The dark, foreboding storm clouds gathering over the house mirrored the turmoil brewing within her.
Moonlight streamed through the window of Arielle's room. She stared at nothing in particular, as her mind thought back to the King's announcement a week ago.
Arielle would be eighteen three days from now. She was not worried about her age but about her marriage.
In the Kingdom of Everia, eighteen was the legal age to get married and it was compulsory for every girl who would turn eighteen.
"What are you still doing up Ari?" Arielle's mother, Victoria, entered the room with a smile and dropped some clothes on her bed.
"Nothing mother." Ari said and faced the outside back.
"Don't tell me nothing Arielle. I know something is bothering you." Victoria said and walked to stand beside her daughter.
"Tell me, is it about your coming of age ceremony?" Arielle sighed and her mother understood that, that was what bothering her.
"I do not want to get married yet mother." Arielle told her mother. Victoria sighed.
Victoria's gaze drifted, lost in memories before focusing on Arielle. "I remember when I was your age, facing the same fate. It's hard dear, but we'll get through it."
"You know, that is how I met your father and we fell in love." Victoria said with a smile.
Arielle's lips curved into a gentle smile as she listened to her mother's story, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
"Mother, you're still swooning over Father, aren't you?" Arielle teased, her voice filled with amusement.
Victoria giggled.
"But it does not mean someone like that will find me mother. What if the person that picks me is the exact opposite? What if…"
"Do not worry my dear. Stop thinking about it already and you never can tell, you might find your Prince Charming." Victoria said and winked at her daughter before laughing eliciting a giggle from Arielle also.
"Stop with it mother. What Prince Charming?" Arielle said in between her laughter.
"Did you wash your hair today Ari?" Victoria asked. "I forgot mother."
"Goodness Ari! What did I tell you?" Victoria asked as she strolled into her daughter's bathroom.
"I'm sorry mother." Arielle apologized.
"Come with me." Arielle knew better than to argue with her mother and just followed her out of he room.
At the same time in the Palace of the Hawthrones. King William was in his study with his advisor. "I do not think we can fight them alone your majesty."
King William sighed and then asked his advisor,
"What do you propose we do Bernard?"
Bernard thought for a moment before answering, "Why don't we ask the werewolf King to aide us? We already have the vampire King and elf King on her side, we should be able to fight them and win your majesty."
"I suppose you are right. You have invited them for the ceremony right?" King William asked Bernard.
"Yes your majesty. But I don't think the werewolf King will show up as he had never done so." Bernard answered.
King William nodded. "Alright. Let us see how it goes."
"Should we still carry on with the search?" Bernard asked.
"There has not been any significant lead, so what is the use of the search? Just let it be." King William said.
"Just one more your majesty and after this, no more." Bernard said. "Please your majesty."
King William gave in and agreed, "Alright, carry on."
"Yes your majesty." Bernard said man's exited the King's study. After Bernard left, King William brought out a picture from his drawer and stared at it, a year escaped his eyes in the process. "If only you had not died Cecelia."
Back in Buckswood, where Arielle and her mother were. Victoria led Arielle to the lake, where the moonlight danced across the water.
"Remove it Ari." Victoria ordered her daughter.
Arielle removed the brown colored wig and her white hair came into view. Her skin shimmered under the moonlight, its delicate complexion shrouded with a glow. Her emerald eyes shone brightly as she stared at her mother.
Victoria could not close her mouth. Even though, this was not the first time she was seeing Arielle's true self, she could not help but be amazed every time.
Victoria's fingers gently combed through her snow-white locks freeing the tangles. As Victoria washed Arielle's hair, Arielle's worries momentarily faded away, replaced by the soothing sensation and her mother's gentle touch.
Arielle got up some minutes later after her mother finished washing her hair and applying some special oil.
Meanwhile, in the same place where Arielle and her mother were, just some distance away.
Bernard led his men through the village and the houses searching for something - or someone.
"I guess his majesty was right." Bernard said and turned back to head back to the palace when his eyes caught something in the distance - a whisper of white hair.
Bernard's heart quickened. Has he found what he was looking for?