1Trinity

Summary: Three girls with different backgrounds have normal lives until they find an new world where evil, piracy, and love all combine. Bad summary, good story. R&R!

Disclaimer: I do own everything, except later references to Sleeping Beauty.

A/ N - Here's the second chapter. I hope it's a good follow-up to the first, and thanks to all my wonderful reviewers- you KNOW who you are, and thanks for pointing out the tense switching. Sorry bout that. Won't happen again, I promise. ;) So r&r and here's chapter two!

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Two Years Later...

I sighed as the excitable Melinda picked out her dress that she was to wear that day. Everything was simply wonderful as today was Melinda's thirtheenth birthday. Everything had to go exactly as planned so that Melinda would have a perfect birthday party. She was especially excited because tonight's party was a dance, and, oh, that's marvelous and she can dance all night with boys and la, la, la. On and on. I suppose that's her way, though. I'm just sour because the closest thing I've had to a birthday is serving party fare with a servant's garb and a tray. I had turned thirteen in January and gave myself a present by sneaking out of the kitchen with a small fruit tart that would go unnoticed. I ate it slowly, relishing it. This girl has no idea how good she really has it. I have the same two meals everyday, wear the same three outfits, washing them in the cold river, and my only piece of jewelry is a small grubby blue ribbon, knotted tightly around my wrist. I had never taken that ribbon off. I knew that, in a small way, I was remembering Elle, though I had heard the people talk of me when they thought I couldn't hear them. The first time I heard was about a week after Elle's disappearance. I was tending to the kitchen fire, and taking care not to hold the ribbon too close, for I did not want it to burn. The two ladies behind me began gossiping, and I could overhear them if I turned my head slightly. One in a pale yellow rough dress said, rolling dough for bread, "The poor dear. That girl left weeks ago, didn't she?"

The other one with her gray-streaked hair said, "Quite right, I believe. She must have seen a hallucination, or a ghost. Surely that did not really happen. I wonder if she's all right in the mind."

The one in the yellow dress said, "I should hope so. She's tending the fire." They laughed and turned to look at me, as I turned my head quickly to face the fire, ashamed. They thought me mad.

I knew what I saw. It was real.

A voice woke me from these thoughts, "Anastasia!" I winced at my full name. "Please come and tie this ribbon around my hair." I didn't know why or how I managed to get the job of assisting Melinda, like her lady- in- waiting. Perhaps they thought me too dangerous around the kitchen fire. Who knows, to them, I could have started frothing at the mouth and throwing wood into the fire, lighting the manor into flames. But I would never do that. Never.

I tied Melinda's hair expertly, as she did it this way nearly everyday, and she said, "Splendid."

I curtsied and said, "Thank you, Miss."

She nodded and said, "You may leave." It's amazing how a just- turned- thirteen-year-old could sound so much like a married woman. She sounded older than she was, trying to make herself a woman though she was still a girl. I wondered of she really enjoyed this life. Perhaps she thought servant life thrilling. I'd have gladly traded with her. Ah, well. The word marriage was already being mentioned around the manor and I knew that that was really what this party was about tonight. Would she be married in two years? Three? Time only knows. For that, I was thankful that I was but a servant girl. None of the servant boys interested me, especially because they all seemed to be obsessed with horses and such, not girls, at least, not then. Would I have to marry one of them? I would hope not. I was but thirteen!

I finished the rather winding walk from Melinda's second-story apartments to the servant's corridors. I walked to my small bedroom, and sat on the makeshift chair I had made out of old cloths I had found not being used. It was not really a chair, more of a nest, or a comfortable carpeting, but it was much nicer than the cold stone blocks that could have frozen your feet in the winters. It was also a useful way of hoarding my treasures, as they could be hidden withing the many cloths. Broken pieces of jewelry, a few worn books, and the greatest treasure of them all-a battered dagger. It was in a scabbard, worn, and could use a sharpening, but I kept it hidden in a small hidden compartment behind a shelf. I kept some of the pointy jewelry in there as well. Right then, though, I took out one of the books, and read its familiar pages until I was needed again. There were several small fireplaces throughout the halls, placed every few rooms over so to keep all the rooms reasonably warm, and my room happened to be one room over from a fireplace, which was a good location. I kept my wooden door cracked so that the heat could seep through, but not escape easily. It was good that it was spring, and the flowers were beautiful right then. The fires weren't needed, and I also had a tiny window which could be opened or closed. I opened it, to let a gentle breeze waft through the tiny room. What was a small advantage of having a tiny nook was that it very easily warmed, or filled with a breeze.

