Welcome to Gaia! ::

Asriel was combing er fingers through her hair on the bed, reading a book. Alister's brother's fiance didn't talk much when they walked together into the castle. Asriel didn't know whether to think of her as someone to be avoided or someone to confide with. She gave a sigh to herself, braiding her hair mindlessly. Alister's brother bothered her, if only because she felt his intimidation and she could only wonder what he and Alister were speaking about. It must've been important since the two were kept talking for three hours. By that time, Asriel had taken a bath and was in bed, playing with the pocket knife she had hidden earlier under her pillow. She had forgotten the name of the man who gave it to her and now thought hard on who it was. She flipped the blade out, her reflection easily seen on the blade. The door opening startled her and she quickly shut the blade and jammed it under her pillow as secretly as she could, whether he could see or not. She didn't want him to see it.

Sitting up, Asriel looked at Alister's face. She studied it for a moment before speaking. "Is everything alright? What did you two talk about?" She asked, looking at him plainly as she pulled the covers into her lap.

Asriel watched him for a moment, seeing that distant look in his eye. It made her curious. What was he thinking about and obviously he was in deep thought. So much that he was changing his clothes in front of her. Wait! She pulled the covers over her head. Even if he didn’t show anything, Asriel was too childish to even look in the direction of a man getting dressed. She felt the bed move and she lowered the covered to her chin, looking at Alister’s back. He didn’t like looking at her, did he? She casted her eyes away before rolling her back to him as well. He was obviously lying about whatever he and his brother were talking about. Yet she couldn’t think of anything they could talk about for three hours and have Alister’s face looking so…grave. But if he felt that he could not confide in her, well…so be it. Asriel curled into a ball, burying her face into the pillow.
Her fingers felt cool metal. The pocket knife. It comforted her to know that at least some form of Eureka was protecting her from this hungry country. She felt the detailed handle, watching the wall as she mindlessly fell asleep.

Asriel was in the water again. The outstretched hand, her mother, the grass was no longer around her. The water was clearer but still dark. It was cold, that she could feel. But the feeling of drowning and breathing no longer concerned her. It was odd, how dreams worked so easily sometimes. She looked up, the large roots of the persimmon tree above her and the sun somewhere off in the distance. Asriel didn’t know how to swim and frankly, she didn’t need to. She began walking, looking around. The faces, the dark entities seemed nowhere in sight. She was far too deep to reach the surface anytime soon but the water still frightened her. She found herself tripping over something and found it to be a stair. She looked up. A stair case to the surface. How convenient. She held her dress, jumping on the first step. She had a hard time landing, floating some as the water puffed up her skirts and swirled at her hair. She landed though and found herself in a similar situation on the second stair. It was so unlike her first set of dreams since she had got into this country. Eventually, however, she found the staircase never ending and woke up before she even reached half way.
It was morning. Early again. She found herself having fallen asleep with the pocket knife in hand. Slowly did she slide it under her pillow and sat up, stretching her arms and yawning. She glanced over at the still body of Alister before the door knocked. Asriel slid out of bed to see who it was.

[ *Evilly laughs as I tap my fingers together*
Everything is going perfectly to my plans. Almost too perfectly, actually. It's scaring me. yum_puddi ]

Asriel found herself staring into the face of a maid who looked as stressed as a caffeine induced march hare (Alice in Wonderland reference!). She took a step back, suprised but glanced back at Alister's supposedly sleeping body.

"Madam, if you please..." She murmured, bowing her head. She lifted her arm, motioning her down to the hall. Asriel gaped. "We have to prepare your look for today. The king, in spite of yesterday's mishap, has decided to hold a jousting competition." Asriel was a little suprised. A game? "The king has insisted that it'd be an activity to celebrate your marriage. He mentioned to make an effort to dress up so I have come to fetch you." Asriel blushed. "We'll wake Lord Alister up later. He'll also be participating in the competition as one of the participants." Asriel got that down much, but was still wary on the idea of such a competition. She had read of such entertainment in books about Eurekan society. "I don't think-" She stopped, glancing at Alister before being tugged by the arm by the ushering maid. The room went quiet once more.

Such jousting competitions were Demetria's sports and entertainment, highly valued in society. It was only proper that Alister participate and even Marcus as well. Celebratory. That was to be the mood for today. Demetria was so clever.

