Noble Key

Chapter One

Emma's POV

"Emma. Emma! It's time to wake up," I heard somebody yell into my face. 

Peaking my eyes open, I opened my eyes to see one of my best friends, Ariana, leaning closely into my face.

"EMMA! WAKE U-," I quickly put my hand over her mouth, quieting her instantly.

"I heard you the first time Ariana. I'm getting up now. Geez." 

"About time. I've been trying to wake you up for five minutes now." She said, jumping backwards off my bed while I sat up.

Rolling my eyes at her impatience, I tried quickly to get dressed. Key word, tried. As per usual, Ariana had to force a blue peasant dress on to my body, followed by long black stockings and a pair of black leather ankle boots. Ariana stepped back to examine my outfit while I pouted.

"Ariana, why do I always have to wear these uncomfortable corsets and dresses? I find it so pointless that girls have to wear this, while they guys get to wear slacks and loose shirts."

That little comment rewarded me a small smack in the back of the head, "Stop grouching. We have to go or we'll be late."

Ariana and I ran out the door to meet up with our two other friends, Bella and Katherine. Although Ariana doesn't live with me, she always wakes up early to make sure I'm up and ready for morning lessons at church. Bella and Katherine live on the better side of the village, so they just meet us in front of the church. I slipped from my thoughts and tuned in to what Ariana was rambling on about.

"-Honestly I don't understand why King Prosper is so demanding about the new knighthood registry. It's not like all the noble's kids aren't shipped away to be trained into a knight."

"You know it's not like that. Since the war started, things have been hectic. Ever since those men broke in and-," I trailed off, not wanting to continue that sentence.

I saw Ariana glance at me sadly, knowing to what I was referring to. Both our families suffered from that attack and nobody in the kingdom had recovered from that attack.

"Emma! Ariana! Hurry up. Classes are going to start soon," A voice broke through my thoughts. 

Both Katherine and Bella stood proudly in front of the church, holding their book and bag.

Katherine Carter was the daughter of merchants who sold off to neighboring kingdoms. She had long red hair that she piled on top of her head in a bun, decorating it with fancy hair ornaments. Her green eyes shown brightly as she grinned, waving to both Ariana and I. The outfit of the day consisted of a long gold and white noble ladies gown with white stockings and white leather ankle boots. Beside her stood Bella, who was quite the opposite of Katherine.

Bella Taylor was the daughter of a seamstress who made clothes for all the higher ups. She had long, curly black hair that fell to her mid back. Her hazel eyes were almost as warm as her smile as she greeted us. The outfit Bella wore consisted of a long wine red noble ladies gown with gold accents, a black corset squeezing her already tiny frame. On her feet were a pair of black stockings and black leather ankle boots.

"About time you guys got here. We could've been late if you took any longer," Katherine said as we climbed the stairs that lead us into the church.

"Well we would've been earlier but somebody," Ariana starts, glancing at me, "Wouldn't wake up."

I grunted as we walked into class, "Well we weren't late were we? Stop complaining."

They all chuckled as we took our seats. Just as we took our seats, Mother Jade walked in, looking mean as ever. She placed her things on her desk and looked out over us, glaring.

"Praised be. Please rise as we follow through the lord's prayer." The whole class rises and bows their heads as a chorus of voices pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.'

We all sit down as Mother Jade opened her bible and started her lesson. I leaned and put my head into my hands and slowly drifted off.

~~~~

"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself until your dad gets home?" Ariana asks me this every time she drops me off at home. 

"I'll be fine, Ari. You worry too much."

"I know but I always worry about you. You're like family to me."

I reached out and hugged Ariana to me, earning a gasp from her. Rarely, I hugged people so this came as a surprise to her. Of course, it didn't stop her from hugging me back. 

As Ariana stepped back, I took a good look at Ariana. Her long white hair flowed down her back in waves and her red eyes stared back into mine as she smiled.

"I should get going. Dad is expecting me back soon." I waved goodbye as Ariana turned and left me by myself. 

I drifted into my room and grabbed my hunting outfit, which consisted of black pants and a green long-sleeved shirt with a black corset. To go with it, I had black combat boots and my bow and arrows. Quickly, I pull everything on and head to the kitchen, grabbing an apple that Mr. Carter brought over the other day. After completely devouring the apple, I locked up the house and made my way to the forest.

If I could call any place my home, it would be the forest. It's like the forest called me and when I reached the treeline, I turned to look back at my house. I glanced over at our small cabin before I quickly broke through the treeline and into the depths of the forest.