Responses to Reviews:
Sapphire131: Thanks, I hope you like the feast!
thedarkwhiteangel: Ah, did you change your name then? Your new name is really cool :) And thank you, that means a lot!
Midnightstone1118: Yes it is quite sweet, she should just keep it on, haha :) Hope you enjoy reading the update!
Jillessa Heronstairs: Thank you, so much! I'm glad you liked the chapter, and didn't find it boring. Also, it means a lot that you think it has a good amount of description and plot. I love your reviews as always, and it doesn't matter if you're busy and take longer to review, because your reviews are always worth it :)
Dia Newman: Yay, I love your enthusiasm for the feast! There will definitely be Jem & Tessa and Will & Tessa, since I love them both, and the love triangle is just so great. I'm so happy you like the Jem & Tessa, and that I've captured it, since I've definitely tried to include that a lot, because Jem is so amazing! :D
elliesmith071201: :D
Marie E. Brooke: Thank you for the review on my first chapter! You will find out… :) And hopefully the paragraph lengths are better in the later chapters.
Sophie knocked on Tessa's door, asking if she was finished with her bath. Tessa quickly hopped out ad grabbed a linen bath cloth, to dry herself off. She realised she had no idea what to wear, and stood with a bath cloth still wrapped around her, unsure of what to do. Then Sophie called out, "M'Lady – I mean Tessa - I can help you pick something to wear."
Sighing with relief, Tessa opened the door and then quickly closed it again after Sophie entered, conscious of the fact that she was barely covered. Sophie swiftly went over to the wooden closet and threw open the doors, causing Tessa to gasp in disbelief. The closet contained row upon row of gorgeous dresses of the finest quality, clothes which Tessa could have never even imagined laying her eyes on.
Sophie smiled over at her knowingly, saying, "These were Jessamine's clothes. Charlotte requested that I adjust any clothes you'd like to wear for you."
Tessa was speechless, gazing at the finery. She ran her hands over the fine silk and various other fabrics. Her amazement was tempered slightly by the fact that they had been Jessamine's, and this room had likely been hers as well. It felt wrong just taking it, but Tessa supposed it was better that it be worn than sit in the closet and never see the sunlight.
Walking over to take a closer look, Tessa considered what she should wear to the feast. Looking at Sophie, she asked, "How dressed up do people get for a feast here?"
"It's an event that only happens once or twice a year, if we're lucky," Sophie replied, her tone was in awe. "So I'd suggest you wear something fancy."
Tessa nodded at her recommendation, and asked, "Will you be attending?"
Sophie's eyes grew slightly less excited. "I will be helping to serve the food and drinks."
"That's a shame," Tessa replied in disappointment. She felt she got on well with Sophie, and she didn't know many people here besides Jem and Will, who she couldn't exactly cling to all night. She was sure they would have other friends.
Sophie shook her head. "Don't worry about me, I'm just happy I'm allowed to attend. And I do get to try some of the food." She walked over towards Tessa, seeing her indecision and held up the end of a dress. "If you don't mind my recommendation, I would go for this silver-grey dress. It would really bring out your eyes."
Tessa smiled in thanks, and carefully took it out, admiring how the grey shimmered in the candle light. There were small, delicate beads around the neck line, with a lighter silver section around the waist, which resembled a belt. It also had long, flowing sleeves, with a soft, silk material, and a long skirt.
Sophie gave her the undergarments and turned away while she put them on. Sophie then proceeded to position and tie the corset. Tessa tried not to wince as Sophie pulled tight on the strings. "Sorry," she apologised, "But it looks best as a tight fit." Tessa nodded and held her breath, waiting for the next tug.
Sophie then helped her pull the dress over her head. Since the dress was made for a shorter girl, it only just touched the ground. She imagined on Jessamine, it would have dragged across the ground in a sort of train.
Next, Sophie got her to sit down, and she skilfully did Tessa's hair up, knowing exactly which strands to tease and position in place. When she had finished, Sophie nodded in approval, and held up a polished brass plate, for Tessa to see her image in. Tessa's hair was up in an intricate bun, with a silver comb, shaped like a leaf, adorning it. A few wisps of hair were left to frame her face. The dress itself really did bring out the grey in her eyes, just as Sophie had promised.
