By the way: So, a 14-year-old girl named Lenora (you'll hear more about her in a moment) is the main character. It's set in 456 HE (Kel has just become a squire). She lives in Corus, haven't decided quite where yet. Not sure where this story is going, but I do have an idea thingy. *shrug* I'll try to keep it interesting without disturbing the real plot too much (until I want to that is).
One last thing—I can't write in TP's style. I tried, and it sounds real bad. Sorry.
Ok, starting now, hope you enjoy.
~Chapter 1~ Lenora Holddenson
Mother has no idea just how boring the city is. She always goes on about how wonderful Corus is...well, it seems my dear mother's forgotten that it can't be fun if you're not allowed to leave the house...
The girl shook herself from her dismal thoughts and promptly forgot what she'd been thinking. In fact, what was she supposed to be doing? Mother told me to do something...
She shrugged. Oh well.
"Mother's chores can wait," she announced to her hands, which seemed more interested than anything else in the gloomy room. "I have better things to do like..." She trailed off. She didn't have anything better to do. She didn't have anything to do! She smiled happily. If she couldn't remember whatever tedious task her mother had set her to, than she couldn't do it. Laughter bubbled from her and she sprang up off the floor where she'd been sitting.
Gods, but I love having a bad memory. I wonder if it means the gods favor me? Or that they don't…She shrugged again. The gods were a bit far from her life. Unless gods often frequented themselves with the daughters of little known tailors. It certainly didn't seem likely. "But how would I know?" She grinned ruefully. "It would be fun to meet an absolutely real god. Or even to have some noble fall in love with me and carry me off to his fief and wed me and…wonder what happens after that? S'pose I'd get to live surrounded by gems and silks and all sorts of finery." Only children dream of such things, she told herself half in truth. She felt wistful though, and lonely. She'd decided when she was very young that she'd be rich one day. It didn't seem likely now.
"Lenoraaaaaaaaaa! Mother says to get your worthless bum down here or Duke Roger shall come an eat you." Lenora scowled. Duke Roger indeed…
"Coming…" she muttered and then said louder, "COMING!" She listened to her little sister, Rhine, scamper down the steps to report to Margery, their mother who'd as soon comfort them as hit them. I wonder what I'm in trouble for this time? Something I forgot…let's see…what have I forgotten recently? And why it that mother never believes that I forget. I do lie sometimes, but I forget things more often.
Kitchen
Margery muttered angrily to herself. Why was it that her daughter was always, always doing this? She was supposed to help her sister clean. Why hadn't she?
"She forgot" the rotund woman mimicked in a high-pitched voice. "Forgot…right. Just like she forgets everything." She slammed a pan down on the table making a dull clanking sound as it thumped into the wooden table. She cursed softly. "But she never forgets anything important, does she? Never forgets what she wants, what she needs." She pursed her lips. "Lenora," she murmured softly. "Little Lenora, Lazy Lenora, Laughing Lenora." Despite her anger she couldn't help but smile. Her husband had been fond of saying that. But now he mostly just sat and worked.
"And what else can he do? It's not as if that daughter ever raises a finger to help," she snapped again reminded of why she was so irritated.
"Um…mother…" Lenora's voice, timid for once, came from the doorway of the kitchen.
"What?" Margery snapped as she whirled around to face daughter. Lenora didn't look in the least bit sorry, only arrogant and self-centered as usual. Though, Margery had to admit it was no wonder she acted that way. Lenora had gotten her father's looks. She wasn't plump like her mother and sister. She had a slim body and elbow length brownish gold hair. Her eyes, also her fathers, were a murky green-brown. Even the simple green dress she wore looked complimentary instead of well…unattractive as it had looked on her sister. Margery hated herself for it, but she sometimes felt jealous of Lenora who was everything she'd wanted to be as a child. And typically, Lenora didn't care at all. But people did tend to dote on her. No, It wasn't a surprise that she thought herself above work.
"Father want to know if you can bring his dinner to him. He, uh, doesn't want to leave his work just yet." Lenora spoke carefully, fearful that the wrong word might launch Margery into another rage. Margery snorted.
"Tell him he had better eat with us." She said trying not to scream. "Or convince one of his daughters to bring him his food." She winced inwardly. That last bit had been the perfect excuse for Lenora to get away from eating with her mother. And yes, Lenora had perked up a bit.
"Well, I'd be happy to. For father's sake." She offered with false generosity. She grinned a little, and turned to run before Margery could hit her. Within a moment she'd left to tell her father.
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Okay, how was that? It wasn't that horrible was it? *cries* By the way, Rhine (pronounced Rinie), Lenora's sister, is a year younger than her. The parents are both middle aged.
It'll get more into the story in the next chapter, I swear. ~Kat~