Chapter Five

ANGELINA'S POV:

"Avareen. A Kingdom of beauty and wonder. A place where creatures can exist without the human beings even knowing of our existence. The humans live in a seperate world. Only seperated by a gateway that is known only to the royals and the elders. The people of Avareen are able to enter the gateway but once they go through, they cannot return. Their powers are stripped and they must live the rest of their existence as a human being. Usually the only times that the Avarinians end up crossing the gateway is either due to banishment for a misuse of their powers or by simple choice. Wishing to live a life free of magic but those cases are very rare. There is another form of banishment and that is when an Avarinian is forced to remain in his/her animalistic form and are put away into the never-ending forest. They are trapped there, unable to leave due to the spell used to put them in their permanent form. Losing all sense of humanity."

I read Avareen's history book for children with great interest. I've always hated my history lessons, hence why I was probably the only person in the whole land that had no idea about what lurked within the forest. I had formed a bad habit of daydreaming, becoming so lost in my thoughts that I cannot focus on what is really happening before me. My parents never felt the need to inform me additionally as they assumed I payed "great attention" to my studies. More fool them. The only lessons I ever enjoyed was music, singing and literature. I love to read books. It takes me to a whole new world. Placing me in someone else's life, imagining it to be my own. My mother tells me that the romance novels I read are not "lady-like" as they portray a false sense of reality but I don't care, I love them. I want to be like one of those heroins who find true love despite all the hardships they encounter. Most importantly their freedom. I wish I had that gift that everyone who is not related to the royals seems to possess. 

"Hmmm...." I sigh audibly. Back into dreamy-land I go. I wonder what it would be like to be a simple village girl who marries a handsome farmer or maybe even a blacksmith, they have the freedom to love each other, no stupid pretense and lessons on how to walk in a straight line elegantly or how to sit with a perfectly straight back. Or even when someone is being rude and unbearable, I must reply kindly when personally I'd rather give said person a well deserved slap. These latter thoughts have made me grouchy I don't think I'll carry on thinking for now and with that I come back to the present.

My ladies-in-waiting are currently focused on styling my hair, which is naturally wavy. They've twisted and braided it into a beautiful updo, adding pretty little diamanté droplets hooked into the twists, giving me that added soft sparkle. My dress is a full A-line gown which falls off the shoulders, the sleeves barely two inches thick in width. The colour, a deep red like a matured rose, when it's at it's most intoxicating in aroma and most deep in colour. I love it. It's layered in silk and chiffon, each layer is slightly shorter than the last, creating a ruffled effect. There are silk roses edged with small diamonds clustering at the right side of my waist where the layers are ruffled together, uniting within the cluster of roses. The bodice is lined with delicate diamonds encrusted within, complete with a sweetheart neckline. 'I'm in love'. Who needs a man when I can wear such a beautiful gown? I shake my head, I shouldn't be so materialistic and yet....I just can't help myself. 'I'M SORRY!' I dramatically apologise to myself. Yep, definitely not crazy...at all. 

"Thankyou ladies" I smile sweetly at them, my eyes sparkle with delight at how they can so effortlessly transform me from a caterpillar into a butterfly...an overly dressed butterfly. All the same, I have to admit I do look lovely. 'if I say so myself' internally smugging at my facade of internal non-existing confidence.  "You're welcome my lady, will that be all?" The eldest one, Elizabeth, voiced with kindly respect. "Yes thankyou, I love it!"   They all curtsey consecutively before quietly exiting my bed-chamber. 

I inhale and exhale a deep breath, trying and failing to calm my anxious nerves. I'm worried to disappoint my parents and fail to charm at least one of the invited male guests. A bad feeling had fallen at the pit of my stomach ever since I had returned from my ordeal at the forest, I'm scared something is going to go terribly wrong. 'what if I trip and fall down the stairs like an incompetent fool for all to see?' 'what if I somehow make a complete spectacle of myself and embarrass my family to the point they banish me to the human lands?' 'okay now I'm overthinking it all, all will be well.' 'just breathe' 'Breathe.' 'Yes that's better...not really but I'll pretend it is.' 

A gentle knock at the door interrupts my breathing exercise. "Come in." I announce timidly. My nerves are wreaking havoc within me. Looking down at my hands I notice they are even shaking slightly. My mother slips through the doorway as gracefully as ever, she always has this awe-inspiring dignity surrounding her aura that I just can't comprehend. 'How does it come so naturally to her?'

"Are you ready my dear?" 

"I think so."

"It will be alright once you're down there, let me have a look at you." I gave a little twirl for my mother before she took my hand in hers, looking at me gently with tears in her eyes, she said "I'm so proud of you my darling, you remind me of when I was your age. All the balls, the dancing, laughter and many suitors wishing for my hand in marriage. Choose wisely tonight my dear, your future depends on it."

"How did you choose Mama? Do you think you chose wisely?"

"Of course, your father can be stern, even harsh but when he was a young man he was charming and so very kind, so strong and brave. Most importantly of course he was the most handsome" She gave me a wink causing me to blush and laugh slightly.

"I thought you always said looks are not important, it's only the eyes that count?" I finished with a shocked gasp. 

"Well it's always nice to accumulate the full package." She sent me another wink making me burst into a fit of giggles, accompanyed by her own full laugh. I felt a gleam of hope twinkle in my heart as I smiled at my mother. "I hope I find love as you did Mama."

"You will my dear, you will. You'll have your fair pick of powerful men tonight, no man in their right mind after having one look at you could be able to resist." She smiled proudly at me as my nerves began to calm by her reassuring words. "Now are you ready to go down my dear?" 

"Yes Mama."

With that we proceeded down the large, marble staircase before stopping in front of two enormous oak doors. The feeling in the pit of my stomach suddenly grew to the point I was too afraid to enter through to the other side of the oaken barriers. They opened suddenly, my heart rate picking up it's pace. My feet seemed rooted in place as my mother attempted to lead me inside, she turned giving me a reassuring smile while outstretching her hand. I inhaled a deep breath, gathering my courage I placed my hand within hers and took a step into the crowded ballroom...

(Thankyou for reading, sorry this chapter's a bit late in coming. I lost track of time. Please rate and comment what you think and if you have any ideas on how I can improve etc... Do you like Angelina? Is Hadeon portrayed as heartless and cold? Or do you get a different type of impression of his character? Let me know in the comments! Thankyou💋💖)