Staring unseeingly at the intricate designs of the dining hall door, Bella took a deep breath to stady her pounding heart. This was it- her final dinner with her family, before she left the castle to embrace her destiny. Wiping her sweaty palms on the folds of her billowing skirt, she turned to Pacifus, who stood behind her; equal worry etched into his uncharacteristically pale face.

"Are you ready, my love?" he asked her gently, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone. "You are sure of the plan?"

Bella nodded, quickly reviewing the plan in her mind. She was to have dinner with her family now; and, at all costs, keep up the façade of normality. Then, she was to retire to her chamber and gather the travelling packs she and Pacifus had already prepared, filling them with suitable clothes for disguise and enough food to last them 3 days, if they ate sparingly. Having gathered their supplies, she was to sneak from the castle disguised as an adolescent apprentice to the castle locksmith, and meet Pacifus under the protective shade of the orchard trees. From there they would slip unimpeded through the hands of the guards, and meet their destiny outside the restraining walls of their childhood.

Steeling herself, Bella bravely met Pacifus' gaze and placed a hand on his warm cheek. "I'm ready," she whispered. Then, stealing a kiss from his waiting lips, she turned and pushed open the door of the dining hall, ready to face her family for what could be the last time.

***

The dining hall was magnificent to behold, in both it's architecture and furnishings. Towards the back of the hall were 20 enormous rectangular tables, arranged in a linear fashion and spanning the width of the great room. Each was designed to hold 40 guests, and were used to seat the civillians living on the castle grounds, when banquets or dances were taking place. In front of these tables was a beautifully tiled dance floor, designed with a mosaic image of a majestic phoenix, draped in flames of glowing orange and sunburst yellow, emblazoned in the centre.  Leading up from this space were deep scarlet-carpeted steps, leading to a raised platform upon which the royal table was positioned. This elaborate, rectangular piece of furniture seated 20, positioned so that the diners lucky enough to be chosen to seat themselves there looked out over the rest of the diners in the hall.

Today, however, the dining hall held only four, all seated at the royal table; Bella's parents, the King and Queen, and her two sisters, Laetitia and Adere. Waving a subdued greeting to her family, Bella quickly strode up the edge of the dining hall, her steps growing more and more leaden with each step. By the time she reached the plush stairs, she had to force her trembling legs to move; she felt about ready to faint when she finally collapsed into her velvet-cushioned seat between her mother and Adere.

"Welcome, my child!" the King boomed at Bella, from the seat next to her mother; his voice echoed throughout the empty room and reverberated in Bella's eardrums. Her father's voice was deep and commanding, well suited to his status and size. He was a large man, in both height and breadth, but it was muscle, more than fat, that contributed to his appearance. He was a friendly and fair man, and he was well loved among his subjects. However, his jolly countenance hid a fearsome temper, and his punishments for wrong-doers within the castle were often harsh and extreme.

Expelling thoughts of what would become of herself and Pacifus if the King was to discover their plans from her mind, Bella summoned a winning smile and clasped her father's outstretched hand. "Good evening, father," she intoned, bowing her head to him. "Fare thee well today?"

Grinning warmly back at her, the King bowed his head in return and released her hand. "I fare well, dear daughter, and thou? Although I believe hunger has driven my innards to eating themselves! What tookst thou so long to get here?"

Panicking slightly, Bella stammered her reply. "I- uh- Pacifus and I- took a walk in the gardens... We lost track of time, and stayed longer than was advisable. My apologies, father, I meant not to keep you waiting." Fixing an expression of bashful apology to her face, she inwardly prayed that the excuse would fly. And thankfully, after a few agonizing seconds of silence, Bella's mother spoke.

"Well, dear, accidents happen. One cannot always be perfectly timed, despite what some people seem to think," with this, she sent a playful glance in her husbands direction, and he smiled indulgently at her banter. The Queen was unfalteringly beautiful, with flawless, beige couloured skin and eyes the colour of the palest summer sky, that glittered and flashed with good humour. Her thick, raven-black hair cascaded down her back in a shining waterfall, framing her face with soft waves. She was very graceful, elegant in both appearance and manner; but a fondness for practical joking was embedded in her character, causing her to be rather unpredictable.

"Worry not, dear Bellator, for you are here now." Slipping an arm around the shoulders of her youngest daughter, the Queen turned to her husband; "Signal the servants, my love- Let us begin our feast!"

The King bellowed an instruction in the direction of the kitchen, as Ardere and Laetitia reached to greet Bella. Swallowing the lump of emotion that rose in her throat, threatening to choke her and give away her game, Bella drank in the happy faces of her beloved family; determined to store this final memory of a meal with them in her heart, to carry it with her on her unchartered journey.

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Terra Pax (The Land of Peace) is in danger from a forthcoming war. Bellator and Pacifus are the Chosen Ones- the ones who must fight to prevent the eradication of their world. But there is a third Chosen One, and they must find them before Terra Pax is overtaken by the war and destroyed- forever.

Bellator
Meaning "Warrior"
Bella is the main character in this story. She is the youngest daugter fof the King and Queen of Terra Pax, at 17, and has a wild and stubborn temperment. She has long, dark hair, sallow skin and piercing green eyes.

Pacifus
Meaning "Peace"
Pacifus is Bella's minder, and at 20 is a tall and muscular man. He is protective and kind, thinking of others before himself. He has mid-length, tousled blonde hair and clear blue eyes. He becomes Bella's love interest in the story.

Laetitia
Meaning "Joy"
Laetitia is the eldest of Bella's siblings, at 24, and is the joyful and gentle of the three. She is elegant and soft-spoken, and acts as peace-keeper. She has long, curling black hair and blue eyes.

Ardere
Meaning "Fire"
Ardere is the middle sister, and is the firey and hot-tempered one. She speaks her mind freely, and can be blunt in her words. She has deep brown, straight hair cut into a bob, and light blue eyes.

updated Dec 10 '11 by BeckyC