Gabriel of Galdare: Chapter One. (standard:fantasy, 2369 words)
Author: Anya Lane	Added: Jul 19 2003	Views/Reads: 3377/2223	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A prince who is trying to escape his role. A girl who is searching for a father. Another prince searching for love. And a King trying to do the right thing for his sons. Want to know how they all tie together? Just read.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

“I have tried!” She practically screamed. “Know let go of me so I can do
what I came to do.” She pulled free of his grasp and ran. 

But James was right behind her. He grabbed her around the waist from
behind. His strong arms wouldn't budge. She struggled as hard as she 
could but she couldn't get free. “Let go of me!” She demanded 
furiously. “You have no right to be doing this.” 

“I have no right?” James inquired in shocked. “I have a right to save
you from yourself. Calm down and think a moment. You don't really want 
to die. What you want is to stop feeling so alone. Let me at least try 
to help.” “You can't help me.” She answered but she had stopped 
struggling. Either because she was listening or because she was tired 
James couldn't figure out which. 

“Maybe not but at least let me try. What would you lose?” He waited a
moment to see if she would say anything but she was silent. “Please, 
let me try to help. Come with me.” 

She thought a moment. “All right I'll come with you but I won't make any
promises.” 

“All right then. I'm going to let you go you promise not to run?” 

“Yes.” 

“ Then you just made a promise.” He joked trying to lighten the mood. 
James let go of her slowly to make sure. When he had fully let go of 
her she turned and looked at him. He was entranced by her blue eyes. 

She wiped the tears off her face and glanced at him quickly. “Were are
we going to go?” 

“To Galdare. That's were I live.” 

“ We're going to Galdare? Are we going to walk the entire way?” 

“Not unless you really want to.” He turned and whistled. His horses came
trotting towards them. “But I'd really rather take the horses.” He 
smiled as she glared at him. 

“Well how was I suppose to know you had horses with you?” 

*************************************** 

  “So what's your name?” James asked her when they finally were on their
way to Galdare. 

“Gabriel. What is yours my lord?” 

“My name is James.” There was a pause while they crossed a stream. “Do
you often travel by yourself?” “Well for the past two years yes. I just 
decided I needed to try and find myself and when I couldn't . . . well 
you know.” 

“Yeah. So your mother died two years ago?” 

“No I was staying with someone before this. My mother died when I was
eight.” 

“I thought you said no one would take you in.” He reminded her. 

“None of my family will. It was a friend of the family or at least of my
parents. He was very kind but I need to find my father before I can be 
complete. I want to know him.” They rode into a clearing and were 
surprised to suddenly be surrounded by warriors. 

“Kill the Prince!!” 

“Gabriel ride!!!” James yelled. Gabriel took off straight for the
attackers. “No the other way!! Away from them!!!” 

Gabriel halted her horse which reared back she pulled a sword, which
immediately burst into a column of purple flames, out of its sheath. 
“This is Yahute made by the elves of Laryale I wouldn't want to mess 
with it if I where you.” She called to the men. 

“We are not afraid of any woman!” 

“Oh really? Than come and fight if you dare face this swords wrath.”
Gabriel dismounted. 

The man who had spoken to her dismounted his horse. “Does the Prince
usually send a woman to do his job?” 

“Oh no but I feel like a good fight. Now draw your weapon before I
become impatient and strike you down were you stand.” Gabriel began to 
circle poised ready to attack. 

“I like the feisty stupid ones. Perhaps if you aren't dead when I finish
with you I'll take you to be my bride.” 

“That's what you think.” She lashed out. Her strength seemed to catch
him off guard. The blow sent him stumbling to the ground. “Not so cocky 
now are you?” 

He growled in anger and came at her with a sudden lunge but she was
ready for him countering the move with perfect precision. He came at 
her again from an angle she hadn't expected. His sword scraped lightly 
across her throat and a necklace she had been wearing around her neck 
fell to the ground. His eyes where full of triumph but hers were full 
of anger. “You are so dead now.” She lunged again and again with 
unending engery. The man fell to the ground panting. 

“Please I'm married I have children.” He begged. 

“I could kill you but I won't. Remember your children the next time you
think of attacking someone.” She pulled her sword away. “Now get your 
men out of here.” 

He scrambled to his feet mounted his horse and ordered his men out.
Gabriel watched them go silently. Her swords flames went out and she 
put it back in its sheath. She turned to see James who had watched 
everything in amazment. “Let's just say when you're on your own for as 
long as I have you learn how to defend yourself real fast.” She mounted 
her horse. “Shall we continue?” 

