Lexie sat on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the park. She had been banished from her home in the forest. Her parents had met with “the council” to arrange her marriage. But Lexie had other plans. She was only fifteen and refused to get married. The man she was ordered to marry was an important man in their treetop community. He was tall, respected, and snotty. One of Lexie’s biggest problems was that he was not only stuck up, but he was also in his fifties.
She had shown up at the alter on their wedding day in her favorite skirt and sweatshirt. No-one said anything about how she was dressed. The priest was coaching her fiancé -yuck- through his vows. He looked at Lexie. “Do you take this man to be you husband?” he asked her. “ I do not” she replied simply, turning around and walking towards the councils’ lair in one of the hollow trees. She would be summoned there soon anyway.
After a long discussion between her, her parents, and the council, Lexie was banished from the forest. “Never come back” They had told her as she left. She packed nothing and left without saying goodbye to anyone. Her parents had agreed with the council after all. They had said this was a punishment equal to the shame she had brought upon her family.
So there Lexie sat, wondering what she would do with herself. She had never been out of the forest, not even once. She had never had to take care of herself. “This is going to be a challenge” She whispered to herself.
Lexie closed her eyes and nodded off to sleep. Seconds later, she fell backwards and into the fountain. She pulled herself out and walked over to a park bench. Shivering, she curled up on it in her drenched clothes. Lexie stared at the stars, she was too cold and scared to fall asleep. This was going to be harder then she thought.
Back at home in the forest, Drake, the man she was supposed to marry, was plotting to force her hand. While she laid shivering on the park bench he gathered men. Their only job was to find her, kidnap her, and bring her back to Drake. The rules? Lexie had to be kept alive. Any other murders were to be kept quiet. He would then hold Lexie for such a high ransom that no-one would even try to pay it. The only other option would be her hand in marriage. That same night, he sent off 15 of his best men to go find her.
