DISCLAIMER: I only own my OC and my original songs.
Enjoy! :)
Chapter 3: Mademoiselle Odette
I pace upstairs, eyeing the dark filled window when I face it looking for my brother in the lit streets below, then when I pace back I stare holes in the floorboards near the stairs. He'd promised he'd be here tonight which night is now falling and the moonlight shines into the candle lit space.
My pink dress the color of ballet slippers, matching my actual ballet slippers, swirls at my satin covered feet whenever I turn around.
"You'll dig holes in the floor if you keep pacing like that," I dart my head in his direction, who is walking up the last step quietly, not trudging loudly like he would. "Even my men in the war wouldn't turn volte-face as much as you do."
"It's about time you're here!" I walk over to his bed and lift up his deep red coat for him to change into, but he only stands where he is, just stepping up the last step and leaning against the beam looking me up and down vaguely. "Brother?"
"You look beautiful sister," he compliments with a brotherly smile full of such tenderness I haven't seen in a while. Something isn't right… "But you don't think it is too… revealing and form-fitting?"
My mouth drops and I couldn't help but blush, "This is the dress I handpicked with you for this night. You would dance with me, I'd twirl, and I'd dance with the available men and suitors you approve of."
He quickly turned away with a sharp hiss emitting from his mouth, putting a hand behind his head, "Did I say that?"
My eyes widen, my heart beating out my chest and beginning to sadden, "You promised.."
Hearing my now cracking voice that hardly ever breaks, he beelines towards me and engulfs me in the tightest embrace imaginable. It began to hurt my tightly bounded corset chest, which by the hardest I raise my hands up to his chest and push him away just a bit so that I'm not pressed so much against him. I know he was trying to comfort me.
"I'm sorry but I haven't been honest with you," he looks down at me ashamed of himself.
"I knew it," I bite my lower lip with a glower. "Is this about Belle?"
"Well, part," he pauses, inhaling a big breath before continuing. If we weren't speaking the sound of the burning candle wick and wax oozing could be heard. "You see I have every intent to marry Belle—because I love her, of course, but also for the sole reason you don't ever have to marry."
He looks up, opening his worried grey-blue eyes meeting my large, stunned brown ones. Every breath leaving my lungs and mouth beginning to hurt, my lips swelling.
"I don't understand. Why would I not have to marry? I'm of age."
"Odette, my sweet baby sister. I've been protecting you and raising you since you were a child, an infant even. You'd hold my finger, just like this, and some nights I'd rock you to sleep. Then I've watched you grow into this," one of his hands touches my waist and trails up my curves, and up to my chin. "This marvelous, beautiful woman. A lady above all these peasants here."
My lips press shut into a thin line and my eyes narrow at his strange change in tone. He's beginning to sound like his arrogant self, a side to him that his been making itself more prominent and getting under my skin I'm afraid to admit.
My voice shakes as I speak up, letting out a nervous but amused laugh to try and lighten the talk, "Oh, you don't think I know that? No need to say it again. You're indeed losing your mind mon chou."
He remained stock serious, no hint of amusement betrayed on his stern face.
"Odette. I know everyone in this town, every man in this town, through and through. None of them can give you what I can," his hand travels up behind my head and twists my hair sending odd tingles through me making me uncomfortable.
"And what's that?"
"Freedom. To be yourself, to be my equal. You're a queen. Not some fish mongrel's wife or farmer's pig feeder and sweating over the stove."
That's what everyone in this town is, just about. But at least it is more productive than being a co-tavern owner and a beautiful face. I gulp rather loudly but he takes this as a sign of his words getting through to me, not even thinking how much I have truly changed. Not considering this mostly because I never admitted it to him.
"None are good for you. For us."
"For me," I correct him. "I'm supposed to find love my own and be happy-" he cuts me off, and this is when I feel tears begin to spill from the corners of my eyes.
"You won't find it here. Which is why once I marry my beautiful Belle, and inherit what money I do acquire apart from what wealth we do have, I am taking you with us. You wouldn't even have to marry because we'll go where no one will tax us senselessly and you can be our good-looking children's living-in aunt. And help me keep Belle in line. She still needs to amount up to you after today."
