Anne of Survivor

Chapitre Deux: Decisions

Everywhere the royals went they arrived in style. Duke Saben's carriage was a beautiful black with gold trim and had deep purple drapes. They had not one but two drivers and four magnificent black horses. It took everything within Ethana not to drop her mouth at the grandeur of it all. As for Anne, she seemed quite unimpressed or to say more appropriately... emotionless. The carriage pulled before the manor and stopped in front of the family, all four were outside awaiting the duke's arrival.

Once the horses had halted, and the buggy came to a complete stop, one of the drivers, dressed in a black suit and hat, flew down from the driver's seat to attend to the royals. He opened the door of the buggy, and with help, out came Duke Saben. He looked grand in his dark grey suit and black boots. He turned to the driver and told him all was well; with which the man took to mean the duke would help the others. The second to emerge from the car was the Duchess Bronwyn wearing a sparkling lavender gown and a small diamond tiara. Finally, sliding and then stepping forth was their son, Oren.

Oren was a slight man, and upon seeing him, everything in Anne's being revolted. He was wiry, with dull dark hair, pale skin, and depressing brown eyes. All Anne wanted to do was run, but her feet would not move though her heart pounded the breath from her lungs. Her mind screamed, but her face remained unaffected.

Ethana too thought Oren a very sorrowful creature, but a beautiful one. He was wonderfully slender, his hair was short and well sculpted, and she found his eyes captivating. Those brown eyes not only held a type of sadness but pride and upbringing as well. She could tell he wasn't sure of this meeting but would do as duty as honor demanded. Ethana sighed, how tragically romantic.

Thaniel stepped forward to welcome the duke and his family. He merely bowed his head, raised it and said, "Thank you for blessing us with your presence. I hope you accept what is mine is also yours and that you enjoy the evening we have arranged in honor of your presence."

"Thank you, Baron de Ranger. I am sure we shall enjoy ourselves immensely," the duke stated standing completely still for a moment, then he moved to his wife. "I would like you to meet my wife the Duchess Bronwyn," he then nodded to his son, "and my son Lord Oren."

Reyna stepped forward. "Your Graces, my Lord Oren, it is a pleasure to meet you," she curtsied. "I am Reyna, and these are my daughters, Lady Philana-Narie and Ethana," she motioned to the girls. They too curtsied. "Please do come in. I am sure dinner is ready to be served." Reyna ushered the family into the manor house as Thaniel told the drivers where they could park the carriage and then where they too might get something to eat.

"Reyna," the duchess began, "I was recently made aware that your last name though spelled R-A-N-G-E-R, but it is pronounced Rawn-jzhā."

"That is correct," Thaniel had come up from behind. "My family originated in Île-de-L'est. Therefore, er is pronounced ay. Reyna's name is also quite unique; I'm not sure of the origin. Do you know, darling?" Reyna smiled and said it was an old family name, but as far as she knew, her family had always been in Ryland.

"I see," the duchess nodded her understanding. Then to Reyna, "You have such a lovely home. And these flowers, how beautiful."

Anne was almost disappointed the duchess seemed not to know what the flowers meant. She thought all upper royals had to know such things. She grimaced a little but kept quiet and followed the elder women into the dining area. The duke insisted Thaniel sit at the head of his own table and Reyna at the foot, saying that it was the only proper way. The large oak table was slightly off balance due to the number of people present, having three people, the duke, duchess, and Oren on one side and Anne and Ethana on the other. To compensate for the unevenness the seat between Anne and Ethana was kept vacant.