Ch. 10
AN: Sorry it's taken me so long to put this up. I just didn't feel like it. So there. Actually, I think I have through chapter 15 written, but not posted. Sad, eh? However, I don't think I've decided about the stranger yet. I told you this would be a long one….they haven't even really gotten together yeet! But don't worry, it'll be soon…I hope. But anyway, here's my old AN: wow. I can't believe I'm on Ch. 10! Isn't this exciting?! OK, b/c I'm really bored and I only just posted the last chapter (A few weeks ago…(), so there isn't any new suggestions for the stranger, he just won't be in this chapter, ko? But if you want him back (and we all should) then I need suggestion!
Also, I just realized I don't think I have ANY disclaimers at all! So, it's not mine. There. All done. Except Jaygo. He's all mine. I LOVE THAT NAME! it was in a Victoria Holt book as Jago, but I wasn't sure if you were supposed to pronounce it jahgo or jaygo, so I decided to clear it up for you. Yay JAYGO!!! On with the story!
Sandry turned at Briar's voice, forgetting about the visitor.
"Briar! Tris! Daja! What are you doing here? We didn't think you'd be able to come for several more days now!"
"Well, Lark go to missing you so much and Rosethorn too, that we decided to come up early. Didn't your Uncle tell you?" Daja asked with a smile.
"No he didn't! I can't see why he wouldn't have! So even Rosethorn…I find that hard to believe!"
"With good reason! They just got tired of us moping around the house!" Tris corrected Daja's fib.
"Ooh! Now that makes sense! Oh, but I'm forgetting! Let me introduce you to…but where has he gone?" Sandry looked around her for the mysterious stranger, but he had disappeared. "Oh, well, there *was* someone here, but it seems that he has vanished! At any rate, I'm so glad to see you all!"
"Oh, but Sandry, what's happened to you arm?" Daja held Sandry's stung arm in concern.
"Just a beesting," She said, motioning to her netted hat and sturdy white dress. "Madame Mossrig insists that I become industrious in all ways, and she cites the buzzing bee as a perfect example. Although, I must say, the languid drone seems to be not as perfect as the diligent worker bee." Sandry led them inside the castle, excusing herself to change once they were settled in her call room.
"Hmm. She sure seems different," Daja remarked, once Sandry was well out of ear shot.
"Very much so. I worry about her. Does she look too skinny to you?" Tris seemed very concerned about Sandry's size.
"I dunno what yer talking bout, but I think she ain't too happy here. Didja see how excited she was bout them bees? Terrible thing to waste, her mind. And magic too!"
"You're right Briar. I wonder how much human interaction she's had up here. She looks pale too."
"You know, as well as I do Tris, that pale skin is a sign of nobility. Not only that, but I've heard rumors that she might become Namorn royalty!"
"Where did you hear that?" Tris demanded.
"The servant who brought in my water let it slip. She said no one was supposed to know, since Sandry herself doesn't even know yet."
"Amazing." Briar remarked, echoing the sentiments of all three of them. Sandry returned just a few minutes after they had finished their conversation. She was, yet again, fashionably dressed. Although this dress was a bit more ornate than her plain white dress for bee tending, the cucumber green silk was still casual by nobility's standards. The four chatted amiably until the housekeeper arrived, informing Lady Sandrilene that it was time for tea.
"Lady Sandrilene? You actually let them call you that?" Briar was amazed at Sandry's allowance of formality.
"Uncle insisted. Actually, I think it was Madame Mossrig, but the order came from Uncle. I don't know, Briar, so much has changed. I am hardly allowed to do any weaving or sewing at all! Madame says it will ruin my fingers! It seems as though I never came to Winding Circle! I stay up late at night, trying to work my threads in the dark. Once, Madame caught me. I had to practice pouring tea and curtsying for three hours! I don't think I've ever been so worn out before in my life! Every second it's curtsy, smile, nod your head, curtsy there, pour the tea, cream or ecru napkins?! But there I go! We all know that a proper lady never complains, no matter how horrid or rank her situation." The three stared at her, dumbfounded by her outbreak. Seemingly unfazed, Sandry settled herself down daintily on a seatee and began to pour the tea. Tris commented on her perfectly steady hand.
