Glory, Gypsy and Desire
Chapter One
By XellAn-Chan
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ring around the rosy..."
The children swirled around in a circle, their feet kicking up dust as they went.
"...Pocket full of posies..."
They kept their chanting in time with the stamping of their feet.
"...Ashes, ashes..."
Laughter drifted over from where they circled together.
"...We all fall down!"
On the last note, they all fell to the ground, collapsed in a giggling heap.
A girl with long, blond hair took in this scene through sapphire eyes. She longed to join them, to be carefree and young. She twisted the sash of her blue gown as she thought about how unfair it was. It didn't seem right to her. Just because she was nobility, she couldn't have any fun.
"Gloree...Gloree, gat back o'er hare! I wouldst I not lose ya, yar mather wad have me head, shay wad." Turning away, the child sighed. It didn't seem fair at all.
"Where be we going today, Ailleen?" The girl asked her mother's servant. "Arah, Child, yar father wants me ta be bringin' him new crockery, sance yar brather smashed a dish last nigh.' " The woman smiled kindly, "But don'cha bay wanderin' aff. Yar mather were dead set aginst me bringin' ya 'long. Ya stay wi' me, Gloree."
The girl, who could hardly be called a child, followed along behind the old woman. Ailleen had some strange ways about her, but she had taken care of Gloree all the thirteen years of her life. Gloree was the youngest of five; her siblings were all brothers. And in the time which she lived, a daughter was not favored. To top it off, she had a twin and twins were seen as a curse. Lord Gabriel Gabriev had been pleased enough to have one daughter, but over time he saw her only as a nuisance. She was a pretty enough thing, with long blond hair, brilliant sapphire eyes and a slender figure, but she was a girl and that was all that mattered.
The manor was part of the Saillune kingdom and Lord and Lady Gabriev often entertained. This was the only way Gloree and her siblings ever met any other children. The extroverted Gloree had made a point to seek out companionship, and she was quite popular. Her best friend was the daughter of a very rich family of merchants, Filia Ul Copt. She had also, over the years, claimed the companionship of Zelgadiss Graywords, grandson of the kingdom's mage; Lina Inverse, who was betrothed to her twin; and even the Princess Amelia.
"Ailleen, I'm ever so glad to get away from Gavaroche, Gratien, and Grigori. They vex me so." She spoke of her three oldest brothers. The brother of whom she was most fond and was her twin, Gourry, was being trained to fight in the Holy Army of the Lord.
"Ah, yar brathers meen well, thay do. Thay be mighty fond of ya, Lass." The servant smiled pleasantly. "It seems not so." Gloree grumbled. "Wall, naver ya mind. Yar goin' ta see Miss Filia, I don' rightfully knaw why yar so upset." The girl said nothing more and they continued on in silence.
The Ul Copt family owned the only crockery shop in the manor and was located towards the back of the market. Filia's parents sold stoneware, pewter, and, for the more preferred customers, gold and silver plated dishes. A finer dish you couldn't buy in all of Saillune. Their family was small, consisting only of Filia, Her mother, Fidelia, her father, Florian, and her small cousin, Valgaav, who's parents had died of the black plague. And they were quite rich.
The friends greeted each other warmly upon Gloree's entrance to the shop. They had a few moments of chit-chat, then Filia turned to her father. "May Gloree and I go wander the market square, Father? We grow weary of this idleness." Her father considered it for a moment. "Yes, My Dear, you may go. But please do not purchase anything." She nodded. "Yes Father." Not wanting to be left behind, little Valgaav joined the two. "May I go too, Uncle?" He pleaded. "Nay, Val, you must stay here and learn the family trade."
So the two girls trooped off together and roamed in and out of the stalls and shops. It was near Mayday, the manor was bustling with excitement, and there were a great number of foreigners here and there around the market. Filia was acquainted with all the vendors and knew all the best shops, so she led Gloree around.
