Hi~ A chunky chapter here to make up for the bite size one I gave you last time!

Enjoy!


The day had begun as most others, she woke alone, bathed and dressed, however unlike most other mornings after she had finished dressing, bandana and eye patch in place, Lavi simply sat down. Body aching and the dull throbbing in her head marking the beginnings of a head ache; Lavi could not see a point to continuing her charade as a servant today.

Instead rising slowly so as not aggravate her injury further Lavi went back into her room, there she stripped herself , unbound her hair letting it fall freely and changed into a light mid length shift. Back in the front room Lavi threw open the windows allowing a brisk wind to circulate, bringing with it a crisp autumn freshness that felt good upon her skin. Who would miss one stable boy for a day? Somewhat guiltily she hoped that Allen would be able to make excuses for her.

As for her role as Lovely, the inhabitants of the Manor had become accustomed to her reclusive manner. So she could count on being left to her devices for a while at least. Only once since the ball had she been required to attend a formal dinner, an uncomfortable affair with some Judge or other and his Lady wife and their bore of a son.

The wife fussed over her hair, offering exaggerated offers of condolence about the fictional tragedy that had befallen her and the goodness of the Kamelot's to take her in, although she mostly lamented the absence of Tyki from the dinner. The son, a weedy man child, had simply leered at her from across the table until her own frozen glare cowed him into looking away. Lavi had not minded the Judge so much, he did not speak to her until the very end, when he bashfully apologised to her in a low voice, leading her to guess his part in legitimising her stay in the Manor.

Lavi passed the day sleeping, reading and sleeping again. She abstained from examining her face, relying on it to heal on its own, that decision only lasted until Martha the small maid came in with lunch at mid-day. She was at first startled to find Lavi present and attempted to greet her cheerily.

"Good afternoon Miss Lovely." She said as she placed the tray down on the table. Lavi looked up from her book and smiled, or rather grimaced, the muscle in her cheeks screaming at her to stop. The little girl paled, clapped her hands over her mouth and speedily left the room.

"I'm not that ugly, am I?" Lavi mused to herself, painfully chewing her food. Either that or the poor thing was embarrassed by Lavi's nakedness, Lavi wondered sardonically looking over her bare arms and legs.

Standing before the mirror, the reflection showed her a puffy mask with scarlet tendrils snaking outwards enflaming the area around her eye, cheeks and the corner of her mouth. Her left eye, which had been troubling her all day was bloodshot and surrounded by swollen redness. Ugly patches of colour had begun to appear, Lavi guessed by the end of the day the entire mass would be that horrible shade of purple. Lightly she drew her fingers across the surface, soft and tender, painful to the touch. Lavi shrugged resignedly, and resumed her cycle of sleeping and reading.

Late into the evening, as the brothers sat talking in another distant part of the Manor, Lavi lay sprawled over the cushions of the lounger gently falling in and out of a light doze, only to be roughly roused by the rapid tapping on the door that resounded hideously against the walls of her skull. Bleary eyed she glanced at the clock, quarter past ten it read. Expecting no other visitors at this time Lavi assumed that it could only be Sheril at the door. Gingerly she rose to answer, not even bothering to retrieve a robe from her room.

Lavi groaned inwardly immediately regretted her lack of covering, of all people to see her sporting a ripe bruise and in such a dishevelled appearance and hair a mess, it had to be Livia. Everything about the way the slim figure stood was overjoyed to see a lady of house looking even less than common, from the way she held the food tray to the twisted smirk as she took in Lavi's rough state of undress.

Lavi rolled her eyes in spite of the sting it caused as she imagined the whispered conversation between the maids as Martha reported what she had seen earlier. She imagined them huddled in a corner of the kitchen, whispering together like thieves. Livia must have dying for an opportunity to come see for her how far Lovely had fallen.

"Emmie came by earlier but there was no answer," Livia told her, eyes travelling over the red and black marks. She did nothing to mask the glee in her voice. "But, I didn't want to keep m'lady from her tea."

Once a week, a specially brewed tea was sent to her room, to keep away certain side effects of his habits. Lavi coolly ignored the sarcastic comments and reached out for the pot of tea, poured one cup and drank down the bitter solution in one go. She could not be bothered to engage in a battle of wits with this one today.

