Briar's Conflict (GxG Fantasy)

Chapter one

(My first book that I wrote over a year ago. Still looking back and cringing lol)

“Announcing his royal majesty, King Darwin of the Earth Clan!” The crowd cheered as he entered. “Thank you all for attending my daughters coming of age ceremony! I won’t keep you, here is Princess Briar.” Briar walked out as the crowd clapped. Her emerald heels clicking on the maple tile. She noticed people of all four of the clans were here. She stepped down the stairs and mingled like her father told her to do. Tonight had to be perfect in his eyes, after all it’s not everyday you turn one hundred and eighteen.

Briar began to lose herself in the party. The candles lighting the place giving it life, the music, and the amazing food. She soon saw her childhood friend. “Odin!” She said and waved. He smiled and walked over to her. She looked at his big bird-like wings. “Let me guess, they’re not letting you retract your wings because of your clan.” He chuckled. “Yeah it’s a pride thing. Hey did you notice that there’s hardly anybody from the fire clan? There’s no fae, only humans.” She looked around. “You're right, I didn’t even notice. I wonder if something is going on back in their land.” He looked over and saw his mother
motioning to the dance floor in the middle of the room. “Um, may I have this dance? I don’t think she’ll have it any other way.”

Briar laughed and took his hand. They made their way to the middle of the room, Odin looking into her big black eyes. They then danced in the very middle of the room. Despite other people dancing too, they both knew all eyes of the royals were on them. Odin kept looking back to his parents during the dance. Briar raised a brow before speaking. “What are your parents making you do now?” Odin sighed and looked at the ground.
“With me being 120 and you turning 118 we’re finally both of age. You and I have both been blessed with a zodiac by Ambrosia as well. And since our parents and we are all on good terms…” The music then stopped. All other dancers have left, it’s just them. Odin then got down on one knee. Briar gasped and covered her mouth. “Princess Briar, we’ve known each other for years. So today, on your special day, I want to ask for your hand in marriage.”

He then pulls out a box and opens it showing her the ring. It was covered in small diamonds with an emerald in the middle that had small diamond wings on the side. “Will you marry me?” Wide eyed Briar looked to the ring, then him, then her parents. All eyes were on her. She felt all the moisture leave her mouth. “Y-Yes.” She said not even looking at him, but rather the crowd watching them intently. Odin stood and put the ring on her finger before pulling her close and kissing her. Well…more like just pressing his lips on her. Neither of them even tried to make it feel like a normal kiss. The fae clapped for the two. Their parents then walked over to them. “Oh Odin, I'm so happy for you! I knew from the day you met her, she was the one!” His mother said proudly.

King Darwin and his wife and over. “I knew this would happen. This will be an amazing joining of two clans.” He cheers. “I couldn’t agree more.” Odin’s father added on.
Briar looked left to right. If people weren’t looking at her and Odin, they were talking about them. Her heart started to beat faster and her palms were sweaty. She became hyper aware of everything around her. How tight the corset was, the dull pain from dancing in heels, the many layers her ball gown was making her feel hot, and how she was going to marry someone she sees as a brother! “I’m going to get some air!” She told Odin quickly before practically running out the room. She took both her heels off and ran to the place she always went to when she was upset. The water fountain in the middle of the maze.

When she got there she collapsed onto her knees, out of breath. This was the one place she could go and as long as she didn’t scream, could go and just vent out her problems, even if nobody was listening. She looked at the green grass with dull eyes. “Is something wrong with me? We’ve known each other for years and he’s such a nice guy, so why can’t I…? I should be relieved, I could have ended up with someone horrible. I said yes so I should want it. No…I can’t do it. I’ve tried to love him that way, really I did! But I just..can’t…” She splashed some of the water on her face. When she looked up she saw a girl, clearly a commoner guest.

Briar freezes, she has heard and seen everything. If this information gets out the family’s reputation might be ruined. But she scoffs before jumping over the hedge and leaving. Briar finally woke up and ran after her. Her earth inspired dress getting caught on the thorns in the bushes. By the time she got out all that was there was an out of breath princess with a completely ruined dress. She put her long white hair in a braid and went to her room, not caring about the party at all anymore.

Some hours passed and she heard a knock on her door. It was Darwin. “Why did you leave your own party!? We spent weeks planning this and I’m sure Prince Odin planned even longer for that proposal!” Briar just looked out the window. “I…just panicked. Being proposed to in front of so
many people, it completely changes the feeling most people would have when being proposed to. I couldn’t stand all the eyes on me constantly.” She replied and he sighed. “I can understand that. But In order to make up for your sudden absence, we arranged for Prince Odin to visit us two months from now and stay a while. We would have had him come over sooner but his family has business with the water clan.” Briar made a “hm” noise as acknowledgment. “I know how this all happened wasn’t ideal, but don’t let that stop you from having a happy marriage.”

And with that he left. Briar put her knees up to her chest and rested her head on her knees, holding herself tightly.