Okay, here're one of the girls. Tell me what you think of her!

Chapter 10

A Noblewoman

"Mama would kill him if he tried to throw our stuff around," commented the second girl.

Several boys around her snickered in hearty agreement.

"Who was the lady?"

Angela of Verity sat tall and proud on the sturdy little horse her father had procured for her. She, her father, and their servants, who were somewhere far behind them, were travelling through the country to meet the young – and not so young – rich men seeking wives.

For her part, she was not at all pleased to be doing this but he was her father and he had told her that she must marry so marry she must. It did not matter that her father had left her with her uncle and aunt after her mother had died more than ten years ago while he went off gallivanting and squandering the family fortune. In fact, her father's frivolous lifestyle was the reason for her having to marry so early – he needed the money her marriage would bring him to continue his life of parties and intrigues.

It was lucky for him that Angela was so striking. She had her mother's cream and peaches complexion, rosebud lips and a face worthy of a master sculptor. Her eyes were silvery grey and surrounded by pale feathery lashes that brushed her cheek demurely every time she blinked. Her hair was a delicate silvery blond that shone softly in its own light and she stood and moved with the grace of a much older woman. Blessed with a perfect figure and face, she was sure to bring her father a very nice price.

Not that he cared about her other talents beside those she would need as a nobleman's wife, that she could run a farm and ride a horse; she could outrun anyone and was an expert archer and an incredible fencer. Her uncle had called her his warrior princess.

Her father called her his cash cow.

Tonight they were to reach the lands of Duke Lewis, an obscenely rich man of about forty-seven. She was not looking forward to this at all; she could just imagine the picture she must present.

Angela was not conceited, but she was aware of her looks and knew how her current piece of clothing accentuated every asset. Her riding skirts trailed down around her in a soft navy blue while the bodice was laced just loose enough as to be innocent and just tight enough to show a man her cleavage. The clothes made her look amazing and she knew it.

She hoped the Duke would be too drunk to know it.

Their servants were now long gone from behind them, having refused to go through the enchanted forest and insisted on going around.

All of her father's blustering and threatening had done nothing in the face of their terror.

Now, in the midst of the tall, dark trees, Angela could not see what they had found so terrifying. It was just an old forest, its branches gnarled and tangled above her and the fading sunlight fell irregularly on the ground. The leaves were turning scarlet, orange, and yellow, making it as though she was walking through a tunnel of flames. This was such a curious thought that she focused on it, using it to distract herself from the approaching introduction to a lustful old man.

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Master Splinter had given the order to stay away from the main hallways for the day.

This meant that Leo could not go to his favorite spot beneath the old weeping willow to meditate. There were only a few more weeks until the weather became too cold for him to venture out for any real span of time and the turtle wanted to make the most of it. Thus he was rather on edge today.

After a rather pointless argument with Raph that had almost culminated in an all out fist fight, a silent uncomfortable lunch, and a few restless hours in the library, the eldest prince had retreated to his room.

Now, as he gazed out of his window across the sweeping front gardens of the palace, he saw something that made him stiffen.

People.

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Angela looked up at the silver gates nervously. How had they managed to come across this building so suddenly? Even in a forest like this the towers that were rearing to the sky would have been visible from some way off.

But her father was ecstatic.

"I didn't even know this was here! Come along Angela! Perhaps the master of this wonderful place is in need of a wife!"

And so, in they went, Angela biting the inside of her cheek warily as they did so.

The gardens were… were… beyond description. Every leaf on the trees was a vibrant autumn color and a rich carpet of multicolored leaves blanketed the grass. The flower beds, which should have been brown and wilting, were full of statuary and fall flowers.

It looked as if the entire garden had been designed only for fall weather.

"Hurry up, girl! That outfit of yours is best when seen at sunset!" her father yelled.

Swallowing, she turned her horse to follow her father's mount along the neat gravel pathways that led right up to massive front steps of the castle.

The castle itself was of incredible proportions, the entire building was as large as a small city, with one main building and others branching out from it.

Her father rode right up to the steps and dismounted. "Stay here. I'll go in and introduce you. Oh! I do hope he's not married."