"No, no that's not right. Gaston-" he cut me off and began ranting. Don't even bring Belle into this.
"It is! What, you showed no interest in any men? Did you honestly think tonight would be any different? Every man that comes in here is the same as the ones we see in the streets, during the day, sweating outside your window to see you, and ogling you like a piece of meat.."
"Some respect me!"
"And who is that?!" He raises his voice, stepping back from me rather stunned at my outburst.
"Other than the elderly, your three followers!"
He ponders for a moment before outright smirking, "My henchmen? Pfft! They follow every order and command I give them. I keep them in line the most that's why they are so trustworthy."
My ears were ringing with his harsh words and very much surprised he's been keeping many things from me, "Henchmen? That's what you call them?"
He shakes his head, smiling sickeningly sweet, or perhaps it's just the foul mood I'm in now.
"Oh baby soeur, you're so naïve. That's why your big frère is here. I want you to keep your innocence in this cruel world where there are no good men for you."
My eyes widen, as I look away, "That can be taken both ways apparently since you don't want me to marry."
His hand suddenly grabs my wrist and I gasp. His grip isn't tight enough to bruise, but it is firm enough to let me know he is serious.
"There are good men out there, I know it! How dare you assume-"
"I assume nothing. All I want for you is your happiness, you must see! I will let you marry if I approve of the man that is as great as I. As great as your father," he adds in a hushed whisper in my ear making me burst out in tears.
"No one will be father," I choke out as he pulls me to his chest in a now cold feeling embrace. He mistook my meaning of my words greatly. When he did tell me of father in the past and what he was like before he died, it would sound just like Gaston was speaking about himself—and, compared to what I have been thinking of late, my father wasn't a good man.
"Exactly. Which is why I am letting you stay with Belle and I, and our several impending children, until I find someone for you," his voice turns smoky. "Someone with the zest to provide for you and the endurance to keep you real happy. That is if I do find someone for you."
I push him away from me with such force he looked hurt by my movements and angered face. But I am hurt as well! And zest and endurance?! Why such emphasis on those two things?
"Then where is my freedom in that? I have more freedom here than I'd have living with you and Belle," I spit her name out, but finding even when I say it with vile it's still a beautiful word, name. How very strange. But I shove the strange girl out my mind for this moment.
The fleeting meek look he gives me says otherwise after what I just spat out.
"Right! Your followers—henchmen watch my every move?! So really I don't have freedom," I cry out. "You are not my king to tell me what to do and who not to like! Why are you doing this to me?"
His face turned sharply back to mine when I uttered king, "You make it sound like a bad thing."
"It is, do you not trust me? Do you not want me to leave? Because that is what I'm beginning to think."
"You're overreacting," he holds up his hands up in defense before walking past me to grab his crossbow and quiver of arrows.
"That is what you think!" I shout at him angrily. "Gaston don't you dare leave me tonight. We're not through speaking!"
He turns around abruptly, silencing me with a finger to my lips and a stone-cold glare, "Odette, we are through for now. I'm sorry for causing you much distress but you had to know. I'm going hunting now in the woods nearby. I fancy a kill after what Belle said to me. It broke my heart more than what we just spoke about. A good shiny wolf-pack should be around to make me happy. If only women can be so easily pleased."
He thudded down the staircase of all times loud, as usual, but this time left me breathless and not in the good way.
"And don't think you'll meet anyone tonight," he adds, swerving back around on one heel to face me already half-way down the stairs. "My followers will be on look out. And I will not approve of anyone you do meet, beautiful."
My mouth opened to speak back but no words could escape my lips. I fell to my bum at the top of the stairs and sat there, tears long since wiped away but now only stinging my unblinking eyes, and breathing silently through my nose.
Control your breathing Odette. Control yourself. Think happy thoughts-
"Agh!" I slap the wooden banister causing it to rattle. But once I do I feel the sting in my hand, and realize how much of a child I'm being now even though I am hurt in many ways than what my brother knows and sees. Than what anyone knows and sees!
My brother is losing his mind. It must be just the downheartedness Belle is causing him for not accepting his courtship or marriage offer. But it's her right to not accept. Though part of my mind thinks she is crazy for not doing so, but now a large part of my mind—the back turning to the front- and my heart thinks she is brilliant for not accepting.
