Disclaimer: €lla, Char, Kyrria, and Aythoria belong to the acclaimed author of, "€lla €nchanted."

Replies to Reviews:

WhiteCamellia I was online at the same time you were and it was a delight.  :) By the way, did you listen to the song? I'm obsessed with it right now, especially since it's fits my story so well!

VinnyRoxyFrankie I think so too, but my thing did that automatically for some strange reason. I don't even know how to put my own bio on the computer. Can you pleeeeaaaase tell me how?

Smittened By Marauders You will just have to find out, but you're the only one who has guessed to anything because I have been giving a lot of clues. Do I have to say it straight out? By the way, it's Aythoria, not Arthoryia.

Chapter 7: Discouraging Suitors

I stopped dancing with the lovely maiden in front of me. We hadn't even spoken and she'd come to the dance floor so easily. But she wasn't lovely; she was beautiful. She wasn't blonde, and she didn't have blue eyes, but she had me mesmerized.

I was dazed. This handsome young man in front of me seemed, different from the others. But how could I tell? He didn't seem normal, he seemed to be, my vision of perfection. He led me off the dance floor so we could introduce ourselves.

"Sorry about that," he said nervously. His face turned a bright crimson. I think I blushed too but I couldn't tell because I was so hot in the dress I was wearing. Then, since I didn't speak, he talked more. "My name is Brandon."

My face turned to pure amusement. I gave a small chuckle. "So you're the infamous nephew he's always ragging on about."

"Infamous?" He looked and sounded sort of hurt.

I started to laugh more. "I only meant from your uncle's point of view. He always says, 'Well girls, I couldn't get you another companion because of my stupid nephew again. He always ruins my plans!'" I said this, imitating his uncle very well.

It was my turn to laugh. She was so funny. But what did she mean, 'another companion'? This puzzled me. I was not often puzzled and she interested me. "So, what's your name?" I asked.

I saw her look sad for a minute, but then she surprised me by saying, "Well, I forgot my real name, but around here they call me Natalie."

"You don't know your name?" This sounded strange to me. How could she not? This puzzled me even more than before.

Then she asked me a question that startled me even more than I already was. "Want to slide?"

"Slide?" What was she talking about?

"Down the banister silly," she said with a broad smile. She started to laugh.

"I-I really don't think we should," I said almost stuttering.

"What's the matter, scared?"

"No, but-"

"It's really fun. Besides, it'll discourage the men from buying me." With that she ran up the short stairway to the landing. With that she slid down sidesaddle.

Buy her? Why would people buy her?

She had been right. Everyone turned his or her heads to see her slide down the last bit of stair railing and land perfectly and gracefully. The men that had been interested in her before turned their heads away in disgust. The other girls' eyes sparkled as if Natalie had given them an idea. All of the other girls started acting up in very unladylike behavior.

Uncle looked bewildered and then shouted, "Stop!"

Natalie had just happened to be in mid-slide and grabbed one of the poles holding up the rail. She stopped, very neatly and climbed onto the stairs.

Uncle's rage was so great that he walked over to her with pincer-like steps and slapped her on the face, hard.

"You wench! You're ruining everything!" He gave her a death glare. "Go outside. You can sleep in the stables for all I care!"

She looked at him and smirked while saying, "Yes, mister kidnapper." She walked stealthily away, to avoid another slap and went outside like she had been told to. There was still a big, red, hand mark on her face.

"Uncle!" I was still aghast that he would do something like that. Not just slapping her, not just raising his voice, but sending her outside! And what did she mean kidnapper? This was all an outrage. I saw his wife run out the door Natalie had left through. Good, now I don't need to comfort her. I turned around and saw my uncle walk to the stage. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the auction will begin.

"Auction!" my voice rang out. I couldn't believe it. He was selling the girls! "Uncle, have you gone mad," I asked with outrage.

"He practically dragged a pretty blonde girl onto the stage. He was ignoring me!

"We will begin the auctioning at two hundred KJ's. Brandon, we will talk about this later." He said the last sentence like he was daring me to interrupt. I walked outside into the garden; I couldn't watch anymore. Little did I know, she was in the garden.

How could he do this? How could he kidnap girls and sell them? Does he not have a conscience? All of the sudden, I heard a conversation.

"Natalie."

"What?"

"Please come inside. You'll catch a chill."

"You know I can't. Not unless you…" She stopped for a minute. "I can't tell you." I sat down on a tree island that was in the middle of the garden. I didn't understand what they were talking about. Then I heard the other woman that had been speaking start up again. "Why do you always have to do what he says; or anyone for that matter? You're better than that."

"I know. Can you just get me some blankets? I'll sleep out here."

"No you won't." I will not permit it. You will sleep only inside." I heard a moan.

"Great, now I won't be able to sleep!"

"Natalie? Oh my goodness! You're sweating. Why are you sweating?" She sounded distressed.

"I want to sleep but you won't let me."

"You may sleep inside."

"Can you help me inside?"

"All right. But I demand for you to tell me why you always do what people tell you to do."

I sighed. She helped me through the back door. My complaints stopped immediately. Then she helped me up the stairs to the servants' quarters and we sat down on my bunk.

"Now, tell me why you always do everything you're told to do," Leah ordered.

Well, that cancels mother's order not to tell anyone. "I was given a certain gift at birth; by the fairy named Jessica. It was," I hesitated, then I whispered into her ear. "obedience," I finished.

She pulled away, stunned. Then she hugged me. "I'm so sorry Natalie. If I'd known…"

"There is no need for apology. While I sleep, can you find out what my real name is?"

"Sure. Sleep well." With that, I plopped onto the bed and went to sleep. But not until I heard a manly voice say, "Chloe! Come here."

I sat pondering on the tree island. I didn't like not understanding anything. Just after I solve the first mystery, another one pops up. It's probably one that even my uncle doesn't know about.

Then I heard my uncle scream, "Chloe! Come here." I stood up and went back inside. Many people had left. The auction was over and most of the girls had packed up and left. Uncle's wife was coming down the steps as fast as she could. As soon as she got downstairs, he said to her, "Find Brandon."

"No need uncle," I voiced.

"Ah, now we will talk. But first, we should sit down."

Author's Note: Like it?