Arianna
#1 of Arianna
*sigh* Ok... this is my first story and It only hit me 2 hours ago, and I'm just making up characters as I go along. Except Argos who I created. The story will take place in a medieval slash middle aged era. so let's see what happens... all characters are owned by me. Any similarities to other characters are purely coincidental unless stated otherwise.
As she was dragged down to the sparkling, blue stream down the hill by her medium lengthed, black hair and her tail dragging in the dirt, Arianna struggled for her life. "It was all just a misunderstanding!" she insisted to the angry farmer. The night before she was looking for a place to sleep in, but had to settle for a hay pile in a farmyard. Only to awake to a group of boys slaughtering the farmers chickens for fun, but as she dashed after the fleeing boys she was caught and confronted by a very angry farmer. "you know the law!" grumbled the farmer. "My property, my problem. And I'm allowed to deal with it any way I see fit!" He said as he threw her to the ground in front of the stream. "This stream will be the last thing you ever see." he said as he grasped his scythe with both hands. "Now we can do this easy or it could get messy." At her wits end Arianna decided running was futile. She hadn't eaten in days and didn't have the energy to do so. And so she admitted defeat, kneeling with the back of her neck bared out. "Smart girl." said the farmer as he raised his scythe above her head, "Too bad you won't be alive in a few seconds." "That remains to be seen." said A gruff voice behind the farmer. He spun around to see a man with his sword drawn and pointing at his face. The man was well built, about 6 foot. His face was pale with A long scar that went from his lower lip to his left ear, and a beard. But not your usual beard, it was... interestingly grown. Well trimmed yet wild. "Who the hell are you!?" demanded the farmer lowering his scythe at the sight of the sword. "A very important man." he replied. "Now would you care to explain exactly what's going on here?" He asked eyeing the young girl who was silently weeping and too afraid to look up. "This here vermin slaughtered my chickens, but won't admit to it." The man's gaze now returning to the farmer. "A few chickens are hardly worth a life now wouldn't you agree?" The farmer narrowed his eyes at the smartly dressed man. "You aren't one of them 'humans and animals are equals' now are you?" "And if I was, would you attack me?" Repllied the man almost daringly. The farmer thought it through, and made the wrong decision. Swiping his sharpened scythe at the man he attacked. But it was easily blocked, and with a very skillful jab the man drove his sword through the farmer chest like butter. There was a slight pause until the man withdrew his sword slowly, almost cruely, and the farmer slumped down, dead. At this point Arianna was sobbing, but with a touch on the shoulder she paused and looked up. The man held out his hand to help her up, and she started to fight back her tears as she rose to a standing position. Whether it was instinct or helplessness she gripped him in a tight hug, shaking. "It's okay girl, it's okay." Said the man soothingly. At that moment they heard a scream. They looked up the hill to see a woman running away to the village nearby. Acting with haste the man took out a piece of charcoal and paper, he scribbled something quickly and shoved it to Arianna. "Can you read?" He asked. "N-no." Arianna replied, finding her voice at last. "listen to me very carefully, You must travel east, as fast as your feet can take you, to the sea. Give this to one of the guardsmen, He'll take you to a man. You must tell this man that Argos sent you. He'll know what to do, now GO!!" He shouted. Without hesitation she ran, she ran and she never looked back.
She ran, and she ran, never stopping for a breath, past trees and houses and rock formations, until she could smell the salt in the wind. She ran harder, until she saw it, The Imperial port. With it's high walls and thick towers it was a formidable town fortress. with a kind of cul de sac inner port. The guard at the gate looked up curiously at the sprinting foxgirl and as she was near he rushed forward to stop her from falling when her legs finally gave way to exhaustion. "What the blazes happened to you, girl?" Panting, she said nothing, only shoved the paper at the guard, who took off his helmet to read it. Examining the seal, he finally said "Follow me." "No... can't move... legs." Arianna panted. with a swoop the guard half supported- half carried her inside. Arianna was too tired to see where she was taking her. Going past food stalls and schools, Inns and even the great actors academy. Until he eventually set her down on the groundnear some barrels. "Wait here." he said and went inside the building behind her. Arianna thought about her current situation. So much has happended. She was nearly beheaded not 2 hours ago, If not for the man she now knew was called Argos she probably would have been. She shuddered at the thought. But why? Why did he help her? And what was going to happen to her now? She was pondering this when a figure stepped in front of her. She looked to see a man in fine clothes and a cloak. He had a weak smile and almost no hair. "So, you're another of Argos' little orphans huh? Do not worry, I will not hurt you. Quite the opposite actually." He said to the now cowering fox. "W-what are you going to do?" Arianna asked nervously. The weak smile now turning to a strong one. He offered his hand to help her up. "I'm going to take you to your new home." he replied. Too tired to think it through, Arianna grasped his hand. "My name is Arianna, But you can just call me Anna." She said managing a smile. The man smiled back, "Pleasure to meet you Arianna, My name is Lord Turas, but I'm not too fond of the title, so just call me Turas."
