Once Upon A Time {Arranged Marriage} OPEN!!

[confliction]

Nickolas Nathaniel Jonathon Charles ~ Prince ~ Elyadon ~ Age 15

~Born when the first star appeared in the night sky,
This boy will never lie.
And no matter how they try,
This curse will not die.~

~But when he turns eighteen,
It has been foreseen,
That the curse will be lifted,
And he will be one of the gifted.~

Nick chuckled at his brother's statement, showing his two dimples, one on each cheek. "Yes, imagine what mess it would have been if Nurse had let me go. I would never have lived down that, the embarrassment that would come from that would just be much for me to handle." Nick gave one last chuckle before falling silent. He gazed out the window at the passing fields. Nick had always wondered as a small child how different it would have been if he had been born the son of a peasant, working in the fields. Would his life had been better? Would he have been happier?

Nick sighed. There really was no point in thinking about anything that would never happen, he just had to accept his fate. What was he to do? His life really had no meaning, he was probably destined to marry a princess so that the two kingdoms would be at peace with each other. As the third eldest prince, his existence wouldn't really matter, it was unlikely that he'll succeed the throne, so Nick just did whatever he wished, there were no consequences as long as his actions were appropriate. His studying, his skills were all pretty much useless, they were all just there to give him something to do, to let people respect him, knowing that he wasn't just one that took his position as a Prince for granted.

His thoughts were shaken by Tristan's question, "So Nick, I don't suppose you have any special girl in your life just yet?" Nick copied Tristan and raised an eyebrow as well and smirked, and then he broke into a fit of laughter. When he finally calmed down he looked seriously at Tristan. "My dear brother, for the past 15 years of my life, I have been living inside our palace walls, playing music, reading, studying. There has barely been any time for me to actually go and find a 'special girl'. Anyways, you know how our parents are and you know about my curse. I can only speak the truth, there have been several times when Father had come and talked to me about ladies and girls and my mouth spoke for my heart, there are no girls that have captured my heart yet. With this curse, I am not even allowed to go outside much, Father and Mother worry too much about my safety and the kingdom's safety to risk it. If I manage to survive past my eighteenth birthday will I then be able to free of the curse. Enough about me, do you have a special girl? You've met much more than me..." Nick hadn't talked so much in ages, especially about himself. His only long speeches were those set for homework or about his passion for music or reading, he didn't normally talk that much but he found that with Tristan, it was easy to pour out his worries and secrets. Nick sat back and wiggled his eyebrows and gestured Tristan to speak.

((Haha, lovely recap and evil plot there, though it does sum up what we've been doing. c:
Aiden could possibly die in the carriage ride to the Harvest Dance? It'll create a big plot for us to role-play. We could possibly have someone step in for one post about the eldest prince, or two, and then he dies in a carriage crash? Anyways, super excited over here. <.<))

Tristan wasn't surprised at Nick's response to his question. The young prince had been kept indoors for most of his life. As a middle child, Tristan was usually ignored, but Nick had a special prophecy that kept him in sights of the kingdom. The older brother considered Nick's disability to tell only the truth a curse, as lies could help one in life. But as the conversation led back to himself, he told the truth. "The women I often socialize with are mere peasants and farmers' wives. Most are elderly and uneducated. My heart goes out to them, but not in any.. longing way." He turned his focus back to the window scenery. "There is no special girl in my life just yet. And I am sure to be married off to another Avalon princess, to tighten the bonds between our courts, so there's no point in me falling for a different girl. But who knows, brother? You just might find the one at tonight's masquerade." Tristan smiled faintly. When they had been much younger, their mother had often told the siblings of quests of love. They often involved finding the "one", as she called it. The one person in life that would make you unstoppable. Being a boy, Tristan had laughed at his mother's fairy tales and ignored the squeals for more stories from his other siblings. It was then that he started fencing and practicing in all of his free time. The king had encouraged the practice at first, giving Tristan his first sword inscribed with the words penetrare profundis. The Latin words translated to "penetrate the depths." The simple phrase had motivated him for years, and as he grew more skilled in fencing, his father had forgotten him almost completely. The king's busy mind had returned to the unfinished business between Avalon and Elyadon, including the marriage. All the talk of the year had been about the marriage. All the peasants he conversed with had asked him for news of the event. He had none to tell.

Returning to the conversation at hand, Tristan looked back at his younger brother. His innocence and purity overwhelmed his curiosity about the world out of the castle. "Just a warning for tonight, don't get caught up in anything you can't untangle yourself from. Most girls that will be at the Harvest Dance have been trained to seduce and attack, you know." he joked lightly, the seriousness in his voice still hovering. Scandals in the courts never worked out as planned. Word would get out, the king would know, and you would not only disgrace yourself, but your family as well. Everyone would know. He shuddered inwardly. A close friend of his had been disgraced from court a year back. He had fallen in love with a servant and married secretly. He lost all of his titles, land, and money, but escaped to the countryside with his new love. He wondered whether they were happy together, as poor peasants.

