Surprise! I'm back! (4... 5... 6 years later? How long has it been?)
Here's a new story I've written. I really, really like it and am excited for it to continue. I do have a few more chapters written right now, so hopefully I can keep up with this story for good. I have 2 kids now, by the way, so if I'm delayed in my postings, that's why. Also, uhh... for the record, it may come off a little bit like The Selection books, but it's purely coincidental. I only realized the similarities after I had written a few thousand words. It's totally an original fairy tale of mine. Give it some time, but magic will come into play eventually.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy Eloise's story. Thanks for reading!
"Eloise! Quickly!"
The call rang through the air clear and crisp. A young woman stood at the door of a neatly kept cottage at the edge of the woods. Her black hair was plaited and pinned up prettily, as if for a special occasion. She wore a new, but plain, green dress that matched her eyes. It was the perfect spring day. The sun shone brightly through a thin grouping of clouds while birds flew across the bright blue sky.
The young woman sighed with frustration and stepped out of the house to look around.
"Eloise!" she called out again. "Where are you? Come! We're going to be late!"
Suddenly a small girl came running from the woods. "Coming! I'm coming, Mama!"
The young woman smiled. "There you are. Let's get you dressed. If we hurry, we won't miss anything."
The child skipped giddily into the house. "Look what I made you!" her mother said, holding up a pretty green dress that matched her own.
Eloise clapped her hands with glee and squealed. "Oh, it's lovely! I will look just like you!" She quickly changed out of her worn day dress and her mother helped her into the new one. The two then went to the kitchen where Eloise sat down at the table.
"Mama, do you think that someday I could be the Lady of Opportunity?"
Her mother smiled as she grabbed a comb to tame her daughter's curly chestnut locks. "Anything is possible, dear. You need only imagine it."
"Did you ever wish you were chosen?" Eloise asked.
"Oh, of course I did. It's all I could think about some days. I especially dreamed of having a grand library and reading everything there is to know!" She shrugged and began to braid Eloise's hair. "But if I had, I would have never met your father!"
As if on cue, a tall, wiry man walked into the kitchen. His presence filled the room with joy. He beamed at his wife and daughter. "My girls! Ready for the Festival of Opportunity?" He sat down in a chair across from the suddenly fidgety little girl.
Her mother sighed and said sternly, but not unkindly, "Sit still or I'll have to start all over again!"
"Sorry, Mama," Eloise said. She looked eagerly at her beloved father. "Oh, Papa! You look so handsome."
"Well that's kind of you to say, little duckling. You look very nice yourself." He looked lovingly at his wife. "Your mother looks quite beautiful too, doesn't she? Your dress is beautiful, Anne."
"Oh, Arthur. You're going to make me blush!" Anne patted Eloise's head. "All finished."
Eloise jumped up from her chair. "Can we leave now?"
Her father smiled. "Yes, let's get going! We don't want to miss anything!"
The little family walked the several miles to town, where the whole county seemed to be celebrating. Stalls and carts were set up along the main avenues leading to the main town square. People slipped in and out of shops buying pretty trinkets and treats. Children ran around with noisemakers and pennants. Young couples strolled along casually while the old men and women looked upon the hubbub with contented amusement.
Eloise followed her parents to the town square, where people were gathering to wait for the ceremony. Chatter and laughter filled the air and the three of them found a spot in the center of the square next to the town's large fountain. Everyone was dressed in their finest attire for the event. Eloise was delighted by the overall splendor of the day. Despite their close proximity to the town, her family rarely traveled away from home. They very seldom needed anything from town. Eloise attended a country school barely a mile from home. Arthur farmed with Anne's brothers who lived across the road, and Anne herself was always busy with housework or helping with the farm. Every trip to town was an exciting treat, and today was especially thrilling.
As the town clock struck noon, a hush fell over the crowd and everyone turned to the stage that was set up at the base of the tower. Sitting on the stage in beautifully carved chairs used only for this occasion were three people. In the most ornate of the chairs sat a smiling young woman who looked upon the festival with a peaceful gaze. The man to her left, a stout and jolly man, rose and walked to the podium as the clock finished its chiming.