"We don't want any little gypsy bastards running around either. How troublesome that would be." Livia giggled at her, smiling broadly as if this was a normal conversation. Livia smirked again, satisfied as Lavi's lips tightened into a thin line.

Lavi rolled her eyes and tucked her loose red locks behind her ears, a smirk tugging the corners of her mouth. "Livia darling, you know I do just love the way you look out for me. Where would I be without you?" The dark haired girl's smile dropped, preparing a retort in her mind. Lavi shrugged and smiled at the other girl and continued in a cheery tone, "We're not so different are we? Trouble is I get this lovely big room, beautiful dresses and you, well you get to scrub out the kitchen. Funny don't you think?"

"So you're proud of being a higher class of whore?" Livia spat back.

"I'm proud enough knowing I'm a completely different class from you." Lavi's face darkened, leaning in close to Livia to make herself absolutely clear. "It's not me the one who has worked her way through half the household."

And with that, Lavi thrust the little cup back onto the tray with clattering force and slammed the door shut on the stunned maid. She poured a glass of water for herself to wash out the lingering taste of the herbal tea and Livia. As much as she disliked the girl, Lavi had to agree with Livia, there was no need to bring anymore Kamelots into the world.

Sighing loudly Lavi slumped into a chair wondering who she should be tomorrow; she could not go around as Lovely, and she did not look forward to the questions that Allen would have for her. Above all the red head simply wanted to forget about the argument she had with Jiji. Lavi looked around the empty room, not so small to keep her feeling confined and not so large as to feel lonely, the book shelf was stocked enough to keep her occupied at least.

Lavi took another sip of water sighing, "How nice would it be just to be left alone?"


The days that followed began the same as the first; Lavi woke, washed, dressed, opened the windows and took up what was fast becoming her favourite seat on the lounger. Sometimes, like today she chose to sit on the soft window seat, napping as her head rest against the cool glass or looking out on the grounds. Lavi could not see the stables from her window and she wondered regretfully from time to time how Allen was managing. But every morning she could not bear to stay in her stable boy attire and venture down to resume her charade.

The days were broken down into the intervals between the maids coming in and out bringing meals that remained mostly uneaten when collected once more. With no visitors, it was almost as if she was alone in the world, for who was there who would come to see her?

On the third day of her sequestration the bruise had swollen further and while still painful Lavi was able to tune it out as background noise. Bored, Lavi sat upside down on one of the sofas, hair trailing downwards and spilling out over the floor. The sensation of warm blood rushing to head chased away unwanted thoughts, opening rooms and antechambers in her mind, making it possible to daydream even.

Lavi imagined she was back in Ripple's Meet, where she and Jiji had lived for as long as she remembered by the river Ripple. Sunlight flooded through the windows of the large yet modest library illuminating dust motes in the air as she silently walked from shelf to shelf tapping the spines of familiar tomes and volumes. Jiji was grumbling about something muttering under his breath, a sure sign of his good health as he scribbled down some important note. The pulpy aroma of fresh paper and newly ground ink hung in the air; she breathed the scent deeply clinging to the feelings of home.

The scene changed with fluid grace, now she detected a warm earthy smell, the soft steady breathing of a number of large animals permeating the air. A stable? In her mind's creation she tucked a loose tress of hair behind her ears and then slowly began to brush down a sleek black stallion. Posture relaxed content. The hair on the back of her imaginary neck stood up, tingling with the sensation of being watched. Arms snaked around her waist, the sleeves rolled up to expose strong forearms that tightened drawing her body closer, into the heat of the figure standing behind her. Breath ghosted along her nape and fingers caressing her sides as they ascended, her head tilted back further, further –

Lavi bolted upright, eyes snapping open. The sudden movement causing a strange sense of vertigo, Making Lavi feel temporarily light headed or maybe it was an after effect of her unconscious fantasy. Lavi shocked herself with the unexpected turn her innocent musings had taken.