[ I'm just waiting for Alister to get up before I can start the thing... ]

Asriel found herself getting dressed in Demetrian traditional clothing. What the gentry wore. It was uncomfortable for she was used to loose and light clothing. She had trouble walking in it, surely, and had to be helped into a carriage. However, Asriel didn't complain. She was never one to. An hour later, she found herself alone in a tent. The tent overlooked the tournament arena where many commoners crowded to not only see the spectacle of swordplay but of the royal family; most particularly the new wife of Demetria's second prince. She dare not show them then, of course, for she was far too embarrassed with herself. Her hair, never before handled in such a manner, curled around her face and cascaded down her back. Her ivory dress wafted around her, a very simple one but with elegant and dark flowers about her hem. The maids had laced the back up so she couldn't breath and she found her back aching in pain slightly. The only jewelry bestowed upon her were earings made of jewels native to Demetria. If one didn't know it, she would look much like a noble if it weren't for her bright hair and other Eurekan looks.

Asriel seated herself in a small chair, away from the opening that overlooked the crowds of people. She gave a soft sigh. She could hear her own heart pouding, her head swam, and an overall feeling of mortification of herself. Alister would come to the tent soon, she knew. And if he saw her like this, Asriel was sure he would tease her.

“Perhaps women go to such lengths…” Asriel spoke, getting up from her seat, “Is because women can’t express themselves truly other than by their appearance and fashion. I mean, men only judge from appearance, do they not?” Asriel looked at him with a look of placidness before striding to the large, ornate chairs that overlooked the arena. She walked awkwardly, definitely uncomfortable in what she wore. She turned her head to over her shoulder to glance at Alister to see if he saw before blushing. “Besides, I worked so hard to avoid you saying I’m ugly,” she murmured. “It’s not even practical to walk in!” She plopped into her twin seat. Alister’s chair was besides her own for he was to watch the tournament as well until they called for Alister’s appearance at the end. She watched a little, horses running around as their masters dueled it out until one of them fell to the ground. She sighed, bored by it really before leaning back. “You know…Whoever wins this competition…Will get a prize from the king and…my blessing of good luck…in the form of kiss.” She paused, still embarrassed by it. She had never been kissed in her life and to give the prize such as her lips to one of these fellows seemed very…However, she supposed she should try to keep attention even though things like this didn’t amuse her all too much.

Asriel scoffed a little, watching the tournament with a mere look of unsatisfaction. "Well, we'll see you try..." She mumbled, glancing in his direction. "But...you find this interesting?" She sat up a little. "I mean, how annoying. To prepare such a magnificient place. If you had money to waste, you should use it for other things, right?" Asriel thought such tournaments were meaningless. However, she thought better of her words and cleared her throat, ready to fix her mistake.
"No, there is some purpose to such tournaments I suppose. Commoners are tired of these long wars. To make them happier and livelier, this kind of entertainment it necessary. This place thrives with sellers and barterers like the craftsmen here who look here to sell to their neighbors. The foods stands can also earn money. That way, money wont stop turning and the commoners wouldn't feel so down. Consumerism will rise and so will the economy. A simple economic idea. Demetrian's king is oh so clever," she murmured; reading books seemed to be some value to her. She continued to look down upon the crowds. Alister should be excited about this, that is, if he had any pride in his country. Or else he would be very bored, she supposed. Asriel glanced at him again, unable to tell what he was thinking. She looked down again, back at the brown horse who seemed rather jittery and kicked up her hind legs, throwing her rider off her back. The crowds laughed.
"My country is extremely poor, but...this kind of entertainment...There are these kinds of things…But...I'm not allowed to watch it. The half blood princess cannot be seen because it's the royal family's shame." Because she rarely left her room and only watched from her window the life out of reach for her, she had never seen such things. "Right, that's how it is," she murmured, almost sullenly. The arena below seemed to slow. It was beginning to end, then, she supposed. Alister's turn was coming, up. Was he excited? Again, Asriel sought some form of expression from Alister and glanced at him, almost in anticipation. The trumpets sounded, making Asriel jump. Her attention drew to the scrawny looking man in silly clothes. He seemed to be making a big deal out of whatever he was yelling about. The crowds quieted. Alister's turn... He'd fight whoever'd had won, apparently the fellow in the far left corner with a gray horse stamping its foot and shaking its head. The knight didn't look battle shy, but after seeing Alister's back, Asriel knew Alister wasn't either. "I'd like to see you fall on your back, Alister," she called to him, almost teasing him. In other words, she was waiting for him to lose.