Chapter 4:
A dejected figure sat huddled into the large wing back chair in front of the large open fire. Her hands twisting around and around a once white handkerchief in nervousness. Large purple eyes stared fixedly at the crackling, dancing fire, not being the owner of enough bravery to meet anyone's disbelieving stares. Aaliia had told her story, as much as she knew about it anyhow, and was now waiting for some sort of reaction from the other members of her audience. These other members being Alanna, George, Alanna's children, Thom, Alan and Alianne, Theyet, Jonathan, and their children, Kalisan and Roald.
"That surely is quite some story." Said Jon finally with a slight shake of his head. "Imagine Thom having a lover and we were none the wiser of that fact."
"Are you calling me a liar?" snapped Aaliia, now having enough courage to fix him with an angry glare for she thought that Jon had been implying that she was not telling the entire truth.
"Oh, why my dear, of course not!" Jon was shocked and felt badly at having caused offence to the sensitive girl whom had suddenly found herself fatherless. Even if her father had only been a dream, the dream of actually having one had now been burst into a thousand pieces. "There is no way you could be anyone else other than a Trebond with the trademark purple eyes/red hair. And you certainly have inherited your mother's beauty. Do you remember her Alanna, she came soon after the war against Tussaine?"
"Yes, I remember her quite well. She was quite the court favourite in her day and that very much upset Lady Delia if you remember correctly," said Alanna.
The King and the Lady Knight giggled at the joke which seemed purely designed for their gratification and no one else present. When their laughter subsided they returned their attentions to the feisty red haired beauty in front of them.
"Does your mother know you're here?" asked Jon gently
"Um yes, I mean no, I mean sort of." Aaliia trailed off
"Ye' might think I sound ignorant but I could make naught out of that answer," exclaimed George, looking rather puzzled at the vague reply
"Well I told her I would one day go and find my father, I might not have told her the exact dates I would be leaving but I'm sure she'll realise were I have gone." The girl blushed furiously and suddenly became fascinated in her feet to avoid making actual eye contact with anyone.
An unsure silence fell upon the group and no one knew quite what to say. There had certainly been enough startling revelations that night to last quite some time. So what was to be the solution? What were they to do with this undoubtedly pretty girl who was the illegitimate child of a deceased sorcerer and a court lady.
"Roald, Kalisan, Thom, Alianne, Alan, why don't you show Aaliia around the palace. You could go down to the stables or the practice courts." Thayet said softly, hoping that they would understand a fairly obvious hint in a hopefully subtle presentation.
They clearly did understand and the five trailed out of the room without any protests or complaints.
Aaliia followed the four that were very well acquainted with each other and chatted and argued amongst each other with ease. Roald noticed the sadness written across Aaliia's pretty face. "Do you want me to show you around outside? Kel and everyone will probably be out there, they practice at night most time's when it's free from squires and pages." Said Roald trying to be upbeat.
"Yes, that would be wonderful." She spoke with a dead element in her voice. Never than at that exact moment had Aaliia felt so alone. She felt like an unwelcome problem, a blemish in these peoples perfect lives that was anything than wanted. She had been happier before with the knowledge that she did have a father out there in the world alive somewhere. But actually going out to seek him had just bought the horrible truth crashing around her that he was dead. Dead before she was even born and so had never had a real father to begin with.
As Roald opened one of the doors leading outside to the practice courts and crisp gush of wind hit her face and rustled through her glossy ringlets. Aaliia gave an involuntary shiver and wrapped her arms around her middle. It was a beautiful night, frozen and still with the moon illuminating the garden and the practice courts. It gave off so much silver light that there were very few lamps surrounding the group of young knights, all locked in friendly battle.
Chewing her lip she tried desperately to bite back tears which she felt were but seconds away from spilling over the edge and rushing down her cheeks. Roald evidently saw her eyes were shiny from kept back tears.
"Are you ok Aaliia?" he asked softly, gently touching her arm
"Yes, I'm fine, just emotional." her words hung in the air and she felt a sob rush through her body and the tears flooding out. Roald put his arms around Aaliia and let her cry into his shoulder. The two stood there, enclosed in a comforting embrace in the pure silver moonlight with all other sounds, but their own racing hearts and Aaliia's tears, oblivious to them.
Authors Note:
Ok! So what do people think??? I hope you all like this latest addition and I have written up to chapter 8 (I'm sick with a cold so I had nothing else to do but write) but I'm not going to post them up until some more people start reading and reviewing.
Thank you to my most loyal readers: Keziah - Thank you, but hey I love your story so stop reading mine and start writing yours! Lol Hoppuschick182 - thank you honey, I'm writing as fast as I can Scythegirl - Thanks.