The carriage had abruptly stopped at the edge of a clearing, and the footman popped open the narrow door for them to step out. "Your royal majesties, we have reached the border of Elyadon. Would you like to make a short stop?" he asked politely, bowing respectfully. Tristan understood the message. The horses were tired, the coachman and footman were exhausted. They had been driving the carriage for almost thirty miles already. He nodded at the older man, dismissing him and exiting the carriage. Taking a breath of fresh air, he stretched his arms out and yawned loudly. The coachman had led the horses to a small creek, and the footman was checking the wheels on the carriage. Jerking back at the rustle of branches in the forest, his hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword. Perhaps he was excessively paranoid, but life for a prince was ever wary. Scanning the thick bushes around him, Tristan quietly crept closer to the sound. A scarred man leaped out of the dark scenery, swinging a silver blade. The prince, in return, unsheathes his sword and blocked the weapon, emitting a loud clang! Stepping backwards toward the carriage, he parried the heavier man, whose blows were slow but strong. Being younger and lighter, the prince flitted around the attacker, twisting his sword this way and that. He faintly heard another man leap out of the bushes somewhere behind him, but his attention was focused on the man he was fencing. "Nick, a little help?" he called, leaping around the cowering footman, and motioning at the second rogue. "Can you handle him?" he asked quickly, yelping as the sword of his attacker just missed his collarbone.

{{ DeerInYourHeadlights - That's understandable, so we'll wait for Shade. to respond then.

[peppersdots]

~Arabella, Princess of Elaydon~

Arabella followed Crystal down to the courtyard where the last carriage pulled up. She slipped the mask over her face and draped her cream colored lace shawl over her shoulders. Just before the carriage pulled away, she pulled Crystal into the carriage with her. "You didn't think I was going to make the trip by myself did you?" she smiled. "Besides, you deserve to be shown off just as much as I do."

[Komaniac]

The fire I began
Is burning me alive.
But I know better than
to leave and let it die



Serena Alice Jones
Eldest Princess - 18 - Elyadon
Serena finished brushing her hair and sighed as she grabbed her mask. She opened the curtains to look at the carriages, seeing another one leave. She wondered if it were both her sisters. The girl sighed and walked out her room, slowly downstairs to the carriage. She got in after struggling with her dress for a bit and looked outside. She knew there was a slight chance her father would let her travel alone, so she waited for one of her other siblings to appear.

[DarkSummerShimmer]

Valisa/Princess/Avalon

Valisa gave a final sigh before she got in her dress and one if the free maids came up to help her tighten the corset. Valisa grabbed her bed post as th maid pulled tighter and tighter on the corest. Once it was all laced up they help her slip the dress over it and they got to work on her hair. " Princess, do you wish to wear your taira?" They asked her. She just simply shook her head no and once they were done she dismissed them and slid her mask on and slipped out of her room to go down to the ball room.

[h.ab.its]

Dimari Carter >>Princess of Avalon

Dimari sighed and picked a different dress.She wanted a different skirt..She pulled a pretty tulled dress out,and got prepared to put it on.She found a maskand set it on the Boudoir's table.She sighed contently and rang for a maid.Once again she found herself tracing the scars on her arms...She had been a rather...rambunctious child,always participating in things her brothers did,being slightly released to do these things,but she was a reserved girl..And she was spoiled not like most thought.She had a heart,and would trade her riches to see the her kingdom and subjects happy.

[Gelick]

{ What did I miss on? C:

[Tianuki]

Tristan wasn't surprised at Nick's response to his question. The young prince had been kept indoors for most of his life. As a middle child, Tristan was usually ignored, but Nick had a special prophecy that kept him in sights of the kingdom. The older brother considered Nick's disability to tell only the truth a curse, as lies could help one in life. But as the conversation led back to himself, he told the truth. "The women I often socialize with are mere peasants and farmers' wives. Most are elderly and uneducated. My heart goes out to them, but not in any.. longing way." He turned his focus back to the window scenery. "There is no special girl in my life just yet. And I am sure to be married off to another Avalon princess, to tighten the bonds between our courts, so there's no point in me falling for a different girl. But who knows, brother? You just might find the one at tonight's masquerade." Tristan smiled faintly. When they had been much younger, their mother had often told the siblings of quests of love. They often involved finding the "one", as she called it. The one person in life that would make you unstoppable. Being a boy, Tristan had laughed at his mother's fairy tales and ignored the squeals for more stories from his other siblings. It was then that he started fencing and practicing in all of his free time. The king had encouraged the practice at first, giving Tristan his first sword inscribed with the words penetrare profundis. The Latin words translated to "penetrate the depths." The simple phrase had motivated him for years, and as he grew more skilled in fencing, his father had forgotten him almost completely. The king's busy mind had returned to the unfinished business between Avalon and Elyadon, including the marriage. All the talk of the year had been about the marriage. All the peasants he conversed with had asked him for news of the event. He had none to tell.

