The World of Rhune

Bella clutched the cape her betrothed had given her; sharp claps of hoof steps rang in her ears. Gent looked at her sideways, his eyes daring her, his black mount charging just as fast as hers. Bella smiled at him with a smirk riding at the edges of her mouth. If she could beat him, well, she’d just say it was a swell thing. It so would not be if she won though. But if she didn’t, she’d be better for the next time she had an appointment with Gent. Way to be optimistic, the thought wisped in and slipped out through her head like nothing. Her brain was focused on her riding, that her breathing rate was up, making sure adrenaline was spiked thorough every blood cell; Bella was darn right proud of herself. She snuck a peek at Gent. He was riding smoothly from long, experienced years on horseback and seemed hardly winded. His hands held the reins with perfect balance, and his stirrups hardly moved as his feet hugged his charge as it pounded the stones beneath his feet. Gent turned his face to look at her, feeling her gaze taking him in, she looked to the speeding trees, people, and buildings that where infront of her one second, behind her the next. Bella clutched her black reins, a few of her own mount’s mane catching in her tan hand that seemed to have turned almost white from grasping and clinging so hard. She assumed her ankles and toes were exactly the same. They raced on, all four of them with ragged breaths coming on, but then again, so was the castle. Its bright gray stone flecked with sturdy quartz loomed above them, and the permanent bridge led the only way across the mossy lake that surrounded one side of the castle. That was her goal, they’re “unannounced” finish line, since they’d have to slow before they reached the end of the bridge. Bella wanted to groan, but it was half-hearted. She didn’t mind acting lady-like, catching knights or even servant’s attention in a way only a female so like herself could understand. She felt a gaze, and didn’t have to move her head to see Gent had somehow pulled just slightly ahead. It could have been an inch or a million miles; he was still infront of her. Gent smiled at her somewhat wickedly, his teeth reflecting what little light left and his hair matted and stuck around his head in different angles. It somehow made him even more attractive than before, Bella shook her head of the thought. Right now he was the enemy, there’d be time enough for that later. Bella tried unsuccessfully to hide her smile, and tried to make it into something, anything, else. It didn’t work at all. Gent caught her smile with his own, less wicked one, but still charged on, gaining inch after inch, leaving Bella more frustrated and yet carefree with every inch. They turned sharply as the road twisted, both leaning in they’re saddles to counter-act the tight, quick turn that made them slide in their saddles and sent loose pebbles shooting out from beneath the horses’ hooves. Bella breathed in, she wasn’t going to win, but she could still try. She leaned deeper into the saddle, farther than she had ever gone or had needed to, and kicked her heel into the girth of her pale white mare. The horse reacted quickly, so quick it took Bella by surprise, but it wasn’t enough. Gent sped across the “finish” line a length before her, his dark mount looking almost rogue as it continued to run wildly with adrenaline. Bella pulled the reins back, slowing her horse down until she came up to where Gent had finally stopped, rearing her horse to completely stop and to show off too. Gent shook his head, and she rewarded it with an eye roll and shifted herself into a more lady-like position. Bella loosened her cloak from around her neck before it strangled her further, and combed her messy mop of hair back, wishing it was smooth instead of clumped from sea water and the recent gush of wind from her “wild” ride. She fumbled to twist her torso while not getting tangled in the large cloth that draped over her shoulders, realizing it must have been Gent’s and he had given it to her. She looked at him, taking in the light layer of goose-flesh that covered his visible limbs, and instantly felt bad, but knew giving back the gift now would just be rude and completely disrupt the point of it as she entered the castle as sole princess. Bella swallowed uncomfortably and pulled her shoulders back. She watched as Gent stretched slightly, his knuckles becoming tanner as he loosely gripped the reins on his sweat soaked horse. Her own mount was probably just as sweaty, if not more. But they’d get warm and dry once they reached the palace stable hands, which according to the sun they needed to do quickly. She watched as Gent steered his draft horse forwards and she followed, coming up besides him but letting him have the foot infront. He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled, knowing he had won. She looked up at him annoyed but couldn’t help but smile at him. It was a weird feeling, but Bella just enjoyed what she could. They trotted quickly down the bridge, a slight wind making her clothes swirl around her and blew her hair into her face and mouth. She spat the long strands out and finally just pulled them back into place, all the while keeping as lady like as she could. For a minute there was just silence, it wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn’t uncomfortable either. Bella looked to the sky. Dark