The next morning she woke earlier than normal, unease setting in due to her strange surroundings. A large bed with thick Maroon silk blankets made her to hot, yet the thin pastel red curtains did nothing to block the cold air coming in. She chose to sleep on a chair in the corner of the room covered by her fur cloak. The knock came to the door unexpected and made her leap up ready to face this person. The door opened and two young girls in pale pink dresses hurried in. With them they carried clothing and bathing items. The two girls grabbed their skirts and sunk down for a moment before standing again.
Aynilia had never seen this behavior before and it confused her. "What do you want?" she asked warily, stepping back towards the wall.
"Lady, we are here to help you bathe and dress for the tournament opening" One of the two girls spoke as if she had no idea what this stranger was asking for. "I don't need help" Aynilia sternly said, her expression confused and unnerved.
"We were instructed to help you. It is our duty." the other girl said annoyed. 'How could this girl be so uncivilized' she thought. One closed the door as the other descended on Aynilia.
Cranis was bored of the idea of this tournament. It was an ugly tradition for the monarch family. the council arranged others mates and yet made the strongest fight to be his. It was a disgusting display in his mind. The tasks were designed so that only a warrior class mate would stand a chance. 'This seems like a way to weed the herd' he thought. Lost in his daze he hadn't noticed that he wandered into the visitors ward of the palace. Until he heard loud crashing sounds coming from one the room and screaming.
Alarmed he ran to the door and pounded on it demanding entrance.
"Let go of me!" he heard a loud, yet wonderful voice yell. He busted through the door and was immediately embarrassed by the site before him. Two hand servants were forcibly undressing a young woman with stunning silver-white hair. She was fighting to yank her top back and her bare naked breasts were exposed. He couldn't help but stare at how her skin resembled the white moon in his mind. "Oh now what?!?!" The girl yelled frustrated dropping her shirt using her arms to cover her exposed breasts. Her angry eyes pierced his in such a way he had never experienced. He was stunned by her, unable to think or speak.
"All of your people call me uncivilized, but my people don't forcibly undress someone and they most certainly do not intrude on someone's personal space without being invited!" the angry moon doll shrieked. This broke Cranis' trance and he covered his eyes and turned his back to the scene. "Madam, the two servants are simply doing their job. Can you not let them do so before they are punished?" he spoke his tone unsteady. The heat rose to his face and his skin matched his deep red robes.
"And just who are you to tell me what to do?" Her voice was commanding and angry. 'Why am I not angered by her not knowing who I am?' Cranis thought perplexed. "Lady please. Just allow them to help you. The tournament ceremony will be starting soon" he spoke quickly and departed the room. He slammed the door shut behind him and Aynilia was left angry and confused by the encounter. She relaxed and allowed the girls to instruct her how to dress in the garb that she was unsure how to wear. It was lightweight and light metal plating covered her vital parts. The robing underneath was a silver with some kind of markings on it that Aynilia was sure she had seen somewhere before.
" Lady we must do your hair now. Allow us to do so" the exhausted girl spoke carefully not wanting to fight the strength of this girl again. Aynilia nodded and seated herself where the second lady instructed. "Why do you serve such arrogant people?" the Creegin girl could not help but ask. The two girls exchanged looks of bewilderment. "Lady is not from the city, is she?" One girl asked cautiously. "No I am from the Lake Lands to the south" Aynilia spoke low and sad reminded once again of her home that she may never see again. The shocked girls were now excited to finally meet a Creegin. Save for a few warrior class, no one had ever seen a Creegin. "So you are a Creegin being?" the girl probed lowly, interested. The nod in response made the girls ever more curious, but sensing the air in the room grow cold with sadness they probed no further. They liked this girl, she was different and, while a brute, quite fun. The two young girls worked their magic on her mysterious colored hair careful not to be to rough. They placed the circlet on her head and ushered the girl to a mirror. Aynilia had no idea who she was looking at, she didn't look fierce and animalistic. She looked more like a doll. She had never seen herself this way. She gently touched her face with her long fingers. "I wish mother could see me" she uttered quietly.
"What Moon Cycle did you battle your maternal?" One curious girl asked. Aynilia whipped around confused, "I never battled my mother" her voice laced with confusion. The two girls were unsure of this moment. They chose to ask her later if she survived the first round. "Follow us to the tournament ground Lady" they said in unison walking to the door.
"Welcome young mate potentials!" Aynilia stared up at the graceful woman from yesterday. "I am Matron Queen Tulas of the ruling Monarch family" She stated proudly. 'So that is why she had an air of arrogance when we met' the young creegin girl realized. She glanced around at the nine other girls standing around her. She noticed that some of the girls looked battle hardened and unfazed by this, while others looked meek and unable to hold a sword.
'What kind of unfair competition was this?' Aynilia wondered in confusion.
"You each have been exclusively chosen by the Council to take part in a tournament for the chance to be the mate of Prince Cranis" She spoke proudly ushering with one hand. A very familiar looking young man confidently walked out onto the raised pedestal. 'The rude boy who barged into my room?!?' she now understood his air of arrogance earlier. Now she was glaring daggers at the boy.
"This competition is set to weed out the weak and … undesirable candidates" she shot a glance to Aynilia, the white haired moon doll glaring up at the monarch family.
'Wait...So now I have to fight for my life? For him?' Aynilia went slack jawed at the thought of this primitive display. 'Things just went from bad to far worse. Oh High Priestess grant me strength' she prayed silently to herself.
