Bows, Apples, & Roses

~ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗 ~

Aria woke up, once again, feeling drowsy.

I'm so done with passing out all the time and being brought to an unknown place.

Her heavy eyelids fluttered open and she sat up, observing her new surroundings. She was no longer in the Spice Quarter but in a plush carriage that was slowly descending.

"I'd rather not make it a habit to catch you all the time. I know you're falling for me, but truly it's getting tedious."

A sharp crunch told Aria that Jacks was across from her and eating an apple. His voice smug and happily torturing her.

Deciding to ignore the comment on falling for him she retorted instead. "You don't have to carry me, you know." Aria sat up fully, leaning on the carriages plush sides.

"I didn't. In fact you insisted to walk on your own." A laugh escapes him, it surprised Aria with how genuine it sounded, even at her expense. "It was amusing watching you stumble around."

The past 20 minutes came flooding back to her. After passing out on Jacks and him catching her before hitting the cobblestones, she fought to stay awake and pushed him aside every time he had attempted to help her walk. By the time Aria made it to the carriage house she had slumped into one of the plush seats, taking a small nap before being woken up by the carriages jolt of descending.

Aria probably did look ridiculous and perhaps even drunk. Embarrassment burnt her cheeks and she turned away from Jacks to look out the window.

It was the height of the afternoon now and the part of the city they were sailing over was busy with activity. People were bustling beneath her dressed smartly in cremes and browns, books or scrolls of parchment in their arms or bags were carried towards what she knew to be University Circle.

Centuries ago Ariaellis would go into the library that sat in the heart of University Circle and steal away to some nook, books and parchment bundled in her arms, to study about the world outside of Valenda. The day she left, Aria traveled the world. She saw the Magnificent North, with its magical story's and icy mysteries, and explored smaller islands, giving herself a new name and identity everywhere she went.

They left the carriage and Jacks started leading them down one of the clean pathways, keeping an eye on Aria as she clumsily trailed behind and refused to be supported.

The pair ended up at a tall building made of red clay bricks and black pillars.

"Where are we?" Aria asked drowsily.

Jacks didn't answer but simply pushed open the double doors and walked inside.

{authors note: i understand that when we are introduced to this place it is after Jacks is no longer the heir, but i feel like he had this building all along anyways so i felt i could use it here :) }

She entered a loud and colorful world of gold chandeliers, black and red playing cards, and dizzying excitement. It was a gambling house and all around her people smiled as they won, laughed, clapped and shouted.

Even though she was practically asleep standing up, the energy in the air gave her more power to keep following Jacks through the crowd.

He was weaving through the people so quickly Aria lost him for a moment, she was stuck between two large men with seething smiles who looked as if they were going to entice her to gamble her life away when she felt a cold hand grab hers and pull her away.

Jacks had such a strong grip and Aria was too tired to fight him anymore so she let him pull her out of the sea of people.

They finally made it to a set of stairs layed in faded red, plush carpet. It was so soft under her feet she wanted to sink down and sleep again but Jacks fingers tensed and continued to drag her up.