I wish I was back home, she thought glumly, keeping her back straight and proud and her face calm and impassive.

She waited for quite a while and the sun was almost completely gone. The air was bitterly cold and she shivered in her cloak unhappily. How long could it possibly take to schmooze a noble? It had taken less than five minutes with every other noble she had ever encountered.

Just as she was beginning to lose feeling in her legs, a scream shattered the calm of early twilight.

"Father!"

In less than a minute she was running through the huge front doors of the castle and looking wildly around. Where had the scream come from?

Another shriek rent the air and sent her hurtling down the magnificent opening hall and through a doorway. This led her into a dining room big enough to hold several ballrooms. Along the room's far wall was a line of doors. Which one would take her to her father?

"Which one?" she whispered.

As if in answer, one of the doors swung open. She hesitated only a moment before running through it. The hallway was lined by pedestals and paintings of all sorts, doorways on one side and windows on the other. After a few minutes she realized that everywhere she ran the way was lit for her and everywhere else was dark.

That could only mean one thing. The one who had her father wanted her to find him.

"Please let him be alright," she prayed. She didn't like her father but he was family and family was the most important thing.

And so she followed the lit passageway upstairs, down halls, through rooms, up halls, down a dizzying staircase until finally –

There he was, her father, kneeling and begging for mercy at the feet of a rather small, but imposing figure, flanked by four much large shapes.

Angela stepped into the room with enough dignity as to make an empress weep. "What have you done to my father?"

"Nothing, child," came a quiet, well educated voice. "We were merely negotiating the terms that he will have to pay for trespassing."

"Trespassing?"

"He did not ask for permission to enter," the voice explained. "In earlier times he would have been thrown immediately into the dungeons but as we live in more civilized times –"

"What are you going to do to him?" she demanded with forceful politeness.

One of the bigger figures shifted.

"I am not sure," the voice admitted. "Trespassing is a rather serious offense and he is not exactly conducting himself in a suitable manner for a gentleman."

This was entirely true, her father was blubbering on the floor like a baby.

"You, however, young lady, are quite the noblewoman. You hold yourself very well."

Taken a bit aback by the compliment, Angela had to take a moment to steady herself. "Thank you, My Lord. Now please tell me what you are going to do to my father."

"I suppose the ancient traditions should be adhered to, but I do hate to throw anyone in those dungeons… but I suppose-"

"Wait!" She stepped between her father and the shadowy figures. "What about me? I trespassed as well."

"Yes, but you did so out of concern for a loved one. That can be pardoned. Your father, however, trespassed freely."

"Please don't do this, he didn't know."

"Ignorance does not excuse one from disobeying the law, Miss."

"Take me," the words were out of her mouth before she could think about what she was saying. "Take me instead. In my father's place."

Her father froze and stared up at her as though he had never seen her before. The figures all stiffened.

"You would do this?" the voice asked sharply. "Of your own free will? Understanding that you may never leave?"

"Yes," she said in a soft, firm voice.

"Your word, child."

"I give you my word."

Like one in a dream, Angela lifted her arm to the shadowy figure, extending her hand for a formal handshake.

"We accept."

The young woman's eyes widened in horror as a knobbly, leathery claw-like hand reached from the shadows to shake her trembling hand.

Who were these people?

"Raphael. Michelangelo. Please escort this man back to his horses."

Two of the larger figures stepped forward, revealing tall, green-skinned creatures that walked like men.

"Good-bye, Father," she called softly, fighting to keep the shaking out of her knees and the sob out of her voice.

Her father could only stare at her as the green men took each took an arm and led him from the room.

"Child, what is your name?"

"I am Angela of Verity." She gave a brief curtsy and staggered a bit as she straightened up.

"Ms. Angela, perhaps you should sit down," the voice said, sounding concerned. "Donatello, please get our guest a cup of tea. Leonardo, the lights."

In a moment the torches around the room lit and she found herself looking at a giant rat and an equally large turtle. She staggered as the world warped around her and was immediately steadied by a firm grip that lead her to a nearby chair.

"Take deep breaths," said a new voice. It was much younger than the first voice, though just as serious. It took her a moment to process the green face in front of her.

