The Lyriel Chronicles

Chapter One - Rings of Gold

          Kor lived in Kalliope. The Garden Town, it had been nicknamed. With flowers growing everywhere and vines intertwining up every chimney, it felt as if you were in a real fairytale.

          One where everything ends up happy, thought Kor as she walked down the dirt paved roads leading down to the small town square. And maybe for once the princess could save herself. she huffed. Kor would have been happy to see the roads of her home town, but it was the same thing she saw everyday. Maybe if she lived in Charlotte, Jane, or Madeleine, she would be decently happy. But the lived the same sane life as hundreds of thousands of other people. The same dirt roads, poofy, light dresses and pale brown vests, and flowers, every single day. Since she was seven, she was able to recite the names of the flowers in order from her house all the way down to Mr. Smith's. Orchid, rose, freesia, carnation, Peruvian lily, anemone- all the way down to hydrangeas and bleeding hearts. She would recite them every morning, walking down the path and feeling the tickles of the petals against her hands and shoulder. 

          "First are the orchids, tended with loving care, their purplish glow bringing warmth to the air. The roses and freesias come in many a colour, and the carnations that are no duller. The Peruvian lilies and the anemones with their outstretched leaves, reaching towards their beliefs. Next come the hydrangeas, their hearts intertwined  with one another, creating a  design, and the bleeding hearts-"

        "Though they are beautiful, the bleed no more than mine." Kor whipped around to see Fletcher, her best friend since birth, hovering right over top of her, arms cradling a carefully crafted straw basket with a hand stitched cloth covering the inside. On any day before this, Kor probably would have flinched, or flipped around and accidentally punched him in the nose like she had twelve time before this. But she had gotten used to it. 

        "I see your mother still makes you go out and pick berries," she joked, smirking at him. Fletcher scowled, but Kor could see hints of a smile peeking through. 

       "And I see you continue out your satisfaction with the most boring thing in the world; history." Kor scowled for real this time, and went silent after a while, the sound of her kicking a pebble being the only thing heard. 

       "Fletch- what do you think it would be like if we lived in a different town? For example, not one with three other identical to it?" Fletcher groaned. 

       "K- would you just give it up already-"

       "It could've been possible that I would've been born in Madeleine, Fletch. My mother was from there, and she met Father because they were both travelling-"

        "And has since been banned for some unknown reason, Kor."

        "-but instead, she died right away on me. I didn't even get to meet her, Fletch." The silence returned to the road, even both of their minds as silent as a fox, and Fletch was the pin drop. 

       "Come on. I've gotta show you something, Kor." He grabbed her hand and threw his basket onto the grass, leaving it behind. He dragged her from the dirt path, down to the small shopping village their town had, to right in front of the jewellers. "Stay here," he whispered, holding onto his best friend's shoulders, and placing her right outside the door, making her face the fountain. He rushed into the door, the bell ringing the familiar tune any time some one would enter. Kor glanced back at glass door, noticing Fletch handing Mr. Krane, the shop's keeper, a bag of coins, and getting in return a small , wooden box, petite enough to fit in one's pocket. She glanced back in front of her, staring at the center of the shopping area. A tall, marble statue stood atop a fountain, depicting a scene four beautiful women; Aeris, Kalliope, McKinnely, and Lin, the first four Queens of the Sister Kingdoms. As said in history, which seemed to be the only thing people believed these days, the four sisters were the only queens in history to marry into royalty, instead of being first in line for the crown. Kor's thoughts of history- which could've gone on forever- were interrupted by Fletcher, clearing his throat behind her. She whipped around to see him, standing with his arms behind his back. 

          "Kor Wren, on behalf of myself, I would like to wish you a very, very happy birthday." Fletch announced, using his annoying Lyrien accent to annoy her. He dipped down into an anything-but-graceful bow, pulling out the small, intricate box from his pocket she had seen him buy just moments before. Grabbing it delicately from his hands, Kor fingered the flowers that had been etched into the gleaming wood. 

        "What... Is it?" she queried, looking back up at Fletch. He rolled his eyes dramatically. 

        "Just open it." he groaned, hiding his face. Sure enough, Kor had missed a small clasp in the shape of a rose on the front. Unclipping it, a gleaming band shone from the inside. It's metallic glow shining against the burning against the heat of the sun. A golden band... It was a ring. Pulling it out, she examined every inch of it. 

       "Uhm- is this supposed to- y'know... Mean something?" she asked, her face as deep as a tomato, gesturing with her hands in a circular motion. Fletch's face turned redder. 

       "Wh- KOR! No! Who do you think I am?! I'm your best friend, absolutely not your wanna-be lover." He fiddled with his fingers. "Oh- did you see the etching on the inside?" His voice became very quiet in that moment. Kor twisted her head in response, and looked carefully on the inside of the band, holding it up to the sun. 

        "Kör..." she mumbled. She thought back to her Lyrien lessons her father had taught her. Kör was a phrase used in Old Lyrien that meant 'love'. 

        "And you're sure it doesn't mean anything." she whispered. Feltcher rolled his eyes

        She could feel hot tears begging to roll down her cheeks. Without a second thought, Kor closed the five foot gap between her and her best friend, and flung herself against Fletch. 

        "Thank you," she whispered. "This is one of the best gifts I've ever gotten." Kor could feel his arms slowly wrap around her. 

        "Don't thank me," he whispered back. "You deserve it, K." They stood like that for countless minutes, both wanting the moment to last forever. "Did you notice it looks like Kalliope's ring?" Fletch finally asked, breaking the silence. Kor pulled away from her friend, confusion plastered all over her face. She broke away from him and sprinted to the fountain, stepping over the barrier that separated them from the water. She held up the ring to the maiden's own finger, and noticed the striking resemblance. 

         "Fletch- where did you get this ring?"