The World of Rhune

Bella walked into the dining hall to find merely Gent waiting for everyone else to show up, as she would be in a few moments. Her formal black and white dress clothed her and her hair was tied in the back merely half up, her over-long bangs and lower layers of hair spilling around her face and neck in swirls of straight hair, with a slight bounce around the edges that betrayed her natural wave. Bella walked down the small strip of carpet and into the marble dinning hall where she knew Avery and his parents would join her family and Gent that night. She was thankful Ilikui was around to help her with the light layer of make-up she had protested on using but knew it was only natural for the occasion. Bella sat quietly into the chair next to Gent and instantly felt a warm hand cover hers under the table. “How was your appointment?” he started up small talk, staring at the glass windows that bent the light from candles and torches around the stone walls with a bit of color. “Fine enough, more pretty enough. Valdonna is an amazing stylist pioneer,” she looked at the places; eight were set at the table. Bella cocked her head to gaze in another direction. All was well, seven were coming to dine and an eighth due to custom should a guest arrive unannounced or a case similar. “Was it pretty?” Gent hinted, Bella rolled her eyes. He’d tried that trick a million times. “It gets old after a while,” Bella looked at the south entry, the opposite door facing Gent. “So it was your mother’s old dress?” she looked at Gent, eyebrows raised. He grinned at her, “Well?” “I thought you were the mature one out of the two of us,” Gent raised his eyebrows, matching Bella’s face. “I only have two weeks left, so I’m not wasting them by being mature,” Bella’s mouth quirked, “Yeah, when your supposed to be showing how nice and how you’re going to act after the marriage. Nice timing,” Gent smiled, “Well then, I’ll start when you start, Madame” Bella pretended to smack him, but just ended up lying on his shoulder slightly awkward. Neither of them minded. “So it wasn’t you’re mother’s old dress,” “Gent!” “Announcing Lord and Lordess Perez of Valeci, and their son, Avery Perez!” Bella instantly stood up, Gent seemingly a hair’s width behind her. From behind them, “Announcing King Marcelo Andre and Queen Grace Viola of Ralea,” “Too much shouting for my taste,” Gent barely moved his lips but Bella almost couldn’t stop the small hint of laughter that had formed on her lips. Her parents walked down the carpeted stair to the table while across from them Avery and his family mimicked them. The nobles sat at once, including Bella and Gent. Wine was immediately served; they all were given a glass. “It’s kind of nice, being able to drink legally.” Bella took a sip, that’s all she planned to take. Two nights in a row drunk would not look good on her record. Everyone smiled slightly, and her parents took over the talking for her. Bella looked across the table where Avery sat, his parents on either side of him, and her father at the head of the table. The queen sat to Bella’s right. “So, finally figure out how to do the trick?” She normally would have teased him way more, but it didn’t seem appropriate. Avery looked amused, “No, no thanks to you,” he took a sip of the wine, tried not to wrinkle his nose, and set the glass down. She heard Gent snort slightly into his own cup. Only she had heard it. “Well, practice makes perfect. Maybe if you get a better crowd you’ll do better,” Avery shook his head and smiled at her, “Well, Bella, you sure haven’t changed a bit,” Avery fumbled with a collar button. “I thought we established that earlier, though I definitely know you haven’t changed,” she gestured to the collar button, Avery smiled almost sheepishly. “I haven’t had the pleasure of wearing one for a while,” Even Gent had to smile at that. “You’re coming to the wedding though, correct? Though let me tell you, it seems like a million people are coming. We’ve invited almost all the royal families from each country to it. Only Folic and Aquilonis remain, though I heard a rumor the monarchs of Caryi may not be coming, some affair rose, I think,” She looked at her cup for a second, debating whether to take another tiny sip, and turned her nose up and looked at Gent and Avery cracking a smile. “What?” “You’re just a little funny sometimes, darling. And I heard the heirs to the throne of Caryi ran off after hearing they were betrothed, funny thing, right?” Gent took another sip, Avery looked a little off for a second but regained himself. Meanwhile, Bella took the liberty of lightly elbowing the bachelor to her left. Gent shrugged, “It’s stupid, I think. See? I’m being forced to marry you and I have had no qualms about it,” Avery looked away, but Bella caught a glimpse of a smile. Male-telepathy she decided. “You think you’re being forced? I’m the one being forced here, you’re the one going to be king of Ralea, I don’t gain anything but a nice husband chosen for me.” Avery looked over at the two with amusement played over his face, his trademark smile already in place. “I am so happy I’m not you. I don’t have to get married, run a country, become forced into a marriage with an ugly girl…” Bella’s eyes nearly bulged. “Avery, you are so lucky you’re a guest and across the table from me, or you so would have got it,” the young noble looked upon his future queen with raised eyebrows. “All you could have done was ‘guards, get him out of here,’” he made his voice squeaky imitating her. Gent coughed, disrupting