I'm back and I know what you're thinking- where the hell have I been? Well i got a good feeling you don't want to hear my excuses so i'll just skip that part.
Anyways, now you know about Azalea's powers (That sounds incredibly cliche')! In this chapter, we meet more characters including Jasper! (Horray or boo, you'll find out soon)
Now on with the story! Please review- i really want to know what you guys think! Also, thanks everybody who has read/reviewed so far. I'm really sorry for the delay!
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Azalea wriggled her toes and tightened the soft blanket around her. The last twenty-four hours had been a blur and now she was a guest at the royal palace. She was surprised she had made it this far without being found out. As luxurious as it sounded, she didn't want to be here. She could barely survive in normal society and now she was being forced to socialise with pompous nobles.
She sighed heavily and leaned against the many pillows surrounding her. Her violet eyes scanned the room, taking in every little detail. The room was humungous- bigger than her whole house. The walls were a creamy colour trimmed with dark red. The carpets were also creamy- thicker than grass on a spring morning. A large antique wardrobe stood on one side of the room and a beautiful black vanity table was placed on the opposite side. Two large doors to her left lead onto the balcony.
There were many other beautiful items around her but it was the bed she lay on now that intrigued her the most. The bed had enough room to fit a dozen people and was covered in numerous silk sheets and blankets. A mountain of pillows stuffed with the finest feathers lay at the head. A lovely pattern of flowers was engraved elegantly on the wooden bed frame. It was one of the finest things Azalea had ever seen. If her room was this fantastic, she couldn't even imagine the royal family's rooms.
Despite all the lavishes around her, Azalea remained convinced that there was no place as beautiful as the forest.
A rapid knock on the door made Azalea jump suddenly. A sharp pain shot up her right leg. She had forgotten her injuries. The doctor had examined her earlier; a broken ankle, bruised ribs and a lot of cuts and scratches.
"Come in!" Azalea called. An older woman walked in. Her long brown hair was tied neatly into a bun and her face seemed cheerful and bright. She was a rather plump lady and relatively short. In her arms, she carried a basket.
Azalea instantly recognized her as the maid she had met when she first arrived.
"Good morning!" The woman cried cheerfully. "Now young miss, shouldn't you be up and getting ready for breakfast?"
"Breakfast?" Azalea asked dumbly.
The woman named Marie raised an eyebrow. "Well, yes. You will be dining with everybody else won't you?"
Azalea's confused expression turned to utter horror. "But--I--Dine with everybody? As in the nobles?"
"Well who else? The stable animals?" Marie snorted and walked into the bathroom. Azalea groaned. That idea wasn't half bad. Marie reappeared. She was laughing. "I heard you're family was unsocial but you sound like you've never been to any social event. Its just breakfast after all!"
You're right. Azalea thought. But I suppose it is just breakfast.
She pulled her blankets off and instantly regretted it. All she was wearing was a thin nightdress she had been provided with. It reached just past her knees and was half sleeved.
"My, oh my!" Exclaimed Marie. "You look like you've been attacked by a pack of wolves!"
Azalea rolled her eyes. One actually.
After a great effort, Marie had helped Azalea reach the vanity table. As soon as she peeked into the mirror, Azalea's mouth dropped. She looked horrible! Her long hair was messy and stuck out in every direction. Worst of all, she had bags under her eyes.
Reading her facial expression, Marie chuckled. "Have no fear my dear, nothing a hair brush, water and a lil' rouge can't fix. Now sit down while I bring some water."
Azalea sat down on the stool in front of the mirror and waited patiently for Marie to return. After a moment Marie bustled back in carrying a white bowl with hot water and a small white towel.
She placed the bowl down and dipped the towel in it. She began cleaning Azalea's face. "Hold still child!" Azalea was getting impatient but stoped fidgeting non the less.
After her face had been "cleaned" (In Azalea's opinion, it looked worse because now it was red from all the scrubbing) and her hair had been brushed, Marie set out to find something for her to wear.
Marie opened the large wardrobe. In front of her stood various dresses of all colours. They were of all styles- puffy, elegant, fancy, and simple. Marie began sorting through them.
"Aha!" She cried as she pulled out a simple light plum dress with black lace. It was almost full sleave and looked beautiful. A thorn pattern was embroidered on in a distinctive pattern.
Marie forced Azalea to stand (despite the pain) and began dressing her. She hummed to herself as she tied the last lace and pushed Azalea in front of the mirror. She almost gasped. She had never worn anything so wonderful.
"Perfect!" Marie exclaimed as she forced Azalea to sit again. She began styling her hair. Azalea watched carefully as her long loose hair was pulled up into a bun and delicate pins were clipped in. At last, Marie applied some blush to Azalea's cheeks and sighed contently.
