Thanks for all the nice reviews! Sorry to those who the first part was
confusing, hopefully I'll be able to avoid that now I have some clue of
what I'm doing. *grins* This will also be longer, since a few people
have requested it, but since I'm writing these in the few snatches of
spare time I have, I can only do so much. Enjoy!
WARNING: Some of the times in this may be a bit messed up, since I
haven't read "Page" yet, so don't know whether so and so's a knight or
what when Kel is still a squire.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Audiara walked back to her room, digesting the information she
had just received from the Queen. "Well," she said to herself,"At least
no one thinks I'm completely hopeless. And now I know why there was a
cat in the Great Hall, and - oof!" Turning a corner, Audie had collided
with a girl about her own age, garbed in breeches and a tunic. This
must be one of the 'lady knights' she had heard so much talk of...but
she didn't look all that special to Audie.
"Sorry, must run!" the other girl gasped. "Lord Wyldon will
skin me alive if I'm late!" Giving Audie a quick bow, she tore off down
the hallway. Audie watched, bemused, when she heard another voice
behind her.
"Don't mind Satricia, if she's not five minutes early she
thinks she's late." The speaker was a tall boy with suprisingly bright
green eyes. He was followed by another girl and a boy who Audie thought
looked vaguely familiar.
"The schedule around here will cure her of that soon enough.
C'mon you two, I'm hungry." That was the girl, beckoning to her
companions. "Neal, Roald, hurry up or we'll be late!" Audiara gasped
and almost bungled her curtsey in surprise. That familiar face was the
prince! When she looked up, three pairs of laughing eyes were
watching her.
"You're new here, aren't you?" said the boy addressed as Neal.
"Roald won't bite, and right now, he's just a squire like the rest of
us. A hungry squire, if his stomach is being as insistant as mine is.
So, if you'll excuse us, my lady, we are off to aquire sustanence."
The boy gave Audie an extravagent bow before striding off down the
hall. His companions followed, shaking their heads. Audie watched them
go, wondering at the large amount of strange people she had met thus
far.
A WEEK LATER
It was the night of the ball when Audiara was to be presented,
and she was experiencing extreme deja vu. At least this time she didn't
have to deal with any stairs. Audie stood in front of her mirror and
admired her dress, smoothed her hair and fixed a stray curl. She was
waiting for two of her new friends, other new court ladies who had
helped her get over the embarrassment and insecurity of her first week.
A rap at the door sent her scurrying over to throw it open. "Lisana!
Kerrine! You look lovely!" Audie hugged them both gingerly, as they all
tried to keep their gowns from tearing. Kerrine made a face.
"Maybe I should have been a page...they get to wear breeches!"
she declared. Lisana and Audiara giggled. "I'm serious! Oh, hush you
two...let's go down." The trio swept down to the ballroom, where they
joined the throng of people already dancing and talking. As Audie
gazed around she noticed Kerrine was right - most of the female pages
and squires were wearing a loose, flowy style of breeches that allowed
much more movement than the heavy gowns of all the other girls. She
noticed Kel and Neal, who waved before running off to the assortment of
duties they had to attend to; as well as Daine, who she had visited in
order to meet Cream. The cat had taken a liking to her, and now
resided in Audie's rooms. But she paid the most attention to those she
had not met - the lady pages and squires. From what Audie had heard,
these girls did all the things the boys did, and that frightened her.
How did they get to be so strong and self sufficient? Her parents knew
Alanna the Lioness, and had nothing but respect for her, but Audie had
assumed that she was a special case. It never occurred to her that
other girls might want to follow in Alanna's footsteps! Someone tapped
her on the shoulder, jerking her out of her reverie.
"Sorry, did I startle you? I'm Tallitha and this is Mardria. We
noticed you watching us across the room, and thought you looked
lonesome." Audiara took Tallitha's offered hand, and found that the
other girl had a grip that could shatter stone. Did that come from
hauling around a sword and lance and...whatever else pages needed?
No, that couldn't be it, because Mardria's handshake was gentle...
perhaps she knew the effect her friend had on others fingers. Audie
introduced herself and moved aside to let Kerrine and Lisana meet the
new girls. As she peered around the room again she heard the trumpet
fanfare that announced the entrance of the King and Queen. Everyone
sank to their knees as their Majesties took their seats. Thayet
surveyed the room and caught Audiara's eye, beckoning her towards the
throne. Rising, Audie tried not to tremble as she made her way forward
to try this introduction for the second time around.
confusing, hopefully I'll be able to avoid that now I have some clue of
what I'm doing. *grins* This will also be longer, since a few people
have requested it, but since I'm writing these in the few snatches of
spare time I have, I can only do so much. Enjoy!
