Thread: Finding Acceptance (Skyro & darkangel76)

Vivianne awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright in her bed. She frantically glanced around, but there was nothing to be seen. She was alone in her room and the sky was as black as pitch. Calming herself back down, she pulled the blankets up and laid back down, staring at the stone ceiling above. As she lay there, Vivianne could hear soft footsteps out in the corridor. She wondered who they could belong to. It was late, far too late for anyone to be wandering about. Curious, she sat up and crept over to her door, pressing her ear up against it. Suddenly, she could hear voices, low and soft, echoing slightly off the stone walls. Though they were faint, she knew exactly to whom they belonged. Lord Peter Fielding and her father, Lord Winchell Kenton. Lord Fielding, its all been arranged, came Lord Winchell Kentons voice. He sounded so sure of himself. My wife, Esmerelda, will see sure that things go according to our plans. She has a better way with Vivianne than I do. Viviannes eyes widened when she realized her father was talking about her. And with Lord Peter Fielding of all people. I trust you, Lord Kenton. And you will not regret this match one bit, Lord Peter Fielding then said. Good lad, this will be a glorious union indeed. She will provide you the means to continue your blood line and she will give us better standing within the court. It works for us both. That it does, quite well. There was a pause in Lord Peters speech. I find your daughter to be quite a beauty, if I may be so bold as to say so. With her as my bride we will have the most exquisite children at court. Itll only increase my own standings as well. The two men laughed at their plan. Vivianne winced, her heart racing, her mind reeling. Surely she hadnt heard them correctly. She couldnt have. Her own father? Yes, she knew what he was capable of, but never did she think hed use such devious skills on his own family. His own daughter. Tears welled in her eyes. Never, Vivianne whispered. I cant. She was beside herself, frantic at what to do. There was no way shed ever marry Lord Peter Fielding. She hated the man and she had made a promise to herself that shed only marry for the deepest love, the most precious of connections. Without hesitation, Vivianne took off her nightdress and quickly and quietly changed into one of her many blue dresses. Nothing was appropriate for what she was about to do, but at the moment she didnt care. She then grabbed her hooded cloak and her pouch filled with a few valuable possessions she thought she might be able to barter for money and pressed her ear to her door. The voices could no longer be heard. Terrified, she slowly pushed open her door. Vivianne peeked outside her doorway. No one was there, only a very few torches lit the corridor. Taking a shaky breath, she stepped outside. Slowly, she made her way down the corridors, twisting along them, making her way towards one of the many staircases leading to the outside. She couldnt believe what she was attempting. It was almost suicide. She knew nothing of the outside world, but she saw no other choice. It was either face her fathers decision and marry a despicable man she detested or try and escape a fate worse than death. She chose the latter. After several minutes, Vivianne finally came upon a staircase. It was narrow and the stairs were steep. Swallowing, she began to descend them, slowly approaching the ground level where sweet freedom could be attained. Or so she hoped. Her entire body shook with fear the closer she got to the ground level. Biting down on her lip, her heart thumping in her chest, she pulled her hood up over her head. As she continued to make her way downward, she passed by a window. It would be dawn soon. She hoped that shed be far enough away by the time the sun rose overhead and everyone in the castle came awake. She hoped with all her heart, all her soul. For death would be a far sweeter than not being able to marry for the deepest love. Pressing on, she suddenly felt her eyes prickle with tears, tears of someone who felt utterly betrayed.