Feeling suddenly too warm, Lavi rose to throw upon the window, bringing in a much needed crisp cooling breeze. Lavi sat down on the cushioned seat of the window sill, looking out unseeing; the scene ran through her mind once more bringing a fresh blush to her cheeks. It baffled her, prior coming to the Manor Lavi never had anyone she wanted to do those things with, and she would be damned before she would consider those things with that person.

Lavi buried her head in her hands, "Stupid Sheril what have you done to my body?"

A sharp rap on the door cut into Lavi's lament of lost innocence. Lavi stared at the door, silently willing the person to go away. She had no such luck as the delicate knock called out once more. Lavi took a moment to compose herself, at least she was fully dressed for this visitor.

With a sigh Lavi pulled the door open to find Tricia Kamelot smiling warmly at her and mousy little Martha standing awkwardly at the back. Feeling flustered Lavi quickly opened the door wider and gestured for the two to enter. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting my lady."

"Not at all Lovely," she said pleasantly. "I do apologise for calling on you so suddenly. But you have had us all quite worried dear."

Tricia seeing the confusion on Lavi's face lightly touched her marred cheek. Taking Lavi by the hand she led her to a sofa. Lavi watched as the Lady Kamelot took easy control of the scene, something that came naturally with her birth and upbringing. She instructed Martha to place the content of the tray on the table, revealing fresh bandages and a small glass jar of a creamy white ointment.

"Thank you dear. You may leave now." Martha set down the items and immediately left, turning back once to make a hurried bow.

"I wonder why you did not go straight to Miranda when this happened Lovely?" She raised a thin blonde eye brow. "You probably would not have had as much swelling and a lot less pain I'm sure."

Tricia opened the little pot and wafted the scent towards her, a bitter earthy fragrance.

"Arnica, elm bark-" Tricia stated, holding out the pot to Lavi.

"And ginger?" Lavi finished, crinkling her nose. "Thank you my lady, but you need not have troubled yourself. This face will heal in time"

"Bookman taught you well I see. This cream will speed up the process so we will have you back to beautiful in no time at all." Tricia smile widened in approval, Lavi returned the smile swelling with pride. "Your mother would be proud of you too Lavi."

"You knew my mother?" Lavi asked incredulous and then instantly deflated. "I doubt she would have been all that proud of me…"

Tricia gave Lavi a reproving look but made no comment, instead she delicately lifted scooped out some of the creamy ointment from the jar with her fingertip, gently spreading the ointment over the bruised area of Lavi's face, the cream, cool relief against her skin. Tricia took Lavi's face into her two hands, Lavi tried to wriggle away from the touch but Tricia held her firm, turning her head gently so she could examine the injury closely.

Lavi was close enough to count the fine lines at the corners of Tricia's eyes. Unlike the last time at breakfast Lavi noted that the woman looked much healthier. "Did you know her well?"

"Well enough." An expression that may have been sadness or regret passed over the woman face as she regarded the young red head, considering her question, her lips pursed into a thin line. Tricia gave Lavi's hands an encouraging squeeze.

She added nothing further about Lavi's mother and Lavi decided not to press the matter. Tricia worked quickly and efficiently as she fixed the fresh wadding securely in place. Scolding her as a mother might have scolded a child for not seeking immediate health.

"I was going to…" Lavi began weakly. Tyki had taken her to find the nurse but all plans were thrown out when they ran into Cross Marion. Hands twisted in her lap, remembering the way Jiji had spoken to her after that, the way her looked at her so disgustedly. Mercifully Tricia cut into her thoughts.

"Yes, I know. Tyki said as much." Tricia pulled Lavi's chin up checking that the bandages were securely tightened. Lavi looked imploringly into the older woman's eyes, "You won't tell Sheril that I was with him will you?"

"What do you think of me Lavi that makes you wonder that I would do such a thing?" She said exasperated.

Lavi hung her head, peeing up at her sheepishly; the older woman certainly carried herself with more vitality and energy than Lavi had last seen before, skin less drawn, plumper and with a pretty splash of colour to her cheeks. The lines around her eyes and the lightest of bags beneath could easily be taken for signs of age not illness. It was curious why this woman who should otherwise despise her was tending to her so gently, so motherly. She knew that Tricia was not a harsh woman, even still where was the limit to her patience?

"Why don't you hate me?" The words escaping before she could stop herself.

