Chapter 1: Flood Gates

Valletta, magnificent and mystical. It is a bountiful affluent land of ceaseless beauty. Full of knights and nobility, it should be obvious that this is the grandiose backdrop of a fantasy romance novel. Battling against sinister plots, political strife and feuding love interests, the alluring male and female leads must overcome every obstacle to at last be united in the final chapter.

"Those selfish bastards!" just thinking about it caused an abrupt outburst to escape Aribelle as she trudged through the mud. Continuing down the waterway, the sludge seeped through the worn soles of her shoes and squelched unpleasantly between her toes. She was not alone in the dark tunnels. The scurry of rodents and slithering of unsettlingly large creatures made this evident.

Indeed, Valletta was the splendid and sumptuous setting of the acclaimed popular novel `Forbidden Heart`. It narrated the adventurous, however possibly uninspired tale, of a valiant prince who falls head over heels for the lovable and gorgeous Princess of a cursed kingdom. Employing a ready cast of handsome suitors, powerful villains, and of course well-meaning but misguided family members. Their escapades spanned five volumes, before the author decided to conclude with the protagonists' peaceful marriage. All of which Aribelle had read repeatedly in her solitary former life. So, just how did I end up as some nameless villager! She thought with a sour expression.

Exhausted from sliding all over the underground canals since dusk, Aribelle stopped. Resting her hand on a lever belonging to one of the city's many levee floodgates. She regarded it grimly for a pensive moment or two. Knowing that little time remained before the patrol discovered her, Aribelle could not second guess a plan that was already in motion.

Grunting an apology, she promptly jerked the stiff lever forward. The other connecting stop gates in the upper town closed. Water came violently bursting forth as it was opened. A murky spray dampened Aribelle's simple linen dress as it crashed against the channel walls. Rapidly exceeding the confinements of the duct flowing towards the lower town, the water lapped at the lip waterway threatening to reach her.

As she predicted, it was not long until there was the sound of heavily armored feet echoing towards Aribelle. It was an unusually quick response from the most underpaid and understaffed faction of Valletta's defenses: The City Watch.

Somewhat surprised by this Aribelle ducked into a narrow branch near to where she had stood. Scarcely noticeable in the obscure light of the underground channels, it was reserved mostly for excess drainage. Her hasty retreat from the scene of the crime hindered by the cramped conditions of the passage. It barely accommodated Aribelle's feeble figure as she shuffled along sideways holding her breath.

If noticed, it would have been impossible for a fully armored man to pursue her. Admittedly it had not occurred to her until this very moment in time that there was nothing preventing them from blocking the exit. However, in a battle of wills, with her trapped inside what was hardly more than a crack in the wall; Aribelle concluded without a shadow of a doubt that she would surrender.

Squirming like a rat along the slope of the drainage passage, it was several minutes before she was delivered back onto the street. Although covered in mud and smelling of filth, she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Although, her appearance and smell were ghastly to behold for some onlookers, this amount of squalor was not particularly conspicuous among the impoverished of the city. Marginally undisturbed she travelled along the main streets and alleys freely. The only ones to notice as she skittered past were a few drunken nobles. Inebriated, they looked on with unconcealed disdain at her apparent poverty whilst fondling the prostitutes that accompanied them. Privilege is wasted on the few. Aribelle thought sagely to herself, quickening her pace.

Well covered in muck, she arrived at the very edge of the city. Although still within the city limits it was quiet. Removed from the businesses and large residences of inner Valletta, there were only a handful of cottages. Trees and small plots of grass with the occasional flower bed were nestled between them.

They surrounded a quaint square, which held at its center an intricately carved statue of a doe perched atop a humble limestone pillar standing only six feet tall. Just beyond this was the steps of a rundown abbey, where Aribelle lived.

The large wooden door to the Abbey creaked loudly as she entered, endeavoring to alert those in residence of her late arrival. Swallowing a silent profanity, Aribelle shut the door behind her with an equally loud screech. Tense and exhausted, she leaned onto it. Aribelle closed her eyes.

Only now that she was safe, did she feel the frantic beating of her heart. Alone in the little chapel Aribelle remained, back pressed against the wood and cold iron bolts of the door until the pounding within her chest finally calmed.

Opening her eyes, she cast her tired gaze over clean stone floors with some exasperation. A brief groan escaped Aribelle, before she dutifully stripped herself of the frayed cloth that acted as a cloak and her dirtied shoes where she stood. Balling them up unceremoniously she crossed the chapel heading into the courtyard outside.

Directly behind the chapel the little garden, although lacking in the splendor, provided a peaceful reprieve. The hour well past midnight, the flowers glistened delicately in the subtle light of the half moon, their petals beginning to gather sparkling crystals of dew.

Aribelle followed the sound of trickling water to a small fountain attached to the refectory wall. Sitting beside it she dipped her feet into the shallow pool that formed below. Winching as the newly formed cuts and blisters began to sting, she was reminded of her earlier actions. It was possibly the worst thing she had done in this life; and knowing the reasoning behind it? It did nothing to dissipate the lingering guilt.

Roughly, Aribelle began to scrub her hands and feet. The clear water turning cloudy, she then cupped her bony hands beneath the weak stream flowing from the spout on the wall. Splashing her face several times with the icy water, until she became aware of someone else's presence.

"Awrie?" said a voice. Difficult to hear even in the stillness of the night, it was high pitched and anxious as it called to her. Aribelle paused. Ridding her expression of exhaustion or concern, she turned towards them. "Mia, what's wrong dear?" she cooed, smiling towards the small child that was staring at her.

Encouraged by her reply the little girl, dressed only in a thin nightshirt, ran over to where Aribelle was sitting. Flopping down into her lap, Mia flung her short arms around Aribelle's neck.

"Awrie," she whined "why weren't you here? I was scared."

Aribelle patted the girl on the head softly. Forgetting the thoughts that plagued her momentarily, a playful grin tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"I went looking for the moon sprites." She replied. Sniffling little Mia looked at Aribelle with a curious sparkle in her eyes.

"Ah huh, but they played a mean prank on me." Pretending to pout Aribelle continued, "Those mischievous sprites pushed me into the mud."

"They were mewn to Awrie?" Said Mia, sounding slightly outraged on Arie's behalf.

"Shall I tell you more?"

"Yeah!"

Chuckling Aribelle hugged Mia tightly, "Alright, I'll tell you everything, but we should head inside first. If Sister Clarence finds us out here, we'll be in trouble."