My Choice

Chapter 1

Authors note: the pic above is the outfit that you will read about, the stair case, the bedroom, and the eyes of Ryia, her mother, and her sister. Also the words written like this are thoughts. Enjoy, my darlings~!

I woke at the break of dawn, wondering what adventure my friend,Asher, had planned for me on this cold, winter day. I go to the far window on the east side of my room and look out at the freshly fallen snow that had piled up outside the castle. I hear heavy footsteps approaching quickly down the hall, so I hurriedly crawl back into my bed and pretend I'm asleep. The bedroom door opens and I hear a heavy sigh.
"I know you are awake,Ryia." says the deep voice of my father, King Rowen The Fourth. I shifted in my bed so that I was now facing him." Good morning, father." He nods and turns his icy gaze to the servants that had only just arrived,"Get her ready." I stare at him with a blank expression," Ready for what?" He turns his gaze back to me,"We are going to visit Lord Oliver and his family today. We will also have the pleaser of accompanying them for dinner." I sigh deeply. I know his and my mother's plan. Oh well. I must do as I'm told. My father raises an eyebrow at me,"Is something troubling you, daughter?" I shake my head lightly," I just had plans with Asher today. That is all."
I brace myself for a lecture. My father wasn't particularly fond of my best friend. He thinks he's reckless and will one day cause me harm. I think he's just being overprotective. To my surprise he just rolls his eyes and walks out the room saying,"I'm not having this discussion again. Get ready. I expect you down in 30 minutes." I nod and proceed with getting ready. I choose a black form fitting, casual dress,that my mother hates, with black knee high boots. Just as I was about to put it on, a knock comes from the door. "Enter!" I say. In walks my mother and sister wearing long sleeved dresses with heels. My mother takes one look at the outfit I chose and looked as if she wanted to throw up. She takes the outfit, tosses it aside, goes into my closet, and picks out this long, white dress with see through sleeves. I frown as she walks over to me with the dress. "You are wearing this. We must have you looking presentable for Lord Oliver and his family." I sigh and change into the dress. My mother puts on my crown and steps back, admiring her work. "There that's better. Come now, girls. We must not keep your father waiting." We make our way down the white marble stair case and down into the dinning room. There, my father waits impatiently looking out the window. He had his usual dark fur coat on with his, what he likes to call, "kingly" outfit on. He turns his dark blue eyes towards us. I look into them, admiring there color. My eyes are, perhaps, identical to his. "It's snowing so be careful where you step. We mustn't have any accidents. Especially you,Ryia. I know how you just love danger and breaking rules." I roll my eyes and immediately regret it as I feel a stinging sensation on my cheek. My father,with his hand still raised, yells at me,"Don't you dare disrespect your father like that!" I hold back the tears that threatened to fall. He often does that so I've learned to hold back my emotions. My mother shakes her head,"How many times have I told you this, Ryia? Don't provoke your father." I stare at her, my blue eyes blazing. I turned and walked towards the door. A guard steps in front of me. "Where are you headed to, Milady?" I recognize him almost instantly. I smile,"Hadrian!" He smiles back. Hadrian was like the brother I never had. He had short black hair and green eyes. He was around my age,19, but looked about 21. "Will you be accompanying us to Lord Oliver's?" He nods and opens the door for us to leave. I step inside the carriage, taking the window seat. I stare at the snow that was now falling even heavier than before. My father sits across from me, my mother beside him, and my sister beside me. I hear some low giggling and feel someone's gaze on me. I turn my head to find my father staring at me and my mother and sister smirking. I sigh,"What?" They look away innocently. "Nothing." They say in unison. Ok, something's up but what is it? I decide to ignore it and continue looking out the window. Within three hours, we arrived at Lord Oliver's place. Hadrian opens the carriage door so we can all get out. My father gets out first, then my mother, sister, and finally me. I never liked coming here. Lord Oliver was much like my father, stern and harsh. His sons where similar but also different. Berinon, the eldest, was prideful and stubborn unlike his brother, Dain, who was a kind man with dark hazel eyes. Dain often likes to be left alone,due to his father, but when certain people are around, he'll be the kindest man you've ever met that would make girls swoon both night and day. However, Berinon was always jealous of his little brother. Even though he was the eldest, everything his father owned would pass down to Dain first. I follow my family up the stoned stairs and into the greeting room. There, Lord Oliver, Lady Julia, Berinon, and Dain greeted us with warm smiles. I look over at Dain who was staring at me. I mouth "what?" to him and he shakes his head, looking away from me. I then look to Berinon, who was also staring at me, but not the way his brother was. He too looks away so I sigh and follow everyone to the living room. What strange people. I sit down next to my sister, Beatrix, and look out the large window to my right. The snow had lightened up a bit. By now, it was time for dinner so we all walked to the dinning room. Dain sits on my left and Berinon sits on my right. They always do this. I choose to ignore them hoping they would back off. Nope! Instead they got closer and started playing with me. Dain put his hand on my thy and Berinon played with a piece of my hair. Dain was the first to speak,"My dearest Ryia, you look absolutely stunning this evening." Then Berinon,"I agree, but the word stunning doesn't fit. Only a word like exquisite could compare her beauty." I see my mother smirking at the two. I sigh and was about to leave when dinner finally arrived. My father and Lord Oliver where talking about a dragon destroying fields and villages in our kingdom, my mother and Lady Julia where gossiping about womanly stuff, Beatrix sat quietly eating her dinner, the boys had backed off and had began arguing about who was the better son. I took this chance to escape towards the back door. I open it quickly and shut it behind me. The cold, winter air surrounded me. Fluffy, white snowflakes fell onto the white covered wonderland. The water in the fountain was frozen along with the lake. I lay down in the snow, enjoying the time I had to be alone. I close my eyes and let the cold completely cover me. I smile when a snowflake falls on my nose, but that smile soon disappeared as a warm body was placed on top of me. I open my sapphire eyes to look at the culprit. There, sat Berinon who had caged me in between his legs and arms. I give him a cold glare. "Your gaze hurts." He pretends to look hurt. "And I care why?" I say in a monotone way. He smirks,"You sure are an interesting women." Out of nowhere comes Dain. He looks shocked but soon recovers. "Is this how you treat all your ladies? You leave them lying in the cold without a coat?" Berinon "tchs" and stands up. "Killjoy. She already didn't have a coat on her." Dain rolls his eyes and helps me up. "Are you alright, princess?" I glare at him,"You will not address me as "princess". You shall address me as miss or Ryia." I say calmly. They stare at me in amazement. "But aren't you a princess?" I nod,"Of course I am. I'd just rather being called by my name. That's all." With that I leave to go join my family before anything else happens. When I get there, my mother and father are saying their goodbyes and Beatrix is looking rather bored. I join them as they walk to the carriage. The ride home was quite like always. We finally arrive home so I run to my room before anyone could say anything. I needed some time alone. I fall on my bed face first. Then I remember Asher. "Crap!" I say. A knock comes from my door. I open it to find Hadrian standing there with a letter. "This was dropped off for you, Milady." I thank him and read the letter aloud ,"Dear Sapphire, I heard about what happened today. I'm sorry you couldn't make it. Meet me tomorrow before dawn at the place where light sees its reflection. Until then, Your hunter boy." I smile. I'm glad he understands. He usually uses code words like that just in case my father gets ahold of a letter. He also calls me Sapphire which I'm guessing is because of my eyes. He's always fancied them. Anyways, I should probably find something to wear. I scan my room until I find the black outfit my mother tossed away. I set that to the side, turn out the lights, and sink into my bed. I close my eyes, drifting off to sleep.