Here begins Chapter 3. Big thanks to the people that responded. Keeps me
writing. I promise to pick up the pace with the next post. Laying the
ground work is the most difficult, but most important. :) Please R&R!
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Chapter 3
"I'm not going to wear that Polgara!" She hollered, staring repulsively at the gown.
"And why not? It's perfectly suitable for a girl your age."
"It's not me, that's why! I've never worn a dress, let alone one like that." She pointed dramatically at the royal blue gown on the bed. The neckline scooped but appeared to maintain privacy. The arms were long and tapered at the ends while the hem was lined in golden fabric. Lily was not accustom to such finery.
"Dear, you stick out. That vest and hoes your wearing will just never due."
"Jeans and jacket Polgara, not vest and hoes." She spoke threw clenched teeth.
"What ever it is, it's horrid. This is what the young ladies wear here, and so will you." There was a determined tone in her voice that Lily should have recognized and complied, but as most children will, she pushed her limits.
"If I recall Lady Polgara at my age you wouldn't have been caught dead in one of those gowns. In face, weren't you spending most of your time in the tree right about now?" Lily smiled, her face smug.
"You're a smart one Lilianna, but then again you're not me." She handed the garment to the girl and smiled sweetly. "Put on the dress dear. Call if you need any help." She grinned once and shut the door behind her.
Lily sat on the bed, confused. "What just happened here?" She asked the door. With a defeated sigh she began to put on the dress.
***
An hour later the three were on the road. Lily rode her old painted mare just behind Polgara and sulked. She had pretended to hate her current costume, but when she looked in the mirror she liked what she saw. Course, she would die before every admitting so.
As they plodded along her mind began to wander. She pondered just exactly where the dress had come from. Although she new Polgara to be an apt seamstress she began to wonder if alternative means had been used. It couldn't have mattered less. The day was beautiful and the sun beating down on her filled her with a joy she had seldom known.
Spurring her horse she pulled in beside Polgara. "Is this Algaria Polgara?"
"Yes. The border anyway. We'll soon be going through the Ulgo Mountains."
"Don't you usually try to avoid Ulgoland? Because of the monsters I mean?"
"Usually, but were in a bit of a hurry. Stick next to Father and I and you'll be alright."
"Yes Lady Polgara." Lily bit her lip. She wasn't sure if she should ask her next question.
"What's on your mind Lily?"
"Nothing really. I'm just curious if Garion will be at Faldor's farm." She hoped that sounded innocent enough. The girl had figured if she was here then some of the people might not have been. In a small way she was taking inventory of who she knew was supposed to be here. //Then maybe I can figure out why I'm here.//
Polgara visibly stiffened at her question. "He will." She said simply, obviously trying not to revel too much.
"Oh. I was just wondering." They both became silent and Lily uncomfortably stared at the grasslands before her.
"You two are awfully talkative this morning." Belgarath commented.
"Just enjoying the view Holy Belgarath." Lily replied politely.
The man laughed. " Come up here child." Lily did as she was told.
"First off, lets drop the 'Holy' part. I'm sure my daughter can testify I'm far from it. Second, why don't you tell me about yourself. We've got quite a ways to go and I've always been fond of a good story."
"What would you like to know Belgarath?" She replied stiffly. Lily still wasn't quite sure of him.
"Anything. Where you were born, who are your parents? Whatever you'd like to tell." He leaned back in his saddle and got comfortable.
"Well, I don't know when or where I was born, and I don't know who my parents were." She lowered her head, slightly ashamed of her statement.
"Wow. Quite a knowledge girl."
"Father." Polgara warned from behind.
"Okay, okay Pol. I'm just having a little fun." He turned playfully towards Lily. "You'll have to pardon my rough edges. I'm a crotchety old man and often forget how to behave in the presence of ladies." Then he glanced at Pol. "Does that work for you Polgara?" Lily exploded into laughter. Belgarath chuckled and affectionately roughed the girl's hair. "Very well." He murmured.
Polgara let out an exasperated sigh. "I can't win!"
***
It was several days later when a band of travelers arrived at the gate of a humble farm. A small boy bolted from the main building, blonde curls whipping in the wind. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran open arms to his Aunt.
