Painful Fate
Chapter Two
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine except for Alanna's mother, Queen Rosalind and sister Princess Aruella.
Alanna sat on her bed, sobbing. She would have to leave Clarus! And Aruella was angry at her. She desperately wished for anything that would let her stay in Clarus. She loved Clarus. It was beautiful, with jungles in the southern islands that she loved to explore and the sunny coasts with their waves just waiting to be splashed in. The palace villas were removed from the cities with their stifling airs and rush of people. Here she was free, without the constraints of the court. If she had to leave for Tortall, she knew she would hate it there. The castle there – as she had found out from Thom – was right in the middle of a city. It was made of gray stone and cold, unlike the beautiful and warm palace villas of Clarus. And worse, it was faraway from the coast and its fresh air and sparkling oceans. The city of Corus stank too. The river near the castle – Thom had told her – was brown and muddy. The only good thing about the castle was the it was near the Royal Forest, which in comparison to the city had fresh air, and best of all freedom. For a little while, if she went there, she would have a little freedom. She thought about Joppa. She had liked it when she visited, as it was much like Clarus, with fresh air, jungles and a beautiful coast. The palace there was beautiful and the people were very kind. But she could not think of being married to old King Henderas for the rest of her life. He was too disgusting and repulsive to even touch, let alone live with. And worse of all, she would have to be queen right away, with no time for anything fun.
She wished with all her energy that she was a boy. She wouldn't have to leave Clarus then. Instead, she could train as a warrior, like Thom was doing. Even though she would have to train alone – because she royal – it would be better than leaving. She got up and decided to go to her favorite spot, a niche in one of the palace gardens. She sat there alone and sad, until a maid found her for the evening banquet.
The banquet that night seemed dull and lusterless. The creations of food, which were normally delectable and seemed to come to life, were now ordinary and boring. Despite the fact that there was a cool summer breeze and she was wearing a light gown of chiffon, the open banquet hall seemed hot and stuffy. Aruella on the other hand, was joyful and ecstatic – over the two offers of marriage, which meant that she would marry. Alanna had known from the whisperings of servants and her sister's resentful and sullen moods that until now, Aruella had no offers of marriage from other kingdoms. Fifteen – the age Aruella was now – was the age that most royal princesses left for their new home, having been betrothed at fourteen or earlier. Yet Aruella was still in Clarus, the reason that she was now often resentful and sullen towards Alanna. Alanna, the sister who was considered bad luck – twins were considered bad luck by peoples inhabiting the islands – and would have been cast away, had it not been for the fact that she was royal, had already gotten two offers of marriage, one from a mainland kingdom to the south called Carthak and another from an island kingdom called Silla.
Alanna continued picking at her food. The banquet was long and it seemed as if it would never end. Finally it was over and players came out to act out a scene from a book called The Merchant's Wares. It was funny, especially when the merchant was attempting to hide all of his goods, but the sight of the ambassadors from Joppa and Tortall watching her and Aruella carefully extinguished her better mood.
Queen Rosalind, noticing her daughter's sad mood asked "What's wrong Alanna?"
"Nothing," Alanna replied, forcing herself to smile.
Queen Rosalind, noticing Alanna's attempt to change her mood, gently said "If it was the news this afternoon dear, don't fret. All princesses must someday leave their home for the better of their kingdom. I had to leave my homeland to come here and marry your father. But in the end I came to love him and our kingdom. Just as you will your husband and kingdom."
Alanna nodded mutely. But Clarus is beautiful and Father is nice. How can I love someone if he is old, ugly, and repulsive? Or a kingdom if it stinks and is crowded?
Finally, after the water clock had run out, the play was over. Alanna sadly walked back to her room and shut the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Next day . . .
Aruella grows more cold and resentful each day. I wish she was like when we younger and wasn't worrying about leaving Clarus and marrying. Like during the festival of Helene (the goddess of light) during the summer solstice when she isn't at all mean or resentful, but joyful and kind. Festivals make her happy, I think, because then people don't see her as ugly princess but as a normal girl.
Alanna smiled. The festival of Helene and the summer solstice were only a few weeks away. The festival of Helene was her favorite of all the festivals. On that day, everyone is out of doors, because the festival always takes place out of doors. There were also a many games and entertainment; her favorite was Chase the Pig. In that game, a piglet with the smallest possible tail is completely soaped. The children wear their oldest clothing. Then the piglet is let loose into a muddy area. Then, as the name implies, you chase the pig. Whoever catches it wins. Last year's festival was the best because she had caught the pig. Durtney, one of Thom's friends, had almost caught it, but just as he grabbed the tail, the pig squealed and ran out of his grasp.
"Your Highness?"
Alanna looked up from her niche in the palace gardens. It was one of the royal seamstresses'
"Her majesty requests that you join her and your sister for dress fittings for Your Highness's gown for the festival of Helene," the seamstress said.
Alanna sighed. Dress fittings. Yuck. It was not only the boredom of dress fittings that made Alanna detest them but also the tedious time. Aruella seemed to always take a very long time choosing the fabric, cut and detail of her dress. But nevertheless, Alanna got up and trudged after the seamstress.
