ωнєи чоuя ωояɭd ɪѕ Fαɭɭɪиg Dоωи...

[-Red the Wolf-]

Снαртєя Oиє

Rin had gone early that morning to the stables. She didn't know why, but today she felt agitated, as if something bad was bound to happen. Her long, dark hair was gathered in a braid and she wore her forest green riding habit. Still, she couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right. She looked from side to side, and then behind her to see if someone might be following her. She didn't see anyone, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that something undesirable was bound to happen today. It's probably just the talents messing with my head, she thought. Nothing is wrong. All will go perfectly today. She wondered for a moment if there might be something she hadn't noticed, something out of place or something that was there now that hadn't been before. She shook her head. The talents are definitely messing with my head. She continued on to the stables, where her chestnut mare, Felicia, was waiting. The horse stamped impatiently as Rin tacked her, as if she couldn't wait to be off. To be honest, Rin wouldn't have minded orchestrating an escape, either. She could be free of all of her problems, start a new life in a new city, with new friends to meet and new places to explore. But no, that would never happen. If her parents had their way, and they would, then Rin would be stuck here for her entire life learning how to manage her father's business and being stalked by that strange fellow named Aaren day in and day out. She would listen to her parents argue until the day they died, and then she would be left alone, with a house to tend and an arranged marriage to see through. That was the way it was in her family; arranging the most horrible marriages seemed to be a talent inherited through her bloodline. With everything she had seen of her parents, she couldn't help but think that the fellow they would pick for her might be even worse than their match.

She shuddered at the thought, glad that she was only fifteen and would not have to worry about that problem until three months from now, on her sixteenth birthday, when they would announce which lucky man was to be her future husband. And then five years later, they would be forced to marry and there would be a wedding celebration to honor their unwanted unity. If there was one thing her parents agreed upon, it was that their daughter's life must be planned and carried out by them, and that she should not have any choice in the matter. The only thing they had in common was their daughter, who despised them both equally for not being allowed to make her own decisions. Rin wished her parents would allow her to choose who she wanted to marry instead of being forced to marry someone she barely knew. She also wished she had friends, but her father counted companions as an undesirable aspect of life, seeing as he had no friends himself and therefore didn't know anything at all about the experience of amiable compatibility.

Rin finished tacking her horse and mounted her. With just a little nudge, the mare took off at a trot for the riding field. Rin loved this time of morning, when the sun was just peeking above the horizon and casting tiny orange rays into the purple sky to make a grayish hue. The dew glittered on the grass like thousands of diamonds, and early-to-rise birds announced the morning, as if telling her to wake up to another beautiful morning. Ever since Rin could remember, she had always gone out early to ride in the field, both to take her mind off of things and to enjoy the beautiful dawn and enchanting dusk, for she came out twice a day. A ride early in the morning before the day's work invigorated her and made her ready to face the challenges the new day would bring. A ride late in the afternoon after a harsh day of back-bending labor relaxed her and made her ready for a long night's rest. She always looked forward to riding, even if only for a few mere moments.

Though it seemed like only a moment had passed, Rin had ridden an hour and heard her mother call her inside for breakfast. She slowed her mount and dismounted to cool the beautiful animal off, and then returned the mare to the stables, where the stable boy promised to give her a hot meal and a grooming. Rin walked back up the path and over the rise to a large, luxurious mansion surrounded by lush gardens and peacocks strutting down the path. Her emerald green eyes observed for the hundred thousandth time the way her mother nodded and walked inside the moment she saw her daughter returning to the house. Rin just continued to walk up the path until she reached the door. She opened the carved oak entryway and came inside. She walked up the stairs, which were carpeted with a rich dark red, to her bedroom, which was sparsely decorated and somewhat simple, though her parents had added some fancy touches just because they knew Rin believed in simplicity. She washed her face and hands in the washbasin, and then put on a simple blue frock in a pastel shade and re-braided her hair. She went downstairs to the dining hall, where her parents had begun the morning meal without her, as usual. When her mother saw her, she furrowed her brow. "Rin, when you finish eating, do put something more becoming on. The Smiths are coming over, and I want you to look pretty. After all, Aaren will be coming with his parents."