I sigh in my hands before standing up and going back to my vanity to freshen up my face and check my hair from my brother's hands clumping the back of it.
There's no way he can control every aspect of my life, all the way down to choosing a man for me himself!
I know everyone in this town, every man in this town, through and through. None of them can give you what I can. Freedom. To be yourself, to be my equal. You're a queen.
All I want for you is your happiness, you must see! I will let you marry if I approve of the man that is as great as I. As great as your father..
"I want a great man. A man unlike any other," I stare at my pale face in the mirror and frown at my now dry eyes, but red in the corners and upper and lower lids. I take a cloth and blot the remaining dampness on my cheeks away and even out my pink blush.
"Tomorrow will be a natural look that's for sure," I tell myself as I stand up and make my way towards the staircase. Because I have the feeling I'll be crying once more tomorrow because of Gaston, so I won't waste the makeup on my skin. But I will enjoy myself tonight. I will try to.
Once I had freshened myself up after our argument, I went straight downstairs with only eyes on me and my brother's empty chair by the lit hearth. Loud conversations boomed around the tavern and rowdy laughter just like every night. Even if one listened closely to try overhearing someone's words one couldn't hear them. All anyone needs is their drink in hand, and food in front of them if they're hungry, and enjoy the company of all types of people around them—all getting along and minding their own business.
"My queen," LeFou appears with a grin behind my chair, one of his hands behind it and the other held out in gesture for me to sit as if I am royalty.
I groan at what he called me, and shut my eyes feeling a headache come on, but I sit anyway and thank him with a slight nod.
"You look as beautiful as ever. You'll be sure to find someone tonight, or will they find you.." he winks at me goofy but I only frown, eyes holding no excitement whatsoever.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you can't dance because you have cramps-"
I swat his shoulder with my hand resulting an 'ai!', "No, LeFou! I am to have no enjoyment tonight with what we originally planned. In fact I am to never find a man. My brother plans on whisking me away to live with him and Belle once he marries her."
He gasps, his glasses falling of his nose so he pushes them up and kneels beside me closest to the fire to ask quietly, "That does not sound good."
"Obviously!" I jeer with an eye roll at his daftness to point out the obvious at many things.
"It doesn't sound like you… are well with this. And you all can't leave! I'm sure you heard wrong, you and Gaston are our village's crown heads. Where is your brother? He'll make you feel splendid-"
I interrupt him, "He's the last person I want to see. And no I did not hear wrong."
He quiets down, and even with my eyelids half shut I see him looking down at the floor before looking back up to me, "Well tonight has just begun, you can worry about this tomorrow. Smile Odette! It increases your face value!"
He stands up too quickly making my chair screech back as he took my chin with a humorous laugh and put his fingers on either side of my mouth in attempts to shape them into a smile. I even noticed Tom, Dick, and Stanley sharply turning to our direction when they heard the noise. I avoided their hard gazes of making sure I'm 'safe' and focused on Monsieur pantalons heureux in front of me.
"No I'm bummed out can't you see that? Gaston took all my happiness I had today away and with him hunting. Hunting and Belle is more important than me!" I lash out at him uncontrollably.
LeFou holds up his index finger and wags it like I'm a child, and looks away disappointed, "Gaston does many things, but he does not take away anyone's happiness, especially yours. But I'll tell you this he'll win Belle's heart soon-" my heart drops at this thinking of what my brother has planned for me "-and he'll be thinking better before we know it!"
The Bimbettes gasp at the table near the bar, actually having heard us amidst the loud crowd of people, but they are practically sitting right next to us so that makes sense they would have heard. Unfortunately.
More unfortunate, all three of them dressed in their own colored robe l'anglaises with their cleavage pushed up as high as mine in their corsets come scurrying over to me and LeFou. It truly is surprising they aren't matching, especially in pink as I complimented them before and that my brother has an eye for it. But blue seems to be in his eyes lately too…
"Ladies-" LeFou is ignored by them completely, of which he squeezes his eyes shut awkwardly with belief they were flirting with him. Instead he clutches his hand to his chest, stepping away from us to give us ladies space to talk… gossip… I did shoot him a sympathetic look before I was blocked from everyone's view by bright colored dresses and painted faces.
