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iLucky7 — At First Sight
Published: 2019-01-14 22:15:29 +0000 UTC; Views: 314; Favourites: 2; Downloads: 1
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“Chaucer.”
The lavender mare turned to meet her mother’s gaze.
“Must it be now?” she replied hoarsely, her bloodshot eyes growing dim.
“You need not be so ungrateful. This is all in your best interest, and you will do as I say.”
Chaucer looked back outside, trying to imagine that the grey surroundings were green, full of life. That the view was somewhere other than this.
“If this is truly in my best interest, then why don’t I get a say in the matter?” Chaucer retorted.
“Don’t let’s go through all this again. You’d not make a a good life for yourself in solitude. You know well of our ways, and I see no sense in your defiance, child.”
“I can take care of myself!” She croaked.
“Enough,” Her mother snapped harshly. “You are to stop this at once and follow my orders.”
Chaucer hung her head in defeat.
“Now get up and make yourself presentable. You must make a good first impression. Show the family your worth.” Her mother turned away to leave.
“I’m not a precious stone,” Chaucer coldly spat. “I’m as much a living, breathing creature as you are. How can you just shine me up and sell me away like a diamond?”
Her mother turned back to face her, a deathly glare slithering onto her weathered face.
“How dare you be so selfish!”
Chaucer gazed back up, tears brewing in her amber eyes.
“I’ve not ever known a mare so thankless as you, Chaucer! What’s corrupted you to think in such a way? Hm?”
“I-”
“I’ve not met someone so faultfinding so long as I’ve walked this earth! For Heaven’s sake, are you unable count your blessings? You are being given a future that others would take their own lives for!”
“Then let them have it!” Chaucer shouted, standing up.
In a flash, her mother’s hoof struck her cheek. Chaucer stumbled back and fell to the floor, fearfully staring back at the mare before her.
“Silence!” Her mother screamed. “Enough is enough! You will go through with this and you will cease your hostility, wretch!”
Chaucer’s gaunt body shook as her composure began to crack.
“I don’t want to marry a stranger!” She broke down, sobbing. “How could you give your own daughter away to someone neither of us have ever met? Do you not care if I spend the rest of my life in misery?”
“Chaucer-”
“Can’t you see what this has done to me? I cannot sleep, I’ve no hunger, no life left in me! How can you value money over misery?”
Her mother paused.
“You must stop questioning the ways of our people,”
The elder mare moved closer to her daughter.
“Focusing too much on oneself is a sin, Chaucer. Think not of how this changes your life, think instead of how you are honoring Divinity’s name. Think of how you are serving the greater good. Your thoughts matter not. Giving in to one’s own emotions is a selfish act. Now, for the last time, make yourself presentable! They will be arriving at any moment now.”
With that, Chaucer’s mother left her in the silence of her dark room.
After several minutes, Chaucer finally stood up and made her way over to the small, dusty mirror on her wall. Pale, once golden eyes stared back at her. Her dull coat looked grayer than ever. Her lilac mane fell over her face in matted strings. Shadows hung heavy around her sunken eyes. Perhaps the only piece of her left in any form of composure was the thin, red collar that dug into her neck as she breathed. So many times she’d wanted to just cut it off of herself. Not once had she had the bravery. Perhaps that would change today, she thought. She pulled her mane back into a tight, neat bun and tried to hide the tear stains on her face. Once again, she turned to face the mirror and gaze at the stranger that glared at her from within. She swallowed a wave of fresh sadness that was threatening to surface and left her room.
“There you are,” Her father said as she walked towards him. “You look exquisite.”
“Thank you.” Chaucer mumbled.
“Here, for you,” Her father said, offering her a golden rose.
“It’s lovely,” Chaucer responded dryly, though she could not help but admire it’s beauty.
“You do want to look your best, after all.” Her father added, pinning the rose into Chaucer’s mane. He looked down at her with a small smile. She could not find it in herself to return the gesture.