"I don't think I could ever pour tea into such expensive things! I'd like as drop the cups and ruin the chairs with tea!"
"Oh, Tris! It really isn't as hard as it looks. All it takes is a little bit of practice! I'm sure you would have it mastered in no time at all." Sandry smiled sweetly at Tris, yet Briar noticed that her smile did not reach her eyes. He would have to talk to her about this, and soon.
Briar had contrived a way to catch up with Sandry in the garden. She had her back turned to him, smelling a perfectly formed Narcissus Paperwhite.
"Hullo."
"Briar!," Sandry exclaimed, startled, "what brings you here?"
"Sandry, I'd like to talk to you for a little while, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, Briar!"
"We're worried about you. Tris thinks you aren't eating enough, Daja thinks you aren't happy, and I think you aren't smiling as much! What's going on Sandry? Is it that Madame person? Tell me, please." Sandry, who had been wavering in her decision to tell, was moved by Briar's concern, and began her story of the last weeks.
"You're right Briar, it is her. I just want to be weaving and sewing! She doesn't understand….she's not gifted or anything. All she knows is how to be a lady! She pushes me around, she doesn't let me eat hardly anything! Oh, Briar! I used to love being here with my uncle, but now…? Madame is obsessed with making me the most perfect persn she can create; I have to have a sixteen inch waist, I have to have the best posture ever, be the best beekeeper, have the best clothes…"
"But you can't be Sandry, eh?" She nodded affirmation. Briar took her hand impulsively. "It'll be all right, Sandry, don't worry. We'll figure something out, I'm sure. In the meantime, I think Tris wants to sneak you some food…she's really worried about you not getting enough food.
"Briar, don't worry about me. I'm sure everything will be fine. After all, the ball is in a few days, and after that, I shall be back at Discipline, where you can personally oversee my food intake."
AN: Sorry it's taken me so long to put this up. I just didn't feel like it. So there. Actually, I think I have through chapter 15 written, but not posted. Sad, eh? However, I don't think I've decided about the stranger yet. I told you this would be a long one….they haven't even really gotten together yeet! But don't worry, it'll be soon…I hope. But anyway, here's my old AN: wow. I can't believe I'm on Ch. 10! Isn't this exciting?! OK, b/c I'm really bored and I only just posted the last chapter (A few weeks ago…(), so there isn't any new suggestions for the stranger, he just won't be in this chapter, ko? But if you want him back (and we all should) then I need suggestion!
Also, I just realized I don't think I have ANY disclaimers at all! So, it's not mine. There. All done. Except Jaygo. He's all mine. I LOVE THAT NAME! it was in a Victoria Holt book as Jago, but I wasn't sure if you were supposed to pronounce it jahgo or jaygo, so I decided to clear it up for you. Yay JAYGO!!! On with the story!
Sandry turned at Briar's voice, forgetting about the visitor.
"Briar! Tris! Daja! What are you doing here? We didn't think you'd be able to come for several more days now!"
"Well, Lark go to missing you so much and Rosethorn too, that we decided to come up early. Didn't your Uncle tell you?" Daja asked with a smile.
"No he didn't! I can't see why he wouldn't have! So even Rosethorn…I find that hard to believe!"
"With good reason! They just got tired of us moping around the house!" Tris corrected Daja's fib.
"Ooh! Now that makes sense! Oh, but I'm forgetting! Let me introduce you to…but where has he gone?" Sandry looked around her for the mysterious stranger, but he had disappeared. "Oh, well, there *was* someone here, but it seems that he has vanished! At any rate, I'm so glad to see you all!"
"Oh, but Sandry, what's happened to you arm?" Daja held Sandry's stung arm in concern.