"I know where there be a shop with the most exquisite ivory combs." Filia exclaimed, "You must see them, Gloree. ...Gloree?" Her friend had disappeared while she was talking. She looked around. Gloree was a few feet behind her, watching the Gypsies.
Wandering Gypsies would show up at the manor every and then at certain times of the year. They came around holidays and stayed for a while, so all the residents were quite used to them. So Filia didn't understand why her companion was gawking at them.
"Gloree, what be you doing?" The older girl asked. Gloree didn't answer and Filia's gaze followed hers to where a boy who looked to be about their own age was dancing. He was dressed all in red and black and his violet hair whipped around his childish face. He was grinning and his eyes were squeezed shut. The girl was watching him, completely enraptured. Then a littler boy ran over to him and he stopped.
Both girls watched as he swung the smaller boy into his arms. The child laughed with glee. Then the gypsy boy looked over in their direction. No, he had eyes only for Gloree. Filia glanced at her friend. The girl's face was flushed pink and her eyes glittered.
His attention was drawn away from her when the smaller boy began to whine. "I'm hungry. I want something to eat. Why can't I have anything?" The teen-age boy sighed. "We have nothing. Momma's gone to find some food, Phibby." He assured the child. "But Xellos, I'm hungry now!"
Gloree dug around in her pocket and came up with the heal of a loaf of bread. She stepped forward and handed it to the boy. "Here. Take this. It be not much, but take it all the same." The child smiled. "Thank 'ee Miss." His brilliant emerald eyes sparkled from underneath a main of dark hair. The older boy, Xellos, looked at her through amethyst eyes. She smiled at him shyly and he grinned back.
"Filia! Yar father wonts ya back ta yar home!" Ailleen's voice suddenly broke through the crowd, "And Gloree, it be time ta go!" The girls frowned. Filia said good-bye to Gloree and ran off, holding up her skirts as she went. Gloree turned to leave, but she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Startled, she turned around. Sapphire met amethyst as she stared at the gypsy boy. He took her hand and pressed something into it. "T'is in return for helpin' the littl'l'un." Her face reddened. "Thank 'ee." She whispered. He smiled. "Will I see yeh again?" He asked. Her eyes widened and her heart pounded within her chest. "I-" She was cut off by Ailleen. "Gloree?! Where be ya?" She pulled away. If Ailleen caught her with the gypsies, she'd be in big trouble. "I have to go. Good-bye!"
He stood there watching as she walked away. "I be but a fool..." He muttered to himself. "She is far too good for me. She is nobility, I am nobody..."
Ailleen found her near a jeweler's tent. The girl was peering at a bracelet, made from beads of purple, red and black stung on thread. Between the beads hung small silver bells. "Did ya buy that, Miss?" She asked. Gloree looked at her and nodded. "I got it form the Gypsies. I felt sorry for them and I got it." This much was true. She had felt sorry for them and in return for her compassion it was given to her.
What she seemed to feel towards the boy, however, went beyond compassion. She'd never experienced emotions like that before, never felt so awkward around a boy and never even thought of a boy as some one to feel awkward around. Normally a boy like that would have been beneath her, but he had captivated her heart.
Her mother was waiting for her at the manor house. "Gloree! There ye be, Darling. We must make haste and get ye dressed.! She blinked her sapphire eyes. "What for, Mother? What be going on?" Her mother ushered her off to her chamber. "The king has called all the nobles to court for the Mayday celebration tonight, Dear. The gypsies are going to perform for the royal court." Her heart stopped. "The gypsies?" She asked faintly. "Yes."
She felt as if the world had stopped turning. As if her heart would explode within her chest. She would see him again! And perhaps this time they would talk...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: well, what do we think so far?
the character of Gloree Gabriev has appeared in two of my un-published stories, once as the half-demon brother of Gourry and once mentioned in name only. i decided to do something with her that i would actually publish. i like her as a character and have sketched her several times.
special thanks to: L-Chan for providing the title. Love ya, L-Chan!!!!!!!! /^_^\
Chapter One
By XellAn-Chan
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ring around the rosy..."