Mother and Aruella were perched on stools in the bijou – where the attire of the court was made – looking at fabrics and sketches.
"Something with longer sleeves," Alanna heard Aruella say. They seemed not to notice her. Then Queen Rosalind turned her head and saw Alanna.
"Have a look at what you would like for your gown, dear," said Queen Rosalind as one of the seamstresses pulled up a stool for Alanna.
Alanna leafed through the sketches of gowns in the seamstresses' book. She heard her sister sigh depressingly as she continued her search for a gown. Alanna decided on a soft golden gown made of charmeuse with a sheer over gown of chiffon. The split caplet sleeves were made of sheer chiffon and attached to the bodice and went up in a V from the bodice. She looked over at Mother and Aruella. Aruella was taking a long time to decide what gown she wanted because she always insisted on looking at every sketch.
"No, I don't like the clingy fabric." That was Aruella.
"Mother, may I leave?" asked Alanna.
"No. You must learn to be patient and wait for your sister, dear," answered Queen Rosalind.
Alanna looked out the window. There were the horse grooms, leading the horses out to picket. And two girls wearing bathing chitons in the laverqua – the specially made swimming hole. Her feet itched and she longed to join them. Alanna decided that when she was fifteen she would certainly not take as long an Aruella to pick a gown. Will I be in Clarus when I'm fifteen? She had already been at the royal seamstresses' for upwards of an hour. There was so much she could be doing instead of waiting for Aruella at the royal seamstresses'. Like riding her horse Starred Night or practicing the new spell she had been taught by Master Noverre, her instructor in mage craft.
"No," said a sullen voice, "It makes me look fatter." Alanna turned around as she heard Aruella.
She sighed. Aruella was still not finished choosing her gown. Alanna watched as Aruella looked over a selection of fabrics, all of them dark and heavy. Why does Aruella like such fabrics? Surely she shall be hot when we are at the festival, as it is out of doors.
"Does this make me look fatter Mother?" Aruella was holding up heavy dark blue brocade.
"Dear, it matters not how you look on the outside but the inside," said Queen Rosalind, quoting an old proverb.
Aruella broke down in tears. "Yes it does! You're trying to hide that you think it makes me fatter than I already am! No man shall ever want me! I won't ever be able to marry!"
It always came to this – Aruella breaking down in tears and crying that she was fat and ugly and that she would never be able to marry – Alanna noted. She sighed. There were more things in life than beauty and marriage. She wished dearly that Mother and Father would let her experience them but they always said – "Remember, it is more important to marry for the good of the kingdom than to remain free and unwed." Finally Aruella recovered from her tears and continued looking over the selection of fabrics. After much self-deliberation, she chose heavy forest green brocade. She had decided on rather dress with a rather tight looking bodice, a square neckline, long flared sleeves, and a large bell shaped skirt. Alanna wondered if she would be able to breathe in it, or even eat.
Alanna looked up hopefully at her mother.
"Yes, you may leave now," Mother decided.
Alanna ran out the door towards the stables as fast as she could.
"And take care that you don't dirty your skirts," Queen Rosalind called.
Alanna shouted with joy as she raced towards the water's edge on Starred Night. She rode to a stop and jumped off Night. She let him wander, knowing that he would not leave. She ran towards the water's edge. As she was about to plunge in, she remembered that she had forgotten her bathing chiton. She looked doubtfully at her delicate charmeuse gown with its sheer sleeves of split chiffon. Oh well. It would have to do. She walked into the water, feeling its coolness on her legs. She swam into the deeper parts, looking for fish. She spotted a school of rindunus, the tiny rainbow colored fish that inhabited the ithaquas – tide pools.
She swam back nearer the shore and spotted a tiny white larnqua – conch – with a pink top and speckled with yellow. She picked it up – after checking that its inhabitants weren't inside – and tucked it into a fold of her chiton for her shell collection. She surfaced and looked at the sky. The sun was beginning to set and she had better go back to the palace. Then she stopped in shock, remembering. Mother and Father will be truly angry if they see me like this.
Alanna was about to turn around a corner when she heard Father and Mother conversing with someone. Their footsteps told Alanna that they were sure to see her. Oh no. What am I going to do? She cautiously stepped around the corner, hoping to pass by unnoticed.
King Alan and Queen Rosalind stopped abruptly in shock at the wet Alanna; with them was the Tortallan ambassador, Duke Antious of Salisan. Alanna slowly met Mother and Father's eyes; Mother's were filled disappointment and Father's were angry. Alanna lowered her head in shame, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. The ambassador uttered a small squeak.
"Alanna," King Alan said, keeping a rein on his temper, "go to your chambers and clean yourself."
Alanna nodded mutely and walked back to her room, head lowered in shame.
A/N: Sooo . . . review, review, review!!! Sorry if the chapter is rather boring but remember: it takes a long time for a peace treaty to be drawn up so I can't just skip to parts of it. For all you mush lovers: there won't be romance in this because 1) she's only thirteen 2) she hasn't met any guys worth writing mush about.