Ruby Field, England
Winter 1334
A fresh blanket of snow graced the hills of Ruby Field. The soft powder glistened like millions of tiny diamonds in the pale sunlight. The air was cold and crisp yet not too unbearable.
Serena Noelle leaned over the neck of her white Shire mare and whispered into her ear.
"It is beautiful, Aerionna, is it not?"
The mare whinnied her agreement and stamped her right hoof on the frozen ground. Tendrils of steam rose from the horse's nostrils. Serena smiled and patted the horses neck.
"I do not know if I could ever leave this place. This is my home, 'tis all I know and love." she said with her eyes fixed on the horizon of snow covered hills.
Above, two ravens glided through the cloudy sky, dipping and swooping down, calling at each other. Serena raised her head and called back, mimicking the sound that the raucous ravens made. Aerionna stamped her hoof and whinnied loudly, joining in with her mistress.
"That's my girl." Serena laughed and rubbed Aerionna's neck as she pulled on the reigns, ushering the horse to turn around. She silently wished she could spend a whole day just roaming the wilderness, exploring nature's beauty.
"Come now Aireonna, Mother will surely be distraught if I do not return quickly from my morning ride."
The sturdy mare snickered and took off at a brisk trot. Serena bounced in the saddle, her long red cape floating in the frigid breeze behind her.
Aerionna had been a gift from Serena's father, Norman Huff, the most powerful man in Ruby Field. It was her sixth birthday and when she saw the little white foal with a bright red bow tied around its neck, she squealed and ran to her father. Excitedly she hugged his leg screaming a thousand thanks.
"What shall you name her, my darling?"
"Why, I believe I shall call her Aerionna, papa." Serena replied.
"Tis a beautiful name for a beautiful Shire." her father said.
Serena nervously approached the foal, circling it first.
"Do not be afraid my daughter. She will not harm you." her father encouraged.
Serena smiled and walked towards the foal, she began to caress the foal's little neck.
"You are a beautiful horse Aerionna. You and I shall be the best of friends I declare!" she said excitedly as she removed the satin bow. Aerionna whinnied a high pitch yet strong whinny for such a young foal. Thus began the friendship of maiden and beast. Serena devoted her time to Aerionna. She rode her every morning and always brought with her an apple or fresh carrot. The horse was spoiled no doubt but Serena did not mind. Aerionna was her closest and only friend.
"Look Aerionna, there she is." Serena whispered to her mare, pulling the reigns to slow the mare's gait.
Scarlet Huff, Serena's mother stood like a statue, rapped in furs outside the steps that led to their grand mansion. Scarlet watched as her daughter trotted towards her. A sour frown etched its way across the woman's wrinkle-free face.
"She does not look pleasant at all this morning." Serena said in a hushed tone as she guided Aerionna onto the loose gravel path that led to where her mother was standing.
"Serena you will dismount at once and go to your room and bathe!" her mother said in a clipped and rather shrill tone.
Serena swung down from the saddle and smoothed the folds of her velvet skirts.
"Mother, I bathed yesterday. I am as clean as I could possibly be." she protested.
"Nonsense. You have been riding that filthy beast of an animal. You shall do as I bid!"
Serena hung her head, taking Aerionna's reigns in her gloved hands to lead her to the stables.
"Yes, mother." she muttered in obedience.
~*~
Serena lit a small oil lamp and hung it on a wooden peg against the wall of the stables. The soft amber glow of the lamp filled the musky stable, offering little heat.
"There, now I can see." she muttered turning to unsaddle Aerionna. Carefully she loosened the tanned leather straps that secured the reigns and bridle. Aerionna snickered and shook her head when Serena removed the silver bridle from the mare's mouth.
"I guess you do feel better without it. I know I sure would hate to have a big metal bar lying across my tongue." Serena said to her horse. After she removed the saddle and harnesses, she picked up a large, round wooden brush and set about brushing Aerionna's silky white mane. Serena was always tentative to taking care of Aerionna. Her father had always said that a beast was as good as any man and must be treated so.
"Why Aerionna I do believe that you have more beautiful hair than my own mother!" she said with a laugh. Aerionna whinnied as if laughing along with her mistress' playful comment.
Before Serena locked Aerionna in the little cubicle of the stable, she brought out a thick woolen blanket and layed it across Aerionna's back. She refilled the water barrel and put some fresh oats in the trough.
"Can't have you starving or freezing tonight, now can we?" she asked before locking the latch.
"I'll see you in the morning dearest Aerionna. You rest now." Serena said softly and removed the lamp from the peg and exited the stables.