The next morning Arianna awoke, Shocked to be in such a soft, warm bed and under a sturdy roof. Something she had never done before. Wondering what had happened last night, she got up only to notice that she was completely naked. Blushing, she covered herself with the blanket and looked around the wooden room. Simple, except there were no clothes in sight. The door creaked open and she quickly covered herself up to the neck.Through the door came a middle-aged women with already greying hair. "Oh! Good morning dear. Lord Turas has instructed me to help you with your bathing and to choose some nice clothes for this afternoon." said the woman. "What's this afternoon?" Arianna inquired. Carrying a bucket of hot, steaming water the women replied, "You are to join Lord Turas on the voyage to the Imperial city, dear." Looking up Arianna replied "Th-th-the Im-Imperial cuty?" The women smiled "Why yes dear, Leaving just when you got here, poor thing." Helping Arianna clean the dirt out of her fur, "B-but why?" Arianna stammered. "Oh, I am just a servant, I do as i'm told and I don't ask questions." She continued to help her bathe. After the rather thorough bath, She showed Arianna a selection of dressed in the cabinet. "Suitable for someone of your... form." She smiled. Picking out her favorite dress she dressed. "well now dear, down you go, Lord Turas is waiting for you." Walking out of the room to leave the woman to put away the dressed and clean, Arianna shut the door softly and leant on it. looking at the wall she couldn't help but think out loud, "What is going to happen to me?"
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!" Exclaimed Lord Turas at the now blushing fox. "We have to get a few supplies before we ship off, and I thought you might like to join me." he said as he reached out his arm for her to hold. as they walked out her curiosity got the better of her "Lor- I mean... Turas, what's going to happen to me when we reach the Imperial city?" Smiling he replied "I do not know dear, It all depends on whether or not my old friend Argos is still alive. If he is, he will more than likely give you a good home to live in. If not, well, imagine your life a few days ago exactly the same, but only on a different continent." Now examining some meats on a stand he continued, "Argos is an unusual man. He is cold, yet kind. He is distant, yet friendly. He will more than likely help than hinder anyone who crosses his path." Arianna was going ask another question, but decided not to. Two hours later they finished their supply hunting, and this seemed a good time to ask the question, "Turas, Are there others..." She trailed off. He looked at her curiously, "Like you? Hmmm... yes, there are. there's a whole district devoted to your kind." Arianna's heart leaped at that. A WHOLE district devoted to her kind, whereas most places shes been her kind has been shunned. Now walking back to the house she couldn't help but feel... happy, for the first time in a long time. "Now we must get ready for the journey, Matilda will help you pack some extra clothing and supplies." The same servant who helped Arianna earlier appeared at Lord Turas' side.
All in all it was a very boring voyage. Except for this time when they had to pass through a storm. Leaning over the edge, Arianna could see the first glimpse of the Imperial city. Fear and Excitement gripped her heart at the same time as she grinned. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Asked Lord Turas. Startled, Arianna spun round and would have fallen into the water, if Lord Turas hadn't grabbed her shoulder. "I...yes." She replied. "Shoudln't be long until we land and see good old Argos." said Lord Turas, glancing at the shape of the port coming into view. As they landed, Lord Turas informed Arianna that he must leave again immediatly, And that she must just wait at the port for Argos, And shipped off again. Arianna stared at the ship leaving until it as nothing but a dot on the horizon. She was starting to feel a little nervous standing there alone in the middle of a dock. Looking to her left past the dockworkers she could see the famous postal service tower. constantly busy, but the most efficient postal servie in the empire. When she looked forward past the dockhouse she could see the Great Wall of Hart. Named after the great king Edmund Hart, and arguably the strongest wall in the 5 great continents of Vormis, The world. Glancing to her right she could see the forest of evergreen, many great skirmishes have happened in there, and there are rumours of dryads wandering around. Arianna sighed, still waiting for Argos, still uncertain about her future. On that thought she heard someone call, looking up, her heart leapt with joy at the sight of Argos, waving at her to follow him. Without hesitation she dashed at him and with one great bound she leapt into his arms hugging him tightly, then, realizing what she just did she quickly straightened herself up. "S-sorry, I can get a bit, overenthusiastic sometimes." "Don't worry about it." He replied. "well? Are we just going to stand around all day or shouldn't we get moving? Iv'e got a lot to explain haven't I?" He said with a faint smile. As he began walking towards the city, Arianna glanced once more towards the ocean, and then followed him, her future becoming a little less fogged.
That's that for now... hope you enjoyed it. would appreciate feedback. And If you think I can do something with what I've just typed I'll continue. And if I made any mistakes please bear in mind this is the first story Iv'e ever actually written, and of course... GOODNIGHT ALL!