Snippet #1737119

“Woah, slow down. You’re saying that you’re engaged?!” Saarik exclaimed, leaning against the edge of the stone balcony, and stared at her with narrowed green eyes. The vines of plants wound around the stone so much that it looked to be made completely out of plants with no support, yet it was obviously strong for Vito was sitting on top of it directly in front of Rima. He was frowning, clearly displeased, but the most unimpressed one of the group was Antaeus who was staring at Rima as though she was to be executed.

Rima rolled her eyes, “No, I’m not yet. I’m going to be engaged... tonight.” She said explained, biting into a piece of dragon fruit to keep from screaming. The news had been dropped on her yesterday and she had not taken it well. In fact, she was quite sure her parents wished they had never found their now wild daughter who was so obviously unfit to be a princess. She ran her tongue over her full pink lips, liking the juice from them, and lifted herself up onto the railing of the balcony next to Vito. She was dressed in her own handmade clothing, her skirt rising high on her tanned lean legs, and her hair was a mess of dark brown curls. Vito threw a brotherly arm around her and she smiled in response, shrugging it off, “Look, I’ll be back eventually and I’ll still be the same... just engaged.” She said, trying to make light of the situation, and then frowned, “or married. I’m not really sure if I’m getting married there or here, but I suppose it doesn’t matter either way since I have no choice. I mean-“

“Run away with... us” Antaeus burst out, nearly saying ‘me’ but saved it just in time. It was the first he had spoken since she had broken the news. They had gone out into the forest in the early hours of the morning and he had known immediately that there was something wrong. How could she be going along with this? She was the strongest and most independent person he knew, she couldn’t possibly accept that others were making such important decisions for her!

Rima, Vito, and Saarik looked at Antaeus with mixed expressions. Vito and Saarik gave him a warning glance to stop it, for they were aware that he had strong feelings for Rima but confessing them would make it that much harder on her to go through with the marriage. Rima, on the other hand, gave him an exasperated look, "I can't! The engagements are to help ally the kingdoms so that we can ensure there are no more wars. Or, at least, try to ensure that." She said, wondering why Antaeus looked so upset. She was the one being married off to some stranger, not him!

"Besides," She continued, "It's not as though I need to love who ever it is I'm being married to. It's just for show so if I ever find a guy who isn't terribly irritating and controlling, then I can just sleep with him and it will all be fine." She said with a laugh, causing Vito to frown in disapproval but Saarik gave her a playful thumbs up in support. It was comments like this, which she made so openly, that often made people around her uncomfortable and whisper that this wild child could not truly be the princess.

Antaeus had turned away, playing with the hem of his shirt so that it began to fray. It was true that Rima was stubborn and independent, he had always known that, but she was more than that... she did what was right; She would do it her way, but she would still do what was expected of her if she thought it was the right thing to do. A marriage to help prevent war was something that was right in her mind and of course it was. If he had the opportunity to help ensure that no wars would break out he would do it. Behind him he could hear Vito, Saarik, and Rima chatting about Elphanor which was where she would be engaged. The three of them sounded light-hearted, teasing each other, and he smiled in spite of himself. The four of them had always tried to make the best of every situation and he was not helping right now. He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not notice his brothers leave, climbing down the tree branches, or that Rima was beside him.

"Don't be so sad, Prince Charming."

Antaeus nearly jumped and turned his head to see the girl of his dreams standing next to him, a whimsical smile on her beautiful face. She had given him the nickname because women tended to follow him around which was the complete opposite of Saarik who chased skirts when ever they were in town. "I'll miss you." He managed, looking directly into her emerald-gold eyes, and felt his heart hammering nervously.

"I'll miss me too." Rima replied seriously and then laughed, shaking her head at Antaeus before closing the space between them and throwing her arms around him in a tight hug, "Don't act like I'm dying, Antaeus. I'll be back and I'll still sneak out with you, Saarik, and Vito. Nothing will be different except that I've got a ring on my finger. That's all." She said, her warm body pressed tightly against Antaeus'.

Antaeus was thankful for the hug because it made him shut up. His feelings for Rima threatened to spill from his lips at any moment so he clenched his jaw and hugged her tightly back. He knew she had to leave now to get ready and be made up into some glittering goddess so that she would fit in at the ball tonight, but he did not want to let go.

Rima hugged the three brothers all the time, having always been quite a physical person, but her hugs with Antaeus had always felt a little different. He hugged her tighter and longer, as though he thought she would never hug him again. That feeling was very strong right now, causing her smile to falter slightly. What was wrong? It was painfully obvious to everyone else that Antaeus was in love with her, but she had always been blind to such things.