the small display of friendship. “As much as I just love listening to you two banter, you never did answer Bella’s question.” Gent strategically left his arm on top of Bella’s shoulders. “I am under the impression so, unless I end up getting kicked off the list by Bella,” he silently mimicked his squeaky girl words again. That rang a bell in Bella’s head, “Oh, shoot. Gent, we were supposed to have it finalized by now. I mean, most people we’ve already sent invitations to, but those who haven’t, and I want a review of the nobles’ names. I’ll never get them straight.” The three were interrupted as different types of fish were set upon the table, including shark and swordfish. Avery instantly helped himself to the tuna. “Avery, King Marcelo was to give a blessing before we started, dear,” Avery looked sheepishly at the king and his own mother. “Excuse me,” Avery set down all the utensils quickly. Marcelo smiled, his eyes warm. “We ask for blessing upon this food for it to be nourishment to our bodies and souls, in his name we ask” those sitting at the table uttered a soft “Amen” and started, Avery slipping his fork into the honey-glazed tuna. Bella herself chose the salmon while she watched Gent take a slice of shark. He caught her gaze, “Go big or go home,” Bella smiled and took some of the melted butter, pouring it on the salted fish. They all ate in silence for a second, tasting the fish, and then her mother struck up the marriage conversation again. Seems to be a popular topic Bella thought somewhat annoyed, but paid attention anyways. “The list is just amazing though, we must have over eight hundred coming into the cathedral and then the after party is six. Not to mention Marcelo and I felt the need for it to be a…connection wedding. We’ve invited all the royal families except for Folic, of course, blasted people. And Aquilonius, they haven’t been quite nice to say frankly, and I don’t need them near my daughter on her wedding day. But still, our allies over in Xirra are coming about three days before, maybe a little later. I hope Virginiana wont be too shy though, she’s always in her husband’s shadow or not there at all.” Bella rolled her eyes at her mother’s gossip. “Mother, you’re gossiping like an old lady at the corner of a market.” Bella ate some fish so she wouldn’t have to respond to her mother incase she retorted back to her daughter. Her mother waved the comment away, “But also we have Cancri nobles coming around the same time. Though I haven’t made sure it’s the whole family or merely the prince and princess, you know Crown princess Hannah and her brother Amir? Yes, Bella you know Hannah, right?” everyone’s gaze turned to her. She swallowed under the presser. “Um, in what way?” Bella deflected the question, looking to her mother pretending the gazes still were not on her. “Bella, in friendship, I mean. In what other way would I mean?” “You’re mother’s right, Bella,” Isabella breathed in as her parents ganged up on her slightly, “I guess so, I haven’t seen Princess Hannah in a while though, it’s been a few years at least…” she shrugged, chewed more fish, and enjoyed the tasty salt and butter that was spread over her fish. “Anyways, that’s all going on and then it’s going to be a long way to the cathedral because according to our knights and enforcement people are predicting people stand outside by the hundreds, so we’ll have to have pages attending and spreading news there. It’s going to be hectic. Almost more than ours, right Marcelo?” the king’s face jerked up from his place. “Of course, dear. Whatever you say,” The queen looked disapprovingly upon her husband, but launched back into outdated memories. Marcelo leaned behind her back and mouthed to Gent, “You’re going to miss being single, especially with this kind of woman,” Bella leaned back and cut Gent off silently “Hey! I saw that!” Marcelo leaned forwards again and smiled as he ate his sweetened swordfish. She looked at Gent who was containing his laughter everywhere but his eyes, which seemed brighter than the candle in front of him. She turned her head and smiled at Avery, who smiled back, with glaze on the corner of his chin. She made the universal “you have something on your chin here,” and Avery quickly covered his mouth, almost choking, and wiped it off quickly before his parents could notice. They both grinned, and Bella felt Gent tense slightly next to her. She laid her hand on his, and then pulled back to cut more fish from the platter. “You’re a big girl, aren’t you Ella?” Avery remarked, grinning slyly. “You betcha,” she scooped the food into her mouth, and smiled. This was still fun enough, even though it was formal. To think how many formal dinners I’d have to attend to after the wedding Bella inwardly shivered, but outside looked bright and happy, just the way she kind of felt.

The eighteen-year-old princess landed on her bed, shot. She was so tired, she couldn’t believe it. Bella looked at the sundial that stood infront of the window. According to it, it was just past midnight. “Night, dear,” Iliku called from the servant entry, since she was done prepping Bella for bed, “Good night, Iliku.” Bella responded tiredly. The old maid left the chamber, leaving Bella alone in her huge bedroom, letting the princess fall asleep in seconds.

Bella woke up in the morning, and knew it was later in the morning, yet she also knew Gent was snoring in his chambers right now. She felt warm and really didn’t want to get out of bed, so that’s what Bella did. She stayed in bed, and started dreaming again.