Defending Ithriea

Chapter 2: An Arrangment.

  As I was walking into my room, I was taking off the sweaty clothes. While I done that I padded to the bathing pool, running hot water into the marble pit. Essential oils from the fairy lands of Fayheen, and salts from Mt.Grendelden's depths, were poured in by a shiny silver device on the wall. Tubes and pipes laced and unlaced amongst eachother. Dwarven technologies were considered more advanced than the other places. Heck you could even choose from which knobs there were, on what oils and salts you wanted.
  I pulled the ribbon and braids from my long black hair and peered into the mirror mounted on the wall. The piercing blue eyes, pink full pouty lips, and the strong jawline of a princess. I had a pretty face, my body was toned from numerous exercises, but I also had the much desired hour glass figure. I had wished I was taller, even though I was above average then the normal dwarf. I made it to 5'3, and if you went to the King's study you could still see the chips Father made every year, on the wall, till I was twelve.
I turned to see the birthmark on my neck. The odd shape almost resembled a flower. I lightly touched the rippled edges of the mark, for some reason that spot was always the most tender. I then moved away from the wall and stepped into the pool, fragerant lavenders and citrus aromas filled the room. I floated on my back and just soaked, I could feel the salts working all over my body, soothing the tender, over worked muscles.
Staring at the ceiling, you could see more carvings, curling, swirling,around the almost hypnotic design, which resembled my flower.
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Stepping out of the pool, I wrapped myself into a thick plush bath sheet. I walked back into my room to dry off and get into some clothes for dinner.
I rubbed the bath sheet all over my body and then wrapped a smaller bath towel around my head to dry my hair. I walked over to the pine wardrobe, and picked through my clothing.
Pinks, blues, purples, golds, I had every color I wanted, but there was something in a silk bag. Something I had never seen before, taking the bag from the wardrobe, I then pulled a long gown out of the bag. The cloth was teal in color, but the lace around the edges was gold. It was the softest thing I had ever felt. I slipped into it and laced up the side, it was beautiful. The thin material breathed very well, and the lace wasn't itchy. The dress also accentuated my body.
Who in the world would want me to wear this? I thought.
The sweetheart neck line, the corset bodice, and slit going up both sides of the dress intentionally helped elongate my legs. Beside my wardrobe was a pair of sandals that matched the colors of the dress, they also had a slight heel, helping me grow an inch.
I went to my vanity and strapped on the shoes, then looked at myself in the mirror. I was beautiful.
I then braided my long hair, and found some ribbon on the surface of the vanity, that also matched the dress.
I walked to the enterance of my room, turning back to look at the mirror once again and noticed, my birthmark being visible on my neck. I opened the door and headed to the dining hall.
Long corridors, and lots of steps later, I approached the big wooden doors. The guards on either side bowed their heads and opened the grand entry.
Inside, was a long, mahogany table with 20 chairs on each side. Candles lined the table top along with a runner that ran down the middle of it. Food had lined the table, and there were three plates were set up. Father was at the head of the table, and I was on the left to him, but who was the third plate for?
I sat down at my place and waited patiently, about 20 minutes went by before I heard the loud groan of the dining hall doors open. I heard father laughing, but another voice rung out, it was one that I didn't know.
I turned to see a handsome man walking beside father's short, stocky figure. This man was tall, reaching the height of 6'3, his long curling black, hair reached just below his upper chest. He was broad, muscular, and had some interesting skin markings. The vivid black lines curved and stretched up his arms. His bright blue eyes found mine, and he stopped walking, and gasped. The king followed his line of vision and saw me.
"Oh my sweet Arielina! How beautiful you are, please come. This is the Prince of Kithedia. Come introduce yourself, sweet girl." the King beckoned.
As I got up from my seat, both of the men gasped loudly.
"Arielina, where did you get that magnificent dress from?" Father asked.
"Oh! I'm sorry your majesty. I sent that up to her room for her, tis a gift from my world, to hers." the deep voiced, attractive man said.
"One more gift," he held out a long but not very wide box to me.
