A/N: Hullo!! sorry it's been longer than i would hav liked for updates...but i'm heya now!!! =o)
*ahem* many thanx (sincerely) to: (before i start, bonus points to whoever can guess what "many thanks, sincerely" is from!) anyhow, many thanx to: Stancy McKatt (i'm glad i surprised ya!), fufie (i would LOVE to read Ivy and Roses, but i am in the process of rewriting my own Beauty and the Best version {Rosemarie}, and whenever i write a retelling, i hav to promise myself not to read other peeps' versions, so mine can stay original...i don't wanna take your ideas!! =o) but i'll read it as soon as i hav Rosemarie's plot firmly established!), Sailor Zel (yeah...i absolutely LOVE that line, corny as it is...he's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute, y'know?), chickyq (oo...TWO reviews...yeah, it's kinda like cupid and psyche, but it's just the norse version...a polar bear and trolls, for instance...nice reaction to chap 13!), and Faeriegurl (wow...ummm...where to begin...let's start another paragraph for neatness' sake, shall we?)
ok...ch. 1: thank you
ch. 2: i answer yer kesteeon in chapter three (wind)
ch. 3: well, it's a lil over halfway at least...
ch. 4: question answered in chapter eleven
ch. 5: hmmmmmmmmmm...hav u forgiven the dad and the guy (husband) yet for marrying off Celia?
ch. 6: celia is a bit...quirky...typical of a heroine of mine...i combine pieces of me with traits that i want to hav...and voila! my heroine...never your average damsel in distress, lemme tell ya! anyhow, it's kinda wierd, i know, to be married in so short a time, but...ever seen "West Side Story" or read "Zel" by Donna Jo Napoli? in both of those, the couple was married, but not official...not by a pastor, priest, rabbi or anything...but they still took vows or promised...like her father unknowingly promised to the bear...get it? (this also answers part of your question from chapter 13)...and no, the white bear doesn't hav a name...there's no one else to address in the daytime, so for celia it's really not necessary...she just refers to him as "the white bear" (original, i know, but...)
ch. 7: i like him too...and i know he lacks a name as well, but i address that in a later chapter...(yeah...i wish there were real guys like him...he is, however, loosely based on someone i know...heehee...)
ch. 8: hmmmm...how to explain without ruining any innocence...i'll just answer it in ch. 13...
ch. 9: i know...but something just HAD to go wrong, y'know? else it would hav been a purty boring story...
ch. 10: yeah, he is...and yeah, she did...
ch. 11: you'll know his name eventually...and women are meant to be curious...she lasted purty long (i'm not specific on how long, but it was a while), and...yup yup...a troll princess (she SO does not deserve him...PICK ME PICK ME!!!...it's a sad thing when u fall in love with a character u create...i luv tobin (from gretchen), too...and i hav a feeling that the prince from Rosemarie will be great too...i havn't met him yet...*sigh*...ignore me...)
ch. 12: i explain why the old crone's sister is a little girl in this chapter...it all makes sense, i promise...(it makes even more sense if you've read "The Arkadians" by Lloyd Alexander, but it'll still come clear)...i'm so very glad u like it...i absolutely LOVE Anniya!!! =o)
ch. 13: (whew...last one!) i must say, every time i read this review i burst out laughing...it's so funny to me! first of all, they've been married for longer than a few nights...in chapter nine, and i quote "after the first few days, celia's life fell into a moderately predictable pattern..." i never say, i'll admit, exactly how long it was, but i mention it later...in chapter...ahhh...seventeen...yeah...i talk about the passage of time a bit...promise...oh...and they did "it" in chapter five...i have a line in there: "it was then that celia realized that this marriage was real" the thing is, my first readers were my friends and my english teacher, so i didn't wanna elaborate...and even like that, one of my friends was like "Jenny!" but jokingly...yup yup...keep the innocence of the children...my ten year-old sis thought that Gretchen getting pregnant was gross...see what i hav to put up with??? yeah...and they are married...i mentioned that about chapter six...and thank you, THANK YOU for your many reviews...they made my day!!!
wow...my author's note was almost as long as this chapter...sorry guys!!! on with the show!