Rin groaned inwardly at the thought of Aaren Smith, the boy who stalked her day in and day out. He never left her alone, not even for five measly minutes while she searched her room for a book to read. The boy was her age, and far too nosy for her liking. He asked too many questions, and it was her mother's opinion that Rin fancied him, which was a terrible lie. She did not like the boy in the least, and she could care less if he fell off the edge of a cliff, as long as he left her alone. While these thoughts worked up an annoyance that often roused itself when Aaren was mentioned, she said to her mother in an even tone, "Yes, Mother. I shall do as you say."

When she finished her breakfast of porridge and toast, she went upstairs to her room and searched her closets for something her mother would consider 'becoming', which would most likely be a too-tight fancy gown fit for a queen instead of the comfortable frocks in different shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow she usually wore. Despite the fact that she did not want to, she donned a silk dress in an emerald shade with gold trim. The upper part of the dress and the sleeves down to her elbows were quite tight, but after that the dress exploded in voluminous swirls which relieved Rin of the choked feeling she experienced with most of the other dresses her mother had bought her. Rin also put on a pair of emerald green dancing slippers, though she was not sure why. She added a touch of blush to her pale skin, and then brushed out her knee-length chocolate brown tresses. She braided part of them and pinned the braid to the top of her hair as a bun, and the rest she left to hang down her back in no special fashion.

By the time she had finished readying herself, she looked like a queen who had come straight from a palace to her parents' doorstep. She walked downstairs, and as she walked, she discovered that every head turned to watch her leave, even the serving maids and menservants craned their neck to see her. Rin wondered why, and then realized that they had probably never seen her dress this way before. After all, she avoided wearing fancy things whenever it was possible. She walked downstairs to discover that the Smith family had already arrived. When the people in the room noticed her presence, the two women gasped and the three men, two old and one young, blinked and stared as if they had never seen her before. When they finally recovered from their shock, Rin's mother smiled. "Thank you, Rin, for wearing something appropriate. I admit I thought for a moment that you would ignore my counsel and continue to wear that peasant's clothing you like so much. And your father and I have a surprise for you, but I shall let him announce the wonderful news."
Rin's father stood and regarded his daughter with a stony expression and a serious voice. "Rin, your mother and I have found a match for you. You shall marry Aaren Smith on your twenty-first birthday, and your wedding-to-be will be announced on your sixteenth birthday."

Rin collapsed into a nearby chair, unable to speak. Anger boiled in her veins as she tried to process this new piece of information. She looked up to see Aaren wearing a proud and somewhat smug expression. Surely he can't be serious, she thought. Aaren is not in the least a respectable young man. He is a cad. She finally regained her voice and asked, "Are you serious, Father? Surely you don't wish me to marry him."
"Oh, but we do," Rin's mother chimed. "It will bring more prestige and honor than ever before to this family."
"I don't care about prestige or honor, I just wish to be heard for once," Rin said. She couldn't help the venom that spiced her words. She despised everything about the idea of being married to Aaren Smith.
"Then you are not going to go anywhere in life. Those who wish to be heard are those who are audacious enough to defy culture and civilization," her father said.
"Well I don't care about culture or civilization, and I don't care about you," Rin said as she stalked out of the room and up the stairs to her room, where she flopped onto her bed in a very undignified manner. She wished this was a dream, and that she could wake up and this would never have happened, but alas, no one can make changes to the past.

[-Red the Wolf-]

Bump.

[-Red the Wolf-]

Bump.

[crescent + cheep]

It's really good until now, and I can't really see any faults, sorry :)
Oh, one thing. Until now, I'm not really with Rin, I'm not really ... I don't know. I sympathise with her thoughts, I would probably think the same, but somehow I'm not really feeling with her.
I hope you write more, soon.

[-Red the Wolf-]

[I shall write more directly.]

