The Enslaved

Chapter 1

Dahlia's body jolted as her father slammed the goblet down on the table, ripping her from her thoughts abruptly. She shoved her tarnished silver hair behind her ear, her hand trembling. Her eyes, seemingly too big for her face, glanced around her, two orbs made of wild lavender fields.

"We must drink to our soldiers on the war front," her father's voice rang out above the speaking in the Great Hall. The ladies and lords had all gathered for the annual winter solstice feast. Dahlia thought of it more as the annual drunkard festival. It always seemed to last for hours. They were on their third course, a cold honeydew and clove soup, yet still had more to make their way through.

Her sister, the fair and sweet Lily, nudged her silently, tilting her head at the boy sitting across the table. The boy, Ash, had been staring at Dahlia for quite a while no. While Dahlia had to admit, he was a very handsome gentleman, his looks had no charm upon her. His feminine face, high cheekbones, and large stormy grey eyes seemed to pierce through her in an unsettling manner. Dahlia, glancing down to escape his gaze, took a sip of wine from her crystal goblet.

The servants brought out the fourth course, placing the neatly arranged plates in front of each member of the table without a word. A nice warm onion salad with mountain mushrooms, her very favorite. No fairy ate meat, as they were a peaceful race. The kingdom gardens had done extraordinarily well this harvest. Every bite tasted as if the Goddess had kissed it herself. Dahlia's thin, amethyst and gold flecked wings fluttered away happily behind her.

Her father, King Oberion, happily chattered away with his counsel advisors who sat to his left. Dahlia struggles intently to listen to his words.

"Our men on the field are doing well, don't you think?" Oberion stared with deep pride. "Of course, Majesty," responded advisor Pyrus, "no one has ever doubted their strength.

The fae of the Sun Kingdom had long spent years in battle with the rebel's of the wood nymphs. The wood nymphs had been enslaved many years ago by the Sun Kingdom. Wood nymphs had been forever known as a lesser race. Those tired of being looked down upon and the horrible capture and enslavement of their race had taken to fighting back against the Sun Kingdom. The Sun Kingdom fought to keep the peace, and to stamp out any rebelling they saw.

The fifth course of the feast, onion and egg pie with fresh cucumber, had been placed in front of her by a secant boy. His hand, thin and dark olive in tone, seemed to linger slightly above hers. Dahlia looked up, and was met by two warm green eyes encased by long thick black lashes. His lips, full, a lush strawberry waiting to be plucked. His dark tousled chocolate locks seemed to have been ruffled into an artfully messy style. She looked at him in confusion, and when he winked with a grin, was lift in an even more confused state.

"Boy!" Her fathers voice seemed to ring from every corner of the room. Moment gone, both Dahlia and the mysterious boy looked at her father in confusion. "You seemed to have forgotten your place. Do not allow me to witness you forget it again." Her father stated simply, glaring at the boy as if he were evil incarnate.

The boy simply bowed his head, turning and walking back to the kitchens. Dahlia stares after him, wondering who he was. She spent the remainder of the feast staring at her untouched plate in awe.