~Jenny the chica~
Chapter Fourteen: In Which Celia Finds Strength...
Poor Celia, with all the shock she had experienced in the past-how long had it been, really? A mere twenty-four hours?-simply fell back onto the bed, in a complete state of mixed emotions.
"Oh, Celia." Celia vaguely made out Ariedè's shadowy figure bending over her. "I'm so sorry. I-I thought that you would have known...oh, oh!"
Celia mumbled something about nothing being wrong, everything being all right, but it didn't even sound convincing to her own ears. It all made sense now. She should have realized it, but she had belittled how different she was feeling so as not to worry her husband, and now just as part of the shock and grief she was going through.
"Celia? Are you truly all right?"
With a newfound assurance, Celia managed, as she sat up, "Yes. Yes I am. I'm so sorry, it's just that I-I...I've gone through so much...and, and..." She shrugged, directing her tear-filled eyes downward, attempting to hide them from her friend.
In vain, of course. "Celia, I know it's been hard, but you can make it through! Why, you're strong and brave and determined and beautiful and-and..." Ariedè looked sideways for help, smiling.
Celia caught her contagious smile and even managed a genuine laugh. "You're right. I can't give up now. In fact, much as I hate to leave, I have to go now. I can't wait a minute more!"
Ariedè was the one caught by surprise this time. "But-but Celia! Are you sure that that's wise? I mean, in your present condition, there's not much that you can do-"
"My condition?!? We already discussed that! I'm not about to continue that particular discussion!"
Ariedè found that a smile was once again forced onto her lips, and, always full of joy, let out a something between a hiccup and a giggle.
"Well then! We have to get you on your way! Let's see..." she hurried into the kitchen, then paused in thought at what to choose. "You'll need this and this and that and...over here! That's where it was! These things always come in handy! And you can't go anywhere without this..."
On and on she went, with Celia laughing the entire time. Once or twice her brimming tears overflowed, but with joy rather than the sorrow that they had originally been caused by.
Ariedè finally completed the towering pile of Celia's "needs" and staggered, arms overflowing, to the saddlebags still laid out on the bed. To Celia's utter amazement, it all fit, but she felt sorry for whoever was to carry it!
Ariedè placed the apple in a special compartment, then ran back to her kitchen, only to emerge, empty-handed and frowning a few seconds later. Lips pursed in thought, her face lit up all of a sudden, and she rushed to her bureau drawer, throwing objects right and left, a few of which Celia was inclined to dodge, until she turned to face a soiled pillowcase in her face. As a result, when Ariedè finally rose up triumphantly, Celia was on her side on the bed, clutching her aching side in uncontrollable laughter. Ariedè merely shook her head solemnly, which egged Celia's laughter on for a few more moments.
When Celia finished her panting, Ariedè victoriously lifted up a bundle of everyday cloth, made of old scraps of clothing and such. The bundle shrank more and more the more it was unwound, but a heavy object finally slipped from it, glistening in the ever-present firelight.
Celia gasped and picked up the object, holding it to the light. She identified it as a golden carding comb. Clearly a precious object to this lover of horses, Celia smiled and embraced her. "Thank you," she tearfully whispered.
Ariedè smiled in childish pride. "Oh, it was nothing." Her blush suggested otherwise.
"Anyway, you can ride my horse. She's very gentle, and my sister doesn't live very far," she said as she guided Celia outside. A slight puff of wind was felt, then a horse appeared in front of the pair, very different from the previous, but in another way, exactly the same. This one was of a chestnut brown, with a mane that blended into its sides. Nevertheless, it bore the stubborn look in its eyes that Celia recognized all too well.
"Thank you so much, Ariedè! But how will I return it to you?" Celia set the saddlebags on the horse, pushing away Ariedè and her protestations of all the things that she shouldn't do "while in her condition."
"Oh, just hit the back of her right ear three times, and she'll come right back! Good luck, Celia!"
"Thank you, Ariedè! I promise to come see you again, on a slightly happier occasion!"