"Welcome, good people of Ravendale! As your mayor, I am pleased to stand before you on this beautiful day of Opportunity!"
The crowd roared with applause. Eloise pulled on her father's sleeve. "Papa, I can't see!" Arthur chuckled and lifted her up onto the fountain's edge.
"Better?"
"Yes, thank you, Papa!"
The crowd quieted down and the mayor spoke again, this time opening a book from which to read.
"A message from the king himself!" the mayor called out. He cleared his throat and began to read. "'In ancient times, our home was ruled by primitive and unjust kings. They offered no assistance to their people. They treated their subjects as though they were dogs. Our ancestors were forced to endure hard, back-breaking work- only to give the fruits of their labors to the kings and upper class. One common man and his wife rallied the people and overthrew the kings of old to make way for a new way of life for his peers. That man was chosen by the people to become their new king, with his strong and loyal wife by his side.
"'King Rylan and Queen Elsbeth became the new rulers of our homeland, a country they named Rybeth. He then made a promise to our people: no longer will the aristocracy be the only people in charge of our country. Each year, one young, unwed woman from every county shall be chosen to become a Lady of Opportunity. These young women will have status among the elite of our society and will be given the chance to marry an eligible man of high rank. These women shall be the backbone of our aristocracy.'" The mayor closed the book and looked up at the people spread out before him. "Soon I shall announce our county's Lady of Opportunity for this year. First, let us warmly welcome back last year's Lady of Opportunity, Baroness Rowling, with her husband Baron Rowling."
The crowd clapped and cheered as the baroness stood and waved to the crowd, a gesture showing that she had not forgotten her roots as a common girl. She smiled at her husband, who had also stood with her. He did not wave, but smiled at the people and gave a small nod of acknowledgement.
The baron and baroness both sat down and the mayor waited patiently for the crowd to be quiet. It quickly did and he said, "And now I will announce the Committee of Opportunity's decision." He held up a piece of paper, folded and sealed. He then made a show of breaking the seal and slowly unfolding the paper. "After much consideration, this year's Lady of Opportunity is Miss Evangeline March!"
The applause and cheers began from the east of the clock tower, where Miss March's family and friends stood. They cheered with extra enthusiasm as Evangeline began her walk toward the stage. As she ascended the stairs on the stage, Eloise finally caught a good glimpse of Evangeline's face. The young woman looked stunned, and Eloise imagined that she might look the same way if she were to someday be chosen as the Lady of Opportunity.
After Evangeline March had been properly and ceremoniously made the new Lady of Opportunity and the mayor had made the closing remarks, the crowd began to disperse. Eloise and her parents settled down on the edge of the fountain to eat their packed lunch. Anne pulled out sandwiches and an empty jug to fill with water from the fountain.
Eloise sighed.
"What's the matter, little duck?"
"I hope someday I will be chosen as the Lady of Opportunity. The baroness's dress was so beautiful! I'd like to wear fine gowns and marry a handsome baron someday."
Her parents exchanged looks and chuckled softly.
"What?" demanded Eloise. "What's so funny?"
Anne shook her head. "You don't need fancy dresses or a baron to make you happy, my darling Eloise. Someday you will meet a man that will make you feel like a princess. Then you won't need a baron to make you feel special."
The little girl rolled her eyes. "I know, mother. Father isn't a baron and you're happy. I just want to wear a pretty dress someday."
Arthur patted his daughter's head. "Perhaps some day, but for now your mother's beautiful handiwork will have to make due."
Eloise smiled after a moment. "Mother does make beautiful dresses."
"That's right. She's my queen, you're my princess, and our farm is my palace."
"That makes you the king!"
Her mother laughed. "He is our king, certainly, and he truly has a way with his subjects: the cows! Eat up, you two! When we're done we can find the bakery and get a couple sweet rolls."
Thanks everyone for reading! This is just the intro, the rest of the story will be in 1st person. Let me know what you thought in the reviews!