"Learn To Accept Fate"

2. The First Banquet

"Introducing Prince Ryan of Madrica and Princess Gabriella of Airmar!"

It was custom for the Prince or Princess of the Kingdom that the "Gathering" was held at to enter last with their partner. There were eight Kingdoms all together: Airmar, Madrica, Vanirind, Syley, Icica, Drasden, Quopesk and Bogorg. Each Prince or Princess got to bring along one servant, knight, lady-in-waiting or practically anyone they wanted to bring.

And when Gabriella felt all eyes on her, royals, servants, knights, ladys-in-waiting and all, she felt quite faint. But she plastered on a fake smile and made her way down the banquet hall, arm in arm with Ryan. She focused her eyes on Sharpay, for fear that if she looked at anyone else their stares would make her want to run away.

Slowly, she let her gaze travel across the room. She saw Chad sitting next to Sharpay. Another girl sat next to Chad. She assumed that this was Kelsi, Princess Taylor's lady-in-waiting.

All the "bring alongs" were seated along one table. Another table was next to it. This was the table the Royals sat at. There was another table up the front of the hall for the King and Queen of Madrica. This was where Gabriella and Ryan would sit.

As they passed through the middle of the tables, Gabriella's eyes locked onto someone else's gaze. It was a Prince's stare. He was seated next to Princess Taylor; who she had met on one occasion. She remembered Chad saying that his Prince, Prince Troy, was arranged to marry her.

So this is Prince Troy, Gabriella mused, hopefully he can live up to his father's reputation.

Everyone knew Troy's father; Jack the 1st, was one of the greatest Kings of all time. He had fought in many of the worlds wars, even if his land was not part of it. He liked to help other lands sort things out. He was greatly looked up to.

Troy's eyes seemed sympathetic. He was obviously sorry that she had to marry Prince Ryan. Gabriella tore her eyes away and stood up straighter. She didn't need people feeling sorry for her. She could take care of herself. If this was what fate threw at her, she could handle it.

Though, unable to resist, Gabriella stole another glance at Troy. He wasn't looking at her anymore. Gabriella was glad. For some reason she didn't want him to see her looking at her again.

Gabriella and Ryan got to their table and sat down, side by side. The King sat on Gabriella's left and the Queen sat to Ryan's right. This made Gabriella very uneasy, for it meant she was trapped. No where to run. She gulped. When she was married, there would be nowhere to go. Confined in the walls of a strange castle.

The King stiffly rose.

"Welcome to our First Banquet!" He boomed. Every voice in the hall hushed. All eyes turned to the King.

"As you all know, you will be staying in my Kingdom for 6 months, until all your marriages can be arranged." Many Royals squirmed at the mention of the arranged marriages. Gabriella couldn't help but shiver too.

"After the feast, my servants will take you to your sleeping chambers. Each separate Prince and Princess will have their own separate sleeping chambers. All of them are on the next floor up. It gets very cold up there, so I advise you to sleep with as many blankets as you can. Each lady-in-waiting, knight or servant shall sleep in the same chambers as their Prince or Princess." The King took a deep breath.

"Now for the introductions. Prince Jason of Bogorg and Princess Martha of Quopesk!" A couple from the back end of the table rose. They actually looked quite happy with their marriage arrangement, Gabriella noticed, either that or they were pretending for some reason. They sat back down.

"Prince Charles of Icica and Princess Bonnie of Drasden!" A couple from the other end of the table stood up. They clearly looked annoyed by the marriage arrangements.

Aren't most of us Gabriella thought dryly.

"Prince Troy of Vanirind and Princess Taylor of Syley!" Troy and Taylor stood up. Gabriella couldn't tell if they were happy or not. But she could not tear her gaze away from Troy. He looked straight into her eyes. She wanted to look away. He smiled. But she couldn't tell if it was for her or everyone. Gabriella was so fixated in her thoughts that she hardly heard her own name being called. It was only when Ryan nudged her that she stood up.

"Let the feast begin!"

The feast lasted for hours. It was very late by the time Sharpay and Gabriella were shown to their room. The room they would sleep in for the next six months.

It wasn't as gloomy as the rest of the rest of the castle. Colourful tapestries adorned the stone walls; windows were made with stained glass that lit the room up with many beautiful colours when the sun shined through them. Gabriella's eyes roamed around the room and over to her bed. It was an amazing sight. Many beautiful images were carved into the beds head. A luxurious blanket was laid across the it, with pillows placed upon it.

"He's not that bad you know," Sharpay looked over to the princess.

"Huh?" Gabriella looked back at her.

"Prince Ryan, he's not that bad"

"Yeah" Gabriella wasn't really listening to her lady-in-waiting. All she could think about was Prince Troy. The way he had looked at her and smiled. She couldn't get him out of her head.

"What are you thinking about?" Sharpay plopped herself on her bed.

"Oh, nothing of interest," she didn't want Sharpay to know that she was thinking of Troy.

"Oh come on, I have known you for ages, don't you think I know when your lying." She stared at Gabriella.

"I'm not lying, I swear," Gabriella protested.

"Whatever you say," Sharpay slipped under her blanket. "Let's just go to bed."

Gabriella hopped into her bed, now thinking about her marriage to Prince Ryan. Hopefully, after a good nights sleep, it wouldn't seem so bad after all.