SO, New novel It's all *cough cough* CinderStella's *cough cough* fault. She MADE me write this.
Chapter 1-
Liena stood in the courtyard of the palace, looking around. She was reluctant to remove her shrug. The dress her mother had forced her to wear was much too low cut, and she felt venerable without the warm wool shrug. “Take off your wrap,” Her mother snapped, her voice low, eager to not cause a scene.
Liena considered causing a scene, but decided against it. She didn’t need more attention then the peach colored dress caused her. She handed the wrap too the man waiting to take it, turning away before she could feel his eyes on her. “Miss.” The man said to her back. Liena ignored him, walking away from her family. ‘This festival of trees is cursed.’ she thought to herself, inching towards the library door. ‘I wish it had never come.’
“Liena?” Said a low voice. She whirled around, sure that Randolph would be standing there, ready to grab her. But no. It was just Theodore. “Oh Theo!” She said, flinging herself at him and wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you!”
“Hello Ena!” He said, hugging her and picking her off the ground. “How is my beautiful girl?”
Laughing, Liena pulled away and looked Theo up and down. “Not bad old friend, not bad. Tell me, how is the war going up north?”
Theo’s face darkened and he shook his head, his dark curls bouncing on his forehead. “I don’t want to speak of it. I really don’t.”
“That bad?” Liena said, sitting down in one of the large armchairs inside the library.
“That bad.” Theo replied, smiling. “And it’d darken this lovely night.” He looked her up and down.“Oh my. What does she have you wearing now, Dear?”
Liena rolled her eyes. “Please, don’t mention it. I begged, I cried, I threatened, I stormed, I raged. Nothing could get me out of this abomination.”
He grinned at her. “Crying didn’t work? As I remember, you were an excellent crier.”
“Still am, but she’s apparently learned to block it out. She was convinced that I wouldn’t find a suitor if I was wearing something decent.”
“I can fix that.” Theodore, said, grinning sinisterly.
“You can?”
“I can. Tell me, if I happened to pretend to be interested in you tonight, would your parents believe it?”
Liena laughed. “Ah, perhaps, perhaps. Just depends on how you play it.”
He put his forehead against hers and sighed. “Well, I can be charming when I want to be.”
“You can? First I’ve heard of this.”
“I’ve changed a lot... Have you?”
“I’ve changed from the little girl that ran around with the boys to the girl that won’t leave the house from fear of being caught alone and captured by Randolph.”
“Captured by who?” Theo said, pulling away and looking murderous. His eyes were sparking with anger from the thought of someone hurting his best friend.
“By Randolph Adlington. he has a weird fascination with me. And he is rich. Which makes my parents love the thought of him. He is the reason for this costume tonight.”
“Ah. And he is betrothed to you?”
“No. You know full well people can’t be betrothed until the festival of trees is over.”
The festival of trees was a yearly winter celebration, which lasted two weeks while men were in the forests cutting down the trees for the winter firewood supply. It was during this time that balls and banquets were held, and anyone looking for a wife or husband hoped to find one.
“True. Well then, I suppose they’ve forgotten how rich I am as well.”
“Theo, you’re not that rich.”
“Not as rich as Randolph, for sure, but at least rich enough to give your parents a sum of money for you.”
Liena shivered. “They really don’t care, do they, Theo?”
“We answered that question a long time ago, Ena.”
She stood up. “We can’t stay in here the whole party. It’s time for you to show me what an amazing actor you are.”
He laughed. “You’d be surprised.”
She took his outstretched arm and walked out of the library, attempting to look happy. And she was, really. She had her best friend beside her, one that could be killed at any time, while he worked as a doctor for the war. She pressed against him as she caught sight of Randolph, who was standing at the other side of the room, separated from her by different colored gowns and coats. The shinning light from the candles that floated around on their own accord, the golden light bouncing off the marble walls and floors. The light shone down, and Liena felt exposed. She wished she could snuff the golden light, plunge everyone into darkness.
Theo patted her gloved hand with his. “Don’t worry Ena. He won’t get you tonight.”
“You truly are a great friend.” She whispered, smiling.
“Don’t you forget it.” He grinned back, then led her towards the ballroom, His hand gripping hers to his arm. A waltz was ringing through the room, and Liena smiled. “Let’s dance, Theo.”
“What, now?” He mumbled. He had always hated to dance.
“Yes, now. We came to here to dance, didn’t we?”
As they walked to the center of the room, Theodore mumbled about how he hadn’t come to dance, and he really would prefer not too. Liena ignored him and whirled around, placing her hand on his shoulder, and holding his other hand in hers. Unwillingly, he put his hand on her hip, and they slowly began to turn, getting a feel for the music.
