“Are you ready to go Mariel?” Her mother shouted impatiently from the doorway.

“I’ll be right down!” Mariel shouted back while tightening the belt of her tunic. She stood before the mirror and nodded. Her light-brown tunic matched well with her green travelling cloak. Her crimson hair tied in that single braid that her mother loved so much. She smiled to herself before pulling the hood over her head until a passerby could only see her heterochromatic eyes of purple and green looking back.

“Hurry up baby! I know it’s not until the evening, but at this rate we really will be late!” Her mother’s impatient voice brought her back from her self-admiration. She closed her belt around her waist, and headed down the stairs tapping the wood lightly with her tall leather boots.

Her mother was waiting for her outside, as she approached she turned around, showing off her warm and caring smile, her walnut brown hair and firm adventurer’s curves. She wore the dress Mariel so deeply adored: Royal blue, gilded and lavishly decorated with inlaid amber pebbles.

“There you are…” She said, feigning impatience while looking her up and down. “You look wonderful… You’ve become such a beautiful maiden, and I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks mama… I mean… Mother.” She hastily corrected herself.

Her mother shook her head. “Save that for when we actually get to the castle… Please indulge your foolish mother with her endearing title for a while longer.”

Mariel nodded and the two turned to leave.

“Hey! Wait!” The voice belonged to her father, whom came rushing out of the forge hut next to the house, covered in soot and dust.

“Arwaro, stop!” Her mother instinctively placed herself between them. “Don’t dirty your daughter’s clothes, especially not on a big day like this one!”

“Oh, right sorry.” He nodded while rubbing his chin, leaving sooty slide marks as he appraised his daughter from head to toe. “You’re looking really good in those clothes Mariel, but your belt isn’t straight, and there’s a lace crossing missing on your left boot.”

Mariel straightened her clothes out properly. “There, better?”

“Much better now sweetheart… But there’s still something missing.” Her father mumbled while putting a hand into the pocket of his leather apron.

“What? Is it my hair? Did I forget a button or knot somewhere? Tell me.”

“Nah, rather I have a small present for you… Let’s see where did I hide it… Oh right! Here you go!” He offered her a small cloth-wrapped bundle. Her mother looked on suspiciously as Mariel unwrapped the object. Inside was a small brooch, styled with a golden flame backed by the silver petals of a lily and flanked by two upturned swords.

“… It’s beautiful…” A wide smile appeared on Mariel’s face. “Thank you, papa! I will treasure it always!”

“You’re welcome sweetheart, this is your big day after all.”

“… Mariel, why don’t you go on ahead? I’ve got some questions I have to ask your father first; I’ll catch up to you.” Her mother smiled warmly to her before turning her back to look at Arwaro. By his expression it was clear that his wife bore a terrifying expression.

“Ahahah… Honey… Please. Serin. You understand don’t you?” Arwaro raised his hands defensively.

“Yes… Oh I understand that my silly husband went on and splurged half of our winter savings on our daughter.”

“That’s not bad is it?” He tried to talk himself out, but only managed to drag a hint of condescension out of his wife.

“No. If not for the fact you have just put our very survival on the line for it…”

“Hey, I’ll make up for it okay?”

“You better… I would rather not have either of you starve to death this winter…” Her mother firmly clasped her hands. “Oh Yulie, I beseech you to give common sense to my silly husband, and release him from the yoke of stupidity…”

“H-hey! That’s not fair! Serin? Please stop!”

Mariel quietly went on ahead, not paying much attention to the verbal assault her father was enduring.