The Legend of Arouga

Fiancé

I am almost 18. The day I saw the dragons was 8 years ago and I haven't seen them since. A year after my encounter my mother passed. It was hard on us all but especially my dad. He turned into this bitter old man who was never happy and very stubborn. Since I didn't have a mother to teach me to be a lady my dad hired some women from the village to teach me but it never worked out. I was to interested in sword fighting and hunting to sit down and learn to sew or cook. This displeased my father but I didn't care. I always knew I was different from my whole family and I was very happy with who I was. But I've wondered my whole life why I don't fit in here. Why am I so different? It's an answer I may never find.

I stand at 5'5", my hair is still very red and very long reaching my waist it isn't as messy but still a bit fluffed, my eyes turned more grey, and i don't have as many freckles as I use to. I'm not skinny like the rest of the girls my age but I'm not fat either. My nan says I have all the right junk in the right places butI like to label myself as curvy with a bit of belly.

Since I am almost 18 it is custom for the daughter of a lord to get married to another lord's family when she turns 18. We are the Blaque household, one of the most powerful households. There is one other household as powerful as ours, Lord Sky's household. My father and Lord Sky believe it would be a good thing to join households. I begged and pleaded with my father because I do not want to get married to some boy I've never met. But my father is very stubborn and won.

It was nightfall and my father believed we should have a dinner with the Sky family so I could meet who I was bethrothed to. I walked into our families dinning hall. There was a long wooden table in the middle of the room with enough food to feed a tiny army. The room was lite my candles hanging from the ceiling and on the table. On the walls were tapestrys of the family and my father's triumphs. I sat between to my father and my fiancé. My father purposed a toast to me and my fiancé. I wanted to throw up the whole time while my fiancé just smiled and blushed. This was crazy. I don't even know my fiancé's name and yet here we are. After my father was finished everyone cheered then began their side conversations. I began to eat then heard someone talking. I look over and my fiancé was trying to get my attention. "Hello, my name is Dagon." he says. I pull off a fake smile, "Hello I'm Arouga". I go back to eating. It's not that I don't like the boy, I just don't want to be married to someone I don't know or love. He wasn't bad looking. He probably stood 6 foot with messy blonde curls, pale blue eyes, and a very sharp jaw line. From what I could tell he had nice muscles and seemed very calm and relaxed but the only thing throwing me off was his nose. It looked crooked. Maybe he had broken it. A voice pulls me out of my train of thought "So, how are you taking to all of this?" Dagon says. I give him a confused look "What do you mean?" I say. "How do you feel about us getting married soon?" he says. I look down at my food "Confused" I say. "Well, I hope you grow to love me one day Arouga." he says. I remian quiet. "Will you come with me? I'd like to get away from all this noise." Dagon says. "Sure" i reply.

I get up from my chair and tell my father I'm going with Dagon. I follow him down the hall and out these doors to a balcony. I gaze up into the stars wishing I could be as free. "You are very beautiful" I hear a voice say snapping me out of my daydream. I turn to see Dagon starring at me. "Thank you" I reply. "I know we are bethrothed to each other but I'd like to give you this ring" He holds out this very beautiful ring with a violet stone. "I saw this ring and knew I had to get it for you" I just stare, shocked at how serious he is about me. "Thank you Dagon but..." he cuts me off "No please, I got it for you" I fake another smile and let him slide the ring on my finger. "Thank you" I say. He steps closer. "Arouga?" he says. "Yes Dagon?" I reply. "May I kiss you?" he asks. Shocked by his question "What?" I say. "I'm sorry but you're beautiful and I'd like to kiss you." I'm speechless by what he says. He leans in to kiss me and I step back but he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in. I'm frozen from shock. His lips finally reach mine. I see nothing but a pair of emerlad green eyes. Then everything goes black.