Tricia's lips thinned as she pondered a response, her features drawn into an unreadable expression disappearing again, swift as a shadow. Carefully she wiped the greasy ointment from her fingertip with a handkerchief, lacy and pristine. Lavi regretted the question as it now awkwardly hung between the women.

"I probably would have, if I had thought you walked in her on your own steam like so many other women before you." Tricia said at length. "If I had thought you came here to carve a piece of fortune and power I would have hated you very much. However I know that not to be true."

"But I did," Lavi clenched her fist. "I knew what would happen if I followed Sheril here, but I still did it. I came here and Jiji isn't even getting any better!"

Tricia took pity on the girl who looked as if she had all but crumbled under the weight of her circumstances. She drew Lavi into an embrace, surrounding her in a comfort Lavi could not remember having in her life. Soothingly Tricia stroked Lavi's hair and spoke to her in a firm tone.

"Your mother would have been so proud of you. You have been nothing short of admirable since you arrived here. Can you stay strong for a little longer?" Tricia lifter Lavi to eye level, "I promise you Lavi, I will find a way for you to walk out of her. I promise."

A fire burned behind Tricia's eyes, as if they were made of hard blue steel. Lavi found herself believing those words and nodded the smallest of nods. The Lady Kamelot beamed at Lavi, giving her one last embrace and stood brushing at her skirts to straighten them out.

"Right then I will leave the ointment with you and the fresh bandage. The ointment must be applied every day until you are completely healed." She said, "There is only enough for the next three days, so you please come out of hiding and ask Miranda for some more."


Five days passed and Lavi was yet to come out of her 'hiding' as Lady Kamelot had so delicately put it. She used the ointment sparingly, prolonging the moment she would have to go back out and re-join Manor-life, but the time had come when her finger scraped the bottom of the jar. The pain had all but disappeared and her body made a quick job of recovery with the aid of the cream. All that remained was a green fading to yellow blemish hinting at the fast healing damage.

"Wow! That medicine is amazing!" Jonny said excitedly, "Another day and it will be all gone."

"Yeah, I suppose so." Lavi looked thoughtfully into the mirror. Jonny was the first visitor she had since Tricia. It irked her slightly that not even Sheril had come to see her as if she was a plaything to be discarded at his leisure. It irked her even more that somewhere in the recesses of her subconscious she wanted Sheril to come see her, if only to chase away the silly fantasy that played unbidden in her mind.

Lavi was happy to see her friend who had brought her news of the rest of the Manor. Jonny told her that Skinn Bolic had been flogged in the courtyard for the mistreatment of staff, the rumour mill was hard at work spreading news that Skinn had brutalised a stable boy in a drunken rage. Said stable boy had mysteriously vanished, either to recover from the severe damage or perhaps never to return at all. The two girls laughed loudly together over the ridiculous theories, although Lavi made a mental note to watch for increased interest in Lavi the stable boy from now on.

The ever helpful seamstress had also brought along a gift for Lavi, a short wig made of fine red fibres that matched her hair exactly in colour. Jonny helped Lavi to plait her long tresses and wound the ropes close about her head, topping it off with the wig. The false hair was on the long side of a boys' cut, the tips falling over her ears and tucking in under her jaw line. The fringe was longer and more ragged than her natural hair and covered her right eye almost completely.

"The eye patch would be able to cover your eye properly and also help secure it in place." Jonny said. "So… Do you like it?"

"I love it!" Lavi grinned at Jonny. The wig completed her disguise as a boy. "Thank you! Where did you find this?"

"I made it." Jonny blushed at Lavi's wide-eyed incredulity. "It wasn't too difficult, I had to visit some barbers to find the right colour. There aren't too many red heads in town and even fewer with hair as bright as yours."

Lavi was amazed at the talent and ingenuity of the girl. However she was not happy with all the news Jonny had bought with her. The Kamelots were going to host another ball in a sennight's time, this meant she would have to attend, and that meant that she would need a new dress.

Behind her, Jonny had set up a dressing screen and had laid out all the content of her sewing basket, an assortment of pins, needles, ribbons and tape. Currently she was adding some last stitches onto a half-finished gown made of blue silk with a lacy bodice. The sleeves and collar were yet to be added. Jonny looked up from her work and held out the dress for Lavi.

