Here's the next chapter!
Three years later Raven was about to have her coronation. A coronation meant that there was to be a party, and for a party they would have to open up the gates. Something that had not happened in the castle for a very very long time, for once the castle would be a place of open doors …
A servant, knocked on the prince's door. "Excuse me, your highness. But if you do not get ready soon you will be late."
Garfield sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes, and truth be told … his hair was a mess.
"What is it?" He asked in a yawn.
"Its coronation day sir." The servant replied.
"Its coro-what?" He asked, falling asleep sitting up.
"Its your sister's coronation day sir." The servant replied once more.
Garfield's eyes snapped open and saw his coronation day suit. The servant was beginning to wonder if he was going to have to enter the prince's room, but the prince bursted through the door, eyes wide with excitement.
He looked around the castle noticing all of the changes. The windows and doors were opened for the first time in years, allowing sunlight to enter castle.
Garfield ran through the ballroom. Marveling at the fact that there would people here, causing him to chuckle. "After all, why have a ballroom with no balls?"
Yet on the other side of the castle Raven had very different outlook in the situation.
Raven stood in front of the mirror. Her reflection was prim perfect, a stark contrast to her emotions. She shook her head, attempted to clear it and mentally repeated her mantra.
Conceal. Don't Feel. Conceal. Don't Feel. Conceal. Don't Feel.
Yet as she fastened her cloak and pulled up her hood, doubt seeped in.
Make one wrong move and everyone will know …
"But it's only for today." Raven consoled herself. She noticed the room darkening and objects being overcome with shadows. She calmed her breath. The room regained it's light.
She turned to her balcony door and opened it. "Tell the guards to open up the gates!"
Below her Garfield ran through the open gates. Though she couldn't see his face, she could feel his excitement.
Garfield dashed through the market square, weaving in and out of various vendors' stalls. He spun and hopped on the dock.
Just as he was sure nothing could stop him, he ran into something very hard that sent him sprawling.
'"Are you okay?" Asked a voice that sounded like an angel. "I am so-so sorry! Please tell me I didn't hurt you!"
Garfield forced himself to look through the spinning stars to see who was talking. It was a blonde young woman about his age atop a horse, who looked very concerned.
He nodded his head, "I'm fine, but who are you?"
The girl sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. My name's Terra of the Southern Isles." She extended her hand.
He took it and pulled himself up, and then kissed it. "I am Prince Garfield, of Arendelle."
He smiled as her eyes widened in shock. "You're the Prince?" She scrambled of her horse and curtsied, blushing.
Garfield bowed in return.
"You'll be at the coronation Prince Garfield, I hope?"
He attempted to flash his best smile. "Of course, and I hope I'll se you there as well."
So the coronation went off smoothly, except for the fact the windows almost shattered, but no one besides Raven noticed that. After the coronation came the party and there were a few people who were very eager to meet the Arendelle royalty …
A man cast an appraising gaze, towards the Arendelle Royalty. He seemed to be the stereotypical ambassador: fancy suit, numerable medals, and a silent sense of authority. Although there was something ironically eye-catching about him, his left eye was bright amber and his left eye was dark onyx.
One of his two lackeys gestured to the royalty, "Do you need us to do anything Lord Slattington."
"Keep an eye on Queen Raven and Prince Garfield." He answered coolly. "I need to find a weakness, something so I can manipulate and control the Kingdom's export of goods."
Across the room another scene was unfolding …
The newly appointed Queen stood next to her younger brother. His eyes were planted firmly on the grown. She smiled at his uncharacteristic demureness. "You look pretty handsome little brother."
Garfield looked up surprised. It had been years since he had a conversation with sister.
He looked over her appearance for something to compliment her on. She was wearing a navy dress, with a dark blue cloak. "W-well I like your cloak."
Raven smiled, and nudged him. "Now I could be wrong, but that girl over there has been eyeing you all evening."
Garfield looked across the room and saw Terra. He felt his face heating up.
