The Split Horizons: The Love Of Two Dwarves

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Shadelia's Background

Princess Shadelia. That's who she was supposed to be, she reminded herself as she brushed her long strawberry blonde hair and the sun peeked through her bedroom window. She closed her eyes tightly, not looking forward to the day ahead.

Shadelia's father was king over the land they called home, a beautiful country by the name of Powerna. This country was unique in they way that it's inhabitants could control certain aspects of life: Shadow, Fire, Water, Ice, Sound, Electricity, just to name a few. They could conjure each aspect or change it, depending on which power they were gifted with.

Shadelia was the oldest of seven children, with the next oldest being nearly five years younger. This made her the heir to her father's throne.
She had been told many times that as a princess, she was required to learn etiquette and other things just as a prince would be taught combat and other 'masculine' things necessary for one of his or her position. The only thing she liked was the instrumental instruction she was given on flute. Music and writing were her passions, the only thing her father accepted.

She and her father had many arguments over what was proper, because she did not see the need for a future strong ruler to spend most of her days sewing and knitting and dancing as he wished. Especially since her powers of Shadow, Fire, and Sound altered her personality and actions enough to where sitting in a room all day did not suit her at all.

Shadelia stared into her mirror, meeting her own bright green eyes and promising herself that things would change somehow. Then she finished tying the lace of the form - fitting dress she was required to wear for her father's public speech that day and descended the many flights of stairs to join her family at breakfast, pretending to be ready for whatever the day might bring.

Hours later...
Shadelia couldn't believe her father's audacity! How dare he promise her hand to someone she didn't even know existed without mentioning it to her? Her mother hadn't even stopped him! Betrayed and hurt, she came to the conclusion she would not remain there any longer. This was one step too far forcing her into a destiny she did not wish upon herself.

She packed both sets of riding clothes she had that were not formal and grabbed one of her plainer dresses just in case, along with an extra pair of boots. She had some nonperishable food stored away in case of a random occurrence such as this and packed that too.

In the dead of the night, she saddled her horse and slipped away unnoticed and concealed by her Shadows, because as usual, the guards were looking for someone trying to get in, not someone breaking out...

She wasn't sure where she was going, and honestly, she couldn't care less. All she had for weapons were the two daggers that she had naturally learned how to use, practicing in secret with a soldier she paid off not to tell her father. She prayed to the goddess her country was named for that she did not run into trouble in her travels as she galloped into the night with just the occasional appearances of the moon to guide her.

She only ran into one other traveler along her path, another woman who had left her home as well. A meeting as such that changed the fate of the slim Shadow princess.

Avantika's Background

Her kingdom had grown boring, and Avantika was wishing for more. She had completed all her lessons, read every book in the library, and explored every corner of the castle.

"Ava, if you're so bored, go visit some of the villages in the kingdom," her mother said, exasperated with her daughter's complaints.

"Fine, maybe I will." With a huff, she twirled around, her dark brown hair leaving it's perfect style as she left the room.

Once in her room, her brown eyes darted to her mirror, contemplating cutting her hair short once again. Her mother had never allowed it.

"It's not ladylike," she had said. But Ava didn't care. She wanted change. So she packed her clothes and informed the castle staff that she would be departing in the morning. She would get her hair cut in the first town she visited.

The staff provided her with food for many weeks, despite the fact that she could restock in each village. She would miss the staff, she knew, but she would be back.

Before walking outside into the chilly morning air, she wrapped her cloak a little tighter around her slightly chubby body. It would warm up quite nicely in a few hours, she knew, but for now, the sun still had not made it appearance.

Off she rode into the early morning, leaving her home and everything she knew behind. She would reach the first village in two days time, she told herself. Two days to herself. This was going to be an adventure.

One week later...

It had been a while since Princess Avantika left home, but she was enjoying herself. Her hair no longer reached her waist, it was shoulder length and she loved it.

She decided to set up camp for the night when she heard sounds of fighting nearby. She tied her horse to a tree and was as silent as possible while approaching the noise.

There was a girl her age fending off two much older men with a pair of clumsy daggers. The woman was losing, Ava noticed. She soon realized that the other woman was only defending, not fighting back, and decided that she may need some help.

After emerging from her hiding place, she was the center of attention for a few brief seconds. Once the attention turned back to the small victim, Ava hit one of the assailants in the back of the head with the hilt of her sword, knocking him out cold.

As the other man turned to her after seeing his companion collapse, the hilt slammed into his temple. He too crumpled to the ground.

The woman before her was very wounded and week, bleeding from several wounds.

"Here, I'll help you," she said softly, trying not to frighten the girl.

After a while, her wounds were bandaged and Ava had started a fire. It was a pleasant surprise when the other woman made soup-- it was quite good, not like the cold meals Ava had been eating.

"Now that I'm feeling better," the other girl said. "Who are you?"

"I am Princess Avantika of the Graitican Kingdom. I am traveling between villages on an adventure of sorts. Who are you, and why are you alone in the forest?"

Shadelia, for that is who it was, quickly realized she should not reveal her real identity to the other princess. Powerna and Graitica had been at war for generations. Avantika would turn her in to the guards.

"I... I come from Powerna to escape a future I did not plan. My name is... Teresa."

"You can travel with me if you wish. And you may call me Ava. It's much simpler to say. "

"I would like that very much."