It's so good, Raining Rainbows!  I love it.  You are portraying Sylvia really well.  Keep up the great work.

Bella frowned at her reflection in the mirror. She looked beautiful, but not as beautiful as she would’ve liked. Her dark auburn hair was in an impeccable updo, and it framed her face beautifully. Her black swan-gold tiara was resting perfectly on top of her hair, and a black onyx stone was set in the middle. Her gloves were perfect as well (she would have to visit that tailor again), but the problem was her dress.

It wasn’t at all what she had wanted it to be like. Cascading black layered skirts, with golden stars, and an intricate golden illusion neckline, accented with my golden necklace, Bella thought, that was what it was supposed to look like.

However, the skirts drooped down sadly, not as fluffy as they should’ve been, the neckline was practically a cowl, and the golden necklace was choking her.

“Roslin, fix my dress. The skirts need to be fluffier, and the neckline isn’t tight enough, and my necklace is too tight!” Bella exclaimed, close to tears as soon as she said it out loud.

“Yes, your grace,” Roslin said, keeping her eyes down and hurrying to fetch her sewing kit.

Bella sighed. It was supposed to be her birthday, and yet everyone seemed to be determined to ruin it for her! The florist had ordered the wrong flowers so they were doing it last minute, her dad wanted her to get married to some random prince, and Roslin was too slow!

“Roslin, hurry up!” Bella commanded.

Roslin nodded, and set to work on the dress.

After a couple of minutes Bella stood up, and looked at herself in the mirror. Roslin had done a wonderful job. It looked like Bella was the night sky herself, shining with golden specks up light.

“Oh Roslin, it’s wonderful!” Bella said, twirling around.

Roslin gave a faint smile, her left eye twitching, and bowed. “You look beautiful, your grace,” she mumbled.

Bella gave her most charming smile at the mirror. She was ready for the banquet!

“Roslin, open the door for me,” Bella said.

The polished wooden door swung open, and Bella stepped out into the hallway. Through the richly carpeted halls, down the flight of stairs, through the passageway of paintings, and onto the grand staircase.

As soon as Bella took her first step onto the grand staircase, the whole dining hall fell quiet. Bella smiled out at the guests who had come for her birthday banquet, relishing the quiet and admiration. She was the star. She was the most important one here.

Slowly, step by step, Bella made her way down the staircase, and stood in front of her seat.

“Thank you all for coming to my birthday banquet!” she said.

Applause greeted her, as well as the clinking of plates. Bella sat down.

This was her special day, and nothing could ruin it.

After a delicious birthday dinner, it was time for the dance. It was customary for Bella to start the dance, since she was the princess, but she had convinced some of the duchesses to start it instead. Bella didn’t like dancing, not with anyone she knew anyway.

Bella sipped a mocktail from within a tightly knit circle of girls chattering on and on about her and praising her. Their talk was boring. She observed the room. The chandeliers had been lit with golden flames, that were reflected a hundredfold by hanging diamonds. Her favorite yellow flowers were dripping from columns and sprouting from pots everywhere. Everything was shiny, regal, and perfect.

A movement caught her eye from across the room. A golden-haired boy, perhaps a year or so older than her, wearing the colors of the Neach-Dìon Knights was laughing, along with some others. His eyes were the clearest blue Bella had ever seen.

He was perfect.

Bella pushed through the knot of girls, ignoring the gossip and chatter, and moved to a table with a plate of fresh strawberries. She glanced over in the direction of the blonde knight. He glanced at her, a bit surprised.

Dance with me, Bella mouthed, that’s an order.

The boy said something to his friends, and quickly headed over to Bella.

“May I have the pleasure of this dance?” he asked, doing a semi-bow in front of Bella.

“Why of course,” she replied, smiling.

The blonde knight took her hand, and swept her onto the dance floor, just as the orchestra struck up a moderately paced waltz.

“What is your name?” Bella asked the blonde knight, studying his face.

He looked rather stunned to be dancing with the princess, but he was doing his best to hide it.

“Arc Madadh-Làidir, your majesty,” he said, giving her a stunning smile.

“Call me Bella,” Bella said.

“It’s a pleasure to be dancing with you, Bella,” Arc said, smiling yet again.

He’s perfect. Absolutely perfect, Bella thought, her head spinning in the clouds.

Bella was so lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the creaking sound above her. Nobody else did either. Until the music abruptly stopped, and Bella finally looked up.

The heavy chandelier dropped down like a stone.

Bella screamed.

And then there was a crash.

Bella opened her eyes. Arc lay on the floor, his arm bleeding through from a thousand diamond fragments.

Frozen to her spot, Bella couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t think.

And then all of a sudden, it all came rushing to her. “Move! Where’s the doctor?!” she shrieked, dropping to her knees next to Arc.

Nobody moved. And then all of a sudden, a tall black-haired girl dashed to Arc’s side, lifting him up easily. “Medic!” she called, already running up the stairs.

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Character developement will happen . . . eventually ;) Also, I'd appreciate it if you could give me feedback, I'm not exactly that good at pacing XD

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Roslin! I'm still not sure how much I like this one, but I do really like the hair and the texture on the dress. I hope you like it!

Chapter 4

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In a flurry, Bella was right next to Arc in an empty room, as the castle’s witch-doctor bandaged his arm. Things had happened so fast, Bella was still in shock.

“Who-” she began, turning around to the black-haired girl.

“Kira Tormin, royal guard in training, at your service your majesty,” she said, bowing and meeting Bella’s eyes with an icy blue stare.

“I can’t thank you enough!” Bella gasped, “I was so terrified for him!”

