[ WP ] As a daughter of nobility you always knew your marriage would be a matter of politics , but you never expected to be married off as to seal a peace agreement with the Dark Lord ...

I was summoned by Father to his office, not the smaller private one where he'd retreat and think about the tough decisions with only me or Mother allowed to interrupt him but to the larger official office, the unofficial war room where he'd gather his inner circle to plan and plot for the good of our dominion. 
 
 
 I have to admit I was completely puzzled by this but as a good daughter and well mannered lady I complied, finding him surrounded by his top men our steward and treasurer, the captain of our house's men at arms and our court sorcerer. 
 
 
 `` Come my dear,'' he beckoned upon seeing me enter `` we need to discuss something serious but I will also need your time after the meeting is over.'' 
 
 
 `` Uhm do you want me to wait outside?'' Father was acting strange he never allowed anyone in these meetings who did n't absolutely need to be there, not even Mother was allowed. 
 
 
 `` No, sit... you are of my House and this concerns us all, Lucian you were saying... `` 
 
 
 Lucian, a tall and handsome man with long flowing hair was besides captain of my father's forces also the most desirable bachelor in our castle, there was no one among my ladies in waiting that did not secretly long for him. 
 
 
 Even I had spent many a lazy summer evening secretely fantasizing about running off with him, we would have fled to the ever warring South where he would command a mercenary company and I would follow along supporting him with my love, bandaging his wounds... sigh those were only 
 the dreams of a foolish girl my duty was to my familly, my battleground would be the marriage bed and Lucian was neither noble enough, wealthy enough or powerfull enough to be seen as a pottential match. 
 
 
 `` Up until now my lord... I have failed three times we have faced the Dark Lord in battle and three times I have been defeated sent home with my tail in between my legs and his dark legions fattened with new recruits from our own best warriors.'' 
 
 
 `` Yes.'' came Father's reply flat and stoic impossible to read. 
 
 
 `` It's not the fault of your men sire, it's how I lead them every tactic and strategy I know is design to break the enemy in battle to destroy their resolve for a broken retreating enemy is better than one that you have to pin down and kill... well until now but the undead we face they will not break they have no courage as mere puppets but that in practice it means they have infinite courage and will fight on until physically broken and destroyed.'' 
 
 
 `` In short the very way we fight is completely unsuited to this enemy.'' he gave the final proclamation Father did not seem to contest him and the steward and sorcerer not being men of war did not seem inclined to offer their opinion. 
 
 
 `` Could you train your men uhm think up other strategies, start from scratch?'' I found myself asking, me a lady of the court if the other men found themselves troubled they did not show it. 
 
 
 `` Yes it could be done, but it would take months at minimum for best results we're talking years to rebuild the entire way we fight.'' 
 
 
 `` Has he made no demands?'' the steward spoke up, I knew him to be a niggardly man but even he knew that it was better to lose your treasury than your life. 
 
 
 `` No, and this troubles me I do n't know what we could offer even if he did ask.'' Father said in a low almost defeated voice. 
 
 
 `` I agree with the steward, anything we can offer to get a reprieve.'' I had gathered what they we talking about, the Dark Lord the necromancer from the south and now he'd also expanded to the north of our lands, strange and warlike with minions rather than armies no noble knew what to make of him. Every noble knew the Great Game how to position their armies, gold, daughters to advance in front of the other nobles but here was someone, something else playing by it's own eldritch rules. 
 
 
 `` If I may... `` the court sorcerer finally began as the threat was magical he was the most qualified to tackle their problem `` if we could gather up a band of uhmm adventurers to slay this vile magus... `` 
 
 
 She snorted a little `` adventurers'' was that what they were calling assassins in such high esteemed society? 
 
 
 The sorcerer was looking straight at her though, apparently crossed about her snort. 
 
 
 `` You do not know matters of the arcane child, there is a reason why we have not seen necromancy in practice for a few centuries, it's practicants are dangerous deranged individuals who seldom pass their knowledge on it might very well be that necromancy is one of the very rare blood magics.'' 
 
 
 `` Meaning?'' Lucian stepped in to my aid. 
 
 
 `` Meaning if the necromancer is killed not only will his undead minions crumble but any adepts that he has swayed to his service will be unnable to trouble us with necromancy anymore... granted this is only if the Dark Lord has no offspring.'' 
 
 
 `` Quite... the hour is late I've kept you gentlemen enough and we've exhausted all the options allready, please leave me with my daughter.'' 
 
 
 They complied finally leaving me and Father alone. 
 
 
 `` What did you think about the meeting?'' Father asked for some reason I could n't quite grasp. 
 
 
 `` The Dark Lord has been the subject of some gossip with the ladies of this court and others but I did not know the situation was so bad.'' 
 
 
 `` It could be worse, we have options try to bribe him off, try and fight at a latter day try and... eliminate him, but it's not easy whatever 
 I chose there will be a price to pay.'' 
 
 
 `` Whatever you need to do father, do it... that's why everyone respects you no ordinary man could make these kind of decisions.'' 
 
 
 `` And what if it were your jewels that I'd take away to melt down and pay him, your future husband could be among the men I send to their death.'' 
 
 
 `` It's your decision Father, you've given me everything now it's time for me to sacrifice as well.'' 
 
 
 Father looked at me like this was the first time he'd met me and he actually stammered as he tried to speak. 
 
 
 `` I've uhm deceived you my daughter... `` my face betrayed my surprise but I waited for him to continue `` there are no multiple options our only chance is to give him what he wants... `` 
 
 
 `` Gold, lands what?'' 
 
 
 `` Your hand in marriage.''