"Perfect!" She said once again. Azalea smiled as she pulled back loose strands. It wasn't like those enchanting stories she had read. In her eyes, she still looked the same if not for the fact she was properly cleaned.
"Oh, you're going to be late!" Marie suddenly cried. She briskly wiped her hands and began ushering Azalea out. Between pushing her out, Marie instructed Azalea how to act.
"If you want to leave a good impression dear, don't speak unless spoken to! No one likes an out spoken young lass!"
Noticing Azalea's bewildered expression, Marie added, "Don't let that get you down sweet! You'll enjoy yourself- I'm sure!"
With one last push, Azalea was shoved out of the room and the door slammed behind her. With a frown on her face, Azalea slowly began making her away. A few steps later, she clenched her fists in frustration and as her hands began to spark, she realised that she didn't even know where the dining room was! Looking around the endless halfway, Azalea groaned.
"Having a bad morning?" Some one chuckled behind her. Azalea twirled around, eyes wide in surprise. She ignored the pain on her ankle and luckily her glowing fists had returned to normal.
In front of her stood a tall, masculine man. He seemed a few years older than her. Black bangs framed his sharp face and two golden eyes twinkled with open humour. He seemed rather casual with his dark pants and simple white full sleaved tunic. Azalea decided that he was rather handsome.
"Jasper Fahlen." He spoke smoothly as he kissed her lightly on her porcelain hand.
"Erh…Azalea...err St-Strife!" She replied not so smoothly. Feeling incredibly embarrassed, she ducked her eyes. She knew very well that her cheeks had turned bright red from his touch.
"I don't believe we've ever met before for I surely would remember a face like yours." He said with a crooked grin. Azalea liked his grin.
"I don't suppose you know where the dining area is?" She asked.
"I was just heading there!" He replied cheerfully. "This way, my lady."
Azalea smiled shyly and followed. She tried desperately to hide her limp and only flinched when Jasper wasn't looking.
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Although Azalea looked incredibly calm while she stood outside the enormous doors leading to the dining room, she was screaming inside. I can do this. She repeated in her head. Who am I kidding? I can't do this!
Suddenly the wooden doors were opened and with the company of the ever so charming Lord Jasper, she stepped inside. The dining room was incredible. A large table sat neatly in the middle, surrounded by matching chairs. The marble floor glowed brightly from the large glass chandelier high on the ceiling.
Around the table sat over a dozen different nobles and although she couldn't see him, she knew Theodore was there.
Before she knew it, Azalea was sitting by the table with mounts of food before her. Azalea's nose tingled as she inhaled the sweet aroma. She hadn't seen half the delicacies in her life before but was more than willing to try some. As her eyes wandered around the table, they fell upon something but this something wasn't food but a rather handsome young man.
The familiar young man raked his hand through his messy blonde hair. His golden eyes - which were (surprisingly) narrowed towards Jasper, brightened up as he glanced at Azalea. Something was amiss though because his smile didn't reach his eyes. Azalea returned the smile and her eyes drifted to the other people around her. Everyone at some point was giving her curious looks. Azalea almost coughed up her juice when she noticed Penelope- the arrogant git Theodore called cousin. Penelope looked up with raised eyebrows. Her forehead scrunched up, as she looked Azalea up and down. A young girl tapped her on the shoulder and she resumed her conversation- completely forgetting Azalea.
Azalea sighed (for the millionth time), rolled her eyes and raised her glass to her lips. Now that she was here (and no one had recognised her who she truly was), she might as well enjoy herself.
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Stephan growled as he paced the small clearing. He stopped abruptly and studied the small cottage before him. Despite all the remedies and rare plants, it was missing what he was really looking for- Azalea.
"Lets obliterate it." Came a voice behind him. Stephan turned swiftly and glared at Dominic.
"We're trying to be as subtle as we can," As an afterthought he added, "Idiot."
Dominic rolled his eyes and leaned against a nearby tree. His usual surly expression changed to a grin. "After all that planning and not to mention your adorable outfit (Shut up- you idiot!), they're not even here!"
Stephan stood still and glowered at his clothes. They had decided to dress up as delivery boys and deliver a jinxed box to Azalea. Being the shorter of the two, it had been decided that Stephan would dress as the delivery boy whilst Dominic just hung around.
Stephan looked quite humorous in his too small pants and small shirt. With a proper smile, he could actually pull it off but right now he was angry and therefore looked like a moody little boy.
"Okay, Plan B!" He announced.
"Do we have…a plan B?" questioned Dominic.
"ARGH! Back to the castle then, you git!"
Dominic rolled his eyes and off they trudged back to their castle.