The only thing that kept her from gasping or screaming outright was the sheer oddness of him. What was most disturbing, more than the green skin or the shell, were the eyes.

This creature had dark brown eyes – just like a human's. And they were exceedingly kind and serious.

"Are you alright?" it asked in a male voice.

"Yes…" she said cautiously.

"Good," he said. He glanced over his shoulder towards the doorway. "Where's Donny with the tea?"

"Perhaps," the giant rat said calmly. "It would be wise to introduce ourselves to our guest."

"Umm… okay." The green man looked at her and bowed formally. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Angela. My name is Leonardo."

He was very tall and rather strong-looking with a blue mask tied over his eyes.

"The pleasure's mine," she responded with a weak smile, raising a slightly shaky hand.

Leonardo raised a large, green three-fingered hand and gently clasped her hand. After a few shakes, he released her hand.

"I don't mean to sound rude," Angela began weakly. "But… what are you?"

"My brothers and I are turtles and Master Splinter here is a rat," he explained quietly.

"You're Master Splinter?" she asked the rat.

"I am," he said, nodding his head politely.

"I've got the tea!"

Another turtle entered the room bearing a tray carrying an exquisite china teapot and several matching tea cups. This one was also male, wore a purple mask, and seemed to be a bit smaller than Leonardo.

"Here we go," he said, setting the tray on a nearby table.

The new turtle poured a cup of tea and handed it to her with a friendly smile. "My name is Donatello, it's nice to meet you, Angela."

Donatello had a gentle air about him and kind light brown eyes.

"You as well." She shook his hand and took the cup.

Taking a sip, the young woman watched the strange creatures as Donatello poured three more cups of tea and handed two of them to his companions, keeping one for himself.

It was…beyond bizarre to be sitting in a – she glanced around cautiously – a parlor drinking tea with two giant turtles and a giant rat.

What was going to happen to her, now? She had first supposed that she would be locked in the dungeons instead of her father, but no one seemed even the slightest bit interested doing her any harm.

They did, however, keep glancing at her as though they had never seen anyone like her before.

After another minute, the two turtles who had grabbed her father reappeared in the doorway. One was lean and wearing an orange mask, while the other was heavily muscled with a red mask.

"My sons," Master Splinter said properly, setting down his teacup. "This is Ms. Angela of Verity. She is our guest."

"Guest?" she repeated.

"Hi, there!" said the orange turtle, bouncing up to her and offering his green hand. "My name's Michelangelo, but you can call me Mikey!"

"Hello."

"Hey," the red turtle greeted her gruffly with a rough wave. "Name's Raphael."

"Hello." She was starting to feel light-headed, even with the tea. This was just too much to take in at once. Turtles that could walk and talk like men?

"Oh dear," Master Splinter commented, looking at her kindly. "Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed, Miss?"

"Just a bit," Angela admitted.

"Well then, we'll give you a room and tomorrow we can discuss the terms of your stay here."

"No! Please, tell me what's going on here? Why am I here? What is going to happen to me?"

There was a moment of tense silence before the rat answered quietly, "All you need now is that you are now our permanent guest in our home, or until I deem it fit to release you from the agreement. You will be given a room and allowed to do as you like. However, you are not allowed to leave our lands and we request that you join us for dinner."

"But –" she began, then broke off. Judging by the look in his eyes, she wasn't going to get anymore information out of him. "Very well. I understand."

"Good. Leonardo, would you be so kind as to lead this young lady to her room?"

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Angela walked silently along in Leonardo's equally silent wake.

"Your home is very beautiful," she said at last, just to say something.

"Yeah," he said slowly, looking around. "I guess it is. But it's better when the sun is up."

There was another uncomfortable silence.

"Well," Leonardo said awkwardly. "We all hope that you'll be comfortable here and if you need anything at all, all you have to do is ask one of us."

"Thank you."

"Well, this is your room. Ummm… there are servants who'll be around to help you with… clothes and stuff." He turned from the specified door and looked down at her with his strange human eyes. "Good night, Miss Angela."

"Just Angela, please, Leonardo."

"Just Leo, Angela."

And she went into the room.

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