The Five Manors

Chapter 1 of The Five Manors

A/N: Hey readers and writers! Out of all the novels I have attempted to write, this is by far my favorite one. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have in just writing it! XD

I have to apologize for the length of this chapter. When I wrote this originally in google docs I hadn't planned on formatting this onto a small screen. So, to try to help you, I split this chapter into two parts.

Sorry to get to the kind of mean part but . . . I do not like plagiarizing!!! There will be none! If I find out that there has been any, I will sue.

If you have any questions or suggestions on my story just send me a private message:)
I love comments and votes! Enjoy your journey through Edith!!!

Part 1

I stood by the window staring outside, waiting for the escort to arrive and take me to the throne room. It was cloudy outside today. A light mist hung over the grass and encircled the bare trees. All the flowers were asleep and dead in the garden and a few red clad guards stood by the gates to the castle. No green outside today, I thought. Only sadness and darkness. I took a deep breath, glad that I wasn't outside at the moment.

I then take a step away from the window so the cold that had started to reach the tips of my silver gloves wouldn't spread up my arms. The fabric of the soft blue silk gown I was wearing rippled as I moved. The heavy diamond necklace itched against my skin. Knowing I couldn't take it off, I rubbed my arms instead and went over to stand by the fireplace on the other side of my suite.

The fire was starting to burn low. My maids had left only moments before. I swear silently to myself, wishing I had told them to add more wood to the fire. The familiar autumn chill crept slowly into the room. Maybe it was just my nerves speaking but I felt jittery and nervous. For eight long years I had waited for this moment. Waited for the day to finally know what my final fate was. Well at least they say it's your final fate.

I lifted my eyes to the top of the marble mantel piece to check the time. The old fashioned wooden clock made a constant ticking noise reminding me of the tick of the bomb on my eigth birthday. I shuddered at the memory. The wood of the house shattering and splintering around me. My treasured picture books lying open, erupting into flames. A reddish grey smoke. The day I had been found lying on the streets of Avalon with the world burning around me. The day I was orphaned.

Shaking my head, I focuse more clearly on the clock. It was almost noon. Seven minutes until I would be on my way to the fate placement.

I pace and pace for a few minutes until I can no longer and start to still and stare at my sixteen year old self in the mirror. Piercing blue eyes stare back making my eyelashes look even longer and more delicate than they already are. Twirling a strand of golden blonde hair in my fingers I admire the twirling bun my maids had put my long hair in. The only thing that stood out in my hair was the silver clip of a crescent moon that was pinned to the side. It had been a gift from my father before I had come to the castle. The bodice to my gown was the same baby blue color as the rest of my dress and the short sleeves hung off my shoulders. I rubbed lightly under the cold diamonds that rested on my throat hoping to make myself slightly warmer. I stared at my olive skin like I had many times before always wondering how I could be so tan when the sun hardly ever showed itself here in Edith.

An abrupt knock at my door startles me out of my trance.

  "Lady Guinevere, your presence has been ordered by Queen Krea that you attend the Fate Placement Ceremony," the guard announced, in a steady yet authoritative voice from the other side of the door.