“Come now, let us meet our guests.” He said, leading Chaucer down the hall. She could hear quiet voices and see shadows from the dim candlelight in the room ahead.
“Wake up, wake up, wake up!” She thought, even though she knew this was no dream. This was real. And it was happening.
“Ah! There she is,” Chaucer’s mother exclaimed. Chaucer looked at the floor, too afraid to look at their guests.
“A great pleasure, dear,” A mare’s voice said softly.
“Indeed,” Came a deeper, older voice.
Chaucer took a deep breath and looked up. “The pleasure is mine.” She croaked out. A small, sandy coated mare and a tall, grey stallion stood before her, with fake, dead smiles coating their faces like masks.
“We can’t begin to tell you how honored she is to finally be meeting this divine family. How honored we all are,” Chaucer’s mother replied.
“Son!” The elder stallion whispered in a hiss.
“Ah, my apologies. Hello,”
Chaucer looked to her right, towards the source of the new voice. A tall colt stared back with a hollowed gaze, but she could see there was still life left in him. His coat was as dull as the dirt below them, his shaggy mane barely brushing his shoulders like an inky weeping willow. He looked as withered as anyone else in the room, yet, his face wasn’t as lifeless. It was as though he held the sky in his eyes, like the last few rays of sun shining through the heavens before a storm.
She felt nothing for him.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” He choked out, bowing his head.
“The pleasure is mine,” She replied again.
They both looked away from each other, not knowing what to say.
Chaucer’s mother cleared her throat.
“Oh-um, my apologies, allow me to introduce myself,” She exclaimed. “My name is Chaucer.” She couldn’t believe she just spoke those words. Introducing herself to a stranger she’d be marrying in less than a month. It sickened her to her stomach.
“Holder,” He replied softly. “Holder Cobblestone.”
“What a beautiful rose,” He said, gesturing to the flower in her mane.
“Thank you.”
Once again, the room was swallowed by a painful silence.
“Well!” The sandy mare piped up. “You seem to be getting along beautifully. I have a feeling you’ll be perfect together.”
Yeah, Chaucer thought. …Perfect.
“And when would be the best time for the ceremony?” Holder’s mother asked.
“I would say as soon as possible!” Chaucer’s mother responded.
“But they must have time to become acquainted, dear” Chaucer’s father said quietly.
“Yes, of course,” said Holder’s mother.
She paused.
“Yes, I suppose. Shall we say in two week’s time?” Chaucer’s mother queried.
The other parents all nodded and agreed quietly. Not once could either Chaucer or Holder bring themselves to look up from the ground.
“Excellent, that’s settled then,” Holder’s father added. “Well, son?” He said, cocking an eyebrow. Holder took a deep breath and met Chaucer’s gaze with a very small smile. A smile that was almost sympathetic.
“Chaucer,” He said, barely audible.
“Though we have only just met,” He paused.
“I know that Divinity promises great things for us, and I hope you can find it in yourself to see it too.” They blankly stared at each other, both knowing how rehearsed this all was.
“Chaucer, I do hope you will do me the great honor of joining me in Divinity’s alliance, and becoming my wife.” Holder spoke emotionlessly, bowing his head again and extending his hoof to her.
Time suddenly stood still. She caught her mother’s eyes boring into her, with the blankest, yet most threatening stare she’d seen yet. She looked to the floor, then back to Holder. She too extended her own small hoof to meet his. She took a deep breath.
This was it. This was the moment she would be turning in her freedom forever. She locked eyes with Holder one more time, taking in every sapphire detail.
“It would be my honor.”
~
tldr Chaucer is underwhelmed by her arranged husband-to-be. probably because he's a canon character i'm shamelessly using.
i know Holder Cobblestone was a canon character but i figured so many people do nextgen/oc&canon stuff that it's not a huge great big deal.
so i guess this means Chaucer was almost a Pie. weird n' wild.
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Comments: 2
This is incredible! I love the writing style, the story, and the image is really cool.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
