Chapter 3
By XellAn-Chan
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Gloree sat uncomfortably next to her twin and across from Valgaav at the dinner table. The royal family had a lavish feast prepared for the occasion and the kingdom's nobility had been invited. Gourry and Lina were facing one another, Lina blushing every time she looked at Gourry. Lina's sister, Luna, was much the same way with Gratien. Filia had been promised to Grigori and, if all went well, Gavaroche would wed the Crowned Princess, Gracia and become king. In fact, all of Gloree's brothers were arranged to be married. The mage Rezo had made a bargain with the king and his grandson was to marry the younger princess, Amelia. This left only Gloree and Valgaav and the little boy was much too young for Gloree.
The children of the lords and ladies had grown up together, and it made sense that they remained together. Unfortunately, Gloree didn't fit into this picture.
As she ate all the delicacies laden with their saffron seasoning, she wondered what the two gypsy boys had had to eat. There was no way they could have had anything as sumptuous as what the royal chefs had prepared.
She ate silently, staring at her golden plate, and not wishing to be there. Her brothers were happy enough, they were all betrothed to beautiful, rich women. And she, she was all alone, the only girl with no future husband, and very unhappy.
She looked up when footsteps resounded through the chamber. The herald walked in and up to the king, bowing low. "Excuse me, Sire, but Lord Idris of Sarasaura is arrived." The king smiled. "Excellent. Show him in." The herald bowed again "Yes, Sire" and was gone. King Philionel turned to Lord Gabriev. "You will be interested to meet him. Your daughter will need a husband at some point and Idris is quite the catch." This was not something the girl wanted to hear.
Lord Idris of Sarasaura was a man in his early twenties. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and brandy brown eyes. He was dressed in green velvet, with a black cloak about his shoulders and a sword at his side. There were polite bows to the royal family, then he greeted Lord Gabriev.
As Gloree watched, the two spoke for a moment. Then, much to her dismay, Gabriel invited Idris to sit down beside him while they continued their discussion.
After the banquet, they filed into the courtyard where the gypsies would play and dance for them. The courtiers were seated, the royal family took their places in their thrones. Amelia was next to her mother, and Gracia, likewise, was next to her father. Beside Gracia sat Gavaroche, as he was the Crowned Princess' fiance and a special guest. Zelgadiss, who had not been at dinner, sat beside Amelia, an expression of both embarrassment and pleasure spread across his face.
Idris settled himself beside Gloree. "Ye are very beautiful, My Dear. I could get used to your beauty." She shrank back. "I wouldst you do not make me uncomfortable, Your Lordship." He smiled. "Of course. I would not want you to feel troubled at my presence." but there he stayed beside her, the whole time barely paying any attention to the performance.
The herald announced the gypsies and they trooped in one by one. They were a family that had been performing at the palace for years and were fairly well known by the adults. It had been years, however, since they were in Saillune, and this was their first performance involving a younger generation. The first to be announced was blue-haired Dolphin, a young woman in a sheer gown, followed by elegant Dynast, who was wrapped in a white cloak. Then came Gaav, the oldest brother, carrying a mandolin. Blond, buxom Zelas followed suit, the two children trailing behind her.
The three youngest members of the family - Dolphin, Xellos and Phibrizio- danced while the other three played. Zelas had a tambourine, Gaav had the mandolin and Dynast, a piccolo. Dolphin sang along to her siblings melody, her light voice filling the court.
"Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose,
Will I ever see thee wed?
I will marry at thy will, Sire, at thy will.
Ding dong, ding dong,
wedding bells on a September morn.
Carve thy name on a moss-covered stone,
on a moss-covered stone.
Hey ho, nobody home,
meat nor drink nor money have I none.
Yet I will be merry.
Hey ho, nobody home..."
Xellos and Phibrizio pranced about. The older boy's face was painted with concentration as he did what he'd always done and always would do. As Gloree watched him, she found herself wishing she could be dancing with him. She wanted to take his hands and swirl around the room with him. Little Phibrizio was charming as he skipped around the room. His dark hair whirled round his face and his eyes glittered with excitement. No one would have guessed that he was a child of great misfortune.