~*~
"Jael, I will never understand why my Mother insists that I bathe so frequently!" Serena said as she lowered her body into the steaming hot water. She relaxed against the wooden frame of the tub and closed her eyes, breathing in the aroma of fresh cut rose petals from her mother's greenhouse.
"Aye. I know what ye mean. 'Tis hard for me to haul all this water up the stairs every day!" Jael replied, dropping more petals into the water.
"Yes! Exactly!" Serena spiraled her fingers lazily in the water, making little ringlets around the bright red petals.
"But who can stand against yer Mother? She is, after all the Mistress of the household." Jael added. She unfolded a white towel and rubbed a bar of rose soap against the cloth creating a foamy lather.
"Here ye go, Miss Serena. Go ahead and get ye self clean."
Serena sighed deeply and took the soapy cloth and began to scrub her whole body.
"When yer finished, I have yer gown ready and a nice mug of peppermint tea, yer favorite." Jael smiled then left the small washroom to fetch some towels. Serena liked Jael. She was simple minded but had a compassionate heart. Jael had grown up with Serena and became her chamber maid when Serena had her thirteenth birthday. Jael was only fifteen at that time. Now the two had become close. However Serena did not consider her to be a friend. She was just a servant girl who worked for Lady Scarlet and demanded to know everything that Serena did throughout the day. Serena had lost her trust in the girl when she had found out that Jael spied on her often and reported back to Lady Scarlet every day.
Once Serena was dried, Jael helped her dress in a soft pink gown of crushed velvet. It was trimmed in golden threads and the sleeves hung loose around her wrists. The bodice was fringed with wide pieces of soft white lace and the skirt was pleated and embroidered in the same golden threads. Jael combed her waist length, raven black hair and arranged it in a simple chignon at the nape of her neck. She added an amethyst studded flower pin to the chignon.
"Beautiful!" Jael clasped her thin hands together and stood back to admire Serena. Serena smiled and turned to face the full length mirror.
"I do not understand why Mother requests me to dress in such apparel. Is today different from any other day?" she asked.
Jael hid a smile and led Serena by the arm. "Just go find yer Mother and Father. I believe that they are in the Library." she said all too knowingly.
Serena made her way to the grand Library. She stopped when she reached the mahogany door and knocked. She could hear muffled voices coming from inside the room.
A servant answered the door and ushered Serena inside. Alongside the eight foot long fireplace that roared with flames that lapped against the long logs, her mother and father were seated in plush, over sized chairs. They were joined by an elderly man whom Serena had never seen before. He was thin and his white hair was scraggly and in need of a good trimming however his attire was presentably enough.
"Ah, Serena, my precious gem, come and sit." her father, Lord Norman Huff motioned with his left hand. Serena nervously approached her parents and took a seat beside her mother.
Lady Scarlet said nothing and did not even acknowledge that Serena had entered the room.
"Serena, I would like you to meet my financial advisor and lawyer, Mr. Depugh." Norman said.
Serena nodded towards Mr. Depugh and smiled respectfully.
"Miss Serena, your father speaks highly of you. But he failed to mention how beautiful you were!" the older man exclaimed.
Lord Norman waved his hand and focused his gaze on his only daughter.
"I have asked Mr. Depugh to come today so that we may begin to secure your future, my dear."
A puzzled look filled Serena's face and Lord Norman continued.
"You are seventeen, child. Come Spring, you will have your eighteenth birthday. You need a husband. A wealthy one at that. Mr. Depugh is here to help me find a husband for you."
"Papa, I-"
"Serena, hush." Lady Scarlet commanded in a quiet yet stern tone.
Lord Norman noticed the look of worry on his daughter's face.
"Come now, Serena, you must marry. 'Tis how things must be done." he assured her calmly, resting his palm against the purple cushion of the armrest.
"Yes but can I not choose for myself the man that I will marry? Can I not marry for love?" she asked innocently and Lady Scarlet raised her hand to hide a sarcastic laugh.
"Marry for love? And wind up penniless living on the streets? Why I think not my dear girl!" Lord Norman laughed heartily.
Embarrassed, heat filled Serena's cheeks and she lowered her gaze to her folded hands in her lap.
"Miss Serena, I assure you that your father and I will surely find you a decent man capable of taking good care of you. He will no doubt, have money to spare on whatever your precious little heart desires." Mr. Depugh added.
Serena did not reply for it was no use. Her parents had made their decision. She listened silently as they began to make arrangements for her marriage to a mere stranger. Deep down, Serena did not care for money, she did not care for titles or great wealth. All she wanted was love, a true honest decent man to love her with all his heart. But apparently, there was not enough money in the world to buy such things.
~*~