This story is based on:
Engraved In Stone
Chapter one,
The Stone
There was a great commotion in the two castles that stood opposite hills over looking the valley. In the white castle, the servants hurried about the kitchen, peeling and paring, Stirring and stewing, baking and basting, mincing and marinating. The long banquet table was draped with lace and set with delicate porcelain and heavy silver.
In the gray castle, the servants scurried about the bedrooms, tucking and tidying, sweeping and swabbing, plumping and polishing. The ballroom's marble floor gleamed brightly and the golden scones were filled with tall white candles.
In each town adjoining the castles, the hustle and bustle continued. All the villagers, from the loftiest aristocrat to the humblest beggar, donned their finest clothes and carefully wrapped their gifts, whether large or small, modest or extravagant. In every hand was a gray envelope containing a white invitation, which read, in elaborate gold lettering, as follows:
You are invited to attend the
nuptials
of
Princess Sakura of Greycliff
And
Prince Syaoran of Whitehill
Excitement filled the air; smiles could be seen on all faces save two: Those of Princess Sakura and Prince Syaoran.
Scowling, Prince Syaoran tugged at his embroidered white tunic, and turned to his wrinkled chief advisor, Sir Robert.
"Explain to me again why I must go down to the valley today to marry a woman I do not love; nay, I do not even know."
Sir Robert sighed, "Your Highness, we have been over the importance of this marriage countless times."
"Yes, but never have we discussed it on the actual day when all is being readied and I am wearing a ridiculous outfit." He tugged again at his elegant clothes.
"Be still, Sire, and I will review well-worn ground for you. As you know, approximately sixteen years ago, when you were born, all was well in Whitehill. Your good parents, Lively King Li and lovely Queen Li, ruled their people justly and wisely. Their best friends were rulers of Greycliff, wise King Kinnomoto and winsome Queen Kinnomoto, parents of Princess Sakura who was born the same day as you. Inspired by the royal friendship, the people of both kingdoms lived in harmony and prosperity.
Then, one fine summer day when you were but a year old, a terrible tragedy happened. Your parents and Sakura's arranged to meet for an outdoor feast in the valley. Each couple rode down the respectful hills in elegant carriages and both, unfortunately, were punctual. They arrived at the center at the same time and each set of horses, seeing the other oncoming set, went wild. The charging carriages collided with a large rock In the valley and all the passengers were killed instantly." He shook his head sadly. The people of Whitehill and Greycliff mourned at the loss of their rulers, but they rejoiced that time would furnish them with suitable replacements.
"Of course, people can be impatient and, without the example of the royal friendship, the People began to squabble. At first the differences were over minor maters, later the disagreements became more bigger and widespread. Disputes arose over fishing rights in the streams, hunting rights in the woods, and gathering rights in the groves. Each kingdom wanted to feel superior, and the tensions grew so high that war seemed impossible to escape. It was then that I, as your guardian, and Lady Claire of Greycliff, as Princess Sakura's guardian, organized the 'Committee to Alleviate Lamentable Malignity,' We knew that 'calm' had to be restored or all would be lost. Our committee met often, studied the problem and concluded that a permanent link between the two kingdoms was necessary. That is why you and Sakura were betrothed to each other, to be wed before the age of sixteen. And to ensure the bond was unbreakable, Lady Claire and I traveled far to Engravia to bring back a stonecutter. The Engraver carved the terms of the betrothal on the very stone your parents died. Ever since the carving was finished, the people of both kingdoms lived in peace."
Prince Syaoran responded angrily, "The people are in peace, bit I am not. Surely, our subjects can live in peace?"
You may be right, Sire, but unfortunately, once such terms are 'engraved in stone' they cannot be altered. The carving creates a magical obligation which must be discharged."
" You leave me no alternative; I must escape from here. You've always said I was a man of action. Now I will prove my courage."
Sir Robert shook his head, "An excellent Idea, if it not so stupid. Perhaps you have forgot that if you ignore the magical engraving, you and Princess Sakura will turn to stone. Let's not talk no more of escape or delay. Your sixteenth birthday is on May 27th – less then a week away – and we can postpone the wedding no longer"
Price Syaoran looked crestfallen. "I see I have no choice but to be led like a sheep to the slaughter."
"I think you will find your fate a great deal more agreeable then that. Princess Sakura is very beautiful and highly accomplished." Said Sir Robert
"Pray thee tell me why have I not been allowed to meet her? Perhaps she is 'very beautiful' compared to a warty toad and 'highly accomplished' compared to a mossy stone."
"No, Syaoran, the only reason you have not met Sakura is that the Committee thought it best for you to learn to love each other once you discharge your duty to marry. But rest assured, she is the woman of your dreams."
"You mean she has long golden hair, laughing blue eyes, and loves sailing at down and horse-back riding at dusk?"
"Sire, I cannot guarantee and particulars, but I promise you that Sakura is an extraordinary person."
"And that extraordinary person will be my wife in just and hour's time," groaned Syaoran as he glanced back at the clock. Still feeling like a condemned sheep he added a "Baa, baa" and looked out his bedroom window to the gray castle in a distance.
Staring out her bedroom window at the castle in the distance, Princess Sakura wailed, "In just an hour's time I shall be wed." Her elderly chief advisor, Lady Clair, nodded in assent as she straitened Sakura's lace veil and smoothed her white silk dress.
Sakura said, "How I dread the alliance. There must be a way out."
"You Highness, you know there is not. The marriage is engraved in stone."
"Yes, yes, but there must be some means of escape. You have always advised me to be a woman of reason. Now in the time to test my powers. I will sneak down to the stone and alter its message, or perhaps I will destroy it altogether."
"A very fine plane, my dear, if it not so stupid. I have never heard of a promise being altered once it is in stone, for the engraving creates a magical commitment that cannot be defied. Certainly, The only person who could attempt that would be the Engraver who has special tools and skills. But Engravia is far away, the rout is treacherous, and the time has run out. As for destroying the stone, you sooner be able to topper this castle. If the impact of the two carriages caused neither chip or budge, how do you propose to demolish it?"
"Then I shall be forced to walk the pirates plank and plunge to my watery death."
"Prince Syaoran is very handsome and highly accomplished."
"I fear he is 'very handsome' compared to a slithering snake and 'highly accomplished' compared to a rotted tree trunk."
"No, Sakura, you needn't worry. I dare say Prince Syaoran is the man of your dreams."
"Does he have wavy black hair and pressing blue eyes? Does he love to read poetry at dawn and hear madrigals at dusk?"
"Your Highness, I cannot guarantee any specifics, but I promise you he is an good person."
"And that good person will be my husband in just a blink of an eye." Still feeling like a doomed prisoner at sea, she added a "splash, glub,glub," and turned back to gaze out the window at the crowd gathering in the valley below.
So how do you like it? It was just the beginning but I will update soon! R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&&R&R&&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&!
