The elusive chapter 3 is here! Bubba the Teddy Bear! You never would've guessed, right?
Disclaimer: Must I state the obvious? I don't own anything from the Tamora Pierce books. Otherwise my name would be Tamora Pierce, and it's not! (At least not the last time I checked)
Bubba's Revenge!
Arianne sat in Bubba's shrine. His gold-edged coffin graced the table in the center of the room. A window in the corner illuminated it with soft golden sunlight. Arianne felt tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of it. Oh Bubba!
She tried to stay out of this room as often as possible so as to block out the painful memories. She had loved Bubba. Bubba had been her teddy bear since the day that she was born. 11 years they had frolicked and played. Then, he had been heartlessly taken from her. Poor Bubba!
She was really doing much better. She had her tears under control in just over 6 months! Of course, her parents, Lady Franette and Lord Ronald, had hired the best psychiatrist in the realm of Tortall. She knew that she was over him, but still, she would never forget him. She would also never forget that on that day, on that terrible, terrible day, as she watched Bubba breathe his last, she made a promise to herself.
That promise was one to avenge Bubba. She would get Schuyler, it was only a matter of time. Bubba's revenge will not be long in coming!
With that silent proclamation, Arianne sighed and stood up, shaking out the light blue silk gown that matched her eyes. She threw one last longing look at the remains of Bubba and walked gracefully out of the room. She had to find Kerry.
Kerry had composed herself by then, and was in her rooms. When Arianne found her, she was looking very grimly out the window. When Arianne tapped her shoulder, Kerry turned around to face her sister. Whatever reprimand that Arianne had formed in her mind for her behavior earlier collapsed in on itself as she saw pity in her older sister's eyes. Arianne abruptly sat down and asked Kerry what was wrong. Kerry looked at her for a long moment and carefully said,
"You're wanted in the Great Hall, Ari." Arianne smiled at the nickname reserved for her sister's use.
"Why, Ker?" Another long-used nickname. Arianne was curious about the command though. Normally, the Great Hall was used for only very important events and visitors. Kerry looked more serious then Arianne had seen her for a very long time. Whatever was going on, it had to be urgent. Usually, before such an event, the girls had at least a week's notice. Neither girl recalled hearing about anything. They obviously had to leave quickly. However, they couldn't go in their everyday dresses.
Not waiting for Kerry's answer, Arianne remarked, "We'd best change into fancier clothes then." Kerry nodded and wordlessly went to her closet as Arianne left her sisters chambers and went into hers, which were just across the hall.
Once inside, Arianne sighed with content. Her rooms were just the place to get rid of troublesome memories and worries and thoughts of revenge. However, she had no time to sit around. After gently brushing her delicate curls with a comb, she washed her face and went to her closet. There was quite a selection as Arianne loved to dress up. Being pressed for time, she made a quick decision and took out a moderately low-cut flowing red gown with gold embroidery winding down gracefully to the waist. The red looked well against her pale skin and emphasized her slim figure. Applying some face paint, she surveyed herself in the mirror. 'Hmmm. Not bad for five minutes.'
She then left the room and went across the hall to get Kerry. Her older sister came out looking very presentable. Her dress was much the same as Arianne's, except a higher neckline and in green instead of red. They smiled at one another, and set off to the great hall.
Disclaimer: Must I state the obvious? I don't own anything from the Tamora Pierce books. Otherwise my name would be Tamora Pierce, and it's not! (At least not the last time I checked)
Bubba's Revenge!
Arianne sat in Bubba's shrine. His gold-edged coffin graced the table in the center of the room. A window in the corner illuminated it with soft golden sunlight. Arianne felt tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of it. Oh Bubba!
She tried to stay out of this room as often as possible so as to block out the painful memories. She had loved Bubba. Bubba had been her teddy bear since the day that she was born. 11 years they had frolicked and played. Then, he had been heartlessly taken from her. Poor Bubba!
She was really doing much better. She had her tears under control in just over 6 months! Of course, her parents, Lady Franette and Lord Ronald, had hired the best psychiatrist in the realm of Tortall. She knew that she was over him, but still, she would never forget him. She would also never forget that on that day, on that terrible, terrible day, as she watched Bubba breathe his last, she made a promise to herself.
That promise was one to avenge Bubba. She would get Schuyler, it was only a matter of time. Bubba's revenge will not be long in coming!
With that silent proclamation, Arianne sighed and stood up, shaking out the light blue silk gown that matched her eyes. She threw one last longing look at the remains of Bubba and walked gracefully out of the room. She had to find Kerry.
Kerry had composed herself by then, and was in her rooms. When Arianne found her, she was looking very grimly out the window. When Arianne tapped her shoulder, Kerry turned around to face her sister. Whatever reprimand that Arianne had formed in her mind for her behavior earlier collapsed in on itself as she saw pity in her older sister's eyes. Arianne abruptly sat down and asked Kerry what was wrong. Kerry looked at her for a long moment and carefully said,
"You're wanted in the Great Hall, Ari." Arianne smiled at the nickname reserved for her sister's use.
"Why, Ker?" Another long-used nickname. Arianne was curious about the command though. Normally, the Great Hall was used for only very important events and visitors. Kerry looked more serious then Arianne had seen her for a very long time. Whatever was going on, it had to be urgent. Usually, before such an event, the girls had at least a week's notice. Neither girl recalled hearing about anything. They obviously had to leave quickly. However, they couldn't go in their everyday dresses.
Not waiting for Kerry's answer, Arianne remarked, "We'd best change into fancier clothes then." Kerry nodded and wordlessly went to her closet as Arianne left her sisters chambers and went into hers, which were just across the hall.
Once inside, Arianne sighed with content. Her rooms were just the place to get rid of troublesome memories and worries and thoughts of revenge. However, she had no time to sit around. After gently brushing her delicate curls with a comb, she washed her face and went to her closet. There was quite a selection as Arianne loved to dress up. Being pressed for time, she made a quick decision and took out a moderately low-cut flowing red gown with gold embroidery winding down gracefully to the waist. The red looked well against her pale skin and emphasized her slim figure. Applying some face paint, she surveyed herself in the mirror. 'Hmmm. Not bad for five minutes.'
She then left the room and went across the hall to get Kerry. Her older sister came out looking very presentable. Her dress was much the same as Arianne's, except a higher neckline and in green instead of red. They smiled at one another, and set off to the great hall.