The morning bells woke Michelle out of the comfort of the dark sleep. Rolling over towards her window she realised it was going to be another miserable day. The sun was hidden behind dark and dangerous looking clouds. She could tell that the wind was blowing a good gale, as the family shield flag, blue with a pikefish stuck in the middle, flapped. Michelle hated these sorts of mornings.

“Where on earth is my one daughter?” Her fathers voice bellowed down the corridor.

Michelle grabbed the thick blue blanket and covered her head, wishing he would go away and leave her to be alone for a while. The sound of footsteps quickly brought her back from her thoughts. With a creak of the door her father walked very gently into her room and sat on the bed. Pushing back her blanket she looked at her father. His facial expression gave her no reason at why he wanted her.

“Darling Michelle” Her father started, ” I am very pleased to announce that i have excepted a request for your hand in marriage!” His voice was filled with prise and his blue eyes where shinning wildly. Michelle soon realised that this was not for her own enjoyment, “Mallcum from the family of Saphires, who is also a brilliant a miner, has asked for your hand and to combine the two families” So that”s it, Michelle thought combine the families and marry off the one female in the family to your advantage.

“May I dare ask, why I wasn’t asked my opinion?” Michelle requested in her very soft sweet voice.

Her father tilted his head and looked towards her. The roundness of his face combined with the lines of old age, that had started to creep upon him very quickly, depend and made him look very solemn. Michelle realised there was an explanation and she didn’t want to hear it.

“Michelle, you are my one daughter that could be of use to me. Your hair is blonde and bleached with sun, your eyes sparkle in any light and you have been trained very well to become part of other families and have a family of your own.” Her father laughed at the look of shock on Michelle’s face. He carried on, “As you know, I only need to seek the leaders permission to do such a thing, which I do have I may add, and they are in agreement with me. Your opinion does not count towards such a matter. Now rise Michelle, have your breakfast and then come and see me and your mother in my study.”