"Put this on and let me know how it feels." Lavi removed the wig placing it on top of a cabinet and took the dress, slipping behind the screen.

Lavi turned the dress in her hands, the silk flowing like water shimmering a hundred different shades of sapphire as it caught the sun. The dress was light despite the layers of cotton Jonny had lined the skirt with to create volume; the bodice was a creamy off white crossed with twists lace and ribbon. "It's very pretty Jonny." Lavi complimented, the other dresses she had were always simple, less extravagant.

"Thank you," Lavi could hear the seamstress beam from the other side of the screen. "That was my last roll of the blue silk. Hopefully we'll have some more when the Ark returns. More colours would be absolutely fabulous too. The dresses I could make!"

Stripping down into her shift Lavi pulled the dress on, the unfinished neckline hung a little low exposing cleavage. Lavi disregarded it for now assuming that it would not be such a problem once the collar is added. She stepped out again, the skirt rustling softly with her movements.

"It's alright, but it does feel a little loose around the torso." She pulled at the excess fabric about her waist.

"Let me have a look." Jonny pulled at the knotted ribbon, she had made it so the ribbon was threaded along the material, and one pull tightened the dress closer around Lavi's mid-section. Jonny unlaced, pulled and re-knotted until she heard Lavi gasp out loud.

"Too much! Too much!" Lavi wheezed, and Jonny loosened the knots hurriedly. "Any tighter and I would've popped out of this thing."

"Sorry, I'll adjust it but," Jonny laughed nervously. "I was told to make it a little tight around the bust, Lord Kamelot thinks…"

"Lord Kamelot thinks what?" Self-conscious anger and embarrassment exploded inside her as she anticipated the end of that sentence.

"He thinks you're a bit on the small side." Jonny finished is a small voice.

"That bastard!" She fumed. "He thinks I'm small. Well I'll have you know I'm not the only one who is 'a bit on the small side'."

Lavi punched her fist into her other palm, how dare Sheril decide what kind of dresses she should wear. She opened her mouth to say as much but was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Just send whoever it is away." She growled and retreated behind the dress screen.

Lavi undid the plaits in her hair as she waited for Jonny to turn away her latest guest. She heard Jonny talking to a deep voiced individual, though she did not strain herself to discern the muted conversation. The full length mirror showed her freed hair tumbling down in loose curls to frame her face and torso. Her small chest, she thought sarcastically. Lavi pulled the threadbare décolletage up to cover up the offensive cleavage.

The sound of the door shutting with a click reached her ears, still fussing with the dress Lavi walked around. "Who was it Jonny?" she asked.

"I hope you don't mind Jonny away for a little while." Lavi looked up shocked; the baritone that responded to her certainly did not belong to Jonny. She clutched at her chest to cover up her nudity.

"What are you doing in here?" Lavi cried out. "You can't just barge in here. I'm- I'm not decent."

"I wouldn't say that," An unlit cigarette hung loosely from the sly, wolf-like grin Tyki Mikk flashed her as his eyes raked up and down her body. "You look decent enough to me."

Lavi skin prickled under his gaze, the rising heat informing her of the blush suffusing her over exposed bare neck and shoulders. Tyki took a seat on the lounger, completely unconcerned about Lavi's clothing predicament.

"If you would like please feel free to change, don't mind me." Tyki said, the perfect model of gentlemanly patience.

The ease with which Tyki inserted himself into her room annoyed Lavi, very quickly this frustration overtook her embarrassment. Lavi was ready to throw the man out herself.

"Lord Mikk-"

"Tyki, please." He interrupted.

"Lord Mikk I do not think you have the right to send away my seamstress, most especially not when I'm in the middle of a fitting."

"And now you're at the end of a fitting." Tyki said with infuriating simplicity. "Do you need help taking the dress off?"

Lavi knew he was intentionally baiting her, but the knowledge did not stop her blood from boiling. "Please get out."

"No."

"Why not?" She said through gritted teeth. Jonny was going to pay dearly for this later.