"Odette! You mustn't be serious!" Laurette dressed in amber with the brightest red blushed cheeks asks first.
"He can't still be wanting Belle! Especially after he came to our boudoir and sweet-talked us enough to where we were blushing everywhere…" envious Paulette dressed in her color green winks at me suggestively to which I choke on my own saliva, but only coughing once and covered it with a giggle, blushing myself. So that was where he went other than hunting, seeking Belle, and the tavern.
"He cannot take no for an answer already!" Impatient Claudette fusses at me- more my brother, actually- her red dress defining her plump red lips pursed in anger and frustration.
"Indeed that's what I've been telling him. You must believe me when I say all men are pig-headed even my dear brother, ladies," I tell them with a sad smile, and vile on my tongue for lying about something that isn't true. Once more, my very good side is beginning to shine through but I keep forcing it back only letting through just one ray of its light. Not all men are pig-headed.
They sigh desperately together.
"But we are still hoping you can shape him up. And when he does send him storming over to our house," Paulette's smile returns making her two sisters laugh loudly almost like a cackle.
"I am trying. I'll keep trying," I nod my head, my eyes blinking back the smallest tears I've ever felt form in my eyes. And they aren't happy tears. They are most certainly… je ne sais quois. My whole heart is hurting but not scratching at my chest to burst out hours previous. I don't know how I feel. Lost? Confused? I feel like an idiot for not knowing how I feel, but I have never felt this way before!
"And we're sorry that you're feeling bummed," Laurette considerately says lastly before they walk off. "Your bum looks good though! We're wearing pink tomorrow."
"You'll catch a man tonight for sure!" Claudette echoed a laughter that I should have had if my brother had not told me this night would not be as planned.
I frown as they turn away, and thinking I finally have some time for myself, LeFou steps back in front of me, and bending over so that his hands are on his knees.
"They're right," he chuckles with a smirk. "Your bum does look good if I may say my lady."
"Oh shut it, LeFou! My brother would knock your lights out if he were here," I berate him.
He shrugs, "Eh, it wouldn't be the first time… undesirably."
I furrow my eyebrows at his strange choice of words, but I dismiss it, "Well, that's how I feel now. Forlorn… lonely… go have a drink and leave me be, I just wish to sit here and have some optimism that my brother returns."
"No, I say you can't! This is your night, whether Gaston is here or not. I will have every person, man or woman come up to you and lift your spirits," he smiles so kindly, ignoring my foul mood entirely, which is something he puts up with a lot from mostly my brother.
"No LeFou, please. I'd rather not-"
"What?"
"Odette! Customer over here wants a good drink from you," the tavern keeper calls me over, waving his hand up.
Nodding to the man, but I look back to LeFou as I pinch in between my brow in beg, "Don't make a big deal out of nothing, this is private. And I don't want to burden everyone with my problems."
"But your spirits-"
"My spirits will be fine! I fancy myself a drink, that'll do it," I mutter under my breath walking over to the bar to see what the tavern keeper needs, which is to make my special beverage for a man who ordered it. I paid no mind to LeFou walking to the middle of the tavern speaking to whoever listens.
"Still so young, yet, so mature… So much pose, yet, not quite sure," LeFou puts a finger to his chin feigning thinking until he catches my eyes glaring daggers at him, I heard his rather raised voice croon the last part. In my irritation, I even accidentally squeeze the orange too tightly making it burst all over the counter, making Tom, Dick, and Stanley step back from the squirting mess.
They look at me questioningly until they follow my penetrating gaze.
LeFou… If you dare.
He ducks behind the young boys David and Leon, the baker amongst them, with a start, "No false moods, yet, forever sweet! Conveys her thoughts somewhat discreet-" He removes the chef's hat and rubs the bald head of the baker making him burst out laughing with the boys, then jogging over to the string quartet off to the side.
"Be right back," I tell the tavern keeper, pacing towards LeFou having to weave around the Bimbette's table.
"Eager for life for what lies ahead! Down her chosen path where strange feet tread," He told the quartet, and his voice level begins to grow. No...
He's gained more than half the people's attention now.