Kira gave Bella a cocksure grin. “His injuries aren’t that bad actually. It could’ve been much worse for you, but he pushed you out of the way just in time,” she said.

He . . . saved me?

For sure Arc was perfect.

“Well, how can I reward you?!” Bella exclaimed, jumping up and taking Kira’s rough, worn hands in hers, “What do you want? Gold? Jewels? Anything, I can give you!”

Kira laughed. “Nothing, your majesty,” she said, tossing her hair and slamming the door shut behind her.

Nothing? How could she possibly want nothing? How could she possibly refuse my gifts? 

How dare she refuse my gifts.

Bella let go of her hand. She had been clenching it so tightly she had left nail marks.

“Why am I stabbed by such shiny stuff??” Arc mumbled softly.

Bella whirled around. “Arc! You’re okay!” she exclaimed.

“No not really,” Arc said, “I feel like fainting. Again.”

Bella opened her mouth to say something, but at that moment, a knock came on the door. “Open it,” she commanded.

The witch-doctor hurried over, and three girls ran in.

“Mum, I’ve got the herbs you asked for!” the blonde one said.

“Arc, I told you it was bad luck!” the one with dark braided hair reprimanded.

The last one, with red hair caught Bella staring at her, and shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going on, I’m just here because of Sylvia.”

“I’d like you to address me as your majesty, next time,” Bella said stiffly.

“Oh, sorry, your majesty!” the red haired one said, bowing hurriedly, “I’m Brigit!”

I never asked for your name.

“Ma’am? You asked for the bandages?” a soft voice asked.

Bradley, yes, that was his name, appeared in the doorway, holding a pile of bandages.

“Put them down and leave,” Bella ordered.

“No, stay, I need you to cut off the proper amount,” the witch-doctor ordered.

Bradley bowed, and hurried to help.

Bella looked at Arc. He had fainted yet again. Were all knights just indisposed to fainting?

“Ladies, introduce yourselves to the princess,” the witch doctor said.

The blonde one waved to Bella cheerfully. “I’m Sylvia!” she said.

“Marina,” the braids girl said.

Bella was grinding her teeth by now. “Call me your majesty!” she snapped.

Marina frowned and said nothing. “Oh, sure, your majesty!” Sylvia said, the corner of her mouth twitching.

Bella glared at Marina. Marina glared straight back. “I don’t like this girl, make her leave,” she announced to nobody in particular, pointing at Marina.

“That’s my friend,” Arc rasped.

Oh.

“Ok, whatever then,” Bella said, “Arc, are you feeling better?”

“I told you you should’ve visited a witch-doctor earlier!” Marina burst out, “And now look what happened! You got hit by a freaking chandelier! Miss, do you have the experience to remove bad luck?”

She turned to look at the witch doctor.

“Depends on how he got it. Did he spill salt? Or was it a ladder?” the witch doctor mused.

“No, a black cat,” Marina said.

The witch shook her head. “Nope, sorry. I don’t know how to remove familiar curses. Actually, I do know someone who does know how. He’s a hermit, lives on the edge of the world. He’s probably the best wizard in the world, but not as well known as some others,” she said.

“It’s fine Marina, we’re not traveling to the edge of the world to get rid of bad luck, I’ll be fine,” Arc mumbled.

Sylvia said, “You should really go though. I’ve seen what a curse can do, and it’s not pretty. It destroys your life from the inside out.”

“Yeah, we’re going,” Marina said.

Bella looked at Marina and Arc, and made a decision that she would probably regret. “I’ll go with you!” she announced.

Dead silence. Brigit stared at Bella with shock. Sylvia looked close to laughing. Arc and Marina simply looked stunned. Bradley had a look of resignation. The witch-doctor remained impassive.

“What?!” Bella demanded.

“Well-” Marina began hotly, but Arc cut in.

“You’re a princess, your majesty, and I don’t think it would suit you to go across the world,” Arc said politely.

“Call me Bella, and, I’m a princess, that’s right, which means I can do what I want. And it’ll be very helpful for me to go with you, because I have resources,” Bella said.

Two debates and half a duel later (Bella had challenged Arc, and then gave up), it was decided. Bella, no matter how hard everyone else tried to argue against it, was going with Marina and Arc to find the hermit. Roslin was also going, of course, Bella needed her handmaid with her. And Bradley had been pulled in too, because Bella needed someone to drive her carriage. And then Sylvia and Brigit announced they were going too, because the witch-doctor insisted, saying that Sylvia knew magic, and Brigit wouldn’t let Sylvia go anywhere without her.

“But we need someone to protect us,” Brigit pointed out, “We’re not exactly the best bunch. A princess, three girls, two servants, and a knight.”

“Arc’s a knight, he can protect us,” Bella said dismissively.

“He’s an incapitated knight,” Marina pointed out.

A quiet footstep fell behind Bella, and she turned around.

“I heard you needed someone for protection, may I offer my services?” Kira asked, bowing.

That girl again!

“Of course! Kira, my darling, you’re the perfect choice!” the witch-doctor said, hugging Kira, “I hope you’ll take care of my daughter!”

Everyone else agreed. Except for Bella, who was silently fuming.

Why does nobody think of me?

Well whatever.

“Something’s not right though,” Sylvia said, looking around the room.

Suddenly, she jumped up.

“I got it!” Sylvia exclaimed, “I didn’t think about it before, because I counted my mom and her assistant, but we need ten people to go! It’s bad luck if we have eight or nine, and we already have enough bad luck as it is.”

“Well then . . . who??” Marina asked.

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Wow look, it's the main quest! XD 

Sylvia! I think this turned out very well, but let me know what you think. I hope you like it!