My first fanfic so I apologise for everything and anything. And yes, I am not the best at editing but I do try to be.
OK lets see.
1. Criticism welcome but don't break my heart. :)
2. Pick out the errors and tell me because I WILL fix them. :P
3. Please review so I know if what I am doing is a complete waste of time and perhaps I should just do my assignments instead. :D
4. In no way do I own these characters or such, or the stroy of A Great and Terrible Beauty. I am trying to change it to make it my own. Still - its not. All credit goes to Libba Bray and her wonderful, original imagination )
5. Oh and just so Im not repeating the story, I will keep some elements the same but I will change others drastically so be prepared. (if you have seen Tsubasa Chronicles you will understand more) however, its doesnt matter at all if you havent!
FEATHERS
Chapter 1 - Of Memories and Snow
Gemma stood in front of the mirror adjusting her collar, making sure it was sitting properlylest Mrs Nightwing see her with it askew. She stared at her reflection with critical eyes. Gemma was well aware that no matter how much time she spent in the sun her deep red hair would never become a beautiful blond-gold, like Felicitys, and that no matter how hard she tried, the natural grace that Ann held herself with could never be achieved by herself. However, these two girls were her best and only friends here at Spence Academy, even though her movements were far from graceful and more often than not, her pale skin would be covered in bruises from countless trips and falls.
She stood back, readying herself to leave but as she turned her green eyes noticed a hairpin that had freed itself, she sighed as she prised it loose, found the curl that had escaped and then wound it back into place, securing it. Just as she did so there was a sharp knock at her door followed by a shout.
"Gemma! What are you doing? The bell has already been rung! You are going to be late - again!"
Hearing this, Gemma gathered her books from her bedside table and paused only to collect her hat and gloves on her way to the door.
"And for your troubles Felicity, it is also you who will be late," said Gemma as she opened the door. Looking to her left she added, "You also Ann." But despite of her admonishments all three girls laughed as they ran through the empty passages towards the sound of clinking china.
"Miss Doyle will you please pay attention!"
Pulling her eyes from the window that framed the grounds of Spence which, overnight had been covered in a deep layer of glistening snow, Gemma lowered her head in apology.
"Sorry Madame."
"Would you please show the class, Miss Doyle, how you would ask your driver to take you to Café Cats' Eyes?" Madame LeFarge looked over her glasses at Gemma with stern, reproving eyes.
"Er. Prenez-moi…avec le C-afé dy…eux de, erm Chatos…" Gemma knew she was hopeless at French and she was well aware that Madame LeFargel ooked upon her as a hopeless case.
As Gemma words trailed off Madame LeFarge clapped her hands once and drew the classes' attention from Gemma.
"Girls?"
Out of the eighteen or so young women, their ages ranging from twelve to nineteen years of age, it was Ann, who sat to the left of Gemma, who held up her hand.
Madame LeFarge sighed, "Miss Bradshaw. Would you please show Miss Doyle how it would it would be asked in French?"
"Prenez-moi à Café le Chat' s les Yeux s'il vous plait." There was no hint of smugness in Ann's voice.
Her teacher smiled with pride. "Perfect again Miss Bradshaw. Miss Doyle perhaps there is hope that at some stage of your friendship with Miss Bradshaw's her flawlessly spoken french will rub off on you."
Gemma sighed and looked at her hands clasped in her lap, silently making a vow to try harder with her French studies knowing that it was of little use.
"Honestly Gemma without a doubt you do stare out windows far too much!" Mimicked Felicity in an almost exact Madame LeFarge's shrill as the three girls strolled the sheltered courtyard with linked arms.
Looked to her companion's cold-flushed cheeks Gemma smiled. "The snow looked so beautiful."
On her other side Ann exclaimed. "What are we to do with you Gemma! Always staring off into space as if you are someplace else. With Madame LeFarge at the end of her wits trying to teach you and Pippa trying to make your life a misery!"
Gemma tried hard to look hurt but she could not hold her face. All three burst into unladylike laughter much to the disapproving frown of Miss Moore, their art teacher who was reading nearby. Their gloved hands quickly moved to muffle this laughter as they neared the mossy brick wall.
The girls paused for a moment as they came to the North wall, and watched their breath rise in a cold haze. Turning around once more they began to make their way back to the warmth of the halls and classrooms.
"Look there," Felicity said tilting her beautiful head in the direction they walked. "Those eyes Gemma. Are you sure you have not murdered one of her cousins? Perhaps even a brother or a mother?"
She made no effort to hush her voice as the three girls walked past a group sitting on the stone benches the tallest of which was glaring at Gemma with hatred ablaze in her eyes.
"Yes, I dare say if we need some warmth just side with Pippa, her evil stare is sure to keep our eggnog hot this Christmas."
Ann and Gemma cringed at Felicity's words, knowing very well that Pippa, as well as her lackeys, Veronica and Catherine, had heard.
It was a known fact amongst the girls at the school that Pippa despised Gemma, and because of her friendship with Felicity and Ann, they too were despised. Even though they had their age of sixteen in common, they remain enemies. Pippa never passed the chance to taunt Gemma or point out her flaws to a teacher.
This cold December day was no exception.