I was at peace right then. That time, right after helping Melinda get dressed and before lunch, was my time of freedom. I was glad to have this time to myself. I could read, or think, or do anything I like. I jumped up from the nest of fabrics and sheets and went off to the stables.

I liked the stables. There was a calm about it, just the horses. Of course, that was beside the stable boys. None of them would talk to me; I've heard them mumble "crazy" more than once. Was I the only one to remember Elle not going away? In fact, she'd been taken in the night. Kidnapped, I supposed.

I went up to my favorite horse, whose name was Thunder. She was a beauty. The mare had had a colt about a month before, whom the stables named Penny. Thunder was a paint horse and was not considered as special as the thoroughbreds and the Palominos. But she had red and brown splotches all over her, and I thought her wonderful.

I stole a carrot from a bucket and brought it to Thunder. I held out the carrot and she nibbled on it, then ate the entire thing up. She rested her head on my shoulder, and I stroked her soft hair. That had not been the first time that I had given her a carrot. I brushed my fingers through her mane and gently moved to go. She snorted, but I just told her, "Oh, hush up, you know I'll be back," and ran away because it was almost time for me to help make the luncheon meal. Besides helping Melinda, I also set the table with the glasses and china required. I was not even considered to help make the food. I mostly survived on the brown bread made fresh every morning, and snippets of meat and fruit that I can find. We servants survive on what we can get. There are always some carrots or celery in a vegetable pile, and I usually take one of those too. Usually. Sometimes the kitchen is so full that I would get caught easily.

I finished setting the table, and when I entered the kitchen saw the biggest pile of apples on top of one of the counters. There was a pile of slightly smaller or bruised ones beside of it, which I assumed were meant for the servants. I grabbed a less bruised one and carried it in my apron pocket until I got to my room and polished it. I crunched through the apple, then, feeling satisfied, decided that I would read for a minute before going back to the manor to see if there was anything else I could do.

After allowing myself three pages, I walked down the hallway until I saw Mrs. Chilroan, who was one of the head maids and was very nice, although a bit harried. She used her apron tip to wipe her forehead. "Anna," she said, smiling, "could you please go with Melinda this afternoon? She wants to go to the marketplace. Go to Melinda's apartments at two." She smiled again and hurried away.

The marketplace? That was an unusual place for her to want to go. Perhaps she wanted to buy herself a birthday present.

Melinda

I sat down to luncheon with Mother and Father, who were both looking at me in a way that I knew meant they had something important to talk about with me.

As a servant set a bowl of soup in front of me, I said, "Mother, Father, do you want to share something with me?" I hoped it was something birthday related, but they had on serious faces.

Father smiled at me, and said, "Yes, we do. We want to talk to you about marriage."

I spit the spoonful of soup that had just entered my mouth out, I was so shocked. Not because it was hot, either. I quickly blotted at the small stain on my dress with a linen napkin and said, "Marriage, Father? But I just turned thirteen today!" I looked up at him. I tried to act grown up, but I wanted to stay a child if I were to marry this year! I wanted to wait until I was about eighteen or so.

"Yes, we know, but you are now of age to become engaged. Of course you could not marry at the age of thirteen, but perhaps at sixteen. That would give you three years of engagement."

I looked up, eyes wide. "That's why we're having the ball tonight, isn't it? So I can find a suitable boy and get married! Oh, I don't want that. I just want," I looked at them both pleadingly, "to have fun. I just want to dance, not think f I could marry them!"

It just seemed ridiculous, really. I don't have many friends, but other young nobles like myself that I knew were not yet engaged. In fact, some of them still acted as if they were children.

Mother gazed at me sympathetically. "We know that, darling, we just-"

I finished her sentence. "-want what's best for me. My appetite had suddenly vanished, though the food was good. May I be excused to my rooms?"

Father sighed deeply. "Yes, darling."

I pushed my chair out, and walked quickly down the halls to my rooms. I was glad to find them empty, and raced over to the chaise lounge and started to cry, but then thought better of it. What good would crying do me?

I remembered that I was going to the marketplace this afternoon with that servant, Anastasia. I had heard some of the other servants call her things, but I wanted to see for myself. From my observations, she seemed normal.

I changed out of the now wrinkled dress and put on a light green one that brought out my green, almost hazel eyes. I made sure that there was no puffiness underneath my eyes and sat down properly in a chair, then sprawled out comfortably in it, waiting for Anastasia to knock and go to the marketplace.

Happy birthday indeed.

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A/ N - I know that that was a bit boring in parts but I was describing a normal day for Anna. Next chapter is the marketplace which is where Victoria comes in...you'll see! I give candy to my reviewers, so REVIEW! thanks for reading! –dreamer303