Disclaimers
General: Although the main characters have undeniable similarity to those of Xena: the Warrior Princess' (from Renaissence Pictures/MCA Universal) ones, their personalities and the situations they live in do not. The plot of this fiction is no one's but all mine and my muses's (yes, I have more than one, which makes me go a little too bonkers sometimes.).
Special Notice: "Dimnland" is my own imaginary land. A personal Neverland or Emerald City, if you will. Or Borovnia if we happen to go a little further. It's not only a country, but a whole different planet on a whole different galaxy! I really like that, because that way I can come up with whatever fancies me. It is currently on its 14th century, but its time and evolution is also different from ours. Think of it as a cross in between the middle ages and the Victorian age with a hint of the thirties. Got it? Well… nevermind that. Just go with the flow.
This is also my second fanfiction and my first attempt at a long one. And I do mean long.
Sex: Yes, please. Oh, I mean… yes, there is. Lots of it as I intend to. Because, really, what fun it would be otherwise? Also, it's mainly a love story between two women, but I have to announce now that there will be some hetero sex too, as it starts like that. No pain, no game.
Violence: Eventually. I'm considering it. Not much, though.
Language: English, of course. But it is not my first language so this section is my lame excuse for appologizing for future mistakes. And there will be some naughty words along the way. Nothing THAT bad though, because I personally don't like it.
Comments/Feedback: That would be greatly appreciated! I love constructive criticism and I do take them in consideration. Flames, however, will be completely ignored.
Under The Apple Tree
A True Dimnlandian Story
PART ONE
CHAPTER ONE
The 18th of Bastet, 1303.
Catherine Marie D'Anglesey looked out the window: so many people were there, at the Royal Castle in Livesey, Guinaville. She still could not grasp the idea that all these people – from all over Dimnland – were there to see HER. The young woman saw her reflection on the window's glass and stared at it: Long honey-blonde hair that cascadet over her shoulders and down her back, with bangs neatly trimmed that never covered her deep green eyes – big like her mother's - ; heart-shaped lips and a beautiful face spotted by tiny light freckles on her nose.
People were starting to tell her that she was a "woman" now, and Catherine couldn't help noticing how her childish features had indeed turned into something sharper, stronger, less baby-like. Still, she doesn't feel like a 'woman" at all. Of course, she had matured fast during the last two years, but she still felt very much like the girl she used to be when IT happened. The Accident. That's how she called it and how everyone around her learned to refer to it, too.
It happened two years ago, she was sixteen then and lived with her parents on a small town by the far north of Dimnland. Catherine and her parents – Marie Agnes and James D'Anglesey – lived a life of full confort, for the couple were the Baroness and Baron of their home town Douane. Catherine was their only child and had grown up being very loved by them, and the trio were a known happy family.
However, it is a known fact that life can be too cruel at times. So that on an eventful day, Catherine lost her beloved parents to a wild fire on an otherwise pleasant trip to the mountains. Being their only living relative and consequently their only heir, the young Catherine D'Anglesey was stuck with the fact that she was all alone in the world and with a great fortune to take care of.
But soon enough, the Queen and King of Dimnland – Verna and Andrews Dragonee -, friends of Marie and James, went to the aid of their barons' daughter. The royal couple took the girl to their castle, where she got to know her new family: the Prince Richard and the Crown Heir Marla, who easily accepted her as their sibling. And Catherine easily welcomed the changes too, and learned to deal with this crazy twist of the road.
Three months after Catherine moved to the castle, Verna and Andrews offered her the post of Baroness of Douane for they felt it would be unfair to offer it to someone else, since it was Catherine's birthtown and her parents had ruled it for a long time. Catherine kindly rejected it, explaining that she couldn't think of herself responsible enough to take care of a whole town and its people – even if a small one like Douane. So that the Queen and King had to appoint a different couple to the title.
As her 18th birthday was getting closer, the girl took notice of the departure of the Baroness of Livesey, and she came to a decision about her future: she would accept a post as Baroness now, and it would be much better since it'd be on her current city, where she could still be close to the Dragonees – maybe she'd even continue to live on the Royal Castle!
She expressed her idea to Verna and Andrews, telling them that it would be good to her future to help the Crown organize its people, and that knowing that the couple and her new family would be close to her made the task sound less frightning than before.
Unsurprisingly to anyone, Verna and Andrews accepted her proposal. They immediately sent notice to start the preparations for the Creation of a Territorial Baroness and the Departure of a Territorial Baroness ceremonies, to take date right on Catherine's birthday. A huge party would be thrown after it in order to celebrate Catherine's 18th year. A party for the royal family and for the people; HER people.
Now looking out of her bedroom window, Catherine couldn't deny how lucky she was for having Verna and Andrews on her life. A second family, she mused, complete with a brother and a sister.
She looked at her bed, where her "sister" Marla was sprawled on, her arms pillowing her head, staring at the ceiling. She probably must be thinking about someone.
Marla Verna Dragonee was four years older than Catherine, who always considered her to be "too tall for a girl". The Crown Heir was even taller than Andrews – who's very tall for a man. She has beautiful red hair just past her shoulders, her eyes'colour change with the light: it could be seen as grey, but sometimes they turned green. Marla is constantly smiling, she has full lips and sharp cheekbones, strong features and a very beautiful face. She walks gracefully – almost cat-like; her body slender, lanky. Her voice is throaty, but in a velvety way. Marla is a very beautiful woman, indeed. Everybody agrees with that, so that there's always "someone" in her life. Of course, she loves it; loves the attention she gets, the presents, the declarations of undying love. She sees it all as something fun, never took any of the "someones" seriously. Man or woman, no one ever made her heart skip a beat, or beat faster for them.