Towards the end of the performance, the child stole the hearts of all present when he sat on Dolphin's lap and they sang a lullaby together.
"Bid wilcome to the stars to-nite
trying to make the darkness light.
Say wilcome to the moon also,
bathing thee in silver glow.
Thank 'ee to the clouds do say
for they did not ruin to-day.
Greet the drops as they fall 'round
and cover earth and hill and ground.
Wilcome little night time showers
as ye sleep away the hours.
In your bed ye shall stay dry
as the storm goes sailing by.
When the rain at last is done
out will come the morning sun.
And when the clouds have gone away
yeh'll bid wilcome to the day."
Dolphin had procured a lute and she plucked the strings as they sang the low, lilting song together. Gloree yawned. It was late. Those who were not presently performing sat on the steps of the theater. Xellos had his head rested on his mother's lap and Gloree could see a child-like innocence in his eyes as he watched his relations singing.
How her heart ached as she looked at him. An incredible yearning to be free washed over her whole being and she wanted nothing more than to run away with him. But she was fairly certain her father had promised Idris he could have her and she did not like that one bit.
She fingered the bracelet he had given her as she gazed at him. He glanced up and caught her looking in his direction. They both blushed and she smiled shyly, holding up one wrist to show him she bore his gift. A smile lit his face and she could feel her cheeks burning at the attention he was bestowing upon her.
Then his mother, who had been stroking his hair, looked down at him. Her expression hardened when she followed his gaze to where Gloree sat. Then, to Gloree's horror, her hand came down upon his head. He looked up at her, his amethyst eyes pooled with tears. Gloree could see his mouth moving as he whispered something to his mother and Zelas frowned.
Gloree stared at her hands for the rest of the performance. What had Xellos done that was so wrong? How could his own mother hit him? ...And why did she have the feeling that her life was never going to be the same?
By XellAn-Chan
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Gloree sat uncomfortably next to her twin and across from Valgaav at the dinner table. The royal family had a lavish feast prepared for the occasion and the kingdom's nobility had been invited. Gourry and Lina were facing one another, Lina blushing every time she looked at Gourry. Lina's sister, Luna, was much the same way with Gratien. Filia had been promised to Grigori and, if all went well, Gavaroche would wed the Crowned Princess, Gracia and become king. In fact, all of Gloree's brothers were arranged to be married. The mage Rezo had made a bargain with the king and his grandson was to marry the younger princess, Amelia. This left only Gloree and Valgaav and the little boy was much too young for Gloree.
The children of the lords and ladies had grown up together, and it made sense that they remained together. Unfortunately, Gloree didn't fit into this picture.
As she ate all the delicacies laden with their saffron seasoning, she wondered what the two gypsy boys had had to eat. There was no way they could have had anything as sumptuous as what the royal chefs had prepared.
She ate silently, staring at her golden plate, and not wishing to be there. Her brothers were happy enough, they were all betrothed to beautiful, rich women. And she, she was all alone, the only girl with no future husband, and very unhappy.
She looked up when footsteps resounded through the chamber. The herald walked in and up to the king, bowing low. "Excuse me, Sire, but Lord Idris of Sarasaura is arrived." The king smiled. "Excellent. Show him in." The herald bowed again "Yes, Sire" and was gone. King Philionel turned to Lord Gabriev. "You will be interested to meet him. Your daughter will need a husband at some point and Idris is quite the catch." This was not something the girl wanted to hear.
Lord Idris of Sarasaura was a man in his early twenties. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and brandy brown eyes. He was dressed in green velvet, with a black cloak about his shoulders and a sword at his side. There were polite bows to the royal family, then he greeted Lord Gabriev.
As Gloree watched, the two spoke for a moment. Then, much to her dismay, Gabriel invited Idris to sit down beside him while they continued their discussion.
