Chapter 2

The best and worst day of my life was when I was 6 years old. It had been a hot summer and the weather was slowly calming down into autumn preparing for the winter, the leaves were falling and the forest outside my home was full of glorious oranges and reds. I had spent most of my time with my thoughts like I did most days, but I was not unhappy, far from it because I had received the best and only letter of my life. It was from my father, whom I've never met. You see I am the illegitimate child of one of the greatest Lords in Telmar, my father fell in love (or so I like to imagine) with a beautiful servant and they had an affair. Obviously I could not live with him so he sent me and my mother to live in a country home in Archenland, I don't remember her apart from one lullaby she sung to me once;

Baby mine, don't you cry.

Baby mine, dry your eyes.

Rest your head, close to my heart,

Never to part, baby of mine.

Little one, when you play,

Pay no heed, what they say.

Let your eyes sparkle and shine,

Never a tear, baby of mine.

If they knew all about you,

They'd end up loving you too.

All those same people who scold you,

What they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes,

You're not much, goodness knows.

But, you're so precious to me,

Sweet as can be, baby of mine.

Apart from that, the only other thing I remember about her is that she had blonde hair, which she gave to me, although it reminds me of her and I treasure that, it sometimes feels like a curse, heads turn wherever I go making me feel like a foreigner, an outcast. Anyway that morning was especially uneventful, my guardian said goodbye to me then went off to work, although I very much doubt that was all she did as she always came back drunk but as a child I was just confused because she came back too jolly and swaying about as though she were on a boat and she always seemed to have less money which was odd too me seeing as your meant to earn money doing a job not lose it. I once asked her why she was like that, and all I got was a slap across the face and a 'Don't go poking your grubby little nose into people's business, it ain't polite' I never asked again.

After she left for work I dressed myself and ran down to get some breakfast, some dry bread and butter, and then I went out into the garden to sit in my favourite tree. I even named that tree; I called it Martha after my mother, my entire world used to revolve around her even though I could barely remember her. High up in Martha's branches I had tied on a basket and in that basket I put all my most precious possessions, for example a white pearly stone I once found hidden in the long grass, and a ribbon that belonged to my mother and there had been a snail shell until I found out that it wasn't as empty as I had thought and I put it back where I found it. (Herbert was very happy to be set free) After I had checked all my treasures were there I sat on a branch swinging my legs, watching the clouds and imagining the adventures they had so high above the world. I was not prepared for a visitor, in fact I didn't even realise that was something people did, visit each another.

I saw a horse in the distance, that wasn't uncommon, and I thought it would just ride past, but as it came nearer it showed no signs of stopping, and when it rode through our gate I began to scramble down the tree. The excitement that bubbled up inside me was surreal, that's why the memory is so vivid, the feelings were so intense I thought I would burst, or at least I though my heart would it was beating too fast. I ignored any scratches I got as I fought through the leaves and jumped off the highest branch, I sprinted through the house and arrived in the kitchen before there was a knock at the front door.

Suddenly I wasn't quite so sure; I had barley talked to anyone other than my guardian and perhaps a passing hello to the neighbours, what if this person was cruel or wanted to kidnap me? I jumped as there was another knock and quietly I tiptoed towards the door paused for a moment then reached up and unlatched the door, slowly I creaked it open and peered round the edge. There was a boy outside the door, even though he looked more like a man to me he couldn't have been more than 14, I saw the look of confusion on his face as he stared at the place where a face should have appeared, but then he looked down at me and realisation replaced it. He stooped down to my level and smiled, it seemed so warm and genuine I almost thought he knew me.

'Hello there. Is your mother here?' He had a slight accent which was different to the usual Telmarine accent, it was soft and lilting and I opened the door a little more.

'N-no I don't have a mother' I replied quietly, as I tugged on my hair twisting it round my fingers, knotting it.

The boy frowned 'Oh how about your father?' This question sounded more hopeful, and it made me not want to reply so as not to disappoint him.

'No' I said simply, and then as an afterthought I added 'It's just me, my guardians gone to work' the boys frown deepened and I didn't like it so I twisted my hair more.

'Right, well err- I have a letter for a Lady. Belmonte' it was my turn to frown.

'My father's name is Belmonte but I didn't take his name' I was disinherited because I was the bastard child, which means I took my mother's name, Gaspar.

'The letter might explain that, why don't you give it to your guardian to open later hmm?' He handed me the letter and straightened slowly, he walked back to his horse and mounted it, I expected him to ride straight off but he stopped and looked back at me, I got the impression he wanted to say something but he didn't, he just waved then kicked his horse into a trot.

I went back inside and pushed the door shut with both hands, making sure I didn't crumple the letter. It was the first time I wished wholeheartedly that I could read, but I wasn't old enough to go to the local school. So instead I put the letter on the table and went back outside to Martha and waited.

It was late when my guardian came home, the sky was full of stars and the moon was climbing higher, surprisingly she wasn't that drunk and so I was not so afraid to ask her to read the letter. At first she laughed, not believing that anyone had sent me a letter, but when I told her who it was addressed to she stopped and asked me to fetch it. She tore it open carelessly and dropped the envelope; I seized it from the stone floor and clutched it to my chest in case it was the only part I was allowed to keep. Her eyes scanned the letter quickly her brow furrowing intently, she paused for a moment to look and me her eyes wide, then she found an armchair and sat down heavily before continuing to read. I stood before her awkwardly, waiting for her to explain what it said, and who sent it for I didn't know anyone else. At last she looked up and sighed, narrowing her eyes as if to understand.

'Well, it looks like it's from your father, sort of.'

'Father? What does he want?' My heart was thudding again and my palms had begun to sweat.

'You're not Miss. Gaspar anymore; you've been reinstated as a lady no less and you've got two brothers and you're to live with 'em ' The world suddenly exploded into colour, so many options surrounded me, a life with my father and I would have brothers to play with, maybe even a mother. I wouldn't have to live with my guardian anymore, I could have friends and maybe pets. We could go on walk and pick flower It felt like I was drowning in happiness, those few moments were the happiest of my life, then it all came crashing down, with a few words. I never understood the power of words until then and how much they can hurt.

'Why are you looking so 'appy? He's dead. This is his will, I dunno why you're in it though' I didn't understand what a will was but I defiantly knew the word dead, I first heard it when my guardian told me why my mother wasn't around. She's dead, my father's dead.

I couldn't face it, I was an orphan but I didn't want to hear it, so instead I asked 'So what's my name?'

'Lady Ellen Belmonte'.

That day was the best day of my life because, even if it was for a moment, I thought that someone cared about me and wanted me, but when that moment ended and I knew the truth, I think some part of me wanted to remain igorant.

Miss Ellen Gaspar was naive and content, Lady Ellen Belmonte was not.