The diamond heart chapter 1

Chapter 1

Crusade woke up feeling very bad about her day. She had that dream again. That dream where she remembered it being terrifing, yet couldn't remember when she woke up. She shivered. "That dream is enough to ruin anybody's day," she thought. She got up and got dressed. Her family was moderatly poor, so she couldn't afford to wear dresses. Instead she wore a red shirt, white pants, and leather boots that had lasted her 2 years. Her house was not in top shape either. It was a very small cottage with a straw roof, that leaked whenever it rained. So, everyday. The walls were wooden and had termites living inside most of the time.

Crusade grabbed a bow that was leaning on her bedside. Then she woke up Arthur, a giant Vizla laying on her bed."Come on Arthur. Let's get breakfast,"she whispered. Arthur yawned, stretched, then hobbleded out of bed. Crusade tip-toed past the door of her bedroom, to the living room doorway. She put on her leather boots, grabbed her black cloak and headed out.

                              *****************

The walk to the forest wasn't that long, and she got there in no time. The forest was always peaceful and serene. Nobody ever wandered in, mostly because people had believed it was haunted. Crusade has been into the forest, and out and has never sen anything unusal. Therefore, she never listened to town gossip about what creaters lied inside. The trees swayed to the wind and all was quiet. That is until Arthur let out his one of a kind howl and bounded after a poor defenless rabbit. Crusade just practiced her aim. she wasn't that good, yet.  Eventully Arthur came padding back , brown eyes sparkling,tail wagging, teeth clamped down on a rabbits neck, blood drooling down his chin. Crusade smiled "Good job Arthur!" she congrajulated.  She took the bloody rabbit from his mouth and started on her way back home.

Crusade had long gotten home and started to make breakfast, when her dad woke up. He hobbled into the kitchen drowsiiy eyed and sleepy. Crusade's dad was tall with huge meaty hands. He had dark brown hair with neat rim glasses. His dad took the job of watching over the book shop. It wasn't a very fulfilling occupation but it was enough to buy the occasional sweets. Her dad sat down at the knee table and continued staring at Crusade. She akwardly glanced in his direction, but continued making the rabbit. After about 3 minutes Crusade screamed

"ENOUGH! Stop glaring at me like i'm in my undergarments! Now, tell me the bad news," Her father sighed then gestured for her to sit. 

"As you know darling, you are now 16 years old. And I think that it is high enough time you got married," he said with a firm tone. Crusade's jaw dropped.

"Me? Married? But to whom, all of the guys here are clotpole's," she objected.

"There you will not have to worry. I have alredly picked out a man for you. His name is Adam,"

"Adam, from the blacksmith's shop?"

"Yes, that adam,"

"But he's so...so,"

"So what?"

"I dont know.  I mean he's very kind and generous, and quite handsome too. But i have absoutl no feeling for him,"

"Sometimes feeling don't matter. the blacksmith's have a very rich, social life.I am getting quite old, and if I am to die, I would like to die seeing my daughter accepted into society,"

"But father i don't want to marry and become a house wif! i have so much ahead of me!"

'It is not your decision. And if you are to back out, you will be discraced from the family,'

"But,"

"No buts,"

Suddenly somebody knocked on the door 3 times.

"Speaking of the boy," her father replied.

"YOU INVITED HIM OVER!" she yelled.

"Yes,so?"

"without asking me first?!"

"Yes,so?"

Crusade groaned in frusteration. Her father got up from the table and went to the door.

"Hello Adam, we were just talking about you. Well, i know when I'm not needed," She heard the door slam shut.  Not moments after Adam came in. Adam was a little taller than Crusade. He had blond hair that was curly and went only to half of his ears. His dark sapphire eyes looked very wise, as if he probably knew something you didn't. He was very built from working at the blacksmith's shop.

"Um, hello, you are Crusade right?"His voice was shy and qentle. Crusade nodded yes forebodingly."I got you an engagement gift,"

"You really didn't have to. I mean your very kind and generous, and quite handsome but i REALLY don't want to marry you," Her eyes widended at her words and looked down in shame."forgive me," she added.

"No,no, i said the same thing about you! I said that you are strong willed and kind, and quite beautiful but i really dont want to marry you either,". she cocked her head at him.

"Then why are you marrying a poor daughter of a bookshop owner?" she asked him.

"It was my mother's disicion. She said I deserved the prettiest women in town," Crusade blushed.

"Well, tell your mother, thank you, but no thank you,"

"i can't do that  or I'll be kicked out of my family and have no money to my name,"

"Me either or I'll be discraced and shunned,"

"Well, that's a hell of a lot easier," He smiled revealing his white teeth. she gestured toward  the table.

"Why are you still standing, sit!" She commanded. He shuffled from foot to foot then sat down.

"Well, i would like to tell you that when we do marry, you won'y become a housewife," He smiled again, but this time she smiled back.

"And I promise that i won't bug you about money and work and such things,"She replied.

"Well then, here is your gift," He took something out of his pocket and put it on the table. Her eyes widended in fear and her jaw dropped.

"WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?" She demanded.

"Well... I...Um," He stuttered.

"I said WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?" On the tale lay a necklace with a golden chain, and a diamond about 2 inches in diameter, and 2 inches in height,"

"I found it lying beside the sewage, but it's clean and i checked, it's real diamond too,". she leaned back in her chair speechless."Why? Do you not like it? i could sell it and get something el..."

"NO, no it's fine it's just..." and then she told him. Told him about Jack and him and her being best friends, and how the last time anybody had saw him, was when he was running off into the fog clutching that thing. Adam looked startled, then opened his mouth to say something, but he got interupted by Crusade's Dad. Crusade's Dad ushered him out the door before he got a chance to say anything.