The World of Rhune

Bella woke up with the sun shining in her eyes, feeling the horrible pain and pressure of a migraine. It was the day after her party, and she'd gotten drunk the night before. Bella thrust herself upward, only to fall back in pain from her head and stomach. She felt sicker than a dog, Last time I'm drinking Bella thought ruefully. She reached up and pulled the servant bell without opening her eyes to the bright sunshine. Her personal servant, iliku, rushed in with water and a tablet, smiling. "Someone got drunk last--" "I know, I know, and I'm paying for it!" Bella said loudly, turning from the light. iliku looked at her mistress with a crooked mouth. "Take and drink. I'll shut the curtains. Just so you know, Gent has been pacing downstairs all morning." iliku informed Bella as she set the two items on Bella's side table. Bella quickly took the medicine and water, and gagged until it slipped down her throat. "Uhh..I hate that stuff!" Bella complained, but could open her eyes as iliku shut the heavy velvet curtains and blocked the sun. "Thanks," Bella said softly. Iliku smiled and nodded her head. "I'll get your bath drawn. The hot water with make you feel alot better." iliku left into the bathroom, leaving Bella alone. She sat up slowly, feeling the relieveing effect of the medicine. Bella felt wobbly, but she could walk She made her way to the long mirror in her room, and looked at herself. She was paler than normal, and had bags under her eyes. She was in her nightgown, and looked in the mirror to Gent walking up behind her. "Enjoying the after effects?" He asked with a smile and came up to Bella hugging her. "I thought you were downstairs." Bella asked as she enjoyed Gent's warmth. "After three servings of lunch, I really didnt feel like waiting anymore." Gent responded easily, dressed in a tunic and pants. "It's already lunch?" Bella asked, kissing Gent's neck and he kept his arms around her. "Yeah, the lemon salmon will always be the best dish to me," Gent said, returning Bella's kiss by kissing the top of her head. " Mr. Gent, I believe you had orders from the high king himself to leave this young lady alone. Now he shant want word that you disobeyed him, shall he?" iliku said from behind them. She stood with her black hair in a servant's braid, and her slightly dirty skirt and apron. Gent smiled and shook his head. "You old witch, how could you do such a thing to such a young noble?" Gent said, but anyone could tell he was completely teasing. Iliku raised her eyebrows with amusement. "I'm over fifty now, I'll do anything I like," iliku said, planting her hands on her hip. "Fine then, your spells of reason and blackmailing have taken their toll, until next time," Gent bowed slightly and left the room, winking at Bella as he shut the door. "Madam, bath please." iliku said with a warm voice, smiling with wrinkled eyes. Bella returned her smile, and stepped into the bath.

"Feeling better, Isabella?" Queen Grace asked as her daughter dined with them at dinner. "Better, I've sure learned my lesson." Bella said, and took a bit of clam. She loved sea food, and was happy most of her country was beach. "Well, thats good," Marcelo said in a father like way. "Thanks for having dinner with me early, it is only four." Bella said with a relieved smile, and looked onto the sandy beach. She saw some of the lord's sons surfing and their sisters or girlfriends sitting gossiping in the sand. She quickly finished her meal with her parents and left, running to her room. She opened her closet and pulled out her swimming suit. It had long sleeves and ended around her neck. The bottom looked like a normal leotard. She quickly slipped her feet into flats and pulled a light blue cover-up over her suit. Iliku was already waiting and quickly, with precise hands, braided her hair back into a pony tail. "Enjoy the water princess, better hope your father doesnt catch you," the helpful maid said to her mistress. "Thanks, Bella said and quickly made her way to the beach out of her father's radar. She slipped to the beach without being recognized and left her items in a small heap near the shore. She rushed into the cool, salty water at its warmest, being right after the heat of day. She glided with much practice and ducked under the bigger waves. She paddled out almost to where the surfers were and ducked under water to avoid another wave. She resurfaced only to be grabbed and plunked on a surf board. "Hey sugar, your daddy know you're this far from shore?" the boy taunted her with his sun tanned faced and sun streaked hair. Bella let a twisted smile work its way onto her face and she hugged the boy. "Avery!" she said and let go, "How's my childhood sweatheart?" he said with a trademark smile. "I was never your childhood sweatheart, yeah, your best friend, but I'm drawing the line there." Bella said, splashing Avery in the face. "Hey! watch it! Hot surfer here!" Avery said, splashing Bella back. She laughed and crossed her legs on the board. "So how's your life as a Lord's son?" Bella asked, "Not bad, no betrothment, that's for sure." Avery said back, raising his eyebrows a bit. "Shut up," Bella said, looking down. "You asked," Avery said with his usual, annoying voice. But that's what made Bella love him. "Will I see you around?" Bella wondered. "Yeah, I've been trying to hang around the castle a bit more. My dad says life as a kid's over. Life as a responsible adult is beginging." Avery made a "yuck" face and smiled. "You? Responsible? Yeah right," Bella teased, letting her legs go back in the water. Avery chuckled at this, and started into a surfing position. "Wanna?" he asked, eyeing the big wave behind him. "Sure, but I'm jumping off if we get too close to shore." Bella agreed and picked her feet up out of the water. She sat on her knees at the front of the board and helped Avery paddle three times to catch the wave. As the wave hit the board, Bella and Avery were carried smoothly near shore. She was enjoying and smiling back at Avery she didnt notice how close she was to shore. About fifteen feet from the shore, Avery jumped off, dragging Bella down with him. They both came up spurting and laughing, and Bella noticed somthing had blocked her sun. She turned around to find Gent, looking more rigid and less like his calm self as he looked on the two freinds cooly. "Hi Bella," Gent said, staring at Avery. "Hey Gent, this is Avery, my friend since forever." Bella tried to seem light, but Gent was probably seething with jealously. It kind of made her want to laugh. It had already put a smile on Avery's surfer face. "Avery." Gent reguarded him cooly. "Bella, your parents are down on the south shore, they were wondering if you'd join them." He said, not letting his eyes leave Avery's. "Okay, bye Avery." Bella stepped behind Gent but mouthed the words "meet me," and crossed her fingers out of Gent's sight. Avery nodded, "Cool, bye Ells," Avery said, calling her her old nickname. He took his surfboard and started paddling out to catch a few more waves before he went to South shore. Gent turned around and kissed Bella lightly, but enough to be seen. Bella could see Avery had seen, and turned to Gent. "Jelous male," she said rudely, and grabbed her things, pulling on her coverup, and started walking fast to the beach exit. "Bella," Gent said as if she were being hystarical She just kept walking. "Jelous, stupid, male," Bella shouted over her shoulder, and started sprinting, with Gent just on her heels.