Celina: Eden

Priscilla Ardella 3

Two years passed since the Crimson Moon attack on the small encampment outside of Garris. The Marauders never attacked within that time, however, the King was able to acquire the funds over time and manpower, granting the rebels more soldiers to aid them.
Priscilla and Naenia were outside, drinking freshly squeezed peach juice while laughing and speaking about the Red Moon incident. Then, the conversation moved into other directions before Naenia landed on, "I wanna be a great maiden, just like you, Madame Ardella."
Priscilla swirled her peach juice around in her dark green and black ceramic cup.
"Really huh? Well, I didn't want to become a Maiden originally, Naenia."
Naenia drank from her cup, holding it with both hands. The cup looked as if it were too big for her to handle, but she was able to manage.
"Really?" Naenia lowered her cup, her big eyes grew in shock, facing Priscilla.
Priscilla shrugged. "It was forced onto me after my parents were captured when I was around your age."
"Forced?"
"Well, my parents were sold into slavery by some king, I can't remember his name, but they were forced to build these things. Something they now call pyramids. But, anyway, our people prayed, practically cried to the heavens for our Exodus. I was taken into the Royal quarters and quickly learned different customs. The children had to so that way, we could become servant women and men. I exceeded expectations and decided to become Maiden Priscilla Ardella. My aim was at the slavery of my people, to see to their Exodus--their freedom. However, the consensus declined my requests, even with the backing of traveling, intellectual prophets."
"Wow, I mean, they couldn't at least let your parents go free?"
Priscilla looked into Naenia's eyes, her thin emerald green eyes filled helplessly.
"There was nothing that I could do...even with all the fight training I endured throughout my teenage years, I couldn't fight against an entire army of trained soldiers. A government of old men that lacked any fighting experience was too much of match for me."
Priscilla and Naenia both sat on a grassy hill. Priscilla's arms were wrapped around her knees as she stared out into the distance.
"Where are your parents? Are they still alive?" Naenia asked.
"I don't know for sure. Every since I left the Capital, that what the place was called, part of me knew I would never see them again."
Naenia remembered the night that she ran away. The little girl out in the woods--it was two years ago. Oh, what was her name?
"Marin." A jolt of memory kicked into her mind.
Priscilla looked over at her. Between the dreams that haunted her. People telling her about her violently kicking and stirring in her sleep, she narrowed her eyes, looking over at Naenia.
"Naenia? What did you just say?"
"What? What is it?"
"The name of that little girl you just mentioned? What was that?"
"Marin?"
Naenia told her about the night she'd ran off into the woods, trying to find her home, Eden. And how she ran into the little girl out in the woods during the Red Moon.
"What? You really saw her?"
Naenia nodded. "Plain as day."
Priscilla stared at the ground. The breath in her chest stopped. Naenia, at first oblivious to Priscilla's reaction, had taken another sip of her peach juice. She held the empty cup before bringing her gaze to Priscilla.
"What's wrong, Madame Ardella?"
She had taken a moment to answer, but finally she replied, "it's--it's nothing, really."
Once they finished, Priscilla showed Naenia how to swing her sword around, spinning it with impressive swordplay while alternating between both hands. Naenia hopped up and down, reaching for her blade.
"Can I try? Can I?"
Priscilla nodded with a smile, passing her the blade. Naenia showed her inexperience, with each unsuccessful swing, it ended with her dropping it. She showed her frustration with: "ugh! You make it look so easy! You gotta show me how one day!"
Next, Naenia walked with Priscilla through the market place. A few girls she normally met up with in Garris Kingdom stopped and greeted her. Naenia's eyes full of youth, she looked at Priscilla. As if she knew what the little girl was asking, the maiden giggled to herself: "don't go off too far, Naenia."
"Alright! Let's go big sis!" Naenia called the little girl that she followed, which seemed like the oldest girl of the bunch.
The girls ran off as Priscilla stepped to a flower merchant. The girl selling them was a beautiful maiden, much like her, only with braided, long blonde hair and a white flowing evening gown with daisies and morning glories lining her braid. Her smile brightened the sunny skies.
Naenia and her friends, two boys, Larrus and Kent, along with Big Sis, all went to a nearby fountain, where cobblestone lined the grounds and a pearl pixie poured water from her gourd into the base of the large fountain.
"Yeah, let's play in the fountain!" Larrus replied.
"That's starting to get all boring! Let's have some real fun!" Big Sis replied.
Big Sis wore a red bandana with her blonde hair protruding from underneath, fingerless gloves, shorts, and shoes that looked as if they were made of straw. She wore a short sleeved, village girl frilly blue and white blouse, the patterns on it where like flowers.
"Aw Naenia. What's up? No Endel?" Kent asked.
"He's on watchtower today."
"Jeez, it's not very fun without him, but, oh well let's make up our own fun!" Big Sis said, brushing back her blonde hair and straightening get bandana.
"Like what?" Larrys asked, kicking his foot into the dirt.
"Let's go down to the Quarry! I heard bandits and stuff hang out down there! Unless you're chicken, Kent!" Big Sis hopped up, placing her hands on his shoulders hard.
"Ouch, Lydia! That hurt!"
Naenia stopped for a moment. "The Quarry? Isn't it dangerous down there?"
"Yeah, but they won't see us, and if they do, Big Sis will protect you!"
"How are you gonna protect us against bandits? I heard they kill people--even rob them." Kent said, scratching his head.
Big Sis reached into the back of her shorts.
"I can protect you with this!"
In her hand was a slingshot.
"Come on, I'll stop them if they come after us, but they can't get to us."
Naenia hesitated. Big Sis walked over to her and placed her arm around her shoulders.
"Come on, Naenia. What'dya think? It's really nice."
"I mean, Madame Ardella said..."
"Madame Ardella won't even know we're gone." She reassured.