Ariedè tearfully nodded a confirmation, and after watching the two into the distance, trudged inside.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Celia rode along yet another bumpy road, though she missed the majority of potholes and rocks. The reality that she truly was with child caused her to shake for at least half the trip. But Celia was sensible. She understood that she was to be careful, but she also understood the vitality of the situation. She had to find her husband now. Any later would be too late, and she had yet another reason on her list of why exactly she was doing this.
Because I love him. Because he loves me, even though I did this. Because we truly are married. And now because we are going to have a child.
A child. Celia had always dreamed, as most girls do, of having her perfect little family, with adorable children and a husband who was always there, who cared for and loved her. Well, it wasn't quite perfect at the moment. Maybe time would ease things up. Or maybe it would make them even worse.
Celia let out a quick breath, brimming with irritation and exasperation. She never had enjoyed travel, especially now, as she wasn't at her utmost.
Suddenly, her stomach began churning, and she panicked, not remembering why. Memories of friends and relatives when they were in their early pregnancies came back to her, and she remembered why. She didn't understand why, but there was no use arguing. It was natural, and she would accept it with dignity.
Laughing at her rationalizing, she slowed the horse to a stop, then discreetly bent over a bush and threw up. She actually felt a little better, but her tender stomach got on her nerves after a while. Ah, the joys of pregnancies.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Celia finally reached the cottage about a week and a half later. Feeling incredibly exhausted and mourning her tender stomach, she merely prayed that she would not make a fool of herself like she had with the last sister.
When she trudged up, for she could not even handle a trot, she was greeted by a feminine form, older then Celia, but not by much. She helped Celia off, mutely understanding her condition.
Celia could only smile and moan at her kindness, but she was thoroughly grateful.
In the meager, blissful moments on the brink of sleep, Celia unlocked the mystery of the three sisters. They represented the woman. The first for crone, second for child, third for mother. The incarnations of each themselves! Celia, shaking with her discovery, nevertheless slept soundly, her free arm curled around her slender middle, enjoying it while it lasted.
ps~ PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! merci!
*ahem* many thanx (sincerely) to: (before i start, bonus points to whoever can guess what "many thanks, sincerely" is from!) anyhow, many thanx to: Stancy McKatt (i'm glad i surprised ya!), fufie (i would LOVE to read Ivy and Roses, but i am in the process of rewriting my own Beauty and the Best version {Rosemarie}, and whenever i write a retelling, i hav to promise myself not to read other peeps' versions, so mine can stay original...i don't wanna take your ideas!! =o) but i'll read it as soon as i hav Rosemarie's plot firmly established!), Sailor Zel (yeah...i absolutely LOVE that line, corny as it is...he's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute, y'know?), chickyq (oo...TWO reviews...yeah, it's kinda like cupid and psyche, but it's just the norse version...a polar bear and trolls, for instance...nice reaction to chap 13!), and Faeriegurl (wow...ummm...where to begin...let's start another paragraph for neatness' sake, shall we?)
ok...ch. 1: thank you
ch. 2: i answer yer kesteeon in chapter three (wind)
ch. 3: well, it's a lil over halfway at least...
ch. 4: question answered in chapter eleven
ch. 5: hmmmmmmmmmm...hav u forgiven the dad and the guy (husband) yet for marrying off Celia?
ch. 6: celia is a bit...quirky...typical of a heroine of mine...i combine pieces of me with traits that i want to hav...and voila! my heroine...never your average damsel in distress, lemme tell ya! anyhow, it's kinda wierd, i know, to be married in so short a time, but...ever seen "West Side Story" or read "Zel" by Donna Jo Napoli? in both of those, the couple was married, but not official...not by a pastor, priest, rabbi or anything...but they still took vows or promised...like her father unknowingly promised to the bear...get it? (this also answers part of your question from chapter 13)...and no, the white bear doesn't hav a name...there's no one else to address in the daytime, so for celia it's really not necessary...she just refers to him as "the white bear" (original, i know, but...)
