A Picnic
The shone bright and clear as the guests began arriving in the extensive gardens that surrounded Veruille Manor. The air smelt of freshly cut grass and the scents of a thousand flowers. The gardeners had been working non-stop so that everything would be perfect for the occasion, and now the gardens showed how hard they had worked, every hedge was trimmed to perfection, and every Rose bloomed with health, including the one that went by the name Briar Veruille.
Briar looked into the mirror, and was still not satisfied with what she saw there. She sighed, and began the tedious task of pulling out the pins she had burdened her mass of mahogany locks with. Her hair tumbled down into masses of soft waves. A knock sounded at the door, and the voice of her father sounded after would.
"Are you dressed yet Sweetheart?"
"Yes Papa, but my hair isn't cooperating" she grumbled, once again picking up her comb from the dresser.
Adrian entered, and took the comb from her hand; he quickly and deftly brushed out the tangles as he had done so often when she was a girl. He then took a clasp from the dresser, adorned with a white rose; he pulled back the topmost pieces of her hair, and secured them at the back with the clasp.
"There, you look perfect" He said, taking a step back, so she could observe his handy work without hindrance. "if I do say so my self"
She stood, her critical eye satisfied, she kissed her father on the cheek and thanked him before she skipped cheerfully from the room. At once a girl and women, at once a daughter and a queen. He hoped that that would never change, but sometimes the future can't be helped.
Every thing was in place; her people were hidden about the grounds, disguised as dignitaries and guests. Now all they had to do was waiting for the opportune moment, and carry out the plan.
"If you'll excuse me mother, I'll go and see if I can find Briar, and lure her away from the festivities."
Her son released her arm, and headed off towards the focus of the party. Lady Briar was sitting on a park bench, chatting merrily with that child, Lady Alyssa, while on the grass in front of them, the younger, more energetic men at the party, played a game of football, there sweat strewn skin glistening in the afternoon sun. None of them missing the opportunity to show off there muscles to the prettiest ladies at the party. Briar watched in between her conversation with Alyssa.
He had to admit she looked quite pretty sitting there in the sun amongst the flowers, in that elegant blue/black colored dress.
"Lady Veruille" He greeted her, bowing and kissing her hand.
"Prince Carter, how nice to see you"
He continued on, sharing with her court banter, and the latest gossip, before inviting her to walk about the grounds with him. Adrian winked knowingly at him from across the green, and he smiled, his face showing no hint of his true intent. Briar took his arm, and he led her towards the maze of gardens.
Little known to him, they had acquired an unwanted companion on there walk, Alyssa, not wanting to be left out or behind, had waited for them to leave and followed them. She knew every nook and cranny of these gardens, including all the best trees to climb in and the best bushes to hide in. She had spent many afternoons spying on the gardeners, listening to there gossip, and just as she had done so often, she slipped up a tree, to watch as Briar and Prince Carter came to a stop in a rather remote and secluded area of the gardens.
Alyssa looked on as they talked, and almost cried out when 6 large men, emerged almost out of no where. She watched as Briar fought them, with jewel's, teeth and nails. She watched as she collapsed, exhausted and unconscious, and was scooped up by one of the men, and thrown unceremoniously over his shoulder. Alyssa shrieked when she felt a hand close about her ankle, and she was pulled violently down from the tree. Her head struck a branch as she fell from the tree; her skirts tangled in a twig, the henchman irritably pulled the now unconscious child. The fine cloth ripped, the sound reverberating about the area.
"Quiet!" hissed Lachlan, "tie her, and bring her" he ordered, as he made sure that Briar's bonds were strong. His henchman had drugged the sweet girl, and she lay unconscious, bound at hand and foot, a gag in her mouth. Lachlan bent down, and slipped the Sapphire jewelled ring from her finger, he cried out in pain, when his flesh was seared by the sapphire shields that protected them.
She must have keyed them to her body somehow
He thought,
Never mind
He took his handkerchief from his pocket and picked up the jewels, putting them safely in his pocket again.
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I'd just like to say a big thank you to all my reveiwers, i love your comments and criticism! I've never had so many reveiws from people i don't know before so keep them coming in, they all let me know what i'm doing right, and wrong.
so i send out a massive hug to you all and keep up the good work
kitty.
