"Yes, I quite agree. But I can only use a sword when my parents aren't looking." She whispered to Arietta in the empty halls. "They prefer me to do archery, which I enjoy, but I love using swords, especially against the other knights. What do your parents say about it?"
"My parents don't mind, to be completely honest I think that they'll let me do as I please if I eventually agree to become the Queen." Ari giggled, "However, I'm trying to hold off the coronation for as long as possible."
Luke wandered back into the city. He looked up and figured it was about an hour till sunset. The parties were to start soon.
"Lucky duck," Gene exclaimed as they rounded the corner. "Anyways, here is your room, it's right across from mine. Just knock on my door if you need anything. Oh, and a butler will come to escort you to the dinner feast in your honor. It will start in about an hour."
"I see," Ari smiled, "thank you for your assistance, I best be getting ready for the feast now."
"As should I. I will see you there, Princess Arietta. It was very nice meeting you." Gene smiled, then turned away to enter her own room, which was a coral orange color. Her canopy bed was placed by a big curved window with a bench attached. (sorry i forgot what that type of window was called :P) Behind a family portrait in her room was a rack of her most precious swords. She kept them hidden, not wanted them to be seen by her parents.
Gene had forgotten what it felt like to interact with another princess. The last time was a few years back, but that princess was over ten years younger than her. All she wanted to do was play dolls. It felt so nice to hang out with a princess that was her own age.
(If you don't mind, I'm going to just skip to the feast)
Knowing it was time for the feast, Gene exited her room and headed for the Great Hall, where all the meals are eaten. Sitting down at her normal seat, she noticed that Princess Arietta wasn't there yet, so no one to talk to. The Dukes and Duchesses were no fun. There seemed to be no one her age in the castle at all, except for Arietta.
Well, there was somebody else that she hung out with, but he didn't live in the castle. Gene let her mind wander, and hoped that maybe her friend Luke would stop by the castle after the feast. She loved to talk with him, and he seemed to be the only other person besides herself that actually knew the real her.
Ari closed the door behind her and looked curiously around the room. It was pastel purple and looked rather beautiful next to the white furniture with golden embellishments. Ari bathed and took her time dressing in a dark blue gown. Finally, she styled her hair as her mother had shown her when she was younger and applied a minimal amount of makeup. Just as she sat down on a chair by the fireplace a someone knocked at her door signifying that she was to be lead to the feast soon.
Luke rushed home to put on fresh and decently looking clothes, if it was a party he was gonna make sure he had some kind of fun before he went to the castle to see Gene, thinking of her he snickered at the thought of her having to spend the next hour getting ready and tugging on a dress that made breathing a chore. With a smile on his face he met up with some guys that he usually hung out with and they went to an empty meadow to see the sun go down, for as soon as it did they were to race back to the city to drink and eat as much as they could before the night was over.
Gene's parents stood up from their seats at the table when Princess Arietta entered the room. Following suit, Gene stood up as well. Her father waited until she got to her seat at the head of the table as guest of honor. He raised a glass, and said, "To Princess Arietta of Eredrilia, in hopes that our two countries will have everlasting peace."
With that, Genevieve and her mother raised their glasses, saying "To Princess Arietta!"
Ari flushed at the attention and curtsied to those at the table and raised her own glass, "to the Kingdom of Raine, and to everlasting peace." Arietta took a small sip from her glass, as did the others. Once all glasses were back on the table, Ari sat down, smoothing the napkin that was placed on her lap.
Once sitting back down, Genevieve looked at the food in front of her. There was turkey, and potatoes, and carrots, and all the things she could have wanted. If only her dress wasn't so tight so she could actually eat as she pleased.
She took a bite of the mixed vegetables, as her parents attempted to start a conversation.
"So, Princess Arietta, what brings you to our humble kingdom?" Gene's father asked.
"Well, aside from re-establishing and acknowledging that our two kingdoms are allied, my parents wanted me to find an eligible suitor, they've been sending me to various kingdoms; however, I haven't met anyone that I've truly connected with just yet." What Arietta didn't mention, was that she didn't want to find a suitor. She didn't even want to be a princess, she wanted to go on adventures and fight dragons like the ones she had read about in her books.
