Lili was thought by most of our people to be the most beautiful of all of us. Because of this, she had many suitors, and this, this is where my story begins.
Her favorite suitor was Avimael, or Avi. He was tall, even for our people, and dark, like me. Lili, Avi and I had known each other since we were small children. We had played together by riverbanks, we had learned together from the elders, and we had been told, together, to fear The Darkness. Avi had always had an eye for Lili, even when we were only a few years old. As we grew, his fascination only increased. Lili was an unusual child, and an unusual beauty. Her eyes were wide and round, and they sparkled like the cut Soul Stone that she wore around her neck. They had a special sparkle for Avi, though. When she would look at him, the corner of her mouth would twitch upwards, and the sparkle would start at her pupils and spread like wildfire rings to the outer edges of her eyes. There was no doubt of the love that tied the two of them together. The Elders, though, had different ideas.
It was the job of the elders to assure proper marriages, and they did not want Lili’s beauty soiled by a common ‘dark one’. They had searched far and wide to find a man who was fair like she was. They found one named ~, he was not as tall as Avi, but was twice as wide, with his body thickly muscled, his eyes were a deep yellowish color, like your topaz stones.
The day Lili came of age, a celebration was held. The Elders sat at a table on a dais, as did Lili and I. In the midst of the feasting one of the Elders, Birch, a thick, paper-haired woman stood to make an announcement.
A horn blew a short blast, to silence the crowd, and she began to speak in a voice as thick as her arms. “My people, on this day we have gathered together to celebrate the Coming of Age of Lili, the Princess of our people! Lili. Will you stand?” She said, turning her head towards my sister, just a bit. Lili stood, but the change in her height was almost indistinguishable. Lili was a small one among our people. Her golden hair coursed down her shoulders, which were covered by the thin, sheer sleeves of the flowing white gown in which she was dressed. BIrch beaconed her and she came and stood in front of the Elder. I smiled as Lili stole a glance into the gathered crowd and caught Avi’s eye, I knew that her sparkle was spreading, and I could see him practically glowing. Birch began to speak again. “Today, Lili, you are to be crowned the Princess of our People. Bring for the Diadem!” She called in her husky voice. Two page boys walked out in tandem carrying before them a pillow of the softest fabric, upon it rested a glowing silver diadem that had been inlayed with stones similar in color to Lili’s Soul Stone and eyes. She drew in her breath ever so slightly, struck by the beauty of the diadem. Birch turned to the page boys, and drew the circlet off of the pillow. She raised it high in the air, and brought it down gently onto my sister’s beautiful head. “She has been crowned! But behold! The princess must not be without a husband! The Elders have chosen.” Birch bellowed. Lili caught Avi’s eyes again, “This is it.” he mouthed, hopeful.
“~!” Birch cried again, and Avi’s face crumpled. “Please, will you come up here and Join your bride!”
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