"Just a beesting," She said, motioning to her netted hat and sturdy white dress. "Madame Mossrig insists that I become industrious in all ways, and she cites the buzzing bee as a perfect example. Although, I must say, the languid drone seems to be not as perfect as the diligent worker bee." Sandry led them inside the castle, excusing herself to change once they were settled in her call room.
"Hmm. She sure seems different," Daja remarked, once Sandry was well out of ear shot.
"Very much so. I worry about her. Does she look too skinny to you?" Tris seemed very concerned about Sandry's size.
"I dunno what yer talking bout, but I think she ain't too happy here. Didja see how excited she was bout them bees? Terrible thing to waste, her mind. And magic too!"
"You're right Briar. I wonder how much human interaction she's had up here. She looks pale too."
"You know, as well as I do Tris, that pale skin is a sign of nobility. Not only that, but I've heard rumors that she might become Namorn royalty!"
"Where did you hear that?" Tris demanded.
"The servant who brought in my water let it slip. She said no one was supposed to know, since Sandry herself doesn't even know yet."
"Amazing." Briar remarked, echoing the sentiments of all three of them. Sandry returned just a few minutes after they had finished their conversation. She was, yet again, fashionably dressed. Although this dress was a bit more ornate than her plain white dress for bee tending, the cucumber green silk was still casual by nobility's standards. The four chatted amiably until the housekeeper arrived, informing Lady Sandrilene that it was time for tea.
"Lady Sandrilene? You actually let them call you that?" Briar was amazed at Sandry's allowance of formality.
"Uncle insisted. Actually, I think it was Madame Mossrig, but the order came from Uncle. I don't know, Briar, so much has changed. I am hardly allowed to do any weaving or sewing at all! Madame says it will ruin my fingers! It seems as though I never came to Winding Circle! I stay up late at night, trying to work my threads in the dark. Once, Madame caught me. I had to practice pouring tea and curtsying for three hours! I don't think I've ever been so worn out before in my life! Every second it's curtsy, smile, nod your head, curtsy there, pour the tea, cream or ecru napkins?! But there I go! We all know that a proper lady never complains, no matter how horrid or rank her situation." The three stared at her, dumbfounded by her outbreak. Seemingly unfazed, Sandry settled herself down daintily on a seatee and began to pour the tea. Tris commented on her perfectly steady hand.
"I don't think I could ever pour tea into such expensive things! I'd like as drop the cups and ruin the chairs with tea!"
"Oh, Tris! It really isn't as hard as it looks. All it takes is a little bit of practice! I'm sure you would have it mastered in no time at all." Sandry smiled sweetly at Tris, yet Briar noticed that her smile did not reach her eyes. He would have to talk to her about this, and soon.
Briar had contrived a way to catch up with Sandry in the garden. She had her back turned to him, smelling a perfectly formed Narcissus Paperwhite.
"Hullo."
"Briar!," Sandry exclaimed, startled, "what brings you here?"
"Sandry, I'd like to talk to you for a little while, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, Briar!"
"We're worried about you. Tris thinks you aren't eating enough, Daja thinks you aren't happy, and I think you aren't smiling as much! What's going on Sandry? Is it that Madame person? Tell me, please." Sandry, who had been wavering in her decision to tell, was moved by Briar's concern, and began her story of the last weeks.
"You're right Briar, it is her. I just want to be weaving and sewing! She doesn't understand….she's not gifted or anything. All she knows is how to be a lady! She pushes me around, she doesn't let me eat hardly anything! Oh, Briar! I used to love being here with my uncle, but now…? Madame is obsessed with making me the most perfect persn she can create; I have to have a sixteen inch waist, I have to have the best posture ever, be the best beekeeper, have the best clothes…"
"But you can't be Sandry, eh?" She nodded affirmation. Briar took her hand impulsively. "It'll be all right, Sandry, don't worry. We'll figure something out, I'm sure. In the meantime, I think Tris wants to sneak you some food…she's really worried about you not getting enough food.
"Briar, don't worry about me. I'm sure everything will be fine. After all, the ball is in a few days, and after that, I shall be back at Discipline, where you can personally oversee my food intake."