Luke was stuffed, and nothing if not a little drunk. He and his friends had walked through every street of the city! Or at least thats what it felt like, through the night his group got smaller, people passing out, leaving to find private rooms with new and old found partners. After a while he found himself back at the field they stared off in. He lay on the ground staring in wonder at the moon, how bright it was full and in all it's glory. So blinding next to the endless darkness of the night sky.
He often thought that if there was a single origin it would be from the moon. She was glorious.
As he noticed this he also noticed how far in the sky the moon had traveled. He figured he should start making the long walk back to the castle if he wanted to see Gene when she was still awake.
But he gave himself another five minutes to bask in the beauty of the open night sky.
"That's a shame," Gene said.
Once again, her father glared at his daughter. "I can see that your parents' decision is a very wise one. It is best that a princess would marry into another royal family. I would have done that with my daughter, Genevieve, but she has become next in line for the throne after her sister passed away."
This time, it was Gene's turn to frown at her father. That was not a good topic to start at the feast.
"I suppose," Arietta replied hesitantly, finishing her meal. "My younger sister is not of age yet; however, she will be soon. She is upset that she will not be the Queen of Eredrilia as she doesn't like travelling. Mother and father wish for her to marry into royalty though, so.." Arietta trailed off, dessert had arrived. The King of Raine followed her gaze and chuckled at her widened eyes.
"Do you like it?" King Richard asked, a smile playing on his face. Three carts full of a variety of desserts had just entered the room. There was a chocolate fountain, and strawberries for dipping, and so many pastries and brownies and cakes. "We were not sure what you like, so we made everything we could think of."
The queen got a serving of peach and cherry cobbler with ice cream on the side. The king happily got a brownie. Gene deeply regretted her dress choice now, but still took a strawberry pastry, her favorite.
Ari was at a loss for words, nothing could describe the wonders before her eyes. It was difficult to remain propper as all she wanted to do was tip out her cup and refill it with the chocolate fountain. Arietta pulled herself together, this was not her kingdom, she had an image to uphold. She took a strawberry from the large pile and dipped it into the fountain. As she bit into it she had to suppress a moan, the strawberries were sweet and combined with the chocolate… It was heavenly. She then took another, and another and soon there were no more strawberries in the pile and Arietta felt like a button would pop off her dress if she ate anything else.
Luke figured it was time to start walking to the castle. He begrudgingly got up and sent a last longing look to the heavens. Then he turned and walked back in the direction of the city.
((I need to go so I'll check the forum when I get the chance, this will just be to finish the scene))
Arietta thanked the King and Queen and followed Genevieve back to their rooms. She bid the other princess goodnight and changed swiftly into her nightclothes. As soon as her head hit the plush pillows, Ari drifted into a peaceful slumber.
(okay! i have to go to school soon anyway)
Gene, finished with her meal, and went up to her room. She changed from that monstrous dress to a more comfortable one. Happily, she took a book from her shelf and laid down on her stomach on her bed and began to read.
Luke walked up to the castle, disguised himself as a maid servant, and made his way up to Gene's room. He found her in bed reading.
"Hey Gene! It's Luke!" He cast off the disguise and sat next to her on the bed.
Gene smiled when her best friend entered the room. "Luke! How was your day?"
"Ahhh, you know how it is in the city when your dad holds a feast. I was all alone by the end of the night, everyone either running of with someone or just dropping from the amount of alcohol in their bodies. You should have seen the state of the streets when i walked up here! Not to mention I don't think I've ever been fuller! I ate so much! I know I say that every time but I swear this time its true." He gushed, still slightly tipsy, "Hows 'Princess Arietta'?" He said putting an obnoxiously posh accent on. Thinking back to their conversations regarding the Princesses arrival.
Gene snickered. "I wish I could eat 'til I was full." She glared at her closet full of toothpick thin dresses. "I hate my wardrobe. Maybe, if my parents will let me, I can spend a day in the city. Under disguise, of course, but that would be so much fun, you could show me around!" Just speaking of this got Gene giddy as could be.
"Anyways, about the princess. She is different than most princes and princesses that visit Raine. Get this, she actually likes sword fighting! And I thought I was the only one."