WARNING: Some of the times in this may be a bit messed up, since I
haven't read "Page" yet, so don't know whether so and so's a knight or
what when Kel is still a squire.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Audiara walked back to her room, digesting the information she
had just received from the Queen. "Well," she said to herself,"At least
no one thinks I'm completely hopeless. And now I know why there was a
cat in the Great Hall, and - oof!" Turning a corner, Audie had collided
with a girl about her own age, garbed in breeches and a tunic. This
must be one of the 'lady knights' she had heard so much talk of...but
she didn't look all that special to Audie.
"Sorry, must run!" the other girl gasped. "Lord Wyldon will
skin me alive if I'm late!" Giving Audie a quick bow, she tore off down
the hallway. Audie watched, bemused, when she heard another voice
behind her.
"Don't mind Satricia, if she's not five minutes early she
thinks she's late." The speaker was a tall boy with suprisingly bright
green eyes. He was followed by another girl and a boy who Audie thought
looked vaguely familiar.
"The schedule around here will cure her of that soon enough.
C'mon you two, I'm hungry." That was the girl, beckoning to her
companions. "Neal, Roald, hurry up or we'll be late!" Audiara gasped
and almost bungled her curtsey in surprise. That familiar face was the
prince! When she looked up, three pairs of laughing eyes were
watching her.
"You're new here, aren't you?" said the boy addressed as Neal.
"Roald won't bite, and right now, he's just a squire like the rest of
us. A hungry squire, if his stomach is being as insistant as mine is.
So, if you'll excuse us, my lady, we are off to aquire sustanence."
The boy gave Audie an extravagent bow before striding off down the
hall. His companions followed, shaking their heads. Audie watched them
go, wondering at the large amount of strange people she had met thus
far.
A WEEK LATER
It was the night of the ball when Audiara was to be presented,
and she was experiencing extreme deja vu. At least this time she didn't
have to deal with any stairs. Audie stood in front of her mirror and
admired her dress, smoothed her hair and fixed a stray curl. She was
waiting for two of her new friends, other new court ladies who had
helped her get over the embarrassment and insecurity of her first week.
A rap at the door sent her scurrying over to throw it open. "Lisana!
Kerrine! You look lovely!" Audie hugged them both gingerly, as they all
tried to keep their gowns from tearing. Kerrine made a face.
"Maybe I should have been a page...they get to wear breeches!"
she declared. Lisana and Audiara giggled. "I'm serious! Oh, hush you
two...let's go down." The trio swept down to the ballroom, where they
joined the throng of people already dancing and talking. As Audie
gazed around she noticed Kerrine was right - most of the female pages
and squires were wearing a loose, flowy style of breeches that allowed
much more movement than the heavy gowns of all the other girls. She
noticed Kel and Neal, who waved before running off to the assortment of
duties they had to attend to; as well as Daine, who she had visited in
order to meet Cream. The cat had taken a liking to her, and now
resided in Audie's rooms. But she paid the most attention to those she
had not met - the lady pages and squires. From what Audie had heard,
these girls did all the things the boys did, and that frightened her.
How did they get to be so strong and self sufficient? Her parents knew
Alanna the Lioness, and had nothing but respect for her, but Audie had
assumed that she was a special case. It never occurred to her that
other girls might want to follow in Alanna's footsteps! Someone tapped
her on the shoulder, jerking her out of her reverie.
"Sorry, did I startle you? I'm Tallitha and this is Mardria. We
noticed you watching us across the room, and thought you looked
lonesome." Audiara took Tallitha's offered hand, and found that the
other girl had a grip that could shatter stone. Did that come from
hauling around a sword and lance and...whatever else pages needed?
No, that couldn't be it, because Mardria's handshake was gentle...
perhaps she knew the effect her friend had on others fingers. Audie
introduced herself and moved aside to let Kerrine and Lisana meet the
new girls. As she peered around the room again she heard the trumpet
fanfare that announced the entrance of the King and Queen. Everyone
sank to their knees as their Majesties took their seats. Thayet
surveyed the room and caught Audiara's eye, beckoning her towards the
throne. Rising, Audie tried not to tremble as she made her way forward
to try this introduction for the second time around.