"Serene and serious. Yet, a few frills make up the charms of Madem-oise-lle Odette!
If you'll let, let us sing, to you to lift you up!" LeFou says so quickly, my breath catches when he picks me up unnecessarily, but rather weakly only setting me down on the Bimbette's table with a panting breath escaping him. The raven-haired sisters roll their eyes along with me at his feebleness.
"And remind you why you're-" LeFou stops out of breath and points to a group of seven men who chorus in deep voices with grins:
"Bravura!"
"And still our girl that keeps us all…" And does the same pointing to some women who sing in higher pitches but in harmony.
"En échec!" (In Check)
The quartet began to play a catchy tune louder than the background music they were playing prior. The sweet singing violin with the sharper notes on other ones appealed to my anger, and I was calmed immensely, listening to what LeFou… and friends… had to say about me. He just can't listen to me or keep quiet for the life of him!
"A lilt and a swing and a ditty to sing!" LeFou begins after catching his breath and most people begin to join in.
"We're right for a time, then bright you walks in and the bells chime!
You wonderful dame with game and class just as wealthy as your name!
For one born like you- there are few in this world like you.
For one born like you- there are few in this world like you!"
"How can you deny the love of the people? When they all together pour their hearts out to you!" LeFou coos, falling to his knees in front of me as if I am a goddess.
I begin to answer in my regular level of voice, but noticing everyone's eyes on me I straighten in my place on the table, inhaling deeply to say a notch louder, "I've been so sad and jumbled, I'm ashamed to say- and let it take a toll on me.
But no longer blah- I am humbled by your words! Thank you LeFou for putting me on the spot now they're swarming me like birds!" I hiss at him making the entire tavern laugh.
The Bimbette's giggling dies down before everyone else, and their gentle hands touch my back and rub it comfortingly—but little did I know it was worship and felt them toying with the end of my loose lock of hair at the nape of my neck
Annoyed by their touching and enjoying the melody and attention now, I slide off the table with ease and spin about on my ballet pointes until whatever or whoever is around stops me- and that ended up being stern Chapeau who looked caught off guard and actually smiling.
"You mentioned you don't know where your path will lead?" Chapeau questions with his brisk voice.
I tap his nose humorously, "Is that your educated memory or the mead talking?"
"Both!" He bursts out laughing with the others, clapping me on the back and spinning me off to in front of LeFou.
"Please Odette we pray you include us in your nest once you reach your destination!" LeFou pretends crying, even going so far as taking out his handkerchief and blowing his nose obnoxiously loud.
"Oh don't fret! I'll keep this little tavern below the high hill's crest—wherein all grey-eyed people may set them down and rest. There shall be plates a-plenty, and mugs to melt the chill… of all the grey-eyed people who happen up the hill."
While I walked around the now standing people, sharing smiles and respectful looks with them, the Bimbettes chime like bells in harmony across the way surrounding the now awake bum, "Here sound will sleep the traveler, and dream his journey's end. And she will rouse at midnight the falling fire to tend!"
I jump onto one of the long benches and step up onto the actual table, paying mind to the mugs as I walk backwards, "Aye, 'tis a curious fancy— But all the good I know was taught me out of two grey eyes a long time ago!" I shout with a choir of voices joining in, raising both of my arms up towards my brother's large painting of himself in the war, standing above dying men with his sword drawn meaningfully.
"Oh Odette! Mignonette! The tavern is our place to live," When I reach the end of the table I fall with absolute trust back into Clothilde and the barber who caught me and carry me over to where Tom, Dick, and Stanley are standing in their usual spot in front of the bar near to the fireplace where Gaston and I sit.
"There's no other we'd be with your all we ever need!" The henchmen in their black and brown coats chorused, toasting their drinks up to me.
"Indeed," I reply with a wink to none of them in particular, however, I noticed Stanley's expressionless face blushing.
"You wear your heart on your sleeve and hold us up like a crown. Til we find, why we thrive, in this poor forlorn town, in your drinks we will drown and never will we frown!"
Hauntingly, every woman in the tavern chorused together, "No matter how hard we try to be like you
we'll never amount up to what… you… do…."