Returning to the conversation at hand, Tristan looked back at his younger brother. His innocence and purity overwhelmed his curiosity about the world out of the castle. "Just a warning for tonight, don't get caught up in anything you can't untangle yourself from. Most girls that will be at the Harvest Dance have been trained to seduce and attack, you know." he joked lightly, the seriousness in his voice still hovering. Scandals in the courts never worked out as planned. Word would get out, the king would know, and you would not only disgrace yourself, but your family as well. Everyone would know. He shuddered inwardly. A close friend of his had been disgraced from court a year back. He had fallen in love with a servant and married secretly. He lost all of his titles, land, and money, but escaped to the countryside with his new love. He wondered whether they were happy together, as poor peasants.

The carriage had abruptly stopped at the edge of a clearing, and the footman popped open the narrow door for them to step out. "Your royal majesties, we have reached the border of Elyadon. Would you like to make a short stop?" he asked politely, bowing respectfully. Tristan understood the message. The horses were tired, the coachman and footman were exhausted. They had been driving the carriage for almost thirty miles already. He nodded at the older man, dismissing him and exiting the carriage. Taking a breath of fresh air, he stretched his arms out and yawned loudly. The coachman had led the horses to a small creek, and the footman was checking the wheels on the carriage. Jerking back at the rustle of branches in the forest, his hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword. Perhaps he was excessively paranoid, but life for a prince was ever wary. Scanning the thick bushes around him, Tristan quietly crept closer to the sound. A scarred man leaped out of the dark scenery, swinging a silver blade. The prince, in return, unsheathes his sword and blocked the weapon, emitting a loud clang! Stepping backwards toward the carriage, he parried the heavier man, whose blows were slow but strong. Being younger and lighter, the prince flitted around the attacker, twisting his sword this way and that. He faintly heard another man leap out of the bushes somewhere behind him, but his attention was focused on the man he was fencing. "Nick, a little help?" he called, leaping around the cowering footman, and motioning at the second rogue. "Can you handle him?" he asked quickly, yelping as the sword of his attacker just missed his collarbone.

{{ DeerInYourHeadlights - That's understandable, so we'll wait for Shade. to respond then.

Nickolas Nathaniel Jonathon Charles ~ Prince ~ Elyadon ~ Age 15

~Born when the first star appeared in the night sky,
This boy will never lie.
And no matter how they try,
This curse will not die.~

~But when he turns eighteen,
It has been foreseen,
That the curse will be lifted,
And he will be one of the gifted.~

Nick nodded as he listened to Tristan's explanation. It was probably unlikely that a lady of the kingdom would have risked her reputation to sneak out to meet Tristan. They were all normally too proper to do such a thing. Nick would've liked to hear a more interesting story, though he had his doubts when he asked Tristan about it. The few times he had been out in the towns and villages, he had only seen poor peasants, many that were too old, he had always wondered where the younger ones were. He sighed. "Even if I do find the one, they are most likely just a peasant. As you know, the Harvest Dance is open to everyone. I suppose our fates are mostly the same, except you need to be more prepared to catch the kingdom if something ever happens to Aiden. And don't worry, I'll be careful at the Harvest Dance." Nick gave a small smile. Life as a royal, or anyone with a high status was never going to be easy, it was rare that they allowed you to marry your true love. It was possible to love them after marriage but it would never be the same. Nick had always wondered if his parents were in love with each other, but he never had the courage to ask. Father was always away, attending to meetings and the far off lands, having barely any time to spend with his family, the only few times they really spoke were when he congratulated Nick on his musical performances at the balls they held in the Elyadon palace. Whereas Mother, though she was around more often, liked to go off to tea parties or do 'lady-like' things. Father and Mother barely spent anytime together, apart from making appearances at balls and parties.

The carriage rolled to a stop and Nick smiled. He was starting to have ache sitting around in the carriage for too long. He pulled the strings of his bag tightly as Tristan got out of the carriage and then plonked it onto the seat before yawning and getting up. A yell from Tristan alerted him and he quickly hopped out of the carriage and saw the clashing swords between his brother and a scarred man. A second man jumped out from behind the bushes and Tristan yelled from Nick to help. Nick nodded and pulled out his sword and ran towards the second man. The rogue saw him and swung at him, Nick parried the blow and swiped at the man's forearm, leaving a deep slash. He smiled, it had been a while since he had a good fight. In the man's moment of pain, Nick kicked the rogue's shins, quite painfully and the man fell to the ground, his sword clattering just out of the man's reach. Nick grabbed it and placed his own sword against the rogue's neck. "Who are you and what are you doing following our carriage?"He hissed at the man and narrowed his eyes.

[~lancey lance~]

-

[DarkSummerShimmer]

((Question alice... What a elyadon maid doing in avalon castle without any of the other elyadon people there??))

[Gypsy&AnimeLuver!<3]

Crystal/ Maid/ Elaydon

Crystal climbed into the carriage 'Well, okay!" she said through a laugh. She blushed and smiled 'Thanks you Princess, i owe you" she said. She felt the carriage lurch forward and start to leave "To Avalon!" she cheered happily, smiling. She looked out and clapped her hands excitedly. She adjusted the bracelet on her hand caarefully.