battleground bachelorette

ch.1 - feast of rivals

'The battlefield was a chaotic mess, full of people fighting and dying for nothing more than a chance at greatness. The ground was covered in dust and blood, with the scent of death in the air. The field had once been a lush pasture, filled with grass and flowers of all colors. Now, it was barely recognisable, a wasteland filled with death and despair.'

Now, among all the carnage and bloodshed, there stood a single girl. She was barely more than a teenager, her long blonde hair flying in the chaotic winds. She remained untouched by the chaos around her, seemingly unaffected by the horrors of the battlefield. Yet, there was something strange about her, as if she didn't belong here...

"Merliah!" A shrill voice cut through her thoughts, followed by a rapid knocking on her bedroom door.

"Come in, Mother." The door to her bedroom creaked open as a woman in a full length, satin dress entered holding a silver plate. Her steps were slow and careful as she walked across the plush carpet. Compared to the house, which in itself was a testament to wealth, decorated with fine furniture and elegant curtains, this room seemed like a garbage dump.

Clothes were strewn across the room, the curtains were messily ruffled and the bed was unmade. There were papers scattered over the floor and furniture, most of them having fallen there due to the clutter. Large leather bound books, decks of tarot cards and messy handwritten pages covered most surfaces in the room.

Her mother sighed,

"Merliah, I told you ze maids were not coming zis month. Zey earned zair holidays.,

"Sorry, I've been busy."

Her mother stood in the doorway, not being able to move much further into the room. Her expression was full of worry and concern.

"Darling, zis year, I'm sure you've 'eard by now, is ze Triwizard Tournament.""

Merliah's attention refocused onto her mother, her expression having changed from concentration to concern. She quickly stood up, darting around the mess. Her intense eyes locked onto her mother's. She gave a nod, but clearly she was not happy with the news,

"Let me guess" she smirked, "You want me to enter?" Her mother winked,

"You know me so well." Merliah rubbed her eyes, still getting out of her deep concentration when a thought crossed her mind.

"Haven't lots of people died? That's why they stopped doing them."

"Well, zat's why zey're 'osting it at a very safe place zis year," Her mother paused, trying to take in her daughter's expression, "Hogwarts."

"The British School?" Merliah asked, "You're sending me to Hogwarts? For a competition I might not even compete in?"

Her mother beamed at her, as if she bore great news,

"Madame Maxime already elected ze people going, good zing I sent your name in. You'll leave on ze same day as normal, September 1st."

"Mother, why?" she whined, grabbing her mothers arm. Her mother raised her eyebrows,

"Look at zis room! You need to get out into ze world. You're too comfortable 'ere, relying on me and ze maids to clean up."

"But Mum," Merliah pleaded, "I'm going back to school in two weeks, that's going out into the world!" Her mother rolled her eyes,

"You're also too comfortable at Beauxbatons, go out, live a leetle! Maybe you'll find yourself a boyfriend!" Merliah groaned.

"Mum!"

"Or girlfriend too!!"

Her mother sighed, placing the silver plate down balanced on top of a thick stack of books.