Princess Alanna of Twilight descended from her carriage onto the rich red
carpet rolled out especially for her. She took a look around the strange
country that was to be her new home. She had just lately been told that
she had been betrothed to none other than Prince Jonathan of Conte and it
was difficult to tell which of the young couple was most angry about this.
Alanna had always wanted to become a lady knight and had she been anything
less than a princess she would have done anything to achieve that goal.
However, luck was not in her favour. She was born of royal blood and with
it came both power and great responsibility. For the good of her people
and for her family she had decided to give up her dreams and to do what she
must. However, she had compromised in her situation. As she learnt the
skills of etiquettes by day, by night she was learning the skills of
fencing, archery and combat fighting. As many had seen her out at the dead
of night, they thought her to be a ghost. She greatly encouraged that
story and soon became known as the knight of twilight.
However, that was all a dream from the sudden reality that had faced Alanna. As she had managed to take things one step at a time, the step which she had to take now was a little to larger even for her liking. The autumn winds swept past he crimson dress sending a chill to her spine. Soon she was greeted warmly by the king and queen of Tortal but she could not help but notice that a very important person was absent from the greeting. No where in sight could she see the prince to who she was betrothed to and although his parents desperately attempted to make excuses that he was busy, Alanna knew that he must hate arranged marriages as much as her. However, she knew it was her royal duty to both her country and her people that she makes this important alliance to Tortal. Having finally finished with the greetings, Alanna was allowed to enter the warmth of the palace. As she looked up before entering, she saw a face looking down at her from the battlements. His look of discontentment struck her but she thought no more of the matter and entered the palace.
It was the night of Alanna's first ball at the palace and although she had met many people of the court, there was one person who she was particularly curious about but whom she still had not met. This was Prince Jonathan, the man she was betrothed to. She had met his cousin who was not her guide around the palace.
'And now we are approaching the conference room where the most important meetings of the realms are held, and an excellent place to take a nice nap which one is tiring', he said in an undertone. 'So your highness, where would you like to go to now?'
'Stop it Gary, you know I would much prefer you to call me by Alanna instead of your highness. Being 'your highness' has resulted in me being in a foreign country with my betrothed nowhere to be seen.'
'Come now, I'm sure he's been really busy what with everything going on. It is nearing the start of the season you know and this marriage to you isn't easy to organise. Tell you what, let's go to the practice courts for Jon might be there and you have always expressed an interest in our armoury.'
And so they went to the practice courts and on nearing it the distinct grunts of effort and men fight relentlessly against each other. They entered; Alanna had just stopped Gary from interrupting the fighters as she had not wanted any awkwardness she knew she would arouse. On the courtyard, two men were duelling hard, concentrating at each move the other made. Alanna recognised the man facing them as her new friend Raoul of Goldenlake who grinned when he saw her and an instant was disarmed by his dark haired opponent. The stranger fought well and Alanna was impressed with the skill of the knight and was keen to speak to him. As the two men approached them, both Alanna and the stranger viewed each other with disclosure. The clear sapphire eyes of the stranger hardened and he made a quick apology and swept away. Alanna stood shocked as an angry Gary tried to call out to his cousin with no avail.
That night Alanna sat in her room preparing for the on coming ball. Why did the Prince hate her so much? What had she done? For she had now realised that it was he that had been the one to look upon her with displeasure and added on to his behaviour today, Alanna was plainly shocked at why he had taken onto the betrothal so badly. Gary had of course made excuses and told her that Jon was not feeling himself lately but having even known Gary for only a short space of time; she knew that he was not telling her the whole truth.
However, that was all a dream from the sudden reality that had faced Alanna. As she had managed to take things one step at a time, the step which she had to take now was a little to larger even for her liking. The autumn winds swept past he crimson dress sending a chill to her spine. Soon she was greeted warmly by the king and queen of Tortal but she could not help but notice that a very important person was absent from the greeting. No where in sight could she see the prince to who she was betrothed to and although his parents desperately attempted to make excuses that he was busy, Alanna knew that he must hate arranged marriages as much as her. However, she knew it was her royal duty to both her country and her people that she makes this important alliance to Tortal. Having finally finished with the greetings, Alanna was allowed to enter the warmth of the palace. As she looked up before entering, she saw a face looking down at her from the battlements. His look of discontentment struck her but she thought no more of the matter and entered the palace.
It was the night of Alanna's first ball at the palace and although she had met many people of the court, there was one person who she was particularly curious about but whom she still had not met. This was Prince Jonathan, the man she was betrothed to. She had met his cousin who was not her guide around the palace.
'And now we are approaching the conference room where the most important meetings of the realms are held, and an excellent place to take a nice nap which one is tiring', he said in an undertone. 'So your highness, where would you like to go to now?'
'Stop it Gary, you know I would much prefer you to call me by Alanna instead of your highness. Being 'your highness' has resulted in me being in a foreign country with my betrothed nowhere to be seen.'
'Come now, I'm sure he's been really busy what with everything going on. It is nearing the start of the season you know and this marriage to you isn't easy to organise. Tell you what, let's go to the practice courts for Jon might be there and you have always expressed an interest in our armoury.'
And so they went to the practice courts and on nearing it the distinct grunts of effort and men fight relentlessly against each other. They entered; Alanna had just stopped Gary from interrupting the fighters as she had not wanted any awkwardness she knew she would arouse. On the courtyard, two men were duelling hard, concentrating at each move the other made. Alanna recognised the man facing them as her new friend Raoul of Goldenlake who grinned when he saw her and an instant was disarmed by his dark haired opponent. The stranger fought well and Alanna was impressed with the skill of the knight and was keen to speak to him. As the two men approached them, both Alanna and the stranger viewed each other with disclosure. The clear sapphire eyes of the stranger hardened and he made a quick apology and swept away. Alanna stood shocked as an angry Gary tried to call out to his cousin with no avail.
That night Alanna sat in her room preparing for the on coming ball. Why did the Prince hate her so much? What had she done? For she had now realised that it was he that had been the one to look upon her with displeasure and added on to his behaviour today, Alanna was plainly shocked at why he had taken onto the betrothal so badly. Gary had of course made excuses and told her that Jon was not feeling himself lately but having even known Gary for only a short space of time; she knew that he was not telling her the whole truth.