Sophie inquired as to if she'd like a different necklace to wear, or if she was happy with her own. Tessa looked down at her angel necklace, which was clearly visible, and shook her head. She didn't want to take it off.
"It's very pretty. Such as unusual design," Sophie remarked.
Tessa thanked her for the compliment, and put on her grey shoes to complete the ensemble. Standing up, she raised herself to her full height, and proclaimed she was ready.
Sophie nodded eagerly, and led her down towards the Great Hall. Tessa tried to keep up, still getting used to the fancy shoes, which pinched at her feet. She was both excited and nervous about the feast, not really knowing what to expect.
As she entered the Great Hall, she noticed many of the other guests had already arrived. The room was lit by candles, as well as torches, which lined the walls. Tapestries and wall hangings also adorned the walls, as well as swords and shields, each with the Branwell family emblem of waves.
The table itself was laid out in the middle of the room, and was decorated with a white linen tablecloth, and coloured swan shaped jellies in the centre, which looked so lifelike, as they included the feathers down to the finest detail. Important utensils and items for the feast were also laid out, such as trencher bases, pottage and drinking bowls, salt, jugs and fine glasses.
Sophie directed Tessa to her seat, which was next to the head of the table, where the lord and lady of the house would sit, and on her right sat Jem, with Will sitting across from them. She smiled at them, and thanked Sophie, before the maid left to attend to her other errands.
Looking over at Jem, she said honestly, "I'm glad you could make it. I didn't know if you would be able to attend with your injured leg."
Jem flashed her a smile, and responded with, "I'm glad I could come too. I wouldn't want to miss the feast of the year." He glanced at her dress and hair. "And you look absolutely stunning."
"Why, thank you," she replied, cheerfully. "You look very handsome as well." This was the truth, as Jem and Will were dressed in their best finery, which looked quite striking on them. Especially since she was used to seeing them in their riding clothes. They both wore a waistcoat, fastened by tags, and close-fitting breeches, with black leather shoes. This seemed to be the fashion judging by what the other men were wearing.
Will let out a short, impatient cough, and she turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Don't worry, you look as striking as ever too," she said with a laugh.
Will grinned back at her, but before he could respond, everyone in the room stood up. Tessa followed suit, spying Charlotte and Henry entering, their arms linked, and their expressions joyful. The respect for them was obvious, as the room was silent while they made their way to the head of the table. As they took their seats, everyone else also retook their seats.
Charlotte gestured for the glasses to be filled, and the servants rushed to do so. Holding up her wine glass, Charlotte stood up and started her speech. "The Clave welcomes Tessa Gray as our honoured guest." As she said this, she motioned for Tessa to stand up. Tessa reluctantly did so, feeling self-conscious under the weight of all those stares. Charlotte continued, "For reasons unknown to us currently, the King," she spat the title out like a curse, "has been searching for Tessa for many years. Through her own skill and bravery, she has evaded him, and has come here seeking our help. I would like to welcome her, as well as thank Will and Jem for delivering her here safely. I hope you will all make her feel like she is part of the family."
Clapping resounded around the room, along with some 'Hear, hears.'
Feeling a number of curious gazes on her, Tessa blushed deeply and sat back down, looking anywhere but at the people sitting at the table. Seeing this, Jem's hand sought hers under the table – a comforting gesture, which calmed her racing heart. She smiled at him in gratitude, giving his hand a light squeeze.
When there was silence once again, Charlotte resumed. "I would also like to use this occasion as a celebration of Thomas Tanner, a loyal servant of the Clave. He was both a good warrior and man. May he rest and find peace. We will remember him."
"We will remember him," was echoed around the room, as a sort of chant that everyone repeated. Tessa joined in, for although she hardly knew Thomas, she had seen his bravery first hand.
Raising her wine glass, Charlotte proposed a toast. "To Thomas." Everyone clunked their glasses together, with the people nearby. Tessa did so with Charlotte, who was sitting beside her, as well as Will and Jem.
"Now," Charlotte commanded with a small smile. "Let the feast begin!"
The room erupted with sound again as the food was served. Servants scurried to and fro, holding silver platters containing meats, sauces and more jugs of wine.
