Gabriel of Galdare: Chapter One. (standard:fantasy, 2369 words)
Author: Anya Lane	Added: Jul 19 2003	Views/Reads: 3380/2225	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.

    James rode through the woods at a slow pace. The horses needed the
exercise and it gave him an excuse to get away from the empty castle. 
His father and brother were away on business and he had nothing better 
to do anyway. He was enjoying the ride greatly. He turned the horse he 
was riding to the left into a thicker bunch of trees. The other horse 
followed instinctively. “Guess I've got to stop taking you the same 
route every time huh?” He patted the horse's neck gently. 

James halted the horse, turned, and looked around for a minute. He swore
he heard crying. He listened closer. It was coming from the trees right 
in front of him. He led the horses forward trying to be as quite as 
possible. When he started getting closer he jumped off the horse. He 
walked a few steps when through some branches he caught a glimpse of a 
red garment. “Hello?” He called out. “Is someone there?” 

“What do you want?” A young girl's voice answered. 

“I wish to know who's crying?” 

“No one. Please go away.” She answered almost begging the last part. 

James walked out of the trees and found himself looking at a young girl
sitting on a log. Her knees were tucked up to her chest, her arms were 
crossed tightly around them, and her head was face down on her knees. 
Her reddish-brown hair tumbled down her back to her waist. Her red gown 
was made of a lightweight material. It was long and had short sleeves 
revealing her slightly tan arms. “Why are you crying?” 

“Why would you care?” She retorted. 

“I do not like seeing someone in distress. Please tell me what is
wrong.” He urged her gently. 

The girl looked up. Her eyes were a bright blue like the most perfect
sapphire and the look in them was of pure sorrow. Around her eyes her 
flesh was red from crying. Tears still streamed down her face. As James 
looked at her he realized she couldn't be any older than fifteen. “ I 
cry because I am alone. So alone.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“ Do you have a family?” 

“Yes a father and a brother. My mother died after I was born.” 

A spark of pity broke through the sorrow. “I'm so sorry. It must have
been terrible for you and your father especially.” 

“For my father very much for me yes but not as bad since I can't
remember it. But what does me having a family have to do about this?” 

The girl looked down at the log and a tear fell from her face. She
looked back up. “I . . . have no . . . family.” She was able to push 
out the words on hiccups of air. 

“You must have a family somewhere.” 

“My mother is,” she paused a moment. “Dead and I don't know who my
father is all I know about him is he is an elf. My mother had no 
brothers or sisters. And even if she did they wouldn't take me. That's 
why I'm out here. I have no where to go. Besides I see no point in 
living . . . I just want for this to . . . all go away.” The tears 
began again. 

James sat next to her and grabbed her arms. “There is always a reason to
live! Do you hear me? Always!” 

“Tell me . . . then . . . why should . . . I live?” 

“To find your father. Don't you want to know who he is?” 

“Of course.” 

“Then why don't you try to find out?” 



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