Snippet #104

The sun glistened off the fountain in the court yard outside Gabriella's room. It was setting, painting the sky magnificent colors that reflected in the fountain's water. The warm night air swirled around the garden, almost bringing the plants to life. The sight was very serene but Gabriella's thought were anything but calm. The day before she had been forced to leave her home at Moonvale and her little brother as well.

Tobith had tried to be strong when she said her goodbyes, but she saw the tears in his eyes. She promised to visit but they both knew that she would not be allowed. Their father had disliked the idea of his only daughter being out of his sight and now that her training was complete he probably wouldn't let her leave Arcaidum until she was wed. That thought had sent shivers down her spine, as it was she was long past her coming of age party and her mother would no doubt set up a line of suitors the moment the sun came up tomorrow.

She had hugged her brother goodbye, at least she would see him during the tournament. Everything is canceled during the games, and Tobith would be brought back home to watch. She would still miss him, he didn't have many friends because he was a very quite person, and they had become very close in their years together in Moonvale. Nana had pulled her away to the carriage that was waiting, and told her not to worry, that Tobith would be fine. But Gabriella wasn't worried about him, he would survive, she was scared of what would happen to her in Arcaidum.

After arriving to her families home in Arcadium she was went straight to her room, telling the others that she was tired from travel but the truth was that she was scared of what was to come in the next few days. She walked into her room, it was exactly the same way she had left it the year before. The four poster bed white wood glistened in the middle of the room, the rose colored walls matched the pink and gold embroidered curtains and bed spread. She walked over to the large white amour and opened it up, it contained all of the beautiful gowns she had no need for at the school. After taking in all the sights and smells of home she sat on the small window seat and looked out to at the beautiful sunset.

Her mother had told her of a coming home party that was set for tomorrow, she knew that it was just an excuse to have all the eligible bachelors come and meet her. She felt like cattle, the party was just the viewing before the auction. There would be a number of parties then some social calls and finally her father would accept whoever had the highest bid, and she would be carted off to serve what ever man paid the most for her. Forget about love, that was only something for the fairy tales, her only hope was that her father wouldn't pick some old decrepit man, or someone deformed with a lot of money. Hopefully he would take his time before accepting any offers so that she would have more time before she would be enslaved to someone else. This was the life of a noble women, a slave, just one that was well taken care of.

She heard a knock at the door that snapped her out of her thoughts, she wiped the tear that had formed from her eyes and painted a smile on her face. She cleared her throat "Come in." The door opened and in walked her older brother Gracin. A true smile washed over her face and her eyes light up.

"Well hello little sister," He said with the playful grin that was always on his face. "Your looking positively old Gabby." Gabriella ran over and hugged her brother, she had really missed him even if he did always tease her. She stepped back and took a good look at him. He was dressed in his sparring clothes, he always did like to practice as if he would participate in the games, and today he smelled like he truly had.

"There was no reason for you to get so cleaned up just to come see me." Gabriella retorted back to him. Gracin clutched his chest as if she had just stabbed him with her words.

He sputtered, "Oh Gabby," standing straight up again he finished, "Your schooling really didn't help with your insults."