“Of course but remind me never to cross you.” Gabriel just laughed. 

“You didn't tell me you were a Prince my Lord. Keeping secrets are we?” 

“Only the things I want to avoid.” 

“Why do you wish to avoid being royalty your highness?” 

“Please whatever you do, do not call me that! My name is James and I
like to be called that.” They began on their journey again. 

******************************************************* 

Gabriel was wondering if they would ever get to Galdare when suddenly 
she noticed a spire sticking up from the ground. She realized they must 
be on a hill and that was the castle were James lived. She noticed 
James glance at her with a smile. “That is Galdare? Please tell me 
there is more than just one spire.” She teased. 

James led Gabriel down the steep hill watching her expressions as more
of the city came into view. She seemed to think it was beautiful. 
“Yeah, just try being told you're going to rule it one day. You won't 
think it's so pretty then.” He thought to himself. As they rode through 
the streets the commoners bowed and whispered. Gabriel would soon be 
the new gossip. As James watched how she reacted he could tell she 
would be a great Queen. She bowed her head politely as they passed 
smiling the entire time. When one of the children waved at her, her 
smile widened and she waved back. Of course James new that looking 
pretty wasn't the only job of a queen but he was sure she could handle 
the rest. She certainly wouldn't have a problem defending herself. 
James suddenly realized they were at the castle stables. He dismounted 
and waited for Gabriel as she gave her horse a sugar lump and patted it 
lovingly. She followed him up the steps of the castle. He stopped when 
he reached the guard. “She's with me and no snitching I want to tell 
him on my own. And you know what I mean.” The guard  nodded eyeing 
Gabriel. 

James opened the heavy wooden doors Leading her inside. The entry hall
was full of tapestries and paintings of previous Kings. It also had 
torches hanging on the walls but beside those things it was empty. 
Still Gabriel marveled at it as though it were some beautiful sight. As 
they entered the connected room James winced at the sight of the 
thrones how he wished he would never have to sit in the center one. 

Gabriel had walked over to the one on the right of the middle thrones.
“Is this where you sit?” She asked sitting down gently in it. 

“Actually I sit on the left hand side because I'm only second in line to
the throne. My brother sits in that one.” 

Gabriel got up and moved to the middle throne witch had a black veil
draped over it. “Is this where your mother sat?” She asked gently 
looking at him with sympathetic eyes. 

“Yes, when she died my Father ordered her throne to be veiled in black.
He swore until my brother or I took the throne no other Queen would sit 
there.” James remembered only slightly of what had happened. 

Gabriel walked over to him. “Do you remember much about her?” 

“Not a lot but I do remember some things. Like how she sung me and my
brother to sleep. And how she always smelled of lavender.” 

Gabriel's gaze had shifted to a picture on the stone walls. “Is that
her?” James nodded. “She's beautiful!” Gabriel explained in awe. The 
picture contained a woman with black hair pulled up in a intricate bun 
crowned with rose buds. Her honey golden skin and blue eyes captivated 
you at first sight. And her sweet smile made you ask yourself was this 
a human or an angel? “Your father must miss her terribly.” 

“He does.” James paused a moment then took her arm gently. “Come on.” He
led her up a few flights of stairs and into a bed chamber. “Don't think 
I have any wrongful ideas it is simply a place that servants prying 
ears do not penatrate.” He told her making sure his intent was not 
mistaken. 

“Oh don't worry as you saw I can take care of myself.” Gabriel smiled
sitting down on the bed. 

James laughed. “Yes you can and I pity the man that crosses you.” 

“Oh and what if that comment makes me angry?” Gabriel said with a wicked
smile and lunged at James. 

James tried to get out of reach but it was no use she had him cornered.
“Hey!” James squeezed her in the side. Gabriel let out a screech. 
“Don't I'm tickelish!” 

“Oh really?” 

“No don't!” Gabriel broke out in a fit of laughter as James pushed her
back to the bed tickling her and laughing from amusement. Gabriel 
twisted and turned trying to get loose of his fingers without any luck. 
Suddenly there was a loud bang and Gabriel turned to see two men 
standing in the doorway. 

James had stopped tickling her and was looking at them as well. “Hi
Father. Hi William.” 

“Someone's been naughty.” The teenager, who Gabriel was guessing was
James's brother, said in a sing-songy voice. 


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