Welcome to my Fable Story! I hope you enjoy it!
A little summary before hand
Imagine, you are born with everything handed to you, the finest things in life presented to you on a silver... no, a golden platter! However, you find that this does not come from the sky, but your family. Your family, a rich and noble family, torments those to get what it wants. Aristocrats of the highest caliber, using pain and suffering to maintain 'good business'.
What is one to do?
Inspired partially by the Disturbed song, The Animal.
Chapter 1: Introduction
The sun rested high above the post noon sky, as the fields of endless blue went on for what seemed like forever. Sparse pieces of white seldom crossed the blue canvas, as a strong wind blew across the plains, and birds took flight.
The natural short grasses blew back and forth, as the world drew each breath, as the sun greeted the Earth in a warm embrace; a beautiful, warm, fall day.
"Alfonso."
The name belonged to a young boy, sitting in the fields, watching this beauty. The voice belonged to the boy's uncle, and the family's financial advisor, Calogero. The man bore a smile, as he walked through the short grasses, wearing a jacket of deep burgundy accented with black trimmings that draped to his knees, while under it, wearing a black tabard under his jacket, and a fine sarong down to the boots at his feet.
The boy wore a simple sleeveless tunic, with leather bracers around his wrists, matching boots, and beige leggings.
"There you are, are you ready for your lessons?" Calogero said, with a smile, kneeling down to the boy, petting his head; The boy's short cut and sleek hairstyle still looking pristine afterwards. His hair shined a deep dark colorful brown.
The boy nodded, being a fairly quiet child, as he walked with Calogero into the house, as Calogero spoke to him. "You are growing up so fast, Alfonso. You are nine already, and quite the fetching young boys. You'll need to be careful, suitors will be seeking your attention soon enough."
The boy simply nodded, he didn't know what that meant exactly, but he was told it was a chance for him to meet friends. He never had any, living here his whole life, but always felt he would like to have made some.
They walked their way through the fields up towards the house. "A lot will be expected of you, your family is a powerful one, so you will have to shoulder the burden, being the leader of the household. Your elder sisters aren't leaders, so the task falls to you."
Alfonso never understood why they couldn't lead. They were both good with numbers, while he wasn't. He always heard his family profession included being businessmen, merchants, and the like, trading what was to be traded.
However it worked, it got them all this land, and all the money they could ask for. He had always heard thing she didn't quite understand, as young as he was, he had just always heard his sisters were 'unfit'.
"Just know, this life, it's a peaceful one, it's a pleasant one." Calogelo said, smiling, but something in his bright green eyes suggested he was holding back something. "Just remember, there are more things in life than gold."
Just as he said this, the doors opened in front of them, and a man stepped forward. He wore a deep blue, long sleeved tunic that went down to his mid thighs, and a pair of grey buckskins on his legs.
Calogero's and this man's eyes seemed to meet, and lightning metaphorically clashed between them.
"Greetings, Calogero."
"Salutations, Duilio." This was a name the boy heard, but a face he rarely saw. This was his father's 'head of business'; he basically was an overseer of sorts, but watched over all of his father's assets, dealings, and sometimes even employees.
"I see you're seeing to the young master's education, very kind of you." Duilio said, smiling, stepping back inside, and into the palazzo. Seeing him seemed to disturb the boy a bit, which even seemed to effect Calogero slightly.
"Don't waste thoughts on Duilio." Calogero said, smiling. "He's just a snake without fangs."
Alfonso nodded, but still felt the cold sting of the bite that was Duilio's presence.
-Three Years Later-
"Hyah!" I yelled, as I swung down at the post's shoulder, then spun and brought the wooden blade across its chest. My shoulder length long hair swayed, but didn't distract my vision even slightly as I swung.
I spent a lot of time here now, at the training post aside the Palazzo's west entrance, and I feel my skills show the fruits of my efforts.
"Alfonso!" The voice of a rather annoyed young woman sounded, and I looked over to see my sister, Fiammetta. She stood with her arms crossed by the entrance to the palazzo and didn't look happy.
"Yes, sister?" I asked, sheathing my sword as I turned to her. "What's wrong."
Both of my sister's were older than I, Fiammetta is two years older, then my sister Gemma, being four years older.
"Mother wants to see you, so she sent me all this way to fetch you." She said, obviously not wanting to be distracted from whatever it was she was doing. Fiammetta and I had more in common than my oldest sister. Fiammetta was fiery, physical, and intellectual; what she lacked in social graces, she made up for in pretty much every other category.
Gemma was a princess no matter how you looked at it, personality, appearance, and interests.
"Alright sister, lead the way." I said, tossing my sheathed wooden sword aside, as I followed her through the bright and vibrant palazzo. Made out of fine light grey stone, and well lit and tended to. Ascending to the second floor, we entered mother's chamber, and saw her standing near an old cupboard. She wore a deep purple dress, with silver trimmings, that highlighted her bright blond hair and white skin.