The children swirled around in a circle, their feet kicking up dust as they went.
"...Pocket full of posies..."
They kept their chanting in time with the stamping of their feet.
"...Ashes, ashes..."
Laughter drifted over from where they circled together.
"...We all fall down!"
On the last note, they all fell to the ground, collapsed in a giggling heap.
A girl with long, blond hair took in this scene through sapphire eyes. She longed to join them, to be carefree and young. She twisted the sash of her blue gown as she thought about how unfair it was. It didn't seem right to her. Just because she was nobility, she couldn't have any fun.
"Gloree...Gloree, gat back o'er hare! I wouldst I not lose ya, yar mather wad have me head, shay wad." Turning away, the child sighed. It didn't seem fair at all.
"Where be we going today, Ailleen?" The girl asked her mother's servant. "Arah, Child, yar father wants me ta be bringin' him new crockery, sance yar brather smashed a dish last nigh.' " The woman smiled kindly, "But don'cha bay wanderin' aff. Yar mather were dead set aginst me bringin' ya 'long. Ya stay wi' me, Gloree."
The girl, who could hardly be called a child, followed along behind the old woman. Ailleen had some strange ways about her, but she had taken care of Gloree all the thirteen years of her life. Gloree was the youngest of five; her siblings were all brothers. And in the time which she lived, a daughter was not favored. To top it off, she had a twin and twins were seen as a curse. Lord Gabriel Gabriev had been pleased enough to have one daughter, but over time he saw her only as a nuisance. She was a pretty enough thing, with long blond hair, brilliant sapphire eyes and a slender figure, but she was a girl and that was all that mattered.
The manor was part of the Saillune kingdom and Lord and Lady Gabriev often entertained. This was the only way Gloree and her siblings ever met any other children. The extroverted Gloree had made a point to seek out companionship, and she was quite popular. Her best friend was the daughter of a very rich family of merchants, Filia Ul Copt. She had also, over the years, claimed the companionship of Zelgadiss Graywords, grandson of the kingdom's mage; Lina Inverse, who was betrothed to her twin; and even the Princess Amelia.
"Ailleen, I'm ever so glad to get away from Gavaroche, Gratien, and Grigori. They vex me so." She spoke of her three oldest brothers. The brother of whom she was most fond and was her twin, Gourry, was being trained to fight in the Holy Army of the Lord.
"Ah, yar brathers meen well, thay do. Thay be mighty fond of ya, Lass." The servant smiled pleasantly. "It seems not so." Gloree grumbled. "Wall, naver ya mind. Yar goin' ta see Miss Filia, I don' rightfully knaw why yar so upset." The girl said nothing more and they continued on in silence.
The Ul Copt family owned the only crockery shop in the manor and was located towards the back of the market. Filia's parents sold stoneware, pewter, and, for the more preferred customers, gold and silver plated dishes. A finer dish you couldn't buy in all of Saillune. Their family was small, consisting only of Filia, Her mother, Fidelia, her father, Florian, and her small cousin, Valgaav, who's parents had died of the black plague. And they were quite rich.
The friends greeted each other warmly upon Gloree's entrance to the shop. They had a few moments of chit-chat, then Filia turned to her father. "May Gloree and I go wander the market square, Father? We grow weary of this idleness." Her father considered it for a moment. "Yes, My Dear, you may go. But please do not purchase anything." She nodded. "Yes Father." Not wanting to be left behind, little Valgaav joined the two. "May I go too, Uncle?" He pleaded. "Nay, Val, you must stay here and learn the family trade."
So the two girls trooped off together and roamed in and out of the stalls and shops. It was near Mayday, the manor was bustling with excitement, and there were a great number of foreigners here and there around the market. Filia was acquainted with all the vendors and knew all the best shops, so she led Gloree around.