storm clouds was pushing the sun out of the sky, and the air seemed to have a cooler and damp feel to it. “It’s going to rain tonight,” she remarked matter-of-factly, making small talk. “Yes, seems like I can feel it in my bones. Didn’t think I was that old,” Bella smiled wide and raised her head to the sky, her hood falling back revealing her tangled hair. She felt a gaze on her and turned to Gent just nonchalantly staring at her. “What?” she asked, confused slightly. “Nothing, can’t I look at you?” he asked, making the phrase seem like it was part of everyday life when it wasn’t. “Umm…I guess? Isn’t that kind of weird?” she shook her hair out a bit, and watched the rapidly approaching guards, though it was they who were moving. Gent looked quizzically at her, “Bella, you’re going to be my bride in less than a few weeks and you’re saying looking at you is weird?” he laughed, but got his point through, making her shift her gaze while her cheeks grew hot and colored beyond her normal tan. Bella looked straight and they quickly stepped to the guards to be recognized. Bella and Gent took out the small, pure gold pin all nobles carried for silent access. The guards took them quickly, Bella catching one of their eyes. Gent looked pointedly at Bella, but she just let her mouth turn up and continued to watch the guard with enough interest to call his attention. Revenge was a tool that could be twice the fun as the action that sparked it. They received they’re pins back, Bella looked straight into the guard’s young eyes, catching him off guard and swept gracefully by him, trying not to smile and heard light jesting against the boy as his comrades either pinged him or actually believed she’d liked him. Gent looked at Bella annoyed, and she smirked at him. “Feeling jealous again?” she said in a little kid voice and pursed her lips. Gent rolled his eyes, urging his dark mount to quicken before the…Bella felt rain start to hit her forehead gently, but in a great amount to make her almost squeak as the two betrothed people raced laughing out of the cool rain, making everything relax more.

“I cant believe you were late and showed up like that, unacceptable Bella, not proper behavior for a princess of your standards.” Valdonna criticized as she pinned Bella’s hair up to be worked on later. “I know, I’m sorry, but on the bright side it was really fun and I saw Avery?” she racked her brains for a good excuse. Valdonna’s fake looking eyebrows raised. “That lord’s son you used to rave about when you were a child?” Valdonna took a corset from the wall along with some thread and walked over to her quickly and efficiently. Bella had wasted time, and it was her job to make it up. “No, he was just a friend. That’s all.” She raised her arms and the corset wrapped around her snuggly as it was laced up. “Oh really? Well, obviously that chemistry blew out a long time ago,” Valdonna pulled the string that laced up the corset taut, and Bella lurched forward at the force, and continued every time the dress mistress tightened the cord. “Thank you so much Donna for the science lesson.” Bella said sarcastically, setting her hands upon her hips. Valdonna just shrugged and retrieved her dress off the hanger delicately, and carefully brought it across the room. She breathed out a low whistle at the beauty of the dress but didn’t waste a beat before Bella slipped into the surprisingly heavy dress. Her back was closed and both the seamstress and the princess stared in awe at the figure in the mirror. She was tan, obviously, but the dress seemed almost too perfect. It accented her hips, waist, chest, and the crystals accented her eyes. Bella felt her eyes well up, “Oh, Donna, its perfect,” she couldn’t find anymore words that would be good enough for the dress. “I know, Hun, but that’s honestly for Gent to decide,” she took a last look at Bella and sighed. “One last thing from your mother, she begged at the beginning that you wear this,” Bella’s eyes stayed locked on the mirror, but she heard shuffling and a slight groan of hinges and wood. Donna then reappeared in the mirror behind her, and a jewel crown was placed a top her head and layers of light veil billowed around her face and body. Bella forced her lips shut. Indignant sobs would be perfect for a future monarch. Valdonna appeared infront of her. “It was your mother’s and her grandmother’s. Not to mention yours too. It’s a family air loom, princess.” Donna looked in the mirror, the tough Sien-rianese born girl flushed and her eyes puffy. “Thank you, just so much, Donna,” Bella watched a tear slip down both of their faces. Donna wiped her’s away. “You’re welcome, princess. But dinner is to be served soon, and I am going to guess both your sweet hearts are going to be there,” Valdonna grinned and started undoing the dress, making Bella’s breath come easier. She play-scowled but smiled and breathed in deeply as the dress was taken off and the crown placed back in the old creaking box. Within five minutes the dress was off, Bella was in a robe, and Valdonna was slouched against a chair. “I never knew a dress could make this old ox this tired,” Bella smiled, her eyes crinkling. Valdonna picked herself up, bowed and left Bella abruptly. The maid wasn’t one for close relations, and preferred silence more than anything else. Bella looked into the mirror once more, wishing for the other girl, and then left to her bedroom.