Painful Fate
Chapter Four
Disclaimer : None of these characters belong to me except Queen Rosalind, Princess Aruella, Duke Antious of Salisan
It was finally the day of the festival of Helene. Alanna impatiently waited as her undertire woman helped her into her gown. Then her maid Celia plaited her hair into a crown of braids, weaving in lily blossoms. Celia was not only her maid, but also her friend. Finally Celia was done.
Alanna jumped out of her chair and grabbed Celia's hand.
"Come on, let's go!" she said.
The two girls skipped out of the room, through the palace and went down to the meadow where the festival was taking place.
"Look, the kite-fighting has started," said Celia.
Kite-fighting was a pastime of many Clarusans. People tried to cut down others' kites with the piece of glass attached to their kite until theirs was the only kite left flying.
Alanna and Celia went to a nearby stand to purchase kites and joined in the competition. They wove their kites in among the others, cutting them down. Then they noticed that only about thirty kites were left; many had been cut down by a black kite wielded by a boy of near twelve. They avoided his kite while cutting down others. A white kite came near Alanna's, but she maneuvered her's around and cut it down. She managed to cut three more down until the black kite cut her's down. There were only a few kites left. But Celia's was still up. Celia cut down a green one while the black kite cut down another. Celia's and the black kite were the only ones left. Both maneuvered their kites, attempting to cut the other down while the crowd watched
"You can make it Celia," she said.
Then Celia maneuvered hers above the black one and brought it down. The boy tried to move his away, but it was cut down. Cheers and yells filled the air. Celia was brought to middle of the ring made by the crowd as a green ribbon with a snake was tied
They walked towards one of the tables holding the food. They filled their plates and sat down at one of the tables. Today, there was no seating arrangement and they could sit wherever they pleased. Alanna saw her parents and a few around her arm, bestowing the title of the winner upon her. Alanna congratulated her as she walked out of the ring.
"Come on, it's time for the feast," Celia said. The highest nobles, including the ambassadors from Tortall and Joppa seated at the high table. The Duke of Salisan seemed rather uncomfortable in his surroundings while his counterpart, the Marquis of Anjou was enjoying himself. Alanna turned her attention back to her food. Alanna and Celia began talking about the games that were to take place after the feast.
"Do you think you'll catch the pig again?" Celia was referring the game Chase the Pig.
"Maybe. But I really want to win the pole race. I almost won last year. Do you think we'll win the tug-of-war?"
In the tug-of-war, the women were united against the men, with each side trying to pull the other into the water first. It was one of the biggest festivities of the festival.
"Yes. Last year we won. It was funny afterwards when your brother kept on saying that they would of won, if it weren't for the bees and then he fell into the water."
The two girls continued talking until the feast was over.
The contestants in "Chase the Pig" gathered in a large group near the pigpen. Alanna went over to join them.
"Alanna." She heard Father call her.
She turned around and ran back.
"Alanna, I am sorry, but you will not be able to participate in any of the games. You need to set a good image for the ambassadors, especially the Duke of Antious.
"But-"
"I am sorry, but that is final."
Alanna walked away sadly, to where the viewers were watching. I suppose it will be fun to watch them, she thought, trying to console herself. No use. My last chance to play the Festival Games, and it's gone because of some stupid ambassador! I wish he'd never come! She didn't pay attention to the game, not even when they announced the winner. She walked around sadly the rest of the time. Reality had finally come in. I really am going to have to leave Clarus.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Sorry for not updating sooner, but I had a lot to do.