"I know where there be a shop with the most exquisite ivory combs." Filia exclaimed, "You must see them, Gloree. ...Gloree?" Her friend had disappeared while she was talking. She looked around. Gloree was a few feet behind her, watching the Gypsies.
Wandering Gypsies would show up at the manor every and then at certain times of the year. They came around holidays and stayed for a while, so all the residents were quite used to them. So Filia didn't understand why her companion was gawking at them.
"Gloree, what be you doing?" The older girl asked. Gloree didn't answer and Filia's gaze followed hers to where a boy who looked to be about their own age was dancing. He was dressed all in red and black and his violet hair whipped around his childish face. He was grinning and his eyes were squeezed shut. The girl was watching him, completely enraptured. Then a littler boy ran over to him and he stopped.
Both girls watched as he swung the smaller boy into his arms. The child laughed with glee. Then the gypsy boy looked over in their direction. No, he had eyes only for Gloree. Filia glanced at her friend. The girl's face was flushed pink and her eyes glittered.
His attention was drawn away from her when the smaller boy began to whine. "I'm hungry. I want something to eat. Why can't I have anything?" The teen-age boy sighed. "We have nothing. Momma's gone to find some food, Phibby." He assured the child. "But Xellos, I'm hungry now!"
Gloree dug around in her pocket and came up with the heal of a loaf of bread. She stepped forward and handed it to the boy. "Here. Take this. It be not much, but take it all the same." The child smiled. "Thank 'ee Miss." His brilliant emerald eyes sparkled from underneath a main of dark hair. The older boy, Xellos, looked at her through amethyst eyes. She smiled at him shyly and he grinned back.
"Filia! Yar father wonts ya back ta yar home!" Ailleen's voice suddenly broke through the crowd, "And Gloree, it be time ta go!" The girls frowned. Filia said good-bye to Gloree and ran off, holding up her skirts as she went. Gloree turned to leave, but she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Startled, she turned around. Sapphire met amethyst as she stared at the gypsy boy. He took her hand and pressed something into it. "T'is in return for helpin' the littl'l'un." Her face reddened. "Thank 'ee." She whispered. He smiled. "Will I see yeh again?" He asked. Her eyes widened and her heart pounded within her chest. "I-" She was cut off by Ailleen. "Gloree?! Where be ya?" She pulled away. If Ailleen caught her with the gypsies, she'd be in big trouble. "I have to go. Good-bye!"
He stood there watching as she walked away. "I be but a fool..." He muttered to himself. "She is far too good for me. She is nobility, I am nobody..."
Ailleen found her near a jeweler's tent. The girl was peering at a bracelet, made from beads of purple, red and black stung on thread. Between the beads hung small silver bells. "Did ya buy that, Miss?" She asked. Gloree looked at her and nodded. "I got it form the Gypsies. I felt sorry for them and I got it." This much was true. She had felt sorry for them and in return for her compassion it was given to her.
What she seemed to feel towards the boy, however, went beyond compassion. She'd never experienced emotions like that before, never felt so awkward around a boy and never even thought of a boy as some one to feel awkward around. Normally a boy like that would have been beneath her, but he had captivated her heart.
Her mother was waiting for her at the manor house. "Gloree! There ye be, Darling. We must make haste and get ye dressed.! She blinked her sapphire eyes. "What for, Mother? What be going on?" Her mother ushered her off to her chamber. "The king has called all the nobles to court for the Mayday celebration tonight, Dear. The gypsies are going to perform for the royal court." Her heart stopped. "The gypsies?" She asked faintly. "Yes."
She felt as if the world had stopped turning. As if her heart would explode within her chest. She would see him again! And perhaps this time they would talk...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: well, what do we think so far?
the character of Gloree Gabriev has appeared in two of my un-published stories, once as the half-demon brother of Gourry and once mentioned in name only. i decided to do something with her that i would actually publish. i like her as a character and have sketched her several times.
special thanks to: L-Chan for providing the title. Love ya, L-Chan!!!!!!!! /^_^\