Denizens: Beginnings - 2

Part 2 of ? How did we get to this point in our story, and why was the army the king had so small? It would appear that we need to go farther back, tell you about this sad king and his fall. All great adventures come with a sweet princess, and ours is Penelope, as you will see. She was adored by the least in the kingdom; her mother, the queen, had passed when she was three. Proud as he was of his beautiful daughter, the king did not judge others’ character well. Treaties established to further the kingdom had landed them all in this hot, bloody hell. When the strange king from the east came to visit, he fell for the flattery, missed all the signs. Spellbound, he made an unholy alliance, and missed the intent of this dark king’s designs. The son of the strange king was handsome and dashing; union of children: an increase in lands. He and Penelope would rule together, and after all, why not? It sounded so grand. That had been years ago; they were all older now. Plans for their wedding could now be arranged. Then just last year, she went east for a visit, and that’s when the plot took a turn for the strange. ————— (To be continued) part 1: https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/denizens_prologue_-_1_1445556