ch. 7: i like him too...and i know he lacks a name as well, but i address that in a later chapter...(yeah...i wish there were real guys like him...he is, however, loosely based on someone i know...heehee...)
ch. 8: hmmmm...how to explain without ruining any innocence...i'll just answer it in ch. 13...
ch. 9: i know...but something just HAD to go wrong, y'know? else it would hav been a purty boring story...
ch. 10: yeah, he is...and yeah, she did...
ch. 11: you'll know his name eventually...and women are meant to be curious...she lasted purty long (i'm not specific on how long, but it was a while), and...yup yup...a troll princess (she SO does not deserve him...PICK ME PICK ME!!!...it's a sad thing when u fall in love with a character u create...i luv tobin (from gretchen), too...and i hav a feeling that the prince from Rosemarie will be great too...i havn't met him yet...*sigh*...ignore me...)
ch. 12: i explain why the old crone's sister is a little girl in this chapter...it all makes sense, i promise...(it makes even more sense if you've read "The Arkadians" by Lloyd Alexander, but it'll still come clear)...i'm so very glad u like it...i absolutely LOVE Anniya!!! =o)
ch. 13: (whew...last one!) i must say, every time i read this review i burst out laughing...it's so funny to me! first of all, they've been married for longer than a few nights...in chapter nine, and i quote "after the first few days, celia's life fell into a moderately predictable pattern..." i never say, i'll admit, exactly how long it was, but i mention it later...in chapter...ahhh...seventeen...yeah...i talk about the passage of time a bit...promise...oh...and they did "it" in chapter five...i have a line in there: "it was then that celia realized that this marriage was real" the thing is, my first readers were my friends and my english teacher, so i didn't wanna elaborate...and even like that, one of my friends was like "Jenny!" but jokingly...yup yup...keep the innocence of the children...my ten year-old sis thought that Gretchen getting pregnant was gross...see what i hav to put up with??? yeah...and they are married...i mentioned that about chapter six...and thank you, THANK YOU for your many reviews...they made my day!!!
wow...my author's note was almost as long as this chapter...sorry guys!!! on with the show!
~Jenny the chica~
Chapter Fourteen: In Which Celia Finds Strength...
Poor Celia, with all the shock she had experienced in the past-how long had it been, really? A mere twenty-four hours?-simply fell back onto the bed, in a complete state of mixed emotions.
"Oh, Celia." Celia vaguely made out Ariedè's shadowy figure bending over her. "I'm so sorry. I-I thought that you would have known...oh, oh!"
Celia mumbled something about nothing being wrong, everything being all right, but it didn't even sound convincing to her own ears. It all made sense now. She should have realized it, but she had belittled how different she was feeling so as not to worry her husband, and now just as part of the shock and grief she was going through.
"Celia? Are you truly all right?"
With a newfound assurance, Celia managed, as she sat up, "Yes. Yes I am. I'm so sorry, it's just that I-I...I've gone through so much...and, and..." She shrugged, directing her tear-filled eyes downward, attempting to hide them from her friend.
In vain, of course. "Celia, I know it's been hard, but you can make it through! Why, you're strong and brave and determined and beautiful and-and..." Ariedè looked sideways for help, smiling.
Celia caught her contagious smile and even managed a genuine laugh. "You're right. I can't give up now. In fact, much as I hate to leave, I have to go now. I can't wait a minute more!"
Ariedè was the one caught by surprise this time. "But-but Celia! Are you sure that that's wise? I mean, in your present condition, there's not much that you can do-"
"My condition?!? We already discussed that! I'm not about to continue that particular discussion!"
Ariedè found that a smile was once again forced onto her lips, and, always full of joy, let out a something between a hiccup and a giggle.
"Well then! We have to get you on your way! Let's see..." she hurried into the kitchen, then paused in thought at what to choose. "You'll need this and this and that and...over here! That's where it was! These things always come in handy! And you can't go anywhere without this..."
On and on she went, with Celia laughing the entire time. Once or twice her brimming tears overflowed, but with joy rather than the sorrow that they had originally been caused by.
