Rayne
Chapter one: The Beginning of a New Journey
A small form walked through alley, away from the crowd of people. Its cloak pulled tightly around, making the form seem smaller. A piece of long pale blonde hair fell loose, falling into the once noble looking face. Eyes of glacier blue looked at the hair with anger.
'Once again I have to pull my hair up…maybe I should cut it. No I could never cut it….' The form thought as it tucked the hair behind its ear.
A strong hand pulled at her shoulder, spinning her around sharply, to face a young boy. His brown looked down at the forms soft, but dirty face. His hair was brown and came to his ears smiled brightly down at her, while his eyes glittered with mischief.
"What's a young one like you doin' out her'." The boy asked. "You all by your lonesome?"
"That should be of no worry to you." The girl snapped. "And I'll kindly have my purse back."
"Quick one you 'er. What's a noble born youth walking around as you are?" He placed her purse in her hand.
"Mind your own self."
The boy stepped back to look at her and shook his head.
"I'm known as George Copper, lass." He said and bowed to her
"I'm none of your concern." The girl turned and walked away, heading farther into the alley.
George caught up with her and took her arm. "Come wit' me lass, I've a place you can wash up, if you wan' too."
"Why should I trust you?" The girl asked
"Because my Mother be the one who'd have my head if she knew I let a pretty one like you ran away. Or are you being like this 'cause you don't like ta be clean?"
"I like to be clean just fine!" She snapped at him pulling her arm away, causing her stray hair to fall again.
"I am only joking with ya. Take no offence, lass." He said tucking the hair behind her ear for her. "Now will ya tell me your name?"
"Rayne." She answered simply
"Just Rayne?"
"Rayne of Persopella."
"Well Rayne of Persopella, on we go." He said taking her arm, and walking threw the catacombs.
They finally stopped at a house the was simple, but elegant. Rayne suddenly felt really dirty.
"George?"
"Yes, lass?"
"Won't your Mother be upset if you brought home someone looking like this?"
"Nonsense. She'll think nothing of it." He said and led her inside.
The house was furnished only lightly. The window curtains drawn tightly.
"George?" A woman's voice called from one of the back rooms "I'm in the kitchen."
They both walked in the kitchen to see a woman of her early forties, but still with both grace and beauty.
"I've brought you a task, Mother." George said before he realized Rayne was hidden behind him, clinging to his shirt tightly.
Mistress Cooper turned to look at her nephew and glared at him slightly. He stepped aside and showed Rayne to his Mother. She laughed lightly as she realized her hold on his shirt.
"My, my George. Where did you find such a girl?" She said taking note of the appearance of the child before her.
Rayne's cloak was still pulled up on her head, but Mistress Cooper was able to see her face. The cloak along with her dress and face were covered in dirt, mud, and dried blood.
"Dear child, come with me." She led Rayne over to a chair. "George go fetch some water. I'll be right back with some clothing."
He came back before his mother with the water. He smiled at her and set it next to her chair.
"See? My Mother would never turn down the chance ta help someone." He said taking the seat next to his.
Shortly after Mistress Cooper came down and shooed George away to the market to buy Rayne some nice clothes. After he left, Mistress Cooper began to clean up the young girl. Taking Rayne's cloak off, she noticed her hair.
"Lass where did you get such a fine head of hair?" She asked letting the full length fall.
The pale blonde hair reached the ground as she sat in the chair.
"From my Mother." Rayne replied pulling at the piece that fell in her view.
Since entering the sight of George, her gaze down-cast, now Mistress Cooper lifted her chin making her look up.
"It is beautiful. Your eyes are charming also. Your Mother must be every proud to have a daughter so lovely. I have only George, but I wished I did have a daughter of my own."
"George brought me here why?" Rayne asked the question that's been burning in her mind since he introduced her to his Mother.
"You'd have to ask him that your self, dear one." Mistress cooper said looking at the limpness of her hair. "I'd bet your some handsome man's prize. If not now, then one day."
Rayne made no comment of this, but pulled at her hair. She had no mind to be anyone's prize. And she did not wish to have any man as a husband. She knew the heart break of her Father when her mother died, and did not what to have anything like that happen to her.
As they cleaned the last of the dirt out of her hair, George returned with an armful of beautiful dresses. Most of them were deep blue or black. A cloak with a fur liner was also among them.
" 'ere put this one on. And the cloak. We'll go to the Dancing Dove. I'll Introduce ye ta my friends." George said handing her a black dress
Rayne was taken to the next room and was helped into the dress. It fit her perfectly, it was tight on the top and flowed from her waist down. She walked out of the spare room and faced them. Feeling much better about her appearance, she smiled big showing a dimple in her right cheek. Her hair and pale face stood out in contrast to the dress.
"You look…" George said as he looked her over.
Rayne blushed suddenly casting her gaze down. "Is it that bad?"
"No, child. You look lovely. Before you go, I have but a few questions to ask." Mistress Cooper said quietly from her seat at the table.
Rayne bit her lip, knowing what was going to be asked. She took a seat across from George's mother. He stood directly behind Mistress Cooper looking down at both females.
"Why child, of all nobles did you look as you did?" She asked finally "Doesn't your folks know how dangerous it is around here? Are they visiting King Ronald?"