"Good morning mother." I said, smiling, she and I had a fairly good relationship. "How are you today, mother?"
"Moto' bene, Alfonso, thank you for asking." She said, smiling. "I have a gift for you."
"Why don't I get anything?" Fiammetta asked, playfully.
"You got things in about the same amount when you were his age." Mother said, stepping towards the cupboard she was in front of, unlocking it.
"I think it's just because he's the baby." She said, teasing me now.
"Fiammetta seems rather energetic today." I said, not acknowledging what she said, to tease her in return.
"Indeed." Mother said, withdrawing a long rectangular item from the cupboard, wrapped in cloth, holding it out for me to take.
I did just that, and began to unwrap it, to found it was a sword. Aged, but made of good iron, a weapon at the least.
"That was my father's sword, and his father's before his, and so on. I feel it is time you took possession of it." Mother said, smiling. "Just don't practice with it yet, I don't want you hurting yourself."
"Of course, mother." I said, smiling, looking at the present in front of me, very glad to have such a thing.
Just then, Calogero stepped into the room. "Milady Fioralba" he said, bowing, stating my mother's first name, implying it was fairly urgent "Lady Gemma's suitor is here."
"Oh, thank you, Calogero. I'll be down momentarily, thank you for the message." My mother said, before signaling him to head back down.
He nodded his head, and left.
-Three Years Later-
Sitting in my room, I wrote letters to both my sisters. It's been nearly three years since I've seen gemma, and Two since I've seen Fiammetta. I wrote them both often, between everything else I've had to do. Father, when I rarely do see him, keeps telling me about suitors. I keep imploring my mother to keep them away, as I don't want to be married off to some woman I haven't the faintest idea about, but she can only do so much.
Finishing the letters, I stood up, and paced my way to the kitchen. I could easily send for a servant, but I could easily do it myself, and didn't want to bother them for some orange juice; I slowly walked my way through the palazzo to the kitchen.
However, what I saw disturbed me.
I stopped beside the doorway to the kitchen, and stealthily peered in. Inside, I could overheard Duilio blackmailing a servant, and I could only assume the worst. I avoided this man whenever possible, which was fairly easy, as he was constantly at my father's side. But when I saw him, he kept enforcing the point of how important it was that I continue the family way.
What was so great about it? I don't want to be a merchant, I'm horrible with math, business, and everything that has to do with commerce. I want to do something, something honest, something real.
I couldn't move, just the sickness that was what he was doing, and all the other wrong doings I've seen him do before got to me again. I've seen him extort those we would trade with, he would strong-arm our own servants, and even place himself above the law by use of gold. Every time I thought of him it disgusted me, and this pushed it a little too far.
The feelings in me, supported by my morals and ethics, drove me to anger, I wasn't sure what to do. The hodgepodge of emotions that swirled inside me confused me, and I couldn't move, all I could do was lean against the wall, and try to tune out his infectious speech.
"Alfonso!" I heard, whispered from down the hall.
I turned over to see Calogero signaling me to follow him.
I quietly made my way over to him, then he lead me to his room, which looked like a grand study. He pulled up a chair, and motioned for me to sit.
I sat down, and heaved a heavy sigh.
"Alfonso, you don't have to worry yourself about…"
"What he was doing was wrong, I should've done something."
"There is nothing you can do about that man, he is just a snake."
"As you've said, but he just proved he still has his fangs." I said, standing up, turning to face Calogero directly. "How can you just let him do something like that!"
"Because, we are worth it."
I turned, to see the door swing open, and Duilio step in. My first instinct was to back away, but my rage sustained me, I stood my ground as he stepped forward. "Do you really think we are equal to the peasants we have serve us?"
"Yes." I said, nodding. "I know that girl. She has parents, and siblings, just like I do…"
"And what, you assume that she is the same as you just because of that?" Duilio said, smirking. "You are a funny child, that you are."
"Duilio, do not insult the young master." Calogero said, standing up from behind me. His hair had grown surprisingly more gray over the past few years, but his voice still held youth.
"I was not insulting him, I was merely telling him some needed to know information." Duilio said, shrugging with his grin still intact. "You, Alfonso, are above these peasants. Our entire family, is above these peasants."
"I disagree, brother." Calogero said, nodding. "I agree with the young master, we are all human, we are all…"
"Believe what you will, it's not an opinion, it's a fact." Duilio said, still smiling as he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
There was a long silence after he was gone, and I felt no better. However, a new question was on my mind. "Duilio is your brother?"
"More so than I'd like him to be." Calogero said, shaking his head, sitting back down on his bed.
"Can anything be done?" I asked Calogero, sitting down beside him.
"Never become him." Calogero said, looking at me, more serious than I've ever seen before. "There are more important things in life than gold and power."
I nodded.
-One Year Later-
I stood, wearing my finest attire over simple clothing, similar to that I wore as child. Overtop I wore a fancy coat, made of bear hide, with my family crest, the wolf, on the back.
