[Eboneye]

**skips into the thread**
Hello. This is a untitled story I wrote when I was a teenager for a writing class. It was supposed to be an adventure type of story...the noble hero on a quest...bla, bla. I thought I'd share a part of it. Forgive that it is rough around the edges. I simply copy and pasted it off the disc. Probably tunes of grammatical errors and such. I never finished it....but I do have several chapters.

Here we go....


Chapter 1: The problem.

The soft pat of small sandal feet announced the arrival of of Anemone. Alaster Leander turned to watch her approach him with elf like grace. She was the daughter of a emperor. She would be a empress someday.
The garden was a bloom with spring flowers from all over the world. It was Anemones favorite place to be. She lazily picked a flower and to strolled up to meet the man she loved. Alaster took her hands in his.
“Today is the day.” He announced. “I’m going to ask your father for your hand in marriage.”
Anemone looks down. “I over heard my father talking to Lord Alexander last night. I am to marry Corydon this fall.”
“Corydon?” Alaster almost thought to laugh at the idea but quickly changed his mind when he saw the serious glint in Anemones Doe brown eyes.
“Your father must be mad.” Alaster frowned “Corydon is a slow, spoiled…”
Anemone squeezed his hands. “Don’t say that. He may be…spoiled but Corydon was once your friend only a few years ago.” She looks so furlong that Alaster reached pout and pulled her to his chest engulfing her in his arms.
“Its my fault you two are no longer friends“ she whispered.
“No…” He sighed. He inhaled the send of her hair. “Its not your fault. How could it be?”
Alaster thought a moment. He sparked. “Do you want to marry him?”
Anemone looked up at him in surprise. Her pretty face contorted in a glare when she saw is teasing smile. “Of course not! And you know better!”
Alaster chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. “My apologizes good lady. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Anemone sighed. “What are we going to do?”
Just having she near him made Alaster feel like he could do anything. “I’ll talk to the Emporer. I’ll get him to see his folly.”
Anemone smiled and buried her face in his chest. “I hope you can.”
The high pitch voice of an annoyed Lady-in-Waiting reached both their eyes.
“I must go.” Anemone gave him a kiss.
“Wish me luck.” Alaster said.
“I wish you luck…” Anemone smiled. “And all my love.”
She turned and rushed off.

Alaster watch her go. His thoughts turn to the problem at hand. Corydon. Why him? Alaster shock his head.
He and Coryton Alexander had been the best of friends as children. Always sword playing…just being boys. Corydon was always the weaker of the two, but he tried his best to keep up with Alaster.
Alaster was born a farmers son. Corydon, a Lords youngest son. Being that Cordons older brother would inherit the title and all the land, Corydon would have to make his fortune elsewhere. When Alaster went to join the Emperors Guard, Corydon followed. Lord Alexander had always called his younger son a woman in a mans body. So when he was old enough to try out for the guard, Corydon was eager to prove his father wrong. However, while Alaster make the pick, Corydon did not pass his training. To “dainty” for the way of the solder was Lord Alexander’s callas remark of his son. Thinks changed between he and Corydon. The lords son was jealous of Alaster and hearty broken at his failure. And when Alaster started received Anemones attention, the young men would never see eye to eye ever again. “Oh how Corydon must be loving this” Alaster grudgingly thought. How had Corydon talked his father into convincing the Emporer to wed off his daughter to him?
Alaster started off toward the palace.

Emperor Darion lazily watched his youngest daughter sword play with a young guard. He was proud of his tom-boy daughter. He didn’t completely approve of his youngest childs interest in weapons but he couldn’t have stopped her even if he tried. She was head strong, like him. She was the son he never had.
The blades scraped together with a kiss of angry steel. With a mighty swing, Colette's sprang forward, lunging for Thane Ignatius’s chest. He cut down hard on her sword point, stepping lightly out of the way. Colette lost her balance for a moment and recovered with the practiced grace of a dancer. During the split moment for her recovery, Thane swung his sword. Colette met his swing with a loud clash of metal. Hilt to hilt they stood. Thane forced Colette to step back. Vexed she shifted her stance and strained against Thanes greater size and strength. The movement was a mistake. Thane used this moment to pushed Colette backward to the ground. Thane looked down at her. “You always make that mistake.”
“I know!” Colette growled. “Shut up!”
Thane smiled and backed away. He looked up as he sheathed his sword. “Your Highness…” He gave a quick bow.
Colette scrambled to her feet. “Father, How longer have you been watching!?”
“Long enough.” Darion answered. “Your improving my dear.”
“I’ve done better!” Colette looked miserable. “Why couldn’t you have been watching me yesterday? I actually knocked him down.”
“Who says I didn’t?” Darion smirked. “why don’t you wash up daughter. Your starting to smell like Thane.”
Thane laughed. Colette wrinkled her nose. “Fine.”
“I’ll see you here tomorrow Princesses.” Thane said.
Colette whirled around to face the solder. “Don’t call me that! You know I don’t like being called that!”
“I know. “ He stated with a smiled.
With a snarl Colette rushed out of the court yard and past Alaster.
“I heard what you called her. “ Alaster told his young friend. “Your in trouble now.”
“Oh well.” Thane shrugged.
“Oh, she’ll get over it.” Emperor Darion laughed.
Alaster bowed to his lord. “My Lord, may I talk to you…” he glanced over at younger solder “..alone”
Thane raised both his hands and stepped back. “Say no more. I’m gone.”
Alaster watched him leave.
“Well? “ The Emperor began. “What is it you wish to discuss with me? Or do I need to ask…” Darion looked seriously at Alaster.
“Sir?” Alaster felt nervous.
“You’ve come to ask for Anemones hand in marriage, have you not?”

To be continued…..

Don't know if I'll continue this. Depends on the feedback.
Thank you for your time.

**skips out of the thread**