Uniting 2 Kingdoms (for Aymer)

[bendmeover360]

Fabiana di’ Moretti looked around bored at her surroundings. They had really only been traveling for about 2 weeks, but it felt like 2 months to Fabiana. She knew they were getting close now, and noticed that this climate was much cooler and more mountainous than the coastal city of Lamentaro in the Kingdom of Rossclo. There would be few days in the sun near the beach here.

Fabiana let out another exaggerated sigh when her father said, “Fabi, you need to be more positive about this. You are the only one among your sisters who will be a queen! You should be happy for the husband I’ve chosen for you.”

“Yes, daddy,” Fabiana said, “but did you have to choose one who lives so far from anything important?”

“He lives close to something important,” her father countered. “He lives close to a very large army and many well-fortified cities. He’s the best ally we could have asked for.”

“Well, I’m sure I’ll enjoy being in the radiance of large armies and fortified cities on beautiful summer days.”

“Watch your tone with me, child. Now look! We’re getting close now. You can see the towers of his fortress over there around the bend. We’ll be there within the hour.”

Fabiana looked out at the towers up ahead. It was a rather nice looking fortress with beautiful architecture which probably had a nice view of the sun setting over the mountains, but Fabiana still longed for the coastal life. Still, perhaps there would be something to do here. She would wait to meet her husband to be.

[Aymer]

The sun did little to warm the party of travelers winding up the mountains, the air growing colder with each step upward, going from a crisp morning at the foot of the great stone pillars, to a chilly afternoon, to an evening near freezing.

Coming around another bend in the road, the city of Toranel lay before them. The city, smaller than most of the grand capitals of the world, was situated on a small plateau between two great mountains towering into the heavens. Nearly a thousand feet above the city, chiseled out of a great stony outcropping, was t he great fortress Alderhorn, a grey sculpture in the sunset.

From on of the innumerable towers rising from the black rock, Prince Anian looked out across the plunging valley that fell before him. Today the princess would be arriving, and thought he knew it would be impossible to see their arrival, he still scoured the mountain trails leading to the city for signs of their coming. His short cropped blond hair blew in the terrible cold wind, his blue eyes searching, searching, searching...

He was not too much to look at. He was of no great height, nor of any great physical mass. In fact, he could have been said to be rather scrawny. Wrapped in furs to keep out the biting air, he descended from the high tower towards the main courtyard. He joined his father at the gate to welcome his wife-to-be.

[bendmeover360]

As they neared the gates and were allowed entry, Fabiana asked, "Do you know which one is Prince Anian?"

"I've never met the lad," her father admitted. "I've only ever met his father, and if we have any luck his father will be dead in a few years and you'll be queen."

Fabiana liked the sound of being queen, even if she wished that it was over a more coastal kingdom. She looked down and straightened the long white dress she had been given for this day and made sure her long brown hair had not become unbraided. If she was going to be a mountain queen, she would be the most beautiful mountain queen who had ever existed.

It was finally her turn to step out of the carriage and she looked around with her green eyes trying to spot her husband to be. She saw the king, but she saw no great prince by his side. He was about the same height as she was and she didn't even consider herself all that tall, and as far as she could tell, he wasn't much more muscular. She rolled her eyes slightly but then forced a smile and a curtsy at the king and his son.

[Aymer]

As you come down from your carriage, he can't help but appreciate your figure. He had privately worried about receiving an ugly wife, but Anian saw that his fears were unfounded. However, he could tell she was obviously displeased with him, and her eye roll irked him inside, though he politely returned her curtsy with a bow.

Their fathers approached each other and make formal greeting. Anian's father invited the visiting royals into his great hall as to escape the biting cold, which Anian can see Fabiana is not prepared for. They make their way into the cavernous hall, and warm ale is provided to all present.

As the two great kings converse over their drinks, Prince Anian made his way over to Fabiana. "It is a great pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. You must know that I presently ind myself the happiest and most fortunate man in all of the world." He looked up into Fabiana's eyes, but could tell that the feeling was not reciprocated.

[bendmeover360]

Fabiana sighed and dryly said, "The pleasure is all mine, good prince. May our peoples always be united." She knew that this was a polite thing to say, but she didn't really care. She had always hoped to be a queen some day, but she was still feeling quite uncertain about her king and kingdom. "So what is there to do around here, Anian?" she finally asked.

[Aymer]

Anian could see right through the facade of politeness put up by his fiance. She was disappointing in him, for what reason he knew not why. However, her persisted. "There are innumerable mountain trails winding through the hills and valleys. It is a great pleasure to take a long ride through the canyons and ravines. Have you ever ridden a horse before?"

[bendmeover360]

"Yes," Fabiana replied in a still rather dry tone, "many times through the vineyards and beaches around my father's holdings. Perhaps a mountain trail could be... quaint though." In part Fabiana knew that this would be her future husband and that she ought to grow accustomed to living with him "in a civilized way" as her caretakers had said as she had grown up, but she was not quite yet finished judging him and his cold mountain home yet.

"I believe we are to be married tomorrow, or sometime in the next week, whenever your people have the ceremony ready, I don't know. Perhaps we should get some rest for tomorrow."

[Aymer]

The prince laughed. "Knowing my father, I highly doubt that he would want to move so quickly on something so important. It is likely that he will spend a great deal of time preparing the event. If the wedding occurs in the next fortnight, it would come as a surprise to me."

Meanwhile, the two kings, having both been served their fair share of ail, were merrily conversing with each other over some long-forgotten military campaign. He turned once again to face Fabiana. "Would you care for a tour of the castle while our fathers.... reminisce? It is important that you come to know the old keep as well as your old home."

[bendmeover360]

Fabiana was a bit annoyed at this turn of events, but if it would be so long until their wedding (perhaps her father had exaggerated the "already preparing" part) then she might as well do something. "Alright, show me around the castle, and if there is anything... strong we can get into, show me that as well. If we're going to get to know each other, we should find something to loosen our lips."

[Aymer]

Prince Anian smiled "I know just where to go."

The tunnels stretched into the mountain, for how far no one dared to find out. They had been here allegedly since before the castle, and they were put to use as the crypt of the House Mirnord... and as a cellar for storing whatever fine drinks suited the ruler of the stronghold.

The prince approached the tunnels with caution. "My father claims that he will have anyone who tries to steal his whiskey beheaded. I doubt he would do that to us, but I would still suggest caution. My younger sister was once caught trying to sneak a bottle of fine wine.... she still tells horror stories from her months in the nunnery." I smile at you mischievously.