"May I? " he asked and for some reason I couldn't speak, so I just nodded.
He opened the white silky box, what it contained, was beautiful. A necklace, with white and teal jewels on a golden chain, I turned around and held up my braid. His fingers slightly touched my neck sending tingles, and warmth throughout my body. He clasped the beautiful item around my neck, it almost spiderwebed from my neck, the biggest jewel falling right above my heart, it was oddly warm.
"Thank you. These are all, very beautiful." I said bowing my head. Then the prince took my hand, pulling it to his mouth and kissed my fingers.
"You are most welcome, you look astonishing. " the prince replied.
I looked at dad who had a ear to ear grin on his face.
"Come! Let us talk and eat." the prince and I both agreed and walked to our designated seats.
"This is Prince Axius." Father chuckled.
"And, you're getting married!" and even though he was a very attractive man, I could not help but to gasp in horror.
"What?!" it almost came out as a squeek. My eyes were wide, I was honestly kinda scared.
"We need an arranged marriage to keep the peace between the countries. Arieleia, honey please don't freak out." King Sindari says softly.
"I would be honored, for you to be my queen." the prince adds.
"Why can't he court me first? Huh? At least let me see if I like him! Dad!" I spoke frantically.
"Fine. I will court you, I will make dinner myself in my kingdom. Kithedia is beautiful, I believe you will love it. How about you stay for a month and then tell me your decision? " the prince says to me.
Well he is making an effort. I think to myself.
"Ugh. Fine. I will come with you." I state reluctantly.
"Great!" the king exclaims.
"Finish eating, then go pack your things you're leaving after that." he says nonchalantly.
The rest of dinner went by quietly. I barely consumed anything, my nerves prickled with, a kind of odd sensation. My body felt warm, and my heart fluttered everytime Axius spoke.
King Sindari was making jokes and, telling tales of his kingdom.
When dinner was finally over I excused myself, and started packing my things. I felt, almost numb. I, however, was mildly excited to see the ancient Kingdom of Kithedia.
As I was walking back to the grand enterance with my things, I was so engrossed in my ththoughts, that I found myself lost in the palace. It was easy walking down these long corridors. One wrong left instead of a right, and you could very easily end up in the deepest parts of the mountain. Trying to back track was even harder, getting myself even more lost.
Great, this is just great! First I get engaged and now I'm lost in Grendelden. Why? I thought to myself. I kept walking, corridor after corridor, they all started looking all the same. I couldn't differate the different halls.
  I took a right trying to get out of the maze I was in, and this corridor was different. This one was a dead end, only a door at the end of the hall. The carvings were more hetic, not as precise and beautiful. There was a woman carved into the hard earth. She had long black hair, and oval eyes. Her waist was thin, but she was curvy, just like me.
  The carvings spoke of her, the savior of the great war. How she would fly a white dragon to battle, how griffin ,and hawk would join her side. To defeat a dark entity, how our world would join together and conquer this demon.
  I looked up at the stone door, carvings covered it, top to bottom, it had a story also, how the woman would love a god. How this womans love and compassion would save the earth. I pushed on the door, it slowly creaked open.
There in the middle of this room was a tomb,  it sparkled and glittered,  it was gold.
  Here lies the queen of Grendelden,  bringer of peace and harmony.
  I turned and looked at the head of the queens tomb, a statue stood tall amongst the room. A hole was drilled into the statues chest, the gem looked like my necklaces big stone in the middle.
  I took off my necklace and pushed the stone into the slot, it clicked,  but done nothing else,  I pushed and then tried turning it.
POP
Oh shit.
  I thought to myself, the earth beneath my feet rumbled, the mountain groaned. A crack appeared to open up on the wall, another room of the other side of it.
Walking through the hole I could see a window to the outside of the palace. The tomb was at the base of the mountain, hidden away in a little corner. I walked out then opened the window and jumped, softly landing of the grass. I then walked, heading to the enterance of the kingdom, all my stuff still in hand.
  I guess it is time to go.
I was very somber about having to leave so quickly, but I also had alot on my mind, maybe a little getaway is what I needed after all.