After the banquet, they filed into the courtyard where the gypsies would play and dance for them. The courtiers were seated, the royal family took their places in their thrones. Amelia was next to her mother, and Gracia, likewise, was next to her father. Beside Gracia sat Gavaroche, as he was the Crowned Princess' fiance and a special guest. Zelgadiss, who had not been at dinner, sat beside Amelia, an expression of both embarrassment and pleasure spread across his face.
Idris settled himself beside Gloree. "Ye are very beautiful, My Dear. I could get used to your beauty." She shrank back. "I wouldst you do not make me uncomfortable, Your Lordship." He smiled. "Of course. I would not want you to feel troubled at my presence." but there he stayed beside her, the whole time barely paying any attention to the performance.
The herald announced the gypsies and they trooped in one by one. They were a family that had been performing at the palace for years and were fairly well known by the adults. It had been years, however, since they were in Saillune, and this was their first performance involving a younger generation. The first to be announced was blue-haired Dolphin, a young woman in a sheer gown, followed by elegant Dynast, who was wrapped in a white cloak. Then came Gaav, the oldest brother, carrying a mandolin. Blond, buxom Zelas followed suit, the two children trailing behind her.
The three youngest members of the family - Dolphin, Xellos and Phibrizio- danced while the other three played. Zelas had a tambourine, Gaav had the mandolin and Dynast, a piccolo. Dolphin sang along to her siblings melody, her light voice filling the court.
"Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose,
Will I ever see thee wed?
I will marry at thy will, Sire, at thy will.
Ding dong, ding dong,
wedding bells on a September morn.
Carve thy name on a moss-covered stone,
on a moss-covered stone.
Hey ho, nobody home,
meat nor drink nor money have I none.
Yet I will be merry.
Hey ho, nobody home..."
Xellos and Phibrizio pranced about. The older boy's face was painted with concentration as he did what he'd always done and always would do. As Gloree watched him, she found herself wishing she could be dancing with him. She wanted to take his hands and swirl around the room with him. Little Phibrizio was charming as he skipped around the room. His dark hair whirled round his face and his eyes glittered with excitement. No one would have guessed that he was a child of great misfortune.
Towards the end of the performance, the child stole the hearts of all present when he sat on Dolphin's lap and they sang a lullaby together.
"Bid wilcome to the stars to-nite
trying to make the darkness light.
Say wilcome to the moon also,
bathing thee in silver glow.
Thank 'ee to the clouds do say
for they did not ruin to-day.
Greet the drops as they fall 'round
and cover earth and hill and ground.
Wilcome little night time showers
as ye sleep away the hours.
In your bed ye shall stay dry
as the storm goes sailing by.
When the rain at last is done
out will come the morning sun.
And when the clouds have gone away
yeh'll bid wilcome to the day."
Dolphin had procured a lute and she plucked the strings as they sang the low, lilting song together. Gloree yawned. It was late. Those who were not presently performing sat on the steps of the theater. Xellos had his head rested on his mother's lap and Gloree could see a child-like innocence in his eyes as he watched his relations singing.
How her heart ached as she looked at him. An incredible yearning to be free washed over her whole being and she wanted nothing more than to run away with him. But she was fairly certain her father had promised Idris he could have her and she did not like that one bit.
She fingered the bracelet he had given her as she gazed at him. He glanced up and caught her looking in his direction. They both blushed and she smiled shyly, holding up one wrist to show him she bore his gift. A smile lit his face and she could feel her cheeks burning at the attention he was bestowing upon her.
Then his mother, who had been stroking his hair, looked down at him. Her expression hardened when she followed his gaze to where Gloree sat. Then, to Gloree's horror, her hand came down upon his head. He looked up at her, his amethyst eyes pooled with tears. Gloree could see his mouth moving as he whispered something to his mother and Zelas frowned.
Gloree stared at her hands for the rest of the performance. What had Xellos done that was so wrong? How could his own mother hit him? ...And why did she have the feeling that her life was never going to be the same?