Raven motioned with her hand. "Well go on. Have some fun."
And so Prince Garfield and Terra of the Southern Isles danced for a while before they exited to one the terraces of the upper floors ...
"So you're the youngest of thirteen children?" Gasped out Garfield.
"Yep! Let's just say my mother really wanted a girl." Terra giggled.
They leaned against the railing. Terra put her hand to her chin, eyes alight with happy memories, "Once some my brothers pretended I didn't exist for a whole year."
"Really?" Garfield asked. "That must have been terrible!"
She shrugged in return. "It's what brothers do."
He sighed. "And sisters. When we were little we were really close, but one day she shut me out and I never found out why."
Terra put her hand on his shoulder. "That must have been rough."
He nodded, but had a thought. He stood in front of Terra. "Okay, can I just, say something crazy?"
Terra gave a smile that made his knees buckle. "I love crazy!"
He held out his hand and waited for her to take it and pulled her inside the hall. He motioned to the doors around them. "All my life has been a series of doors in my face." Garfield playfully elbowed Terra, "But then suddenly I bumped into you."
Terra smirked, "Wouldn't be more accurate to say I bumped into you?"
Garfield put his hand to his chin in mock thought, "Wouldn't it be more accurate to say you hit me with your horse."
The princess crossed her arms, a smile dancing across her face. "Touché." Terra paused, and tilted her head. She walked past Garfield to the wall behind him. He turned to see her studying a painting. He smiled when he realized which one it was.
"That's Titan's Fall, by Wade Wilson. It's one of my favorites." The painting depicted a waterfall at twilight, with various blue and purple hues.
Terra nodded. "I've heard of him, but I've also heard that he is very selective of where his works go."
Garfield smiled, remembering how the painting came to the castle. "Very true. It was a gift for my last birthday." He chuckled remembering the note attached. This must hang in your castle, it is essential to the plot! Garfield had heard the artist was eccentric, but the idea they existed in some fictionist work was ridiculous.
Terra smiled wistfully. "Shame it isn't a real waterfall."
Garfield took her hand, "It is."
Terra looked up at him, eyes wide in surprise.
"Want to go see it?"
The princess nodded, flashing a smile that made him melt.
So Prince Garfield and Princess Terra snuck out of the castle …
Terra was entranced by her surroundings. The flora and fauna seemed to glow in the moonlight. As she glanced at Garfield out of the corner of her eye something she noticed something.
"What's that?"
Garfield paused, and tilted his head. "What's what?"
She brushed his bangs on the side of his head. "That dark streak."
"Oh, that." The prince self-consciously brushed his streak. "I've had it long as I could remember."
"I like it." Terra took his hand, stood on her tip-toes and kissed his streak.
His face tinged pink caused her to giggle, making his face deepen to scarlet. Terra took his hand and pulled on his arm, "So how much farther?"
Garfield smiled sheepishly, "Not much farther."
They retook their stride until they came to a cliff side covered in vines. Garfield took her hand and led her to the vines. He pulled the vines back to reveal an inky tunnel.
"Ladies first."
Terra smirked, "Only cowards say that."
Garfield chuckled and slid through the vines, calling over his shoulder, "Then the 'coward' will go first."
She waited minute before she entered. She pushed aside the vines and lifted her skirt. Terra put her foot down confidently expecting to feel equal ground, only to trip on the uneven terrain. She threw her arms out to catch herself, but felt another pair wrap around her and catch her.
"Sorry, the 'coward' should have warned you."
Terra righted herself, glad the semi-dark cave hid her blush. "So 'coward' which way to the waterfall?"
He smiled and took her hand and led her down the tunnel. As they went farther in a thrumming sound seemed to surround them. The tunnel widened, opening to a cliff.
She paused outside the cliff and studied it. She could hear the waterfall, but she couldn't see it.
Garfield chuckled, he pulled her out the cliff and spun her around.