I felt a pang of hurt and sudden ineptness at what they said. It was my fault they're all the same in ignorance like me. What have I done?
"You flatter me mes bijou," I masked my guilt as I walked past them after they spoke that, with my learned ego and prideful smile, but they don't pay mind. Well, they did compliment me; maybe my reaction was normal to them.
To get rid of the returning sinking feeling, I twirl across the floor into dance with the beaming older women with their white aprons still on and we do a typical line dance to the rhythm of the song.
"A lilt and a swing and a ditty to sing! We're right for a spell you take us out our shell!
But the fever is nothing to be braved, at least;
So bring me the wine; No low fever in mine!
For a look from you is more than divine and by the end of the night we are fine.
For a look from you is more than divine and by the end of the night we are fine!"
Jumping out of the growing dance I stand in between two tables, raise my arms above my head preparing to do a handstand… in my dress, but doing it fast without it falling to my waist is the trick!
The violins play a darker tune, amounting up to every distinct move in my act.
Before I knew it my palms kissed the floor, and I stood vertically for but a moment, feeling my nightgown of a dress begin to slip not even past my ankle and the slit underneath my over robe exposed my sword, which when I flipped forward onto my feet it slipped out, and then stooping low catching it with my hand.
Applause from all and cat calls from some men is what I received, and I continue smiling once more.
"You're too kind and all so fine being mine tonight!" I sashay down the middle and purposely flip my hair out of blame in LeFou's face, who sputters, since this was all his doing.
"Oh Odette!" LeFou sounds as if he is being stabbed in a Shakespeare play. My perfume must've overwhelmed him.
"Minette! The kitten all the cats prefer!" The Bimbette's belt out once more with big smiles.
"The tavern is our place to sing to Gaston's cherished sister!"
"There's no other I'd be caught kissing!" The baker takes my face in his hands and kisses my cheek with deep chuckles and red round cheeks protruding like his mustache before being snatched out of my line of vision by his wife Marie, smacking him with a baguette.
Cringing I hurry away and make my way back past the fireplace towards the bar where the tavern keeper is singing along whilst waiting for me to return to make the beverage for the waiting man.
"No other we are missing when you walk out the door!" Tom, Dick, and Stanley follow me single file, Stanley leading, with guarding faces and mien. They followed me all around the tavern! Brother…
"You take up arms and fight with us, you help us all and light our world-
You turn down us men and yet you still make us burn for more!
You shaped us all like ever before!"
Stanley and Dick lift me up onto the counter with ease before turning away to face the crowd with their mugs returned to their hands as well as finishing up the song. Tom was pushing the drunks out the way from trying to get to me who don't look like the sweet singing type.
"Til we find, why we thrive, in this poor old town, in your drinks we will drown and never will we frown!"
"Glitter… and grandiose…" LeFou respires as he took the baby's breath out the vase on the bar counter, and began ripping the tiny flowers and tossing them above me and the men on either side of me, all four of us sending looks to LeFou to cut it out.
"Yet, a few frills, make up the charms of Mademoiselle Odette!
Da-da da-da!"
I jump at the finale and the screech of the violin ending abruptly, beginning to laugh merrily with every other individual, including my brother's serious henchmen.
"See you liked it!" LeFou pats my head and jumps off the counter with an 'ow!'
"Oh you're so dead later," I say without moving my mouth, teeth visible in my plastered pretend yet overjoyed smile. Ugh I need to get my emotions in order and find out how I truly feel.
"I'm going to regret this jump by morning, seek me out then," He says pained, pressing a hand to his back waddling over to the fire.
"Thank you, LeFou," I still say to his retreating back going to sit in Gaston's chair. It was a needed confidence booster, and I could see how the people still view me, but in bed tonight I will ponder over their words.
"That's what friends are for," he replies plopping down in the chair.
"And thank you… gentlemen. My brother will be most pleased at how well you have protected me," I end up smiling warmly at them because they have done nothing wrong, but the resentment towards my brother currently and his henchmen's nerve to follow every word he says vexes me.
"Of course, Miss."
"Of course, Odette," Stanley said in unison with them but was shoved in the chest by Tom when he said my name. But I paid no mind to the apparent scolding he was receiving. I must remember to ask my brother later too, they can't even say my name?
