The month of Gathering (September) at age 7
Week 1
I haven't been feeling too good. I've been feeling dizzy, and I have a bad tummy ache.
In fact, when I stand up it feels like the whole world is spinning and I can't walk straight. Or, if I can, it doesn't feel like it.
I've also, to top it all off, feel like little petpetpets are inside my head and are whacking it from the inside with hammers.
I've got to get better before next week. I need my patrol. I need it. It's so much more interesting than staying here. And I at least need my sword practice- I haven't been allowed to while I've been in this state.
The adults actually said something along the lines of 'Brynneth, go to bed. You need your rest.' That was four days ago, and I still don't feel any better. Great. Chances of getting better suddenly in time for patrol are looking really bleak.
They've even been getting Violet to bring my food up from the dining hall so I don't get out of bed. It's gotta be bad for them to not let me out even for that!
Week 2
I missed my patrol! I missed my patrol! I just... RRRR! I know that's not technically a word, but I can't find a better word to describe it. I feel like rubbish still, in fact I think the headache is worse and not better. There isn't an actual word to describe it. Except RRRR! I'm not usually they type of girl to say things like that, but I'm not myself really right now.
I missed my patrol! And my sword-fighting practice! We're doing archery next week, it's something I've never done but I've always wanted to try.
I am going to try and will myself to get better. Okay, I shall stop now and start willing.
Week 3
I'm no longer so dizzy, I have a slight tummy ache, but that's about it. So, I got to do the archery!
It was lots of fun. Violet was actually better than me, but I had fun anyway. She was very good at aiming- top of the class in fact. We all have our strengths here and I guess hers is archery. And I'm happy for her. Mines swords. I'm happy for myself too.
Especially now that I'm better. Staying cooped up in that dorm for two weeks or so was just so boring! I'm a rather active girl, and I have a lot of energy. Admittedly, I didn't have much while I was ill, but I had quite a bit still and nowhere to release it.
It's my birthday next month. I'll be a whole eight years old! I'm hoping my mum can visit for the day or something. That would be great, I haven't seen her for so long! It's been... woah, since the start of January!
Week 4
They finally decided I was well enough to do sword practice today. I've been telling them for a while that all I had was a slight tummy cramp, but they 'wanted to be on the safe side'. Seriously, grown-ups are annoying like that. It's not just me, is it? Oh, you wouldn't reply- you're a notebook.
Seriously I need to get myself some proper friends. In the guard. Hanso doesn't count. I'm not even sure if he IS a friend or that he can be trusted, him being a thief and all. But he punched Harry. Looking back, that actually makes me smile.
Harry still has a bruise; it's going to take a while to heal. It must have been an incredibly hard punch! I don't think Hanso would have punched him were he not my friend, but I still don't know.
He's a thief, I'm a guard. They are enemies. Always have been, always will be. At least, that's what I think it's supposed to be.
Okay, so back to sword-practice. I fought really well, releasing all the energy I wasn't able to release while I was cooped up in our dorm. I think I shocked the grown-ups and the other kids. In fact, I think I shocked myself a little. I did well. Like I mentioned before- sword fighting is my area of expertise.
I've really got to stop now. The sunset is supposed to be in about two minutes and I promised Violet I'd watch it with her and her friends. It's quite pretty, admittedly (especially over the palace), but I don't see why she has to watch it EVERY NIGHT. Still, a promise is a promise.
