The gates slowly creaked open, The pit in her stomach grew, she gulped hoping it wouldn't stick in the center of her through. a flood of light fled over her eyes. She blinked adjusting to the sun's rays, Once adjusted she could see into the courtyard beyond the gates. Lifeless snow-covered trees lined a long road filled with bustling people, all wrapped warm as the fumbled threw the snow. The soldiers pushed them forward threw the gate, as the walked Alora noticed all the small packed housed, and tight little passageways between them. People watched in curiosity probably wonder why soldiers were walking a flock of children threw the street. They trudged slowly threw the thick snowy stone towards the second pair of gates ahead, They looked the same as the first but there were noticeable differences. two sullen marble statues of men holding long spears, and wolves curled around there legs, snarling, showing off its long canines, perched like fierce guardians along the wall. Her eyes slowly pealed to the intricate golden carvings on the gates, it was off a war between creatures, swords were drawn, each side raging towards each other. A soldier walked up to a posted guard by the gate, they were talking for no longer than a minute before the gates started to open, but this time there wasn't any loud noise of metal scrapping.
They were forced inside, a flush of heat swept over Alora sending pleasuring tingles threw her limbs. She looked around at the children around her, some smiled but others seemed dramatized, their faces held that of shock and fear. Out of the corner of her eye, a certain brown-haired boy caught her attention. he was tall for his age, and notably handsome, His head whipped around but Alora was quick enough to look away at the last second. She kept her head low until echoing footsteps approached and stopped in front of them, Her eyes shot up to a beautiful face. A woman about the age of twenty or so stood before them, her long blond hair tucked into a neat braid hanging over one shoulder, her warm gaze sat atop high cheekbones and a perfect nose with plump lips tinted just the perfect shade of pink for her pale complexion. She wore a flowing silk dress dyed light blue with an undertone of purple around the frilly hems.
Two guards dressed in shinny black armor stood behind the women like the marble statues outside, spears in hand. The women took small graceful steps toward them until she was all but a meager few steps away she spoke, "Welcome children, to my humble home, some of you might be scared, I can understand, but this is your home now, and from this day forward I expect you to abide by the rules that are set for you or you will be punished. is this understood?" Her voice was soft and warm, there was nothing that seemed evil behind it. There were lowly sniffles and murmurs threw the crowed, "I said is that understood!" Her voice wasn't soft but authoritative now, her brows slightly furrowed as she gazed over the children, eyes searching, daring someone to try to defy her. the children raised their voices in sync "yes, "The women let out a sigh her soft voice once again speaking "and from now on I command to be called lady Travain," the children once again in sync called out "yes lady Travain," the women turned with a calm smile on her face, her silky gown flowing behind her, leaving threw a broad doorway back the way she came.
Just as fast as the doors closed behind the women, guards swept the children into a straight line, pushing and prodding them forward leading them threw halls and corridors of the giant castle.
Alora slowly walked cramped in between two children, there sniffling was in vain as they were forcefully pushed threw narrow halls until forced to descending a darkened stone staircase. small torches lined the walls, casting dancing shadows over the cold walls. The children walked quietly, so quite that one of the only sounds was of water dripping and the slight rustling of armor behind them.
They entered a room, small beds strowed along the wall. Three figures stood in the center of the room, two women and one man. The first one had dark hair tucked into a tight bun atop her head, she wore a long dark blue dress with a small white apron. The second woman had a warm smile on her small round face, a red dress hugged around her dainty body, her short curly hair gathered around her shoulders in bunches. the man had a hard expression across his wrinkled worn face, his dark expression searched over the children making Alora's belly churn uncomfortably.
The guards pushed them towards the three figures, The kind smiling women stepped forward to greet them. "Hello, children, my name is Mary, We will be your new caretakers and trainers from this day till you are prepared for what is in store for you. As of you leaving the outlands, this will be your new home, there will be no going back from here". Her smile never faltered, but there's was something uncomfortable about her gaze. "I realize this must be confusing but let me reassure you, yall are now slaves of the south castle. You will be what we want you to be, you will do what we want you to do, your body and souls will belong to the Lords, now that will make it a bit less confusing for your small scared slave minds". Alora flinched at the name slave, it wasn't anything new to her, but she knew there couldn't be anything good about this place she was chained to the moment her feet walked threw the gate.