Charlotte and Henry were served first, and a servant tasted a portion of the food, to make sure it wasn't poisoned. Then the rest of the diners were served.
The feast turned out to be three courses of soups, cooked meats and fish, including elaborate roasts of swans, pigs and peacocks, followed by numerous sweet and spicy dishes. Each dish was carried in by servants directly from the kitchen, so that they were kept piping hot.
She closed her eyes and sighed contently as she tasted the lavish food. Will and Jem looked over at her expectantly. "Do you like it?" Will inquired.
She nodded eagerly. "It's delicious. I've never tried anything like it!"
Will nodded in agreement, but warned her, "Just don't get used to it. Unfortunately we normally eat pottage around here to save supplies. Feasts like this are very rare."
Feeling slightly disappointed, she turned to Jem. "Why would they do one in my honour then? What makes me so special?"
Jem's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "Well, with your 'gift', Charlotte probably sees this as a celebration that we found you before the king did. With the resources he's put into finding you, you're obviously very important to him."
Tessa could feel her expression darkening at the reminder of who she was.
Jem rushed to reassure her. "Don't worry though, there's no way he can get you here. You're safe now."
Tessa nodded, unable to speak because her throat was strangely constricted. She had never felt safe or like she had belonged anywhere in so long, that it was a strange feeling. She added some more food to her plate, and continued eating, noticing that Will had already filled his plate three times and was still eating.
While he was occupied, she turned to Jem with a grin and whispered, "Someone's hungry. Does he always eat this much?"
Jem laughed and replied with, "You have no idea. He'll happily eat anything you serve him. Besides duck, of course."
Will looked up, with a mock scowl, having heard the last part. "Ducks are bloodthirsty beasts. Never trust a duck."
She looked between Jem's amused face, and Will's serious one, trying to contain her laughter. Of all things he could hate, he chose a duck.
Luckily she was spared from thinking up a reply, as the entertainers set up. "This is a feast fit for a King!" she exclaimed, not really thinking her statement over.
"It certainly is," Jem replied, looking over at the troubadours and instruments in longing. Jem pointed out to her what each instrument was. She learnt the troubadours were playing the lute, the viol, a harp and the flute. Their music wafted around the room with a heavenly melody.
"You should play with them," Tessa suggested, seeing his wistful expression.
Jem quickly shook his head. "No, I'm not half as good as them."
Will scoffed at this from across the table. "That's utterly ridiculous."
"The professionals have been training their whole life, Will. I was taught for a mere few years," Jem explained, sighing.
"Well, there's skill, and then there's raw talent, which is what you have," Will said, his voice completely confident.
Jem just shook his head at the compliments, disagreeing. However, Tessa said, "I'm looking forward to hearing you play."
Jem inclined his head. "I'm looking forward to playing for you, and teaching you, as promised."
Tessa blushed as the next course was served. Time flied since she was having so much fun. In between courses, Tessa watched and listened in delight as the troubadours and acrobats entertained the diners, while roaming around the table.
She saw Sophie pouring some more wine, and Tessa caught one of the Lightwoods – Gideon, looking at her in a gentle, caring sort of way. Tessa felt happy that it seemed Sophie had a secret admirer. Sophie deserved someone nice who cared about her. The other Lightwood, Gabriel - she remembered – was sitting next to his brother, and was talking to a young girl with black hair, who resembled Will.
Seeing the direction of her gaze, Will leaned across the table towards her, and said, "That's my sister, Cecily. She came here right before I left. Not that I wanted her to come here," he said with a scowl, although it was obvious that he was fond of her.
"I can see the family resemblance," Tessa remarked casually, as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Will didn't reply because he was still looking over at his sister with narrowed eyes. "Why is Gabriel talking to my sister?" he questioned with a growl.
"It's hardly illegal to talk, is it?" Tessa asked with a laugh, as she took another bite of her peacock. Although the two did seem quite close, she had to admit.
"He's an idiotic swine," Will stated. "And my mortal enemy." He shook his head. "I hope Cecily hasn't done anything foolish while I've been away."
Jem turned towards them, "I'm sure Cecily is able to look after herself perfectly fine." Will looked like he wanted to argue, but thought the better of it at the look Jem gave him. "She reminds me of someone I know," Jem said pointedly looking at Will.