[-Red the Wolf-]

Снαртєя Тωо

Rin had spent two weeks trying to make her parents change their minds, but with no such luck. It appeared as if nothing would melt their hearts of stone. She wondered briefly if she might end up like them after marrying Aaren. No, that will never happen, she thought to herself, but in her mind, she could envision the utter despair she would feel at having been wedded to such a monstrosity as the Smiths' son. She couldn't bear the thought of spending an entire lifetime listening to his annoying banter and putting up with his self-centered chatter. The boy never bothered to ask her opinion on things, he just prattled on about whatever happened to be on his mind, and most of the time, Rin couldn't add one word to the conversation before he either changed topics or started talking again. That boy talks more than any ten women I've met, she thought, grim humor lifting her features slightly. It would be a pain living with him, to be sure. Since their engagement, though, Aaren had bought several new gowns and beautiful dresses for Rin, all of which she rejected and regarded as his personal manner of trying to earn her affections. Such things will not work on me, she thought. No man has ever claimed my heart, and none will until I find one perfect for me. Rin glared at the ceiling of her bedroom, suddenly hating her home, parents, and life with a passion. She didn't want to end it, though, she just wanted to find some way to change it. If only she hadn't been born to such a well-to-do family, then her parents might have let her marry whomever she wished instead of Aaren.

She walked through the gardens that surrounded her house, studying the foliage that even in late summer still produced beautiful flowers. Late-blooming roses lifted their graceful petals skyward. Slow-to-bloom sunflowers followed their celestial leader through the heavens with their movements. A slight breeze stirred the dry air, relieving Rin of the horrible blast of summer heat for a moment. She stopped to study a beautiful fountain with several jewel-colored fish swimming about under the water's surface, appearing not to notice the human looming over their peaceful home. Rin walked down the path to a bench, where she sat down to relieve her aching legs of their burden. She took out her fan and began to fan herself. She heard boots tromping on the gravel pathway and looked up to see Aaren walking toward her. She plastered a fake smile onto her face as he approached, and he gave her a grin. "I've found you. Tell me, why do you keep disappearing?" he asked.
"Can't a woman enjoy time alone on occasions? I never get three seconds alone on most days," Rin said.
"Well it would seem prudent for her to spend more time with her betrothed," Aaren said. He pulled her off of the bench and took her arm.
"What if she preferred not to spend time with him?"
"Then she still has the obligation to do so."

His last statement offended Rin to no end, and she pulled away from Aaren and walked up the path alone, leaving him confused and startled. Who is he to think that I have any obligation to him? I don't even know him, much less do I love him, Rin fumed inwardly. She walked until she reached her house, and she then went inside and up the stairs to her room, where she went inside, slammed the door loudly, and locked it so no one could reach her. She stalked over to the bookshelf on one wall of her bedroom and studied the tomes lined up there, searching for a book to read. She picked out a thick volume with blue covers and gold lettering on the front that read: The Adventures of Princess Mariette and Her Chambermaids. She opened the book to the page that she had bookmarked and began to read, losing herself in a fantasy world of dragons, knights, and fair maidens. Of course, the knights and fair maidens existed here, but no one had seen a dragon for centuries, and it was far more interesting to envision the challenges and travels of others instead of focusing on real life. Her father accused her of negligence, saying that she was filling her head with old wives' tales and silly stories. Of course, she disagreed. Reading was her only escape from the horrible world she was cursed to live in.

She finished several chapters and then decided to go into town with her mother to look at some wedding dresses, even though she did not really want to wear a wedding dress anytime soon. Her mother told her to change into something suitable for travel, but instead of wearing the silly, tight dresses that her mother liked, she picked a beautiful pastel blue dress that was quite comfortable and embroidered with ivy vines and roses around the hem and the cuffs of her sleeves. Her mother didn't seem to approve of it, but made no comment. They rode a carriage into town, and then opted to walk the streets and see if there were any reputable tailoring shops around. They walked until they saw a shop with some of the most beautiful dresses Rin had ever seen in the window, and her mother immediately dragged her inside to look at the merchandise. They perused the different styles of wedding dresses until Rin's mother found an elaborate dress with pearls sewn onto it and a long silk train leading away from it. The matching veil included a crown-like apparatus that was easily attached to Rin's head, and the shoes that went with the outfit were beautiful and made of the finest velvet. The dress fit Rin quite nicely, and was not at all tight. It had a full skirt and the sleeves were puffy. Lace adorned every spare inch of the skirt, covering it in a veil of sorts. Rin's mother decided to buy the dress, and as they arranged for the beautiful garment to be shipped to their house, Rin couldn't help but overhear a loud conversation carried on by two young seamstresses. "I heard the queen is hiring a few handmaidens," said one.
"So did I," said the other. "Are you going to see about working at the palace?"
"Oh, no," said the first, shaking her head. "I like it well enough here. And as for you?"
"I'll be staying here as well. No sense in quitting a reputable job."
"True, that."