Ariedè finally completed the towering pile of Celia's "needs" and staggered, arms overflowing, to the saddlebags still laid out on the bed. To Celia's utter amazement, it all fit, but she felt sorry for whoever was to carry it!
Ariedè placed the apple in a special compartment, then ran back to her kitchen, only to emerge, empty-handed and frowning a few seconds later. Lips pursed in thought, her face lit up all of a sudden, and she rushed to her bureau drawer, throwing objects right and left, a few of which Celia was inclined to dodge, until she turned to face a soiled pillowcase in her face. As a result, when Ariedè finally rose up triumphantly, Celia was on her side on the bed, clutching her aching side in uncontrollable laughter. Ariedè merely shook her head solemnly, which egged Celia's laughter on for a few more moments.
When Celia finished her panting, Ariedè victoriously lifted up a bundle of everyday cloth, made of old scraps of clothing and such. The bundle shrank more and more the more it was unwound, but a heavy object finally slipped from it, glistening in the ever-present firelight.
Celia gasped and picked up the object, holding it to the light. She identified it as a golden carding comb. Clearly a precious object to this lover of horses, Celia smiled and embraced her. "Thank you," she tearfully whispered.
Ariedè smiled in childish pride. "Oh, it was nothing." Her blush suggested otherwise.
"Anyway, you can ride my horse. She's very gentle, and my sister doesn't live very far," she said as she guided Celia outside. A slight puff of wind was felt, then a horse appeared in front of the pair, very different from the previous, but in another way, exactly the same. This one was of a chestnut brown, with a mane that blended into its sides. Nevertheless, it bore the stubborn look in its eyes that Celia recognized all too well.
"Thank you so much, Ariedè! But how will I return it to you?" Celia set the saddlebags on the horse, pushing away Ariedè and her protestations of all the things that she shouldn't do "while in her condition."
"Oh, just hit the back of her right ear three times, and she'll come right back! Good luck, Celia!"
"Thank you, Ariedè! I promise to come see you again, on a slightly happier occasion!"
Ariedè tearfully nodded a confirmation, and after watching the two into the distance, trudged inside.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Celia rode along yet another bumpy road, though she missed the majority of potholes and rocks. The reality that she truly was with child caused her to shake for at least half the trip. But Celia was sensible. She understood that she was to be careful, but she also understood the vitality of the situation. She had to find her husband now. Any later would be too late, and she had yet another reason on her list of why exactly she was doing this.
Because I love him. Because he loves me, even though I did this. Because we truly are married. And now because we are going to have a child.
A child. Celia had always dreamed, as most girls do, of having her perfect little family, with adorable children and a husband who was always there, who cared for and loved her. Well, it wasn't quite perfect at the moment. Maybe time would ease things up. Or maybe it would make them even worse.
Celia let out a quick breath, brimming with irritation and exasperation. She never had enjoyed travel, especially now, as she wasn't at her utmost.
Suddenly, her stomach began churning, and she panicked, not remembering why. Memories of friends and relatives when they were in their early pregnancies came back to her, and she remembered why. She didn't understand why, but there was no use arguing. It was natural, and she would accept it with dignity.
Laughing at her rationalizing, she slowed the horse to a stop, then discreetly bent over a bush and threw up. She actually felt a little better, but her tender stomach got on her nerves after a while. Ah, the joys of pregnancies.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Celia finally reached the cottage about a week and a half later. Feeling incredibly exhausted and mourning her tender stomach, she merely prayed that she would not make a fool of herself like she had with the last sister.
When she trudged up, for she could not even handle a trot, she was greeted by a feminine form, older then Celia, but not by much. She helped Celia off, mutely understanding her condition.
Celia could only smile and moan at her kindness, but she was thoroughly grateful.
In the meager, blissful moments on the brink of sleep, Celia unlocked the mystery of the three sisters. They represented the woman. The first for crone, second for child, third for mother. The incarnations of each themselves! Celia, shaking with her discovery, nevertheless slept soundly, her free arm curled around her slender middle, enjoying it while it lasted.
ps~ PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! merci!