"Antaeus, what-" She began, pulling carefully away to look at him, but before she knew what was happening Antaeus pressed his lips firmly against her own in a heated brief kiss. She didn't even have time to close her eyes, let alone consider how she felt about kissing the man who had basically been a brother to her for half her life, when he pulled away and looked at her in a completely horrified and ashamed expression.

"I-I'm sorry. Good luck tonight with your... your engagement." Antaeus muttered, quickly letting her go and swinging gracefully over the edge of the balcony and onto the tree branches below so that he could meet his brothers on the ground. His cheeks were bright with color, his heart racing painfully, and his mind screamed at him that he was an idiot and had just ruined everything with Rima.

Rima stood firmly planted where Antaeus had kissed her, still reeling from shock. Had that actually just happened? She was thankful that at that moment the door opened and in walked her styling crew which demanded her immediate attention so that she would be dressed and primped in time to leave for the ball.

She spent the next few hours being molded into a shimmering and vibrant princess. Despite the efforts of the style crew, they could not scrub the henna tattoos from her arms and after much consideration, they decided to use gold body paint to trace the lines and make them a part of her ensemble for the evening. Her chest length dark hair was pulled up into a loose up do so that stray curls fell alluringly around her face. Her makeup, which Rima was actually excited for, was vibrant and daring which she instantly loved. Gold, red, and orange glitter shadow layered her lids, while mascara elongated her already length dark lashes. The dress choice was a hard one, for the stylists knew the princess would want something unique and daring which would allow her to move and feel comfortable. Ultimately, they had designed a one of a kind gown for her which was inspired by the butterflies Rima so loved to watch on her balcony. It was shorter in the front, showing off her tanned and toned legs, and longer in the back so that it grazed the back of her calves. The bodice hugged her frame firmly, but the fabric was easy to move in and Rima quickly gave her thanks to the seamstress. The final touch were gold and red sparkling kitten heels which Rima immediately declined to wear, but they quickly stressed that she needed to wear shoes at the ball. After some convincing she gave in, but only if she could choose which bracelet she wore which they agreed to. She selected the bracelet Antaeus had made for her, which was made from the wood of a beautiful black tree called a Vallore Tree whose rings were gold in color.

After kissing her parents good bye, who both looked very pleased with the transformation their daughter had made, she was lead to an elaborate green and gold carriage with four green dragons at the front! She dashed across the field towards the dragons, who were easily the size of two homes in the village, and greeted each of them quickly. Her parents, though they too were nymphs, watched their daughter uneasily for dragons were decidedly resistant to most people and these four usually only responded to their trainer Garret. Rima, however, always had an unusually strong gift with creatures and each dragon allowed her to touch them and one even gently nudged her in a playful way.

A few minutes later she was seated inside the carriage, enjoying the weightless feeling of flying as she gazed out the window and watched the sun set over the kingdom of Gai. Her finger trailed over the bracelet around her wrist and she thought back to the kiss that had been so sudden. She spent the rest of the ride to Elphanor thinking about it and if, perhaps, Antaeus had just... slipped? She knew it was far fetched, but she just couldn't understand where it had come from. Just when she was starting to allow herself to think about how she felt about the kiss, they were landing and she was being escorted from the carriage.

She was about to enter the ball when Garret dashed after her, "Princess! Wait! You forgot your mask!" He called, catching up to her and held out a fine black glittering mask with seven diamonds in the center. She had not even noticed it in the carriage, having been so lost in thought.

"Oh, thank you Garret." She said, taking the mask from him and placing it on her face before tying the black ribbon into a bow behind her head to secure it. There. She was officially someone else for the night, an elegant unknown woman with swirling gold arm 'tattoos' and a monarch butterfly gown. She was actually thankful to be dressed in such a way, because it made her feel like she could separate the two women she had become: Rima, a child of nature and Princess Rima, the daughter of the Kingdom of Gai.

She entered the ballroom, which was undeniably beautiful, and let the music wash over her. Instantly she wanted to dance, because that was what she had always done when the three brothers and her had sung and made music in the forest, but first she would have a drink. It seemed like the social thing to do, since many were gathered around the bar, and perhaps by then more would be dancing. She crossed the room, trying her best to walk steadily in the heels, and reached the bar. Without thinking she ordered what she always did when she was with the boys, "Do you have any ale?" She asked, smiling kindly at the bar tender who returned her look with one of confusion.

"Um, no miss. Would you like a glass of champagne?" He suggested instead, handing her a flute of the sparkling clear drink. She wrinkled her nose and then shrugged her shoulders and accepted the drink. It was better than nothing!