But, despite it all, Marla wasn't the kind of person who feels alone or empty inside. She couldn't explain it – it was just the way things worked for her. And Marla was always happy and cheerful. She and Catherine instantly became good friends, in a very sister-like way. Catherine really liked her because Marla could very often made her feel better.
However, there are times when even Marla's good will couldn't make Catherine feel better inside.You know, a person can be all alone in the world and not feel lonely, and sometimes a person can be surrounded by a huge crowd and feel as the only person there. This latest kind is the loner one. – the kind of people that are always looking for a special person who'll take them out of their emptiness.
Catherine was a loner by nature. It didn't get worse or better after the Accident. She felt exactly as she felt when she was living with her parents. In a way she was like Marla: looking for the one who, not only will truly love her, but someone who SHE will truly love back.
And then, maybe she won't feel so alone anymore.
The motion outside her window snaped her out of her reverie. She was now looking at the castle's yard, where the ceremony was to take place. Upon seeing so many heads together, an overwhelming feeling took hold of her. She quickly closed the curtains and stepped back. She looked at Marla, who still was laid on the soon-to-be-Baroness' bed.
Unconsciously, Catherine started to pace, walking back and forth across her bedroom. It caught Marla's attention, who watched the blonde girl do it a few times. She noticed how Catherine was nervous, scrubing her hands together and not really looking at any direction. Marla spoke without getting up.
"Cate, will you calm down? There's no such need for being nervous."
"What makes you think I'm nervous?" Catherine glanced at the red-haired girl, but didn't stop pacing.
Marla simply pointed a finger at Catherine. The blonde girl furrowed her eyebrows. She didn't understand why Marla was pointing at her, following her pace back and forth, back and forth. Then she realized what she was doing and stopped awkwardly. "Well, I'm a little nervous, yes", she said as she sat on the end on the bed, by Marla's side.
The Crown Heir raised herself to a sitting position and bumped Catherine with her shoulder. "A little? Try a lot!"
Catherine still was rubbing her hands together and Marla could see now how sweaty they were. She put a conforting hand on the girl's forearm and held her hand when Catherine gave her the opening to it.
"There's some crazy butterflies on my stomach", Catherine said.
"Listen", said Marla rubbing the four hands together now, but on a reassuring way. "it's okay to be nervous, Cate. You have all the right to be so, you'll be a Baroness now and as such you have the absolute right to be nervous whenever you want." She lowered her voice. "Just don't allow commoners to see it, all right?"
Catherine smiled at it and chuckled with Marla. She looked at their interwined hands and thanked her friend.
The door slammed open and a very angry-looking Prince Richard entered through it.
"Hey! You're supposed to knock, younk man!" Marla scolded him.
Richard didn't answer her, going instead straight to Catherine's side and throwing himself on the bed. The 12 years old crossed his arms over his chest, frowning and sighing heavily.
"What is it, Richard?" Catherine ran her fingers through his thick red hair that was a bit overgrown.
The young Prince mumbled something inaudible, pouting even more.
Marla and Catherine looked at each other. Marla shrugged. The blonde girl leaned towards the boy. "We didn't hear you, Richard. What was that again?"
"Stupid outfit", Richard said a little louder this time.
The girls looked at the Prince's clothes: Navy blue slacks tightly pressed against his legs, neat white collared shirt with a bow-tie firmly in place, a black wool coat and painfully shiny new shoes.
Catherine muffled a laugh. It was so different from Richard's usually casual clothes. "Boy, that sure looks unconfortable."
"You look really nice, though". Marla tried to cheer him up.
The boy uncrossed his arms and scratched his head furiously. "I don't care! These shoes are killing me!"
"Oh, calm down Rich" Catherine rubbed his arm. "It's only for a few minutes until the ceremony is over."
"Yeah, and then it will be only a couple of hours more through the party."
Marla caught the pillow that Richard threw at her just in time, and, laughing, threw it back at him. It hit Catherine's shoulder instead and Richard laughed at his sister's bad aim.
Catherine took said pillow and hit both the siblings. Then, in a matter of second, the three of them were holding their own pillow, trying to hit each other while ducking the coming attacks. Richard was standing on the bed and the women were fighting against him.
With all the laughter and the yelling, they didn't hear when Aimee, the first maid of the Queen, opened the door and stood watching the pillow-fight. The tall, strong brunette woman tried calling them, but was utterly ignored. It was not until a huge pillow hit her full on face, did the fighting trio took notice of her presence and stopped, all of them feeling very guilty.
Aimee took the offending pillow and looked at each one seriously, an eyebrow raised. Their hairs were all messed up. Richard's tie was loosened and his coat was open and dangling from one arm. Catherine's long dress had its shirt up to one knee and Marla was missing one of her shoes. They were standing side-by-side and Aimee noticed that Catherine was still holding her pillow. Their breathings were heavy.
The First Maid saw their flushed faces, their round scared eyes and the messy room (otherwise kept extremely tidy) and thought about going mad on them, but decided against it upon seeing their happy, unconsciously relaxed postures. "Miss Catherine D'Anglesey, you're being expected on the castle's yard. The ceremony is about to start". Aimee announced what she had to announce and left them to fix themselves. She smiled internally after closing the room's door. Kids!