Even though Theo hated to dance, he was very good at it. He kept up with the best dancer in the room, lifting Liena and whirling her at the right times. She laughed as he threw her into the air, only to catch her a few seconds later, and twirl her out away from him and then back.
“Can we stop now?” He asked, as the music stopped for a few seconds.
She turned, her eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed. “I suppose.”
“Don’t look so disappointed, Ena.” He led her off the dance floor, heading towards the refreshments table. She sighed and leaned against one of the marble posts. “Would you get me a drink Theo? I’m so tired I can’t walk another inch.”
“Of course.” He winked at her and walked away, nodding to the people he passed. As charming as always.
“Well.” Said a rough, low voice from behind her. She flinched and wished she had accompanied Theo to the drinks table. “It seems the angel has found herself a devil.”
“Pardon me?” Liena said, turning around. She groaned inside, realizing she had just turned her low cut front towards Randolph. Sure enough, his eyes flew across her chest and down.
“I’m saying that you’ve found a devil.” He said after licking his lips and turning his dark eyes back to her face. “A devil fighting for the wrong side, incidentally.”
“I was under the impression they were the ones fighting for the King and Queen.”
“The King and Queen are the wrong side, my dear.” He took a step closer to her, and she flinched. She could feel his drink soured breath on her face and neck.
“Liena?” Said another voice, Theo’s. “Is this person bothering you?”
“Yes.” She said, stumbling back to him. “Yes, he is.”
Theo looked Randolph up and down, while Randolph did the same to him. “It would be in your best interest to leave Liena alone, Sire.”
“And who are you?”
Liena spoke up, her voice wavering. “He is my escort.”
“He didn’t bring you in.”
“Fine then. He is my ‘date’ if you wish.”
Randolph rolled his eyes. “I’m sure. Well, Miss, I leave you in his... Hands.”
Theo watched as Randolph left and then turned to Liena. “Come.” He said urgently. But before they could move, Liena’s mother stomped up to them, a murderous look on her face. “Liena! What in all that is good and holy are you doing?”
“Why, accompanying Theo wherever he wishes, Mother.” She said sweetly.
“What about Randolph?” Mrs. Alder spat, her face reddening.
“What, that molester? I would rather not be raped during the festival of trees, Mother.”
“Mr. Adlington is a gentleman, Liena. How dare you use such crude words.”
Liena rolled her eyes. “I will not marry him, Mother. I refuse too.”
“You do not have a choice, Liena. It is up to your father and I.”
“What parents force their daughter to marry someone like that?” Liena gasped, her eyes sparkling with anger.
“The parents that want a future for that said daughter. But I will not discuss it here. We will talk about it at home.”
Liena turned on her heel and pulled Theo away, her shoulders hunched in anger. They left the ballroom and ran into the library again. Hidden among the dusty volumes, Liena fell to the floor, her voluminous skirt flying out around her. Her shoulders shook from unshod tears, and Theo knelt beside her. “Oh, I’m sorry Ena.”
“Why are they so cruel?” She gasped, tears running down her cheeks.
“I’m afraid I have no answer for that, Darling.”
She leaned against his shoulder. “I want to run away Theo.”
He pulled away and turned her to face him. “What?”
“I want to run away. I want to go with you, back to the camp. I want to help the wounded. I want to escape the never ending parties, the never ending darkness that will be my life if that scum marries me.”
“Okay.” Theo said, helping her up. “Let’s go.”
“What, now?”
“If you want to run away, now is the time. Everyone is here. We can sneak back to your house, grab your clothes. The camp in a few days journey away. I’m meeting two of my friends in town tonight to go back. Wynn, you’ll like her, and her husband Aster.”
“Okay. Let’s.”
“You’ll need a cloak of some kind.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Liena walked out of the library, keeping her head down.
Heading towards the kitchen, she hoped that a warm hearted cook would help her cause. “Excuse me,” She said when she entered the stone walled and floored kitchen.
“You’re in the wrong place, Lass.” Said a voice.
“I don’t think so. I need a cloak. I’m running away.” Liena replied boldly.
“Well, I won’t stand in your way. Look over there.” A hand waved through the steam towards the corner, where cloaks had been heaped on the dirty floor. Liena picked a heavy wool cloak off the top and ran back to the library, thanking the person that she couldn’t see through the steam.
Theo was waiting for her. “Let’s go.” He said, smiling at her, wrapped in a much to large cloak. “I’m afraid you got the duchess’ over coat, Dear.” He laughed.
“Shut up.”
He chortled and led her out, sneaking her through the deserted entryway and out the large oak front doors.
“Let’s go run away.” Theo whispered into her ear. And together, they ran towards the carriage house where Theo’s horse waited, puffing warm clouds of air into the cold chill.
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