Chapter 6:
Carrea looked up as her friend burst through the door. "Are you still moping?" She grinned. Hiding her mask from her friend's view, she looked sheepish.
"I'm not moping."
"Sure you're not. That's why you have barely come out of your room for the past few weeks."
"I'm not moping!" She said standing, and moved across to her drinks cabinet. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she took a generous sip and winced slightly when she tasted the familiar tang of pachi.
"Then why did you just wince?" She nodded.
"No reason."
"Yes there was. It was because you are drinking pachi wine." She said knowingly.
"How do you know?"
"Because I took all your wine and replaced it with pachi wine."
"Jenia! I can't believe you did that!"
"Well someone has to stop your moping." She said bluntly. "Surely you would have heard someth-"
"No. There are plenty of reasons why I haven't heard anything. He is a Healer after all – patients come first."
Jenia sighed sympathetically and wandered over to her. "Come on." She said grabbing Carrea and dragging her out her room. "We are going to the Night Room."
"It's too early for that!"
"It's never too early for gossip." Ignoring Carrea's pleas, she dragged her all the way to the Seven Arches. The room was barely filled, as a few early magicians lounged peacefully chatting away. Taking a seat at the back of the room Jenia made Carrea sit and gave her a glass of wine. Slumping down on the table, she ignored the wine and slipped into a daydream.
"No daydreaming either!" Jenia scolded her and poked her arm.
"Ok ok." Carrea said sitting back up and crossing her arms. "Although I am not sure how you are going to stop that."
"By any means necessary." She smiled smugly.
"I'll keep that in mind." Carrea replied taking a sip of her wine. "More pachi wine!" She hissed at Jenia.
"Of course."
They sat all night chatting, whilst inspecting and gossiping about the magicians who walked through the door. Soon enough the Night Room was full with magicians and Carrea managed to slip away unnoticed, as her friend mingled tipsily with a group of Alchemists. Walking outside, a bitter wind chilled her, so she hastily brought up a shield, blunting the cold. The evening light hung heavily and Carrea lit a small globe light, illuminating the path back to the Magician's Quarters. The night reminds me of that night... To think that it was only a month ago... No! Don't think of that. Shaking her head, she hurried off back to her room. As she entered, she sighed. Funny how an evening trying to forget, ends in an evening thinking about it more. Gah! Throwing herself down in a chair she grabbed the nearest book and tried to take her mind off of things. Something caught her eye, and Carrea peered curiously over the top of the book. There on the table in front of her sat a small wrapped package. Reaching forward she picked it up and looked at it critically. A label covered one side, which had her named scrawled on delicately. Unwrapping it, she saw a small object lying wrapped in green cloth and underneath lay a small carving of a reber. Picking it up she examined the carving; the reber stood on a short bed of grass and looked up forlornly. Immediately a memory came into her; they had gone to a nearby farm to Heal a reber, and as they clambered into the field, a group of baby reber surrounded them.
"Aww they are so cute!" She had grinned, bending down to get closer. Behind her the reber began to tug and chew at her robes.
"Shoo." Dorrien had laughed, pushing them away. One reber hadn't shooed however and kept hold of the robes. Carrea tried to stand, but the reber pulled down, and she fell down on them all.
"Naughty reber!" She cried trying to wrestle her robes back.
"I think they like you."
Smiling, Carrea admired the reber; each mark had been made carefully and delicately.
"Aha! There you are!" Jenia cried stumbling into her room again. "You are cheeky, giving me the slip and all."
"You were too busy trying to flirt with the Alchemists – you didn't need me around."
"Nonsense!" She said coming into the room further. "Now what have you got?"
Holding up the reber, she showed Jenia. "It is a reber carving."
"I can see that!" She cried, snatching it from her. "But why a reber?"
"Does it matter why?" Carrea replied defensively.
"Yes, yes it does."
"Well in that case, I'm not telling you."
"Oh, it's like that is it." She winked.
"No it is not! It is a rather boring story actually."
"Well in any case I should take this from you because otherwise I will never hear the end of it!"
"No you will not! That is a present for me."
"Did it say who it is from?"
"... No actually." Carrea admitted. "It just came in this package." Lifting the paper she checked for another name – but found none. "But there is only one person it could have come from." She laughed, holding up the cloth.
"What is that?"
"That is the remnants of one of my outer robes. A reber decided they tasted nice and wouldn't let go."
"You're right. That is a boring story." She sighed and slumped in a chair. "Whatever am I going to do with you now?"
"I'm really not sure." Carrea mocked sarcastically. "Now may I have my reber back please?"
"Hrmm.. Well I suppose so..." Jumping up she passed Carrea the reber, then poured herself another glass of wine.
"Do you think you should be drinking more wine?"
"Yes I do. I'm drinking for you seeing as you'll be back to moping in a minute."
"I will not be moping!"
"I would be if I had a man like that."
"Go on, off with you drunkard!" She shooed Jenia off whilst laughing.
The next morning, Carrea was disturbed by a short rap at her door. A messenger handed her a thin letter, and upon seeing the handwriting she cringed. So, my family wishes to see me on urgent business. I wonder what this could be now. Groaning, Carrea wondered if it could be put off until the evening. I'd best sort this while I have a clear head. She decided painfully. Soon she was sat in a carriage heading towards her family's home. The house lay on the outskirts of the Inner Circle – her family being out of favour for numerous scandals. Despite this, the house stood proud decorated lavish and finely. As she entered the house, a servant greeted and led her into the main guestroom. Within sat her her mother in a harsh blue dress with a scowl upon her face.
"Good. I was thinking I would have to wait all day for you to arrive."
"Fortunately I do not have to work this morning. Or you may have had to."