"Aunt Pol!" He yelled throwing his arms around her neck and kissing her. He wore green hoes and a simple brown tunic. A small dagger hung proudly to his side and he wore no shoes. Lilianna instantly recognized him as Garion. A wave or relief washed over her. //At least I'm not here to be the Godslayer. Now, where is…// She stopped as another man approached. His simple hoes and jerkin identified him as a smith, but it was his sturdy honest face that acknowledged him as Durnik. A knowing smile crept upon her face as she watched the smith greet Polgara.
"What's so funny?" Belgarath asked extending his hand to help her from her horse.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." The two looked at the Sorceress and Smith and burst into laughter.
Polgara shot them a dangerous glare before introductions.
"Garion, I want you to meet Lilianna. She's going to be staying with us for a while."
"Hello." The boy inclined his head.
"Hello. Nice dagger." Lily grinned.
Garion's face lit up immediately. "You really think so? I'm the only boy here 'bouts that has one!" He began to remove the blade from its sheath.
"Where did you get that?" The firmness in her voice made Garion flinch, instantly putting the dagger away. He looked guiltily at his Aunt and then at Durnik, his eyes pleading.
"I gave it to him Mistress Pol." Durnik stepped forward.
"Whatever for Goodman?"
"A boy his age needs to know how to defend himself and his womenfolk. I thought it about time he learned how to use it."
"Durnik taught me all the rules Aunt Pol. Never point it at anyone unless someone wants to harm you. Don't throw it at anyone on the farm, or use it to carve into trees, or animals. Don't…"
"That will do Garion." Pol said firmly. "I believe you'll be careful with it. Just don't let me catch you showing it off to everyone."
"Yes Aunt Pol." He grinned widely and turned to Lily. "Can Lilianna and I go play Aunt Pol?"
Polgara glanced at Lily who nodded her head. "I suppose so, but stay in site of the kitchen."
Lily would have responded, but Garion had grabbed her hand and hauled her off to play in the barn. Durnik chuckled deeply. "Boys will be boys Mistress Pol."
She sighed heavily watching the children run off into the distance. " I know Durnik, Belar I know."
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Chapter 3
"I'm not going to wear that Polgara!" She hollered, staring repulsively at the gown.
"And why not? It's perfectly suitable for a girl your age."
"It's not me, that's why! I've never worn a dress, let alone one like that." She pointed dramatically at the royal blue gown on the bed. The neckline scooped but appeared to maintain privacy. The arms were long and tapered at the ends while the hem was lined in golden fabric. Lily was not accustom to such finery.
"Dear, you stick out. That vest and hoes your wearing will just never due."
"Jeans and jacket Polgara, not vest and hoes." She spoke threw clenched teeth.
"What ever it is, it's horrid. This is what the young ladies wear here, and so will you." There was a determined tone in her voice that Lily should have recognized and complied, but as most children will, she pushed her limits.
"If I recall Lady Polgara at my age you wouldn't have been caught dead in one of those gowns. In face, weren't you spending most of your time in the tree right about now?" Lily smiled, her face smug.
"You're a smart one Lilianna, but then again you're not me." She handed the garment to the girl and smiled sweetly. "Put on the dress dear. Call if you need any help." She grinned once and shut the door behind her.
Lily sat on the bed, confused. "What just happened here?" She asked the door. With a defeated sigh she began to put on the dress.
***
An hour later the three were on the road. Lily rode her old painted mare just behind Polgara and sulked. She had pretended to hate her current costume, but when she looked in the mirror she liked what she saw. Course, she would die before every admitting so.
As they plodded along her mind began to wander. She pondered just exactly where the dress had come from. Although she new Polgara to be an apt seamstress she began to wonder if alternative means had been used. It couldn't have mattered less. The day was beautiful and the sun beating down on her filled her with a joy she had seldom known.
Spurring her horse she pulled in beside Polgara. "Is this Algaria Polgara?"
"Yes. The border anyway. We'll soon be going through the Ulgo Mountains."
"Don't you usually try to avoid Ulgoland? Because of the monsters I mean?"