Once the doors opened, I stepped inside.
I looked around at my father's study, massive, the only room on the palazzo's third floor, then I turned to face him. It's been a long while since I've even seen him, but his face is all the same. Brown hair, the same color as mine cut nice and neat, against his white skin; my mother said I looked a bit like him, and that scared me, as we were so different.
"Father, I came to ask you if I could plead to you to end this arranged marriage, and allow me some time to travel the country-side to learn a profession." I said, nodding my head.
My father was a good man, a kind father, if distant. He always wanted what was best for me, but not entirely what made me happy. I could never really tell if he knew me, and I could never really say I liked him, as I never knew him that well. I could only truly say I respected him.
"What profession would that be?" He asked, still looking down at papers, as he filled them out.
"Painting, if I remember correctly?" Duilio chimed in from beside my father.
"No," I said, respectfully, silencing the reflexes to curse at him, "the arts, drawing, painting, writing, music. All of it, I would be overjoyed to have your permission."
He seemed to take a moment, only a moment, in his condemning me. "I stand by my prior decision."
I gritted my teeth, and stood. I left the room without saying a word. I marched through the palazzo in my finery, examining my prison.
I made my way to my room, and looked about it, decorated with the creative fruits that I wished to pursue. My birthday was a mere week ago, and that's when this marriage was announced to me, and I learned that I would be forever imprisoned here.
I was going to open a letter from the woman I was promised to, but I decided against it all I did was lay back on my bed, and go to sleep
-Several Hours Later-
I was awoken several hours later to the worst news I could possibly imagine. Apparently the letter stated that said woman would be here later this evening, and would be coming to stay with me until the marriage ceremony.
I stood at the front entrance to the palazzo, looking out at the fields under the dark blue sky. I looked about, as the Fall breeze blew throughout the plains. Fall was my favorite season, the breeze was cool and pleasant, I was resistant to the cold, so it was very soothing.
It seemed she would not be here for a few minutes, so Calogero decided to pull me aside and talk to me for a few moments. We took a few steps into the palazzo to talk in relative privacy.
"How are you doing, Alfonso?" He asked, his voice always filled with the peace and calmness it had always had.
"Calogero… I can't do this, I-I can't…" I said, nervous, and obviously resistant. I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to submit to this fate that wasn't mine.
"Alfonso… I don't know what to tell you… I've always cared for you… but there is nothing I can do."
"Calogero, you've been a great friend to me, and I trust that I will know what to do when the time comes, I've taken your words to heart." I said, as I slowly stepped forward, and gave him a hug.
"I trust you as well, Alfonso." He said, before returning to where we were out front, standing in front of our servants, which was a good few.
We could see a carriage slowly creep towards us, until finally, it stopped in front of us, and guards emerged, and then a young woman about my age in a white dress, with long black hair slowly stepped forward. She was pretty, but I wasn't so vain as to be swayed by beauty. I've lived my entire life seeing the beautiful and noble come and go, pleased only by the cringe of gold.
As she stepped in front of me, she held out her hand, and spoke her name. But I couldn't hear it, my heart beat was too loud.
I looked around at everyone who was here. Calogero, mother, father, Duilio, and all the servants; I was about to take her hand and speak my name…
However, I saw something.
I looked over, and I saw the serving girl, and her son. And remembered that night so long, when I could have done something, but chose not to.
Would I do this? Would I resign myself to fate, and a life I didn't choose.
I couldn't, I wouldn't.
I immediately turned and leaped over the short wall aside the path that lead to the front entrance of the Palazzo from the main road. I felt something tug against my coat, and assumed someone tried to grab me, but I was moving fast enough that the tug ceased.
I pulled off my elegant coat as I ran, as well as the drape I had been given to wear, so I was down to my simple clothing, that showed who I truly was.
I ran frantically across the plains, I heard cries, but I heard no one following me, so I ran as fast as possible. I sprinted across the fields, and at the end of the reaches of our palazzo grounds, I could tell I was running south, as I knew there was a forested region to the south.
I ran, and ran, and ran some more, it's all I could do; I could not stay back there and let myself live that corrupt life.
I felt my breath thin out as I reached the edge of the forest, and dashed into it, and continuously ran, panting hard as I entered its shadow.
I ran until I met a hillside, and slipped, and rolled down its slope; miraculously, I didn't hit a tree, and landed at the base. However, over-exertion took its toll, as I felt sick, and slowly lost consciousness.
Let me take the time to say something very quickly. If you feel that there wasn't enough there to constitute that kind of reaction, I agree with you. But, for the sake of not having to write out the entire life of our Sixteen year old hero, I leave it to your inference to ASSUME THAT HE'S LIVED HIS LIFE SEEING CORRUPTION ALMOST DAILY.
Just wanted to make that point, as I know what little I wrote doesn't constitute his freak-out, but if you think about it that way, it is justified ^^.
Thank you for reading, I hope to update often enough to not have you all think I'm dead ^^.