As Rin and her mother walked out, Rin thought that she might like to live in the palace. She heard that servants were treated as equals there, and that the queen was fair in all her dealings. Why not? she asked herself. I could escape this horrid life. Her pride answered her. It would not be respectable to run away from one's obligations. However, I don't think I shall call an unwanted engagement an obligation. I shall leave for the palace directly. Rin spent the rest of the day planning her departure, relishing the fact that she would soon be free.

[-Red the Wolf-]

Bump.

[-Red the Wolf-]

Bump.

[-Red the Wolf-]

Снαртєя Тняєє

Rin sat in her room during the late afternoon, thinking over the plan she had formulated. Luckily, Aaren hadn't dropped in for a visit that day to squelch her efforts, so she would meet no resistance from that party. Her parents didn't even know she was leaving, and they wouldn't until she had, so no resistance would come from that party. The plan was simple. She'd pack a few of her favorite dresses to take with her, and disguise herself as a traveler on her way to apply for a job at the queen's castle. She would take her horse, Felicia, and ride off into the night. She would bring extra food and some money for the journey so that she could buy food when she ran out and lodgings to stay the nights in. Once she'd packed everything, she would sneak out of her house and to the stables, where she would quickly tack Felicia and then put her things into saddlebags. She would carry her dresses in a carpetbag, of course, and she would bring a sword and a bow and arrows in case she was accosted by ruffians. She chose those weapons since she had the basic knowledge of how to use them efficiently, though she wasn't very good with any weapons. Still, she would make it out without being caught. She went down to a dinner of fish and peas, and ate. After she had finished, she went back to her room to collect the things she'd need. She had already charmed the cook into giving her some supplies from the stores without giving away her intentions, so all she had to do now was put them away. Rin looked through her closet and picked out four or five dresses that would serve her well as she traveled, all simple dresses well suited for riding and all in pastel shades of green, blue, pink, and red. She assumed the queen would probably allow her to expand her wardrobe when she became her handmaiden, anyway.

Rin put a pair of comfortable slippers, some gloves, and some warm clothes in her carpetbag and then changed into traveler's clothes: A forest green tunic overlapped a loose, comfortable pair of earthy brown trousers, a black cloak to ward off the chilly air, and a pair of comfortable suede boots that would be well-suited for both walking and riding. She braided her long hair and made sure it was out of the way. By the time she had finished her preparations, night had taken over the land, covering the countryside in a dark blanket with only the stars and moon to break the never-ending black expanse. Rin silently stole through hallways and down flights of stairs, exiting the house through the kitchen. She then traversed the gardens, which, at this time of night, were dark and menacing, since only shadows and silhouettes remained of the garden plants and the sleeping peacocks. Rin carefully made her way down the path, her eyes studying the area around her for signs of movement. When she made her way to the stables without being detained, she sighed with relief. She woke her horse up and tacked her.

Rin put most of her belongings into saddlebags, but she carried her dresses and shoes in the carpetbag. She mounted Felicia and rode to the edge of the riding field, jumping over the fence and out of the field. She and Felicia made their way at a gallop down the drive and then into the road. Rin rode through the town, the cold air stinging her cheeks. She pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, but it was only blown back by the wind. The familiar storefronts and houses rushed by in a blur. Seamstress shops, cobblers' stores, general stores, and various other shops and taverns flew by. When Rin had reached the edge of the business district, she noticed the change. Taverns and inns switched to small, tidy houses with tidy vegetable gardens and small barns with a few livestock in them. Fifteen minutes later, they reached the outskirts of town and remained among the worn-down shacks and slums until the alleys and backroads slowly petered out until there was only one road leaving the city, the trade route that led to the royal city by an indirect route. At this time of night, no other travelers lurked, since they had all gone to the various inns and taverns many hours before for a hot meal and some rest. Rin allowed the horse to slow down to a canter.