"Usually, but were in a bit of a hurry. Stick next to Father and I and you'll be alright."
"Yes Lady Polgara." Lily bit her lip. She wasn't sure if she should ask her next question.
"What's on your mind Lily?"
"Nothing really. I'm just curious if Garion will be at Faldor's farm." She hoped that sounded innocent enough. The girl had figured if she was here then some of the people might not have been. In a small way she was taking inventory of who she knew was supposed to be here. //Then maybe I can figure out why I'm here.//
Polgara visibly stiffened at her question. "He will." She said simply, obviously trying not to revel too much.
"Oh. I was just wondering." They both became silent and Lily uncomfortably stared at the grasslands before her.
"You two are awfully talkative this morning." Belgarath commented.
"Just enjoying the view Holy Belgarath." Lily replied politely.
The man laughed. " Come up here child." Lily did as she was told.
"First off, lets drop the 'Holy' part. I'm sure my daughter can testify I'm far from it. Second, why don't you tell me about yourself. We've got quite a ways to go and I've always been fond of a good story."
"What would you like to know Belgarath?" She replied stiffly. Lily still wasn't quite sure of him.
"Anything. Where you were born, who are your parents? Whatever you'd like to tell." He leaned back in his saddle and got comfortable.
"Well, I don't know when or where I was born, and I don't know who my parents were." She lowered her head, slightly ashamed of her statement.
"Wow. Quite a knowledge girl."
"Father." Polgara warned from behind.
"Okay, okay Pol. I'm just having a little fun." He turned playfully towards Lily. "You'll have to pardon my rough edges. I'm a crotchety old man and often forget how to behave in the presence of ladies." Then he glanced at Pol. "Does that work for you Polgara?" Lily exploded into laughter. Belgarath chuckled and affectionately roughed the girl's hair. "Very well." He murmured.
Polgara let out an exasperated sigh. "I can't win!"
***
It was several days later when a band of travelers arrived at the gate of a humble farm. A small boy bolted from the main building, blonde curls whipping in the wind. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran open arms to his Aunt.
"Aunt Pol!" He yelled throwing his arms around her neck and kissing her. He wore green hoes and a simple brown tunic. A small dagger hung proudly to his side and he wore no shoes. Lilianna instantly recognized him as Garion. A wave or relief washed over her. //At least I'm not here to be the Godslayer. Now, where is…// She stopped as another man approached. His simple hoes and jerkin identified him as a smith, but it was his sturdy honest face that acknowledged him as Durnik. A knowing smile crept upon her face as she watched the smith greet Polgara.
"What's so funny?" Belgarath asked extending his hand to help her from her horse.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." The two looked at the Sorceress and Smith and burst into laughter.
Polgara shot them a dangerous glare before introductions.
"Garion, I want you to meet Lilianna. She's going to be staying with us for a while."
"Hello." The boy inclined his head.
"Hello. Nice dagger." Lily grinned.
Garion's face lit up immediately. "You really think so? I'm the only boy here 'bouts that has one!" He began to remove the blade from its sheath.
"Where did you get that?" The firmness in her voice made Garion flinch, instantly putting the dagger away. He looked guiltily at his Aunt and then at Durnik, his eyes pleading.
"I gave it to him Mistress Pol." Durnik stepped forward.
"Whatever for Goodman?"
"A boy his age needs to know how to defend himself and his womenfolk. I thought it about time he learned how to use it."
"Durnik taught me all the rules Aunt Pol. Never point it at anyone unless someone wants to harm you. Don't throw it at anyone on the farm, or use it to carve into trees, or animals. Don't…"
"That will do Garion." Pol said firmly. "I believe you'll be careful with it. Just don't let me catch you showing it off to everyone."
"Yes Aunt Pol." He grinned widely and turned to Lily. "Can Lilianna and I go play Aunt Pol?"
Polgara glanced at Lily who nodded her head. "I suppose so, but stay in site of the kitchen."
Lily would have responded, but Garion had grabbed her hand and hauled her off to play in the barn. Durnik chuckled deeply. "Boys will be boys Mistress Pol."
She sighed heavily watching the children run off into the distance. " I know Durnik, Belar I know."