A dejected figure sat huddled into the large wing back chair in front of the large open fire. Her hands twisting around and around a once white handkerchief in nervousness. Large purple eyes stared fixedly at the crackling, dancing fire, not being the owner of enough bravery to meet anyone's disbelieving stares. Aaliia had told her story, as much as she knew about it anyhow, and was now waiting for some sort of reaction from the other members of her audience. These other members being Alanna, George, Alanna's children, Thom, Alan and Alianne, Theyet, Jonathan, and their children, Kalisan and Roald.
"That surely is quite some story." Said Jon finally with a slight shake of his head. "Imagine Thom having a lover and we were none the wiser of that fact."
"Are you calling me a liar?" snapped Aaliia, now having enough courage to fix him with an angry glare for she thought that Jon had been implying that she was not telling the entire truth.
"Oh, why my dear, of course not!" Jon was shocked and felt badly at having caused offence to the sensitive girl whom had suddenly found herself fatherless. Even if her father had only been a dream, the dream of actually having one had now been burst into a thousand pieces. "There is no way you could be anyone else other than a Trebond with the trademark purple eyes/red hair. And you certainly have inherited your mother's beauty. Do you remember her Alanna, she came soon after the war against Tussaine?"
"Yes, I remember her quite well. She was quite the court favourite in her day and that very much upset Lady Delia if you remember correctly," said Alanna.
The King and the Lady Knight giggled at the joke which seemed purely designed for their gratification and no one else present. When their laughter subsided they returned their attentions to the feisty red haired beauty in front of them.
"Does your mother know you're here?" asked Jon gently
"Um yes, I mean no, I mean sort of." Aaliia trailed off
"Ye' might think I sound ignorant but I could make naught out of that answer," exclaimed George, looking rather puzzled at the vague reply
"Well I told her I would one day go and find my father, I might not have told her the exact dates I would be leaving but I'm sure she'll realise were I have gone." The girl blushed furiously and suddenly became fascinated in her feet to avoid making actual eye contact with anyone.
An unsure silence fell upon the group and no one knew quite what to say. There had certainly been enough startling revelations that night to last quite some time. So what was to be the solution? What were they to do with this undoubtedly pretty girl who was the illegitimate child of a deceased sorcerer and a court lady.
"Roald, Kalisan, Thom, Alianne, Alan, why don't you show Aaliia around the palace. You could go down to the stables or the practice courts." Thayet said softly, hoping that they would understand a fairly obvious hint in a hopefully subtle presentation.
They clearly did understand and the five trailed out of the room without any protests or complaints.
Aaliia followed the four that were very well acquainted with each other and chatted and argued amongst each other with ease. Roald noticed the sadness written across Aaliia's pretty face. "Do you want me to show you around outside? Kel and everyone will probably be out there, they practice at night most time's when it's free from squires and pages." Said Roald trying to be upbeat.
"Yes, that would be wonderful." She spoke with a dead element in her voice. Never than at that exact moment had Aaliia felt so alone. She felt like an unwelcome problem, a blemish in these peoples perfect lives that was anything than wanted. She had been happier before with the knowledge that she did have a father out there in the world alive somewhere. But actually going out to seek him had just bought the horrible truth crashing around her that he was dead. Dead before she was even born and so had never had a real father to begin with.
As Roald opened one of the doors leading outside to the practice courts and crisp gush of wind hit her face and rustled through her glossy ringlets. Aaliia gave an involuntary shiver and wrapped her arms around her middle. It was a beautiful night, frozen and still with the moon illuminating the garden and the practice courts. It gave off so much silver light that there were very few lamps surrounding the group of young knights, all locked in friendly battle.
Chewing her lip she tried desperately to bite back tears which she felt were but seconds away from spilling over the edge and rushing down her cheeks. Roald evidently saw her eyes were shiny from kept back tears.
"Are you ok Aaliia?" he asked softly, gently touching her arm
"Yes, I'm fine, just emotional." her words hung in the air and she felt a sob rush through her body and the tears flooding out. Roald put his arms around Aaliia and let her cry into his shoulder. The two stood there, enclosed in a comforting embrace in the pure silver moonlight with all other sounds, but their own racing hearts and Aaliia's tears, oblivious to them.
Authors Note:
Ok! So what do people think??? I hope you all like this latest addition and I have written up to chapter 8 (I'm sick with a cold so I had nothing else to do but write) but I'm not going to post them up until some more people start reading and reviewing.
Thank you to my most loyal readers: Keziah - Thank you, but hey I love your story so stop reading mine and start writing yours! Lol Hoppuschick182 - thank you honey, I'm writing as fast as I can Scythegirl - Thanks.