Rin took her time in the saddle to study her surroundings. It would be dawn before she came to another town, so she would have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. The rocky path below the horse's hooves had seen so many travelers that the gravel had been ground to a fine dust that flared up every time Felicia's hooves hit the ground. A small forest stood on one side of the road and far enough back that the shadows from the trees did not touch the worn path. A river flowed on the other side. Though Rin could not see it through the hedges that lined that side, she heard the gurgle of water rushing over rocks and knew it must be there. Nothing but a lonely, deserted stretch of land went before her, a scene that held nothing interesting. Above her, the stars shone brightly, twinkling pinpoints of light that, to her, looked like diamonds. They shimmered in blue, white, yellow, red, and orange and created quite a display. The moon lighted her path, helping her to stay on course as she continued northward.

Rin spent quite a while watching the stars and moon shift in their places. The sight was beautiful to behold, and seeing as she'd never been stargazing before, it was all the more exciting. As it grew later and later, Rin's breath concentrated in miniature clouds in the air, and the night became too chilly for her to bear. She led Felicia off of the main road to put on an extra layer of traveling clothes and her gloves. She also secured the cloak to her neck and put the hood over her head. Once she had done this, she continued on to her destination, encouraged by the promise of a hot meal an a bed to sleep in when she arrived. She couldn't wait to reach the next city, because that would mean she was far enough ahead that any patrols her parents sent for her would not be able to catch up before she reached the palace.

Rin reached an intersection where two important trade roads, one leading to the seaside towns and the other leading to the royal city in the north crossed each other. She continued her course, since the royal city was not anywhere near the sea. She grew so tired that her eyelids felt as if rocks had been glued to them. She drifted into a subconscious state, half-awake and half in the land of dreams. When her eyelids didn't feel so heavy anymore and she could finally open them, she realized that it was nearly dawn and she had reached the outskirts of a small town, where she would stay for today and part of tomorrow. She urged her horse until it reached a fast trot, and continued at that pace until she could see the storefronts and signs of the business district. She slowed her horse again as she studied the buildings. After a few minutes of riding through the silent-as-death streets, she noticed people milling about. She used her talents to pull information from their minds that might lead her to a tavern with a vacancy. She gathered from the bits and pieces that a tavern on the west side of the city, called Three Pints Inn, offered decent lodgings and good food for a low price. She directed Felicia down several side streets and backroads until she came to the friendly-looking inn.

She went inside and walked quickly to the desk where the innkeeper sat, looking at his records. He smiled up at her, his cheery face sporting a genuine grin. "Hello, miss. What can I do for you today?" he asked.
"I need lodgings for today and until noon tomorrow," Rin replied.
"All right, then, I have a room available. Meals cooked by my wife come with your lodgings."
"Thank you," Rin said as he gave her a key and she gave him some coins from her purse.
"Think nothing of it," the man replied. "Just sit down and I'll have someone bring you breakfast."

Rin chose an empty table in the corner of the room, away from the tavern's other guests. A serving maid came by to take her order, and Rin told her what she wanted. A few minutes later, she was brought a steaming platter of fresh food: scrambled eggs, ham, grits, and a biscuit slathered with jam and butter. She was also brought a tankard of warm milk to wash it down. Rin ate with gusto, and when she was finished, she went upstairs to her room, where she retired.

[-Red the Wolf-]

