Chapter 1
Elenna and Justin raced together through the thick wheat as they made their way to their favorite spot of the field. Elenna felt her dainty hand be grasped as he pumped his legs faster, ensuring they would get there in time. A slight crimson was pushed from Elenna's porcelain cheeks as she lifted her skirt to avoid tripping in her only dress.
"Would you slow down, you crazy boy?" Elenna's sing-song voice echoed in the countryside. Elenna slowed her step and tugged the man towards her. Together they walked hand in hand toward the Cliff.
Cliff Amnecroft was a very astonishing beauty. You could see the churning ocean pouring and folding over itself in its silky, sapphire bed. The waning gold sun dipped lower towards the horizon, leaving a shimmering and spectactlar color over the whole surface.
Elenna took off her only shoes as she made her way to the Amnecroft's rocky edge. Her dress was thin and had a red wine stain that was the effect of Mellena tripping over her big feet. The rocks poked into her calloused feet slightly as she tip toed her way as far as she dared to approach the edge: she went quite far.
Justin came behind the girl and held her shoulders. Justin, the blacksmith of the Estate of Beshte, was a very firm man. His trim waist wound up to his muscular chest with his titanium shoulders that lifted large amounts of iron on a daily basis. Though a tough figure, he had a handsome face and a smile that could charm even the ladies of the court who appeared for tea.
Now, the smile showered in the glory of Elenna.
Elenna's delicate arms stretched out from her body as she closed her eyes. She rose slowly onto her toes as she let the ocean breeze perfume her clothes, her hair, her. Her long hair flowed in bouncing curls behind her.
"Isn't it lovely?" Elenna opened her eyes to look back at her lifelong friend. Justin and Elenna have been the greatest of friends since her father died years ago.
"Very," Justin whispered as Elenna smiled at the distant ocean. They were the greatest friends. They would come here whenever released of their duties at the house and would dream in silence.
Elenna dreamed of glory and freedom. Entrapped in her own house, freedom seemed like such a costly thing. Her Step-family was truly horrendous. Mellena and Crystelle moaned about unimportant things and were always so giddy and gay. The girls had beautiful strawberry hair and deep emerald eyes, but those hardly out ruled their girlishness. She would never wish harm, but she wished freedom with all her might.
She would someday escape. Whether by getting a steady occupation or marrying. Now, all she could do was "fly" on this very cliff.
Justin pulled her slightly away from the edge and measured the time from horizon to the sun. It was 5:00!
"We must go, Elle!" He picked up a glimmering rock. The shiny surface was a beautiful black that glowed with the slightest ray of sun. A Pearl.
He tucked the valuable rock in his pocket as he tried to pry her away from the edge.
"But we just got here! Tis unfair to leave so soon from such a sight." The golden haze showered her in beauty as she smiled greatly. "I will not leave so soon. Whatever they say or do."
"But I must sharpen the sword for the wall of the dining hall!" Lady Insibella was very picky about the appearances of her house. But looking at the beautiful girl on the edge, Insibella was not concerned about her stepdaughters welfare.
"And they ordered the cinders clean by 6:00, the floors scrubbed by hand, the tea made with lemon to freshen Crystelle's breath, their collars starched and their hair in curls for the 'morrow." Looking back at Justin she raised her eyebrows. "I must go back but my need to stay a minute longer is more necessary. Just look at the sun, smell the breeze! Wonderful miracles are happening here!"
Hanging his head with a sigh, moving down his hands from the sun, Justin sat with the girl as they watched the sun moving gracefully over the sky.
