Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world
~John Evelyn
That week while waiting for the jousting tournament Agustin and Canary sent letters back and forth. Getting to know each other with Amara coaching Canary what to write so she didn't sound like a babe who had just learned to talk. Soon the awaited day came. Only everyone had to go to the countryside for the jousting tournament and festivals that were going on.
This would mean Canary would have to stay with her family again. The Wilters didn't have a countryside home since they went back and forth to the empire and the Qiaiar kingdom.She dreaded this but Amara was sure that she would be with Canary at all times. That she was. They walked into the Whitewoods countryside home together,Amara ordered the servants to move her belongings into Canary's room, They even got ready for the jousting tournament together.
"You're wearing your hair down". Amara said excitedly. Canary nodded playing with one of the huge twists that was in her hair. Her hair was mostly down with twists and braids here and there wrapped in jewelry that matched her blue and yellow dress. Amar wore a blue and gold dress, the blue matching Canary's. Her hair was mostly up and the rest down in the back.
"I love when you wear your hair down". Amara said excitedly. "Quickly lets go before our carriage leaves". She said, grabbing Canary's hand and leading her away. Amara was always a bal of sunshine. Always smiling, never a dull moment with her. Canary knew that her grandmother had named her after the golden bird because Canary's smile was as radiant as that golden bird but perhaps she should have named Amara this instead. Everything about Amara was golden to Canary. From her personality to the way that she dressed.
No wonder everyone loved and adored Amara. Her personality was as beautiful as her looks. This soon showed as they arrived at the jousting tournament. The heads of everyone turned as Amara walked up the stairs to sit with their family. Her mother and father proudly looked upon her. But when their mother laid their eyes on Canary and her hair it displeased her. Soon everyone was talking about Canary also. For although she wasn't a beauty as Amara she was a gentle pretty. Her hair enhanced this. Though they would always talk about Canary's weight no one could deny that she was also pretty.
Her eyes a golden brown as people would say and her raven black hair. This was the reason her mother in some type of way hated when she had her hair down. Hated her looks because the two children that took after her beauty did not have the looks of house Whitewood. Nolan and Amara took after the Wilters with their dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. The Whitewoods always had the characteristics of raven hair and amber eyes. If they didn't have both they had one of the other. And Canary had both. Why were these characteristics so important and beautiful to people? Raven hair in particular although it is black has a blueish tint to it.
And brown eyes that appeared so light that they looked golden in the sunlight. These were simply very beautiful to look upon. Although Canary was a simple looking beauty no one could deny that her hair color and eyes didn't suit her. Perhaps if Canary had the beauty of Amara she would appreciate her more. It is why Canary always wore her hair up and not down. But since she was starting to gain her own independence and confidence she decided to do her own thing, wear her own clothes. She didn't care whether her mother and father would be displeased with her anymore.
"Look, they're coming out". Amara squealed. "I wonder who the champion will be this year". Other girls squealed. "Probably the Whitewood girl". And by the Whitewood girl they meant Amara. "Is Emilio participating"? Canary asked. "No he really doesn't like these type of games". Amara said, watching as each house came out. "Look Duke Abarca". Amara said pointing. Canary, embarrassed, put Amara's hand down. "Whatt"? "Don't point Amara".
"He's wearing green armor". Amara said. Canary nodded, staring at him as he came to the front. He made eye contact with Canary and bowed at her. If her cheeks could show her blushing they would instead her ears turned red and Amara pulled them. "Ow"! Canary chuckled.
This was the season of arranged marriages. Some of love. Like Amara's engagement was an arranged one from their young age between families. But she and Emilio Reed had fallen in love throughout the years of knowing each other.This year now that they both were of age they would marry. Now all was left was Canary to marry and her parents wanted her to marry Agustin Abarca to spy on him for the emperor. Canary knew she wouldn't be able to do this. And so her parents had a conversation with her when she arrived at the countryside home. Telling her instead of marrying Agustin Abarca she should consider marrying a young man by the name of Stellan Wolf.
The Wolf family were counts. They were neither on the emperor's side nor the crown prince's side. But her father wanted to change that the same as the Reed family. He wanted both of the families to come to the emperor's side. Stellan was interested and so was his parents. His parents were most likely more interested in the diamond mind she would bring to them and Stellan, having seen what happened at the ballroom, showed pity on her and thought she was quite the pretty girl.
So there was Stellan, a dark skinned, ginger haired, freckled-faced young man. Everyone whispering wondering why he was joining the jousting tournament. Stellan was mostly known for staying at home and being in his books. Why now was he joining the tournament after all these years of staying at his countryside home while the tournament went on. Well Canary was one of those reasons.
The jousting tournaments went like this. Two houses would go against each other. Whoever won the first battle would present his wife,fiancee, or a woman whom he wanted to marry a flower. These battles would go on and on until the final round where the person who one would present to a woman a flower crown. Thus making her family consider the proposal. Or if they were engaged they would be married that year. If they were already married well it just meant that he loved his wife enough to win the jousting tournament for her. This year many men were competing for the one they wanted to marry or show their love to. Many of those who had just debuted into society. "Looks like Stellan is competing first". Amara said. Everyone sat on the edge of their seat to watch this battle. Wondering if Stellan had it in him to win or not.
After back and forth with a young man that seemed much bigger than him, Stellan one. Leaving everyone shocked and amazed. They cheered him on, eyes watching to see who he would present his flower to as he galloped on his brown and white horse. He came up to the box where Canary's family was and tossed her the white rose. "My lady". Stellan bowed and galloped away. "Wow". Amara said, clapping her hands.
