Faith of the Fallen
Part Two
A/N: Wow. Thanks for all the favorites, follows, and reviews. To the guest reviewer thanks for the advice and I'm glad you liked my first chapter. I also wanna let you guys know that the first 14 chapters are written. I'm writing when I get the inspiration so at a certain point I ask for patience if I don't post as often. Thank you for the love and I hope I live up to your expectations. Once more I own nothing. I just play here.
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Emma and her adopted sister were back behind the boarding house. It was their turn to watch the younger bastards along with Grant. The ten younger children were broken up into smaller groups. There were more girls than boys. Most would grow up to follow in their mother's footsteps. The boarding house was also a whore house. A pretty popular one. Here in the kingdom of Galstan being a whore was actually a pretty acceptable occupation. Madam Dawn had the best women and men in the whole kingdom and the two neighboring ones. She even allowed her 'girls' to keep their children. Most grew up to join the business or were married off. The boys usually became either man whores or a guard or they just found other work. Emma and her sister Meghan were the daughters of the late Alda. She had been one of Madam Dawn's actual daughters. Both were adopted because Alda was unable to have her own children.
They were about to call the younger children for lunch when Madam Dawn came around the house with an older man who was very well dressed. All the children quickly learned how to read people. Emma could tell he was upper class but not royalty. She and the two older children stood up. Emma was 13, Meghan was 14, and Grant was 15. Madam Dawn said something to the man and he waited with Dawn's aide, Malcolm. Madam Dawn walked over to them.
"Grant take the children inside. I need to speak with Meghan and Emma." He nodded. He turned, shouting for the other children to head inside. Emma and Meghan looked at each other before turning back to Madam Dawn.
"You're sending us away," Emma said. Dawn nodded.
"This gentleman works for a queen in a distant kingdom. She wants two serving girls. You'll be given boarding and well taken cared of there. I know of the queen and she treats her servants well." Meghan began to tear up. Emma took her hand.
"Do you not want us anymore," Meghan asked. She sobbed. Dawn knelt before the girls.
"Of course I want you, Meg. You're my girl. You both are but this is a chance at a better life for both of you. A life where you can do better than anyone else from here. Your mother wanted that for you. I promised her if I ever had the chance to give you a better life I would. And you'll stay together. He promised me that." Dawn looked to Emma. As usual she could not read the young girl. Emma turned to Meghan.
"We'll be okay, Meg. We'll be together so we'll be okay," she said to her. Madam Dawn stood and waved the man over. Malcolm walked with him over to them. The man nodded politely to the girls.
"Hello, I am Alberto. I work for her majesty, Queen Regina." He had a dark skin tone, like someone who had stayed out in the sun for a long time. He offered his hand. Emma shook it but Meghan turned into her sister. Meghan may have been older but Emma was the protector of the two. The man simply smiled. "If you ladies are agreeable I'd like to take you to her kingdom where you will be her personal servants. Your duties will mainly be to tend to her majesty's needs, dressing her, drawing her bath, bringing her meals, and keeping her chambers tidy. Nothing to straining. I must warn you that she does have a bit of a temper and a sharp tongue. She will not physically lash out but she may speak harshly." He glanced at the teary eyed Meghan. Emma gently squeezed Meghan.
"My girls are tough," Madam Dawn said. "So what do you say? Do you want to do this?" Emma and Meghan looked at each other. Meghan made a worried face at her but Emma just nodded. The adults watched as they had a silent conversation. Malcolm stood behind the man and Dawn smiling as his adopted nieces. After a moment Meghan nodded. Then Emma nodded. She turned to the man.
"We'll go but if it doesn't work out, if she doesn't want us you'll bring us back here. You won't just abandon us in a kingdom we don't know," Emma asked. Alberto nodded.
"Your Madam has already received my personal promise of your return if things don't work out." Emma nodded.
"We'll go with you." He nodded.
"I'll give you some time to gather any belongings you wish to bring with you. He nodded to Dawn and Malcolm escorted him back around the house.
The two sisters said goodbye to the only family they had ever known and went to gather their things. They didn't have much. Emma took a few pieces of clothing, some old books her mother had given her, and the blanket with her name on it. Emma paused at the jewelry box on a shelf that used to belong to her mother. She opened it and removed a necklace with a circular charm. The charm was engraved with a swan. She put the necklace in her pocket and went to find her sister.
The carriage that would take them to their new home was large and very nice. Madam Dawn walked them out to the carriage. A young footman opened the door. They both shared a hug with Madam Dawn. Meghan got in first. Madam Dawn touched Emma's shoulder so the child would face her.
"Emma, you have always been the strongest so I'm depending on you to protect your sister. Help her be strong." Emma nodded.
"Always, Grandma. I'll miss you but we can write you." Dawn smiled.
"The people there are different. Whores are seen as the lowest of the low. They'll expect little of you but we both know you're so much more." She tapped Emma's nose, making the girl smile. Emma turned and got in the carriage. The door closed. Dawn watched it drive away. Malcolm put his hand on her shoulder.
"They'll be alright," he said. Dawn put her hand on his.
"I know. Its still hard. Something I never told Alba was that shortly after I found Emma I sought out the seer in Devlan. She said Emma would have a grand destiny that would heal the divide between two kingdoms. I can't help but feel that this is the start down that path. You know about the civil war between the Dark and White kingdoms. How the hatred of one woman nearly destroyed out entire world." Malcolm nodded.
"If it is Emma's fate to help them then I have all the faith in the worlds in her. She is stronger than any of us could ever really know." Madam Dawn nodded. "We'll miss them." She nodded, tears forming in her eyes. Malcolm took her back inside.
The trip to their new home took a week. They were both tired when they arrived late in the evening. Alberto had been very patient with them and kind. He tried his best to keep them comfortable. When they entered through the servant's entrance they were greeted by a small group of servants. An older woman stepped forward.
"This is the head housekeeper, Ms. Logan. She will give you a place to sleep for tonight. In the morning you will be introduced to the Queen. For now eat and get some rest." He left them with the older woman. She looked at them.
"I hope your girls are hard workers. I don't know what you did where you're from," she made a distasteful look. "But there is no...romantic or other activities allowed between staff." Emma glared at the woman.
"Even touching anyone under the age of 15 in our kingdom is punishable by death," she stated. "I don't know how you do things here but if anyone makes a move on me or my sister will find themselves wishing they never heard of Galstan." Emma expected a stern look from the head housekeeper but instead the woman simply turned and headed down the hall. Emma took Meghan's hand and followed her. They were given a small room with one bed. There was a tray of bread, cheese, fruit, and a pitcher of water.
"Sleep well girls. I'll come for you in the morning." She closed the door, leaving them in the room, dimly lit by candles. Emma squeezed Meghan's hand. Meghan sat on the bed and Emma brought the tray over to the bed. They ate in silence. When they had their full of the food Emma placed it back on the table. They got ready for bed, still silent. Once they were in bed Emma let Meghan snuggle into her front, holding her tight Emma began to hum. It was the lullaby Alba had sung to them. Soon Meghan was asleep. Emma kissed her head. She soon fell asleep herself.
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A/N I plan to space the updates a little more. I wanna give myself time to write. Don't hate me. :)