Sparkling indigo water streamed down the opposite edges of the exit. The uneven rock face caused a light mist to form overhead, that caught the moonlight as it fell. Causing it to seem as if it was raining stardust.
"Terra?" She turned to see a fidgeting prince.
She tilted her head, "Yeah?"
Garfield bit his lip, "Can I just say something crazy?" Garfield knelt and took her hand. "Will you marry me?"
Terra gasped, a dozen scenarios ran through her head. Of all the things she had expected to happen tonight, this wasn't one of them. A voice in her head reminded her what was at stake and she knew what she had to do.
She smiled coyly, "Let me say something crazier, yes."
Garfield was elated and couldn't wait to be married. He had no doubt that his sister would happily give her blessing …
Raven had just finished a very interesting dance with the Duke of Slattington. When she caught sight her brother. He was hurrying towards her with that girl she had pointed out earlier.
He unceremoniously slid to a halt in front of her, and comically switched to proper manners. "May I present, Princess Terra of the Southern Isles?" 'Terra' curtsied in respect.
"We would-", Garfield got caught in giggles.
Terra attempted to finish his sentence. "We would like you to-", then she erupted in giggles.
Raven gave her brother a look and he sobered up immediately.
He tried once more. "We would like you to give your blessing on our marriage!"
"W-hat?" She choked out. She was hoping he'd have some fun tonight, not get engaged. Raven saw shadow encompassing the glass wall and steadied her breathing. She took a breath and stared down her little brother. "You can't marry a person you just met."
"You can if it's true love." Garfield retorted.
This caused her to laugh, she raised an eyebrow. "And what do you know about true love?"
Garfield crossed his arms. "More than you do. All you know how to do is shut people out."
That comment stung. But I did it for your safety! She screamed mentally. She shook her trying to clear it and took a breath. "You asked for my blessing and my answer is no." She turned to walk away afraid of getting too emotional.
"Raven!" Garfield called out behind her.
She didn't acknowledge him, but turned to the nearest guard. "Close the gates." She commanded. "This party is over."
"Raven no, no, wait." Garfield cried and grabbed her arm.
"Let go." She refused to look him in the eye. She could feel her control slipping.
"NO!"
The fact that Garfield yelled made her turn. He had never yelled at her before. He let go of her arm and locked eyes with her.
"Raven please … I can't live like this any more." His eyes broke her heart.
She turned and started heading to the door. "Then leave."
"What did I ever do to you?" His question rang throughout the ballroom. Everyone turned towards them.
"Enough Garfield." She didn't want to cause a scene.
"No! Why do you shut me out? Why do you shut the world out? What are you so afraid of?" He shouted.
"Enough!" She spun around to face him and to her horror shadow spikes grew out of the ground.
"Sorcery." Muttered the Duke of Slattington.
"Raven?"
At Garfield's question she ran. She couldn't take it anymore. She rushed through the door, not really looking where she was going. She opened the nearest door to find it led to the courtyard, but it was filled with people. They bowed and she panicked, running through the crowd desperate to get away from everything.
As she was midway through the crowd she heard the Duke.
"There she is stop her!"
Raven turned pleading, "Please just stay away from me." An orb of energy flew from her hands straight at the Duke, throwing him on his back.
"Monster!" He roared.
She covered her ears and ran, she didn't mean to hurt anyone.
She heard brother shout her name, but she didn't stop. She couldn't risk hurting him again.
Raven kept running till she was at fjords. She could hear the people coming, she was trapped against the fjord. Hesitantly she closed her eyes and imagined a bride. Crossing her fingers she opened her eyes.
A bridge of what appeared to be black diamond starting at her feet and extended all the way across the water to the other side. Hearing her brother she ran and didn't look back.
Had Raven looked back she would have noticed the shadows not only overcoming Arendelle, but the sky as well. Creating eternal night. Not a star shown in the sky, the moon hardly gave off any light, plunging the Kingdom in darkness …