The last course was served, and included both dried and fresh fruit, such as plums stewed in rose-water, pies, and sweet pastries. Most dishes she tried included honey to sweeten them. On Will's suggestion, she sampled a little bit of all the dishes, wishing at the end she could lick the bowl clean, but knowing it would be improper at the same time.
When she finished, Will looked at her expectantly as the music picked up, and people started to leave the table to gather round and talk. "Would you like to dance with me?" he asked with a smile, his hair falling slightly into his eyes.
"Yes, of course," she said with a smile. "Although you may have to teach me." Will looked undaunted by this, and stood up, coming round to her side of the table.
Biting her lip guiltily, she looked over at Jem. "Do you mind?" she asked. "I'm sorry you can't dance," she said as she looked down at his leg.
Jem shook his head. "Don't hesitate on my behalf, I'm happy just watching. Although," he said, laughter in his eyes, "You'll have to save me a dance for another day."
Tessa smiled back and agreed. Then Will offered his hand, and when she accepted, he pulled her up to her feet.
"So you've never danced before?" Will asked with a raised eyebrow.
She shook her head. "Not these sorts of dances," she said, gesturing to where some people had gathered and were now dancing in tune with the music. It was a dance they all knew, and they flawlessly and gracefully glided around the space they'd made.
"It's easy, just let me lead," Will said with a playful grin, as he dragged her over by the hand.
Tessa sighed and let him lead her over, feeling like she would most likely just make a fool of herself. The music picked up, with the lute and drums taking centre stage. The jolly crowd danced in partners, forming a large circle. She thought she saw Gabriel and Cecily dancing together, before they disappeared from her view.
Tessa and Will joined in, and put their palms together, as was the custom. She found she actually did pick up the dance quickly, since the steps were quite easy, involving lots of jumping, kicking and stepping closer and further away from your partner. She also found she enjoyed the spinning, giggling as she and Will turned in a circle. She looked upwards, and watched the torches blur together as she became slightly dizzy.
As the dance progressed, everyone switched partners, and she found herself dancing with Gideon. Striking up a conversation with him as they danced, she found he was quite polite. Definitely a good match for Sophie, she decided.
Her next partner was unfortunately Gabriel, who did not look at all thrilled to be dancing with her. She noticed he was distracted, constantly glancing around the room.
"Looking for someone in particular?" Tessa asked with a knowing grin.
Gabriel glowered at her. "I think that's really none of your business."
Tessa caught a glimpse of Will and Cecily dancing together. Cecily was laughing happily, obviously happy her brother was back.
"Will doesn't seem to like you, you know," Tessa stated as she watched them.
Gabriel looked at her as if she was daft as they spun around. "Trust me, the feeling is mutual."
She was whisked away by her next partner, and Gabriel looked happy to be rid of her. Eventually, she was back with Will, and the song ended.
Before she could complain about her tired feet, Will pulled her in closer, as what he called a basse dance started. Tessa saw Charlotte and Henry coming over to dance, and smiled as Henry stumbled uncertainly, and Charlotte helped to lead him, and give him some more confidence in the dance.
This music was slower, and everyone once again danced in pairs. It featured slow movements, and Will took her left hand in his right. This slower dance gave them time to talk, and she studied his long eyelashes and vivid blue eyes, which held her captive.
As she looked up at him, she realised their lips were so close that she could feel his warm breath on her own. "You look beautiful this evening," Will whispered in her ear. She blushed and thanked him for the compliment, not used to such flattery.
As they continued to dance, Will pointed out each of the members of the Clave, by subtly inclining his head towards each one, and telling her their names and occupations. His hair brushed her ear when he leaned in to tell her, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing when it tickled her. She learnt a lot from talking to him, and found she could do the dance instinctively, since it was so slow and easy.
Tessa felt saddened when the dance ended and people started to retire for the night. Will bowed, thanking her for the dance, and she curtsied in return. Looking around at all the delighted faces, she felt like at last, maybe she had found her new home.
YAY! Exams are over and I'm now on holidays, so I can make it up to you! :)
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please let me know what you think.
~ SilverJem5