"That's all very nice dear Felicity but why would I go anywhere near eggnog this Christmas? My family is having a ball at my house with champagne, men and mistletoe."
Felicity raised a perfectly arched brow. "Yes that does sound delightful." Her face showed otherwise. "My fingers are crossed that my family does not receive an invitation." And she unlooped her arm from Ann's' to show her gloved fingers.
Pippa face was distorted in angry. "Gemma! How is your father celebrating this Christmas?"
Until this moment Gemma had kept quite, however, she raised her green eyes to look directly at Pippa. "What do you mean?" Her mouth was set in a firm straight line.
Veronica and Catherine smirked openly, something they would never do in front of Mrs Nightwing who would admonish them for not behaving lady-like.
With a look of false surprise, Pippa covered her mouth with her petite-gloved hand. "Why dear Gemma! Have you not heard? Word is your father spends all his time in a bar!"
Gemma lunged forward, however, her two friends held her arms in both theirs. "Let. Me. Go." Gemma's green eyes flashed and she struggled to break free.
Pippa stood and with Veronica and Catherine echoing her movements.
"My God Gemma! What a temper! You really must learn to refrain yourself." The three girls walked towards the towering oak doors, their laughter bouncing off the walls.
"Honestly Gemma, is she really worth it?" Felicity asked as she and Ann released her arms.
Their friend held back angry tears that threatened to fall. "She does not know what she is talking about. My father, he is ill. He is still grieving."
Felicity and Ann glanced sideways at each other; both aware that Gemma's mother's death was the reason her father had turned to spirits for comfort.
"Well I'm sure that over the Christmas holidays your father will cheer up." Ann's ever-positive attitude sounded pitiful even to her ears. "Its getting colder, lets go inside.''
Gemma made to follow the other girls but then hesitated looking out towards the snow-covered trees that marked the edge of the woods. She turned back to Felicity and Ann. "I will catch up with you in a moment."
Both Felicity and Ann looked doubtful. Nonetheless, knowing that Gemma wanted to be alone they made their way inside for dinner.
Watching the vapor swirl into nothingness as she breathed a sigh, Gemma hitched up her skirts and walked towards the trees. The snow was loosing its mysterious glitter by the time she reached the first young sapling, as the sun sunk towards the horizon.
"Still," Breathed Gemma, "It is beautiful."
She bent down to scoop up a glove-full as she entered the more definite tree line. In order for her to pull the glove off Gemma let the snow fall back to the ground. Once this was done she, once more, bent down and scooped more, this time she felt the icy touch on her palm.
Standing in the beginnings of the woods with her palm facing upwards her mind drifted into her past.
Music playing from every corner of the market, the different instruments and musicians somehow making their music sound beautiful together, all at once. The smell of fruits, bread and hot foods wafted from the stalls, and voice,s shouting and laughing could be heard everywhere.. One voice rose above the rest in Gemma's memory. "Gemma, you will not believe it! Your brother will be furious when he finds out! But it is our special treat, just the girls. Here. -Thank you.- What do you think?"
Gemma remembered the feeling of the cool crushed ice in her mouth with its flavoured sweetness as she stood in the hot, market crowd. She also remembered her mother's beautiful smile, as she too tasted the ice.
She opened her eyes only to find that the light was fast fading and the dark shadows had grown. She looked to her palm, the remaining snow dripped through her numb fingers. Watching the droplets fall to the snow Gemma spied a feather. With her gloved hand she picked it up and examined it.
Turning it over, she murmured, "How strange."
The feather itself was a pure white, now dulled by the grey sky. But on one side it was marked with strange patterns in black that Gemma had never seen before in nature.
Still gazing at the feather in her hand Gemma turned and began to walk towards the clearing that separated the buildings from the woods. So engrossed with the beautiful feather she did not see the large oak directly in her path. Her forehead made contact with the frosted bark and she stumbled backwards into the snow.
I will never hear the end of this, she thought, as she stood and tried to brush the snow from her dress. However, the fact that she had fallen was clearly visible by both the state of her clothes and the predictable bruise that she would sport for the days to follow.
She froze with her hand still on her skirt and shivered. A sudden chill, which had nothing to do with the winter, overcame her senses. She become aware of how little light there was left. A growing sense of unease found its way into her mind as she looked about her, peering into the trees. There was nothing to be seen other than snow and more snow.
Shaking her doubts Gemma looked to the ground in search for the feather she had dropped. It was nowhere to be seen. A slight frown of annoyance crept across her face and she peered more closely at ground. Where on earth was it? She moved further away from the oak.
"Are you looking for this?"
A shriek escaped Gemma's lips before she could stifle it. With her bare hand over her mouth she turned swiftly to watch as a figure stepped out from her familiar oak's shadow.
Hm yes. Hope full this will go where I want it too.
Two guesses who she meets in the woods. hmmm
And yes, all those French experts out there, I know, I am also ashamed. But hey I have never had lessons and for all those who are not French savvy, we are none the wiser. ;)
Oh and with the characters I am trying to keep Gemma much the same.
Ann is not Ann really, bookish yes, but also mildly more confident.
Felicity I am trying to keep the same, beautiful and outspoken.
Pippa is quite obviously not the same, she is mean girl so to speak. And her followers and just randoms I made up.