" Hotaru." Called a silvery voice " Everyone is requesting your presence, your mother and father have an announcement to make, and you need to be there." Came the lady-in-waitings' finish. Inside the ballroom, all the guests were crowded around a raised platform where Hotaru's mother and father awaited her along with three strange guests.
" Brother, who are those people? The young man seems my age, yet I do not know him, do you?" she questioned in a whisper.
" Yes the young man is Prince Heero Yuy and those are his parents, they live on Jupiter. Makoto is his sister, I'm surprised you have not met him." Duo replied. The crowd parted as the young Prince and Princess made their way to the platform.
" Tonight I would like to make an announcement." The king began, making the crowds hush. " But first I would like to introduce you to the King and Queen of Jupiter and their son, Prince Heero. My daughter, Hotaru Tomoe the Princess of Saturn, is coming to the age where she is to be betrothed." At this a look of horror came upon Hotaru's face. " The King of Jupiter and I have come to an agreement, Heero Yuy the Prince of Jupiter and it's moons; and Hotaru Tomoe the Princess of Saturn and its moons, will be wed in exactly one year." He ended his short speech to the applause of the whole court.
Later (Hotaru is talking to Minako and Rei)
" How could they? I refuse to marry him. I will not marry because my parents are telling me to. I will marry for love, just as you did. I don't care if I'm disowned and left in a street I will marry someone I love. Whether he is a prince or a commoner." Hotaru ranted while pacing back and forth.
" Hotaru calm down. Why don't you give this prince a chance? That's how I met Quatre; my parents wanted me to marry him. Rei was the same way, weren't you?" Minako said soothingly.
" Yes, most times that's how girls and boys meet, their parents introduce them." Rei replied just as soothingly.
" Are you sure?" Hotaru questioned.
" Yes, we're sure, now go get some sleep. You have a big day ahead of you." Minako replied. To Rei she said, " I hope our little Taru doesn't get hurt."
" Me too, me too." Rei replied.
Next day
" So Prince Heero, what do you enjoy doing?" Hotaru asked, trying to make a conversation.
" Its just Heero, and I like to train, ride horses, and be on my laptop." Heero replied politely.
" And you?"
" I like to train, ride horses, walk in my garden, and be with my brother." Hotaru replied, surprised that they had some things in common.
" So would you like to get together some day, train together and then take a break and ride a bit?" Heero asked cautiously.
" I would love to do that. How about tomorrow?" she suggested
" That's great. If you will please excuse me I believe it is now time for me to leave."
TBC
So what do you think? It seems that Heero and Hotaru are off to a pretty good start, but will it last? We'll find out next time on Arranged Marriage. REVIEW NOW!!!