Chapter 2
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zaria managed to sneak away from the party. Outside she chucked off her high heeled shoes and started to run. She ran as fast as could, feeling like if she slowed down, even a little bit, everything would come crashing down around her. She had to get to him. He would be the only one that would know what to do.
Zaria kept running past the point of exhaustion. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime of running, the stables finally came into sight. There.
Zaria had been in equestrian sports ever since she was a young girl. It was the only thing she had to look forward as she grew up with a father that did nothing but neglect her. It was this equestrian love that brought her to Ryder and how they became best friends.
Ryder was the man that took care of all the horses. He had been an orphan from some unknown country who had washed up on the Araeldania shore. Zaria’s father had given him a job in the stables from a very young age. Now he was head stable master and took care of all the horses by himself with only a few sub-workers working under his wing. He was only about twenty years old. No one knows what his actual age.
Ryder was now sitting alone in the stable loft, his home, eating a lowly dinner of bread and butter. He wasn’t paid much for his job and so the only time he had anything more than bread was when Zaria brought him something from the Araeldan mansion. He sighed a bit now, wondering what she was doing. He could hear the party’s music and wondered if she was having fun. He hoped she was; she deserved it. He wanted her to be happy.
He suddenly dropped his bread when there was a pounding on the stable door. Ryder had no idea who it might be and so quickly raced down the stairs in order to open the door. It was late, so it seemed odd that anyone would need him so urgently.
Before answering the door, he quickly wiped his hands clean. To his surprise, he opened the door to a panting Zaria. His eyes went big at the sight of her. He definitely wasn’t expecting her.
Ryder had the biggest crush on the beautiful princess. They had grown up together and as time went on his love for her only increased. She had been his only friend when he found himself all alone in a strange new world where he could understand no one. She had been kind and compassionate to him from the very beginning and he would never forget it. It was inevitable that he would fall in love with her. He had no idea she felt the same way.
“Can… can… I please come in?” Zaria’s voice was shaky and Ryder could immediately tell something was wrong. He nodded quickly, moving out of the doorway.
“Of course, Zee, what’s wrong?” He asked, concerned, letting her inside and helping her climb the stairs to the loft where he sat her down on the bed, one of the only pieces of furniture he owned. She looked pale and was breathing raggedly. Ryder got up and offered her a cup of water, which she accepted eagerly. She gulped down her water and then took a few minutes to compose herself.
“Oh… Ryder… the worst thing ever just happened to me…” She hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. She clung to him desperately, never wanting to let go. Ryder gently rubbed her back, not knowing what else to do. He stroked her hair, gently, his chin laying on the top of her head as he held her in his arms.
After a while, Ryder couldn’t take it anymore. He had to know. “Zee… please, sweetie, tell me what happened.” He whispered softly as he looked into her beautiful eyes. He hoped she would tell him what had happened. He hoped he would be able to help somehow. It killed him to see her like this. He had to get to the bottom of this.
Finally, she pulled away, looking a bit more composed. However, she didn’t say a word much to Ryder’s disappointment. Instead, she held out her hand. Ryder immediately noticed the dazzling diamond ring around her finger.
“Whoa! What is that thing? It’s huge!” Ryder’s eyes were huge, staring at the ring. He grabbed her hand suddenly, moving it this way and that, in order to examine the ring. He had never seen such concentrated wealth before.
“It’s… it’s an engagement ring…” Zaria answered softly, looking at him. She didn’t know what else to say. Words no longer wanted to obey her and so her lips spewed out only the truth. She felt like her whole world was turning upside down and she was clutching at nothingness as she descended into a bottomless abyss.
“Oh…” Ryder’s face fell. An engagement ring. Then that meant… Ryder’s world came crashing down around him as he felt his heart break into a million pieces. How could this be happening to him?