The next up was Agustin with this smirked look on his face. He pulled down his helmet at the same as the man he was going against. And in a second the battle was over with. Leaving the stadium quiet no one said anything. Then a cheering sounded from the other side of the stadium. It was the crown prince cheering for his friend. "Yeah go Auggy"! He cheered. Now the thing that everyone had waited for was seeing who Agustin would give his flower to. He gave it to no one and went to reset himself and his horse.
"Even his horse struts". Their father mocked. He had his arms crossed like some upset kid who had just gotten punished. At least the emperor who was sitting high up in the stands was showing a good face. The victory for both didn't end there either. With every win Stellan kept filling up Canary's lap with the white roses. And Agustin gave flowers to no one. Leaving those in the crowds murmuring why he had joined the tournament in the first place. But every time he won he left a sour face on his opponent and the marquees. Him and his horse that matched the color of his black hair strutted off to rest.
Then at least after Stellan's last win it was now time for him and Agustin to go against each other. Amara held onto Canary, nervous for who knows what. Whale their father pouted even more hoping for Agustin to fail. "What do you gain from doing this"? Stellan yelled. "It's not like your giving anyone a flower". Agustin smirked and pulled down his helmet. "Young lord Wolf soon you'll see what I am doing this for". Stellan huffed and pulled down his helmet.
They both held up their lances and everyone in the crowd held their breaths as they charged forward on their horses. Everyone didn't know who would win. So far Stellan had defeated everyone before Agustin only struggling with a few of his opponents. Agustin however had struggled with none of his opponents. They would charge at each other both missing each other by a inch and would stand at the end resetting themselves. "Who will win?". Amara squealed.
Stellan had pulled his helmet up again out of breath glaring at Agustin who seemed to not be fazed at all. "Lets call a break". The overseer who was tired of this match himself said. Abarca led his horse to his waiting area and took off his helmet to get a drink of water. He stopped drinking his water after hearing a loud murmur from the crowd and when he looked up to see what it was there Stellan was standing in his tent. His helmet at his side huffing and puffing glaring. "Lord Abarca, a word please". Agustin took a sip of his water and nodded his head at Stellan. "Sure". Agustin answered sitting on a crate. "Lord Abarca I don't know if you've noticed but I have need of this flower crown for a proposal".
"And seeing that you have neither shown interest or given anyone a flower I was wondering if we could just end this tournament save us both the energy". Stellan was noticed jittering around waiting for Agustin's answer who stared at him for a while and then nodded, setting his cup of water down on the crate beside him. Now Agustin had a thick accent and so did the other family members of house Abarca. Back when the Qiaiar kingdom was first formed, the Abarca family soon after split took the old language of Qiaiar with them. They still speak the language today which is why the royal family and some other families frowned upon the Abarca's.
Some unknown language and people coming to the empire bringing their inventions with them. Which is part of the reason why others whispered about the credibility of Agustin and Shimon being able to make a deal with the Qiaiar kingdom because the Abarca's were originally from Qiaiar. "Your trying to marry one of the Whitewood daughters, yes". Stellan cleared his throat and readjusted nothing on himself. "Yes I am". Agustin answered with his thick accent.
"The oldest or the youngest depending on what your answer might be will all decide on how this tournament will end". Stellan scoffed. "Even though she would be an excellent marriage partner also the youngest daughter spoke for this is known so of course it is the oldest daughter I am talking about". "Tne oldest daughter huh". Agustin stood almost towering over Stellan who sort of shrank backwards. "So everything's alright now you will let this tournament go"? Agustin frowned. "What makes you think that I'm trying to go for Lady Amara"?
Stellan was left speechless. "Then who are you going for if not Lady Amara"? Asgutin put his helmet on and grabbed the lead of his horse. "You shall soon find out". He answered. Stellan was now eager more nervous. He had soon realized what Agustin meant by those words when he watched as Agustin looked at Canary and nodded to her. Canary turned her head embarrassed. If Stellan had not been following towards where Agustin's eyes were going to one would think he was looking at someone else in the crowd. But his eyes were going to Canary.
He pulled the face of his helmet and huffed holding his lance up. Agustin did the same without the huff. Stellan was preparing himself. He would not let things go Agustin's way, especially letting him marry Canary, a man whose family has unknown origins. They both charged forward Stellan thinking that he had the open hand missed Agustin who dunked to the side.
He sat up turning his horse ready to charge again. Only this time Agustin swore he would end it. That he did. At the last second he had Stellan thinking that he missed again but Agustin didn't miss he caught Stellan on the side knocking him off his horse. "Woah"! The crowd said some of them were standing up in their seats. "He won"! Amara cheered. "How unlady like Amara screaming like a peasant". Her father said. Amara sat back down in her seat quietly leading Canary to hold her hand. They both did a slight smile to each other knowing that their father was only upset because Agustin whom he disliked won. "Now whom shall he give the flower crown to he doesn't even like anyone just showing off". Their brother groaned. "Brother". Amara said. "What is it"? "Youre beginning to sound like father with your whining". She whispered.
"I beg your-". A huge cry cut Nolan off as Agustin walked towards their stands. "Is he going to give it to lady Amars". People starting murmuring. "Doesn't he know shes already spoken for'?!Agustin stopped directly in front of Amara and Canary and put the flower crown on his lance. He stared at them for and moment and others around him before extending the flower crown out towards Canary. There was a silence of everyone tyring to figure out what was going on and then yellign and gasping. Young maidens crying out form the fact that Agustin would give Canary Whitewood a flower crown out of everyone.
"Canary". Her sister nudged. "Huh"? "Take it". She extended Canary's hand na dmade her take the flower crown. "Thank you". Canary said shyly. "My pleasure". Agustin bowed and rode away on his horse. Amara put the flower crown on Canary's head and smiled. "Well it seems like he wanted to surprise you". She giggled.