The Covenant

Hey guys! I'm back with another AU Harvest Moon story. I write super in the moment stories, so I can't give away too much of how this will turn out. Your guess is as good as mine, but I always liked that about writing. It's a way to get out the trials of everyday life into a beautiful fantasy aside your own personal story. Anyway, please follow along this journey with me and as always, read and review!

Her feet were heavy. It seemed like every step she took on the pavement shook the ground beneath her as she walked. She was headed home, after a long day of pictures, and waiting, and meeting important people, and doing all kinds of things that she honestly hated doing. The process took all day, and the sun was setting fast. She knew she had to be home before dark. 'They know I live in this neighborhood, why they let it take so long is beside me.' She looked at her watch, ten minutes until the sirens.

Today was the day that most girls dreamed of. Today was Choosing Day. A day where the royals' brought beautiful women into court and gave them titles in hopes to marry them off and spread the Castanet blood. To Angela, it seemed shallow, and she was completely content where she was.

"Hey, Angela!" A boy called after her. "Wait up! Why do you walk so dang fast!" He joked, catching up to her, grabbing her arm gently. Angela looked up at him as she turned and stopped, the sunset gleaming in her soft brown hair. "I saw you walking a few blocks away. I was waiting for you from the Town Directory, but I obviously had to wait until you were away from the security clearance to talk to you."

"Oh, Toby." She sighed wrapping her arm around his waist and took in his features as she glanced up at him. He was always so calm and collected, almost the exact opposite of her.

"Was it that bad...?" He questioned, placing a sweet and gentle kiss on her forehead, putting his arm around her shoulders as well as they walked.

She snuggled deeply into his chest and breathed his scent. "How unlucky am I?"

"Angela. You aren't the only girl that had to do this today. The likelihood of you being chosen to wed one of the royal family is slim. Even more so to the Prince." She knew he was right. Any girl in the kingdom, seventeen and eighteen had to go through this today. But why her? Things were finally going the way she had wanted them to for a long time.

"I know, Toby. But, I'm the only girl who doesn't want that life. I don't have family that I need to take care of, so their promises of moving them to a better life is meaningless. And could you believe that they sent everyone home early except me and a few other girls? I'm not naïve, I know what that means.."

His heart sank, he too, knew what that meant. "Angela. I know this isn't what you are wanting to hear. Not even slightly, but, if you get that letter, you go. There is nothing for you here. Over there, it's a better life, they can promise you things that I can't. Do you understand?" One single tear fell down his cheek as the street light in front of their adjacent homes came on.

"Nothing except for you." She replied, removing her arm from his waist and crossing them in front of her chest, hiding her goosebumps from the early Autumn chill. His arm moved to one shoulder, and his other hand went up to the other one.

"Have I told you, that you are the most beautiful girl in the world?" He asked, eyes piercing through hers, leaning down inches before her face. They had never shared a real kiss before, it was something forbidden until a man and a woman become of age, and since this was the first Choosing Ceremony since the King's, it was forbidden among women of age similar to the Prince. But it didn't mean she didn't want it to be Toby. She leaned up towards him, their breath was warming each other's lips as the outside world got darker. Angela placed one hand on the side of Toby's face and leaned even closer, their lips were centimeters from touching.

Then the siren rang. One minute until they had to be in their homes. Toby pulled back and smiled a toothy, cheesy smile and ran his hand through his silver blue hair. "Hey, meet me by the string tonight?" He asked and Angela nodded, giving him a quick hug before running to her home. A second siren went off, thirty seconds now. She reached for her keys and opened her door, feeling each vibration from the latch. Closing the door behind her, she sank to her knees, the final siren went off and the shrieking began. She didn't know what happened to the people who stayed outside after the sirens, she never pushed it far enough to find out. And luckily she had always had Toby there to see her to her home, especially after her parents had passed away.

It was her and four other girls that stood there in the waiting room after everyone else had been dismissed. A beautiful young woman with curly red hair like she had never seen before. Eighteen. A pair of sisters were to her right, not that you could tell. One was small, with naturally pink hair. She talked a lot, to her sister who's mind seemed elsewhere. Her sister was tall and slim, and had a very gentle face.

Then there was the final girl. A woman she knew well. Kathy. Angela was glad to see her, even though it had been months since they had talked. She stood alone in the corner, in the same boat as Angela. With someone she loved on the outside. His name was Owen. Toby and Owen talked frequently enough for Angela to know that Owen was heartbroken over even the thought of Kathy leaving. But it was the life in Castanet. Angela only hope that Toby was as broken as she was over the Choosing.

Angela stood up and collected herself. Tonight was the night she as going to let Toby know how she felt, truly. If she were to get picked, she needed him to know.

And there is chapter one, guys. I hope you enjoyed it! Hopefully I can get the next chapter out soon. Please let me know what you thought, or think. Please R&R, and have a good rest of the day!