"Hmm." She scowled further. "Would you care for a drink?"
"No thank you." Carrea politely declined.
"Straight to business then. Very well. You are fortunate, at last."
"And why might that be?"
"Because you will finally bring favour to our family. You are to be married."
"What?" She said shocked and outraged. "Married?"
"Yes, we are arranging it all for you so you need not worry about anything."
"I want to choose who I marry. I will not go through with this!"
"You cannot decline it. Whether you like it or not, this marriage is going ahead." Her mother said firmly.
"Do I even get to know who it is I will be marrying?" She seethed bitterly.
"Not until your wedding day."
"And what if by any chance I had-"
"You do not. I have heard the stories from the Guild. This man comes from an in-favour family so you will help us with this marriage."
"So it is all your political-"
"Carrea." She hissed. "Just be thankful we have found someone for you."
"Is this all you wished to tell me?"
"For now." She scowled further. "Now I would like you to be measured by the servants for your dress." After a sharp call, two servants came in and escorted Carrea to her old bedroom. As they began their measuring, they cooed at her and gossiped about the wedding as Carrea tried her hardest not to snap at them. How dare my mother do this! I do not want to marry some person for their status. And she won't even tell me who he is! I must find a way out of this... But I have no idea how... Carrea pondered on the matter further as the servants finished off the measurements. The door creaked open as her mother entered, sending a wave of anger flooding through Carrea once more.
"Now you are done, please sit and have a meal so we may discuss your preferable marriage requirements. It is only fair after all."
"I would prefer that I chose who I married." She growled in reply. "But as I have no choice, do I get to choose when."
"No. Or you would put it off for a long time. You will be married by the end of the month."
"Then you choose. I do not want any part of this."
"Carrea, please see this from our point of view. This marriage will ensure that our family will become more in favour and we will finally have a say in things."
"It is your fault we can't, if you hadn't gone round seducing married men then we wouldn't be in this mess. I will not fix it with some marriage. But seeing as you prefer married men, why don't you have him for me."
"He is much too young for me." She smirked, "you will not get out of this marriage Carrea."
"Then with your permission, I am leaving." Carrea strode off angrily, not waiting for her mother's response. Instead of waiting for the carriage to return, Carrea decided to walk back to the Guild. The streets were full of wandering people, and despite trying her hardest to ignore it, she couldn't help but see all the married couples walking arm in arm. I can't believe she has done this. Not one word to me about it. Not even letting me meet the man first! How dare she! I am a magician, I should be allowed to choose who I like. I ran away from their petty politics long ago. As she ranted further, she walked faster and soon found herself in her room. Sitting down in her chair, something solid pushed against her leg. Picking it up, she found the wooden reber in her hand. Dorrien... What will he do? I hope he doesn't think... What am I going to do? Maybe I should send him a letter? Hearing the University gong, Carrea took a deep breath and exhaled. I'll think over this whilst working. She decided and headed towards the Healing Quarters once again.
The night had settled slowly and Carrea lazily lit a globe light. Her work had distracted her from the morning events temporarily, to which she was very thankful. The cooling air soothed her mind, so she walked around the Guild whilst deep in thought. Taking a seat in the courtyard, she thought of any way she could escape her new fate, but to no avail. Hearing footsteps, she looked up but found no-one there. Frowning, she looked around but still there was nothing. Sighing she began to plan again.
"Now what could be so terrible to make you sigh like that?" She heard whisper in her ear, seconds before being tightly squeezed in a hug.
Jumping, she turned quickly to see who it was. "Dorrien!" She cried surprised. "When did y-" Her words were stopped by his lips pressing firmly against hers.
"I've only just arrived." He grinned widely. "If it were not for the horse needing rest I would have arrived earlier."
"You would not have liked me earlier..." She admitted, "I was seething in anger at my mother – I still am."
"I'm sure it can't be that bad." He smiled, and pulled her to her feet. Walking around he pulled her into a tighter embrace. "Especially-"
"It is that bad!" She cut him off and looked up at him. "I don't know what to do!"
"What has she done?" He asked sympathetically.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, "she has arranged a marriage for me."
"What?" He frowned, "and you learnt this today?"
"Yes. She summons me and tells me I have to marry this person – who I do not even get to know who they are until the wedding day – because it will make the family in favour. Her stupid little politics games have always infuriated me, especially when I am involved. She treats me like a game piece and I should have a say-"
"Shush!" He chuckled, placing his finger on her lips. "So your family accepted this marriage proposal on your behalf?"
"Yes!" She cried. "But that doesn't matter because they won't change their minds whatsoever. It was like this when I wanted to join the Guild! So I had to sneakily make it so they had no choice."
"That is very typical of the stories heard of your family." He sighed. "I can help you get out of this situation."
"You can? How can you do that?"
"By getting the person to decline."
"That's a great plan. Then my mother will have no choice but to... Wait. You know who it is I am supposed to be marrying?"
"Yes. And they would not wish for someone to accept on your behalf." He explained.
"I actually got a marriage proposal? And my mother didn't set this up."
"Yes, you did and no she did not. I was the one who sent that proposal."
"What?" She gasped, looking at him in surprise.
Smiling, he explained further, "when I left you here I did I a lot of thinking. I realised that the only way that I could move back – here at the Guild – was that if I knew you felt for me as much as I do for you. I want to live here, with you." Letting go of her, he frowned. "But now I know the truth."
Grabbing his hand, she looked up at him and smiled. "You idiot. You should ask what if."
"What if?"
"Yes, what if my mother hadn't intercepted it."
"Why?"
Leaning up, she kissed him tenderly and whispered, "because I would say yes."