time for the women to take their true place as leaders along with the men.
Zenarra threw off her heavy gown and jewels. She had worn her tunic and leggings under her dress. She grabbed her chest plate and hurriedly strapped it on with the help of her loyal servant Manet. She took up her sword and ran toward the battle and her future as head of the Solas Clan and ruler of Lunaris.
Image by Pixabay.com
Word Count: 651 words
Criticism: General
If you would like to read some of the back story about Zenarra, here are links to the previous flash fiction stories:
Notes Tied On The Sagebrush 
“It is time for the women to take their true place as leaders along with the men.” The fight is unending, as we all know. I love this story and I especially enjoy a story where women challenge the status quo. Great addition the Holiday Celebrations that are out of this world. Thanks, Deborah. The pictures of your heroine are an excellent edition. Love the armor, but that dress and headdress had to cause a headache if not a neck ache. But we’ve, as in most of us, have worn worse. 🙂
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Holiday, and a prosperous and peace-filled New Year!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank You very much, YR. I appreciate your feedback. Happy Holidays! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Deborah! Wow, I like the kick butt attitude of Zenarra. A warrior queen all right! I love the images too that go with the story. They add a nice visual. So that little celebration turned bad for some. I like the generation gap between mother and daughter, too.
Thanks for participating in the challenge at this busy time of year!
Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
Denise 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Denise! Zenarra is a favorite character for me. I was happy to find the images and that they seem to work well with the story. Happy Holidays! 🙂
LikeLike
How I hope that in times to come that battle for women to be heard is a historical anomaly. I sadly fear it won’t be. We need more Zenarras – thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You very much for reading and commenting. I hope this battle will soon be in the past as well. 🙂
LikeLike
Note to self: do not buy wife a sword for Christmas.
This is a very good story Deborah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL Dan! Thank You very much. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for her! She’s a born leader!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thank You, Joy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like the Red Wedding, I did not see that coming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You, Alex. Zenarra has been fighting against this forced marriage from the beginning. Tomar is very bad news. 🙂
LikeLike
Bloodthirsty and uplifting. I hope Zenarra’s next holiday would be more peaceful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You, Olga. Yes I hope Zenarra will have defeated all of her enemies by then. 🙂
LikeLike
Very vivid language, that creates a mental movie of the story. Love the picture additions especially in the second.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You, Jody. Yes I was lucky to find these images on Creative Commons. 🙂
LikeLike
Fun, atmospheric in a way sci-fi demonstrates, which I would say is consistent with the challenge that inspired this. The visuals, by which I mean the pictures in the post, are very pretty, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You, Odell. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
LikeLike
to arms to arms
I heard her cry
take up your swords
the men must die
Not a world I’d like to go see.
Still a good story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You. Zenarra lives in a hard world but she is not evil like Tomar and will be a kind Queen. She has to win the battle with the Dorchas Clan first though. Thanks for reading and thanks for the poem. 🙂
LikeLike
BRAVO. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You, Feather! 🙂
LikeLike
Loved the costumes; and the twist. Way cool to fight against women’s oppression. I love a sword wielding woman. Excellent descriptions; this is so visual – even without the pics. I’m loving the characters, setting, and the plot. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Dolorah. Appreciate it! 🙂
LikeLike
Excellent story, Deborah! But what of Lord Jennar?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, JoAnna! Jennar will be an important character. But not sure in what ways yet 🙂
LikeLike
Surprise…a woman who defies a prearranged marriage and has her fiance assassinated. I never saw it coming. Well written.
Nancy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You, Nancy! I like my character, Zenarra, too. 🙂
LikeLike