"Okay monsieur, where's the drink I was preparing?" I ask the tavern keeper, glancing around before I was helped off the counter by Tom, shaking his head to his fellow friends and speaking to them what men he was dealing with during the singing.
"Here. Hopefully we're not that distracted again," the tavern keeper grabbed the drink from below the counter with the orange I was in the process of squeezing the juice out of and into the drink.
"I hope the same," I say disposing of the orange with a sigh, then taking another secret ingredient to mix with the liquor before serving it to the hooded man wearing a ragged grey cloak. He looks as if he has seen better days… and the cloak.
"Here you go sir," I slide the drink to the man… woman I soon see when she folds her hood back. The dark circle under her eyes and severely miserable eyes I recognize before I see the dirt on her face, and see her hair wrapped up in an off-white headwrap.
"Oh, Miss Agathe, my apologies. I'm sorry. Your hood was up before," I apologize repeatedly feeling bad for calling her sir, and even worse when her poor appearance fills my mind and I instantly realize my problems are nothing compared to hers. She is a beggar in the back streets I've been told as I've seen her only here, and she's a lonely spinster who didn't wish to be married off so young from what my brother expressed to me in low tones.
"It's fine," her light feminine forgiving voice startling me, expecting a hoarse throat or dry response.
"Well, I hope you enjoy it. You're the first customer tonight to ask for one," I nod and smile to her nervously, unsure of what else to say feeling my tongue grow loose after insulting her. I quickly hush and force further words in the back of my throat.
"I'm sure I won't be the last," she looks away to reach for her coin purse and taking out not coins but a piece of jewelry. The moment I saw her reach for it I was ready to tell her no, no one pays me, especially her.
"Miss-"
"This is all I have my dear. Will this cover it?" She asks me with wide, honest eyes.
I glance down at her hand barely eyeing the dirty jewel attached to its old chain, "Miss Agathe it is fine, I assure you-"
"-I insist Odette," she pleads. "I feel awful not."
"No," I shake my head with an understanding smile. "You really don't. I charge no one for one of my drinks. But I thank you, all is well."
"No, not all is well. Take it as a tip then, I made it myself," she extend her hand out further to me, causing her bare, muddy arm to be exposed from underneath her cloak. Oh my goodness, my heart aches.
"It's a fine piece of jewelry," I tell her, finally looking down at the blue stone—the color of the week it seems. It doesn't look like she made it, that she bought it from a fine jewelry store… an abandoned jewelry store… "It is beautiful—but it's yours. You should wear it, it would look lovely on you."
She gives me the smallest of smiles but it was the kindest one I've ever seen in this town, "Not as lovely as it'd look on you. You're young, and much more beautiful than I and have the background to own such a necklace. Take my tip, please dear."
After some seconds, frowning I nod my head, "If you insist. Thank you Miss Agathe, enjoy the rest of the night."
She places it in my hand before standing up from her stool, drink in hand to leave, "You're welcome, thank you."
When she left, disappearing in the crowd to return to her table or leave the tavern, I look down at the dirty necklace I'll have to polish up later, but it's beauty indeed shines through. She definitely didn't make this!
"What was all that about?" the tavern keeper raises an eyebrow at me and eyeing what he saw her give me.
"She insisted I'd take a tip from her. This is one of the finest tips I've ever received," I find myself smiling down at it and looking back up at the tavern keeper who huffs.
"I hardly ever get tipped, especially in jewels."
"Well do you make my drink? That'll do it," I chuckle with him who ceases quickly, shaking his head and returning to people's orders and yelling at the cook in the back.
"I don't have your special magic hands!"
The rest of the night seemed to quickly fall away after that, and only one man ordered my drink—this time a man! But I ended up sitting with the Bimbette sisters and listened to them gossip whilst I thought to myself the rest of the time and jumped into conversation where I saw the chance. My brother's henchmen eyes followed me everywhere I went, but I found if I was sitting in one place for a time, they'd spare glances every now and then to make sure I'm well and haven't moved.
It went by so quick it was almost as if the next day wanted to exist already so that I could speak to my brother and make things right again, and shape him up.
That's all I hope will happen as that's all I can do.