Снαртєя Fоuя

It was nearly sunset when Rin awoke to the sounds of music and stamping feet below her, where the tavern's guests enjoyed songs by traveling minstrels. It took her a moment to remember where she was as she took in the rough walls and flooring and felt the texture of the feather pillow beneath her head. Then she remembered where she was, and grinned. It worked, she thought. They didn't suspect a thing. Then a voice in her head warned her. They might not have yet, but they'll soon know. Rin did not allow her pessimistic thoughts to dampen her joy, though. She switched her bedclothes for a beautiful pale yellow frock that reminded her of the sun's rays at dawn. The cotton dress was quite becoming, and she liked it far better than the dresses her mother made her wear. She put on her pair of slippers and fixed her hair. Due to the fact that it had been in a braid for nearly a day, when she brushed it out, it was easily untangled and quite wavy. This style blended perfectly with the cascade of curls that bounced up at the ends of her hair. She decided against re-braiding it, and instead left it alone so that it would cascade down her back like a chocolate-colored waterfall of tresses. She opened her door and then locked it on her way out. She walked down the stairs, and was astounded by the fact that when she appeared at the bottom of the stairs, the music and noise suddenly stopped and every head turned her way. Rin could feel the heat crawling up her neck. To break to awkward silence, the innkeeper shouted, "Now, my friends, return to your business. It is clear you are giving this lovely young woman unneeded attention."

Rin walked over to the innkeeper and thanked him. "Think nothing of it," he said. "These men never pass up a chance to hunt down a beautiful woman like they would a buck. Fools, in my opinion." Rin went to an empty table after conversing with the innkeeper for some time, and waited for a serving maid to ask for her order. She ordered fish, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a cup of hot peppermint tea. The food she ordered was brought to her piping hot, and she tipped the waitress for serving her. The girl looked to be less than thirteen. She might have been the innkeeper's daughter. Rin ignored her musings and prayed to the Creator to show her gratitude for the meal. She then ate the delicious-smelling cuisine, which tasted even better than it looked. The innkeeper's wife was a talented culinary artist. She stayed downstairs late into the night, listening to the music and watching some of the men and women dance. She grew tired and went up to her room, full and contented. She fell into a comfortable sleep, no nightmares plagued her dreams.

Rin woke early the next morning and enjoyed another fine meal. "If I stay here any longer, I fear I will grow round," she remarked jokingly to the innkeeper.
He replied with a hearty laugh and said, "Yes, my wife Mirabel is a fine cook."

After she had finished her breakfast, Rin went into town to see the sights. She had rarely been outside her own village, and she wanted to take in with her eyes the sights and sounds of a city. The smell of fresh-baked pastries came from an open bakery door. Women chattered incessantly in a textile shop. Men stood idly outside a florist shop, waiting to buy bouquets of roses and other beautiful flowers for their wives. They talked, gave back-slaps, and guffawed loudly. All of the women she passed smiled and greeted her. The men and young boys doffed their hats. Rin decided that this would be a wonderful city to live in. However, she was determined to make it to the palace, so she didn't have time to dally. She went back to the inn and gathered her things. By the time she was finished packing, it was nearly noon. She decided to eat lunch at the inn and then be on her way. She gave her key back to the innkeeper on her way out, and collected Felicia.

Rin rode through the city, which bustled with activity at this time of day and made the going slow. Carts, carriages, and buggies lumbered down the road, some pulled by horses, some by goats, and still others by oxen. It took an hour to get out of the business district, and when she finally escaped the hustle and bustle that accompanied being in the center of town, she was caught up in the traffic that was on its way out of the city. She went with the flow of people, carts, and wagons and reached the city gates faster than she had gotten out of the center of town. Once she was out of the city, though, the traffic evened out and it wasn't so crowded. The wide lane stretched for miles ahead of her, and the people went about their business, not bothering to wonder why a well-mannered young lady had taken it upon herself to travel.

A few hours later, Rin reached an intersection that had more activity than she thought possible. She turned west, since she planned to take the least crowded route to the royal city. Even that path proved to be too full of people for her liking. In order to satisfy her need to get to the royal city quickly, she opted to ride parallel to the road, that way she'd be going the same direction but without the crowd. She was able to make better time this way, since she could allow Felicia to move faster without knocking over her fellow travelers. Rin set Felicia to a fast trot, and they arrived at the royal city at dusk. Since the queen would not be likely to accept visitors this late in the day, Rin searched for a tavern and quickly located a small, out-of-the-way structure that offered decnt lodgings and quality food. Rin ate her supper there, and then she asked for a room and was given one. This tavern wasn't as welcoming as the Three Pints Inn, but at least it wasn't too crowded. When Rin reached the room she would be staying in, she changed out of her dress and into a nightshift and fell asleep immediately after her head hit the pillow.