Tyki shifted into a more comfortable position to better look upon Lavi. "You make a man worry Lovely. First you promise dinner and then disappear for days on end. It's hurtful."

Lavi did not believe that this man would have come here just for that. She scoffed at him, "I haven't been anywhere, you could have found me any time if you were so 'worried'."

"How was I to know you were hiding up here," he said innocently. "Quite the difficult one to track down you are."

"You must not have tried very hard. Wait hiding?" Lavi raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Did Tricia send you?"

"Busted." Tyki grinned at her again, raising his hands palms out in mock defeat. Lavi put her face in her palms Tricia must have known that Lavi would not leave the room so quickly. "What are you so scared of to make you hide like this?"

The soft tone of his voice surprised her. What was she hiding from? An image of Jiji sitting alone staring out of a window sped through her mind. It had been a week now since she had seen him. Did he wonder where she was or did he just assume she was knee deep in disgrace.

"I'm not hiding." Lavi said. Realising she had spoken with more force than she had intended to from Tyki's expression. He certainly did not look like he believed her.

"Ok." Tyki caught her eye and maintained the contact. "You're not hiding. I accept that, but when I leave this room you are coming with me Lovely,"

"Where will we go?" Lavi asked, resigned to her fate.

"I don't know yet." A light gleamed behind his eyes and laughed. "I didn't think you would be this easy to convince."

Lavi rolled her eyes and muttered that she was going to go get changed.

"What is this?" Lavi glanced over her shoulder to see Tyki reaching out to pick up the wig. Her heart nearly stopped. If he realised what that was it would raise too many questions that she did not want to answer.

Lavi dashed back, grabbing the wig out from under his fingertips. Immediately she knew that was the wrong thing to do as now he would be even more interested in the article. Like a flash he caught her arm and tried to pull her towards him. Lavi deftly twisted out from his grip and darted to the furthest side of the room away from him. Which was not actually very far. Her back pressed tightly against a low cabinet.

"It's nothing. Honestly." Her voice girlishly high.

Tyki followed her across the room, Lavi stood rooted to the spot. Lavi did not like the way he was watching her, like a predator cornering a prey. "Now I really want to know what that thing is."

Lavi tried to tuck the wig in the space between the bookshelf and the wall to her left, she had almost succeeded when Tyki stood before her. He reached around behind and grabbed hold of her wrist. Thinking on her feet Lavi pulled Tyki down by the shoulder and crashed her lips against his.

The shock of the move made Tyki freeze; with his grip loosened Lavi took the advantage to tip the rest of the wig behind the shelf. Lavi had little time to celebrate. Recovered from the shock Tyki pressed her body flush against his and full heartedly continued the kiss that she had started.

Locked in his embrace Lavi was unable to resist, chest to chest with hard muscle and that sensual mouth leading her through new sensations. Her head was spinning, completely filled with Tyki, the way he felt on her mouth, the smell of him, his hands caressing her back and shoulders. Every part of her on fire. It made her dizzy with desire, drunken from the taste of Tyki. Suddenly Lavi knew she wanted to touch him, explore him as thoroughly as he was exploring her.

As if a dam had been broken inside, a wave of longing rocked Lavi to her very core demanded actions of her that she could not possibly refuse. Too lost in the moment Lavi wrapped her arms around Tyki's neck, her kisses hungrier now. Lavi trailed her fingers into his hair, vaguely noting through a hazy smokes screen that it was shorter, that should have amused but she couldn't remember why at this moment. Tyki smirked into the kiss, sensing her fervour and nipped teasingly at her lips causing Lavi to pull at his hair in frustration.

The pair only broke apart when a heavy pound rocked the door in its frame. Lavi at last found the strength to push Tyki back, chest heaving. Tyki leaned into the crook of her neck to catch his breath, the hot air burning her lighting up her senses once more. Through his shirt Lavi could felt his erratic heart beat thumping in his chest. It reassured her to know that Tyki was also affected by their encounter.

Tyki whispered huskily, "I take it Sheril doesn't kiss half as well I do."

"Oh bloody hell." She gasped breathlessly.


Hope you liked!

Sorry in advance for any spelling, punctuation and grammer mistakes. It's past midnight where I am.

Goodnight!