The House of Aragon.

She Who Has Been Promised

At first I can only think that it reminds me of a fayrie-tale castle. I know it's completely childish and silly but that's what it feels like, walking into a faryie-tale. It's beautiful and huge. I try to take it in without staring, the roofs and the tops of towers are all shimmering blue, and even from here I can see ribbon and tapestries hanging from windows in celebration of my arrival.

There are fewer people than I expect, with the exception of a smattering of royally dressed men and women who all seem to be eyeing me as I wait for the rest of my Ladies to be escorted out of their carriages, the courtyard that we're in seems to be deserted.

The men and women staring at me seem unreal. They're close enough, only a few feet away, but they look more like exquisite tapestry figures than real life people. I feel the soft satin of María's gloved hand slipping into mine and am surprised when a feeling of relief rushes over me.

I'm in too much awe to be nervous, deep blue and white tiles and intricately painted stone walls blurr past me as I am quickly herded around by Lady Maria, past the smatterings of nobleza, and within the castle walls. At first I try to memorize where I am being taken but after a few minutes of moving from hallway to hallway I give up. 

 Soon Maria my Ladies and I are in a huge richly decorated room. The space is filled with deep mahogany tables and upholstered lounges all in dark jewel tones. 

"Isn't it wonderful." Maria asks,  obviously enjoying the astounded look on my face. I walk towards the nearest table and brush my fingers against the well polished darkwood. 

"Of course," I look back up to Maria, who seats herself on one of the  nearest lounges. "It's not fully furnished, mirrors, candle sticks, sconces, things like that are still being commissioned. You will have to bare with the inconvenience for the time being." She sighs, an apologetic look on her face.

Inconvenience? I can hardly imagine this room with anything more stuffed inside of it, waiting for more things to arrive will hardly be an inconvenience. I look around the room once more, taking everything in, I realize I've never seen an anti-chamber this big. You could fit my old  anti-chamber and a half of another  in this one.

"Would you like to see your bed chamber now," Ana, Maria's daughter asks  grabbing hold of my hand, "venir también."

My room is almost twice the size of the anti-chamber with other doors learning off to the sides, I assume they lead to bathing rooms or maid-chambers. It's dark and the entire room glows with amber light.  The floors are darkwood and the walls are whitewash carved stone and shined tile with little beaded glass bits caught up in them.

"You should get some sleep, or at least change from your traveling clothes, mi amor." Maria says as I slide onto my bed, silky sheets shuttering under my weight. Since the day I found out about my marriage, I've been numb and frozen with fear but now I can feel  excitement blossoming beneath that fear. It bubbles in my chest and I can feel my cheeks.

"Actually, if I am allowed I would prefer to explore the castle." I know that I would have to wander the halls of this place for months to get my groundings but . Besides this is where I will, perhaps, be spending the rest of my days and I want to be able to get to know it as soon as I can. This is my home now.

"Of course," Maria says as she leans on the bedpost. "If you truly are not tired someone will help  you to wherever it is you want to go, granted that it is not out of bounds."

"Out of bounds?"

Maria's daughter speaks up, "Si Senorita. That's why a servant would escort you, suppose you wondered off to  an armory or a sports ground. What would it look like for a young lady to be seen in a place like that and what would it do to your person?" She says with a fluttering hand  straying to her chest, "your delicate senses would never  recover."