I have a split personality, or two selves, now let's go read chapter
twelve! (Whew! That was a bit of a stretch!
"I didn't see you." William stared quietly at Isabelle. "When did you come in?"
"I tried to slip in unnoticed." She said awkwardly. "I don't like my name being announced, and having everyone look at me so."
"I know how you feel." William acted slightly more introverted with Charles and John around. Isabelle caught his actions and turned to the two men.
"John, Charles, do you think you could leave us alone for a while?"
"Sure, cat-skin--" Charles was cut short by John's elbow coming into contact with his chest. "I mean, Isabelle--" John once again elbowed him. Charles looked annoyed. "Lady Mary." The two deeply bowed and tittered out. Isabelle turned back to William.
"Cat-skin?" William asked, half-smiling.
"Oh, a pet name. John is my...uncle."
"Ah." William nodded, looking assured, but still with a healthy hint of skepticism in his eyes. "And Isabelle?"
"My middle name. I prefer to be called that."
"May I call you Isabelle?"
Isabelle smiled so broadly it lit up her whole face. "Of course."
*~~*
"Oh, I agree, I would do the same thing in your position." Isabelle and William had linked arms, wandering through the gardens and talking of moral issues. William glanced up at the clock.
"Almost midnight. You're not going to run off, are you, Lady Mary?"
Isabelle looked at the clock and knew she had to get into the kitchen to make William's late supper. But all the same, she lied.
"No, no, of course not." She smiled fakely, looking over at William's shadowy figure. He has a handsome figure, she thought; then shook the reflection quickly out of her head.
"William!" a shrill voice called. "Where are you, pumpkin?"
William immediately tensed. "Mother!" he grabbed Isabelle's hand. "Come with me."
"What?"
"Just do it! Come with me!" he pulled Isabelle through the hedge maze, dashing around corners and never running into a dead end. They passed a few secluded guests, who turned and looked quizzically at them, but the couple ignored them in an attempt to escape the Queen.
"You know this maze well." Isabelle gasped between ragged breaths, trying to keep up with William. "You must do a lot to run away from your mother."
"Yes." William replied, winded.
"William?" her voice rang, shrill and incredulous, over the din of music and guests chattering. Despite all of their running, the Queen's voice was even closer now. William grabbed Isabelle's hand again and they started to run.
"Hurry, this way, she's on the other side of this hedge!"
Isabelle laughed wholeheartedly as she followed William, slowing, gasping for air. William seemed less sure of where he was going now, and their pace slowed as they stopped to catch their breath.
"I've never been in this part of the maze before." He said in between gaining air. "I don't know where we're going. But on the good side, I think we lost mother."
"William!" He had spoken too soon. The voice seemed closer than ever.
"Curses!" he smiled. It almost seemed a game to him,teasing his mother. Isabelle followed him down a dark, narrow maze corridor.
"Ouch!" Isabelle suddenly cried, grabbing her hand in pain.
"What is it?" William skidded to a stop and ran around back to Isabelle.
"A scratch from a thorn; that's all." Isabelle shrugged it off, smiling and looking into William's face, which was partly obscured by his long brown hair. William looked at the bleeding scratch on her hand concernedly, taking her hand in the gentlest manner. His touch made a little shiver go down Isabelle's spine.
"You're okay?"
"Yes...come on let's go!" she bolted and let William follow. When they heard the Queen, now even closer down the way, yelling for them to stop, they ran faster, and turned a corner. It was a dead end. Isabelle screamed with a little thrill, but the two had nowhere to go. They stood in the dead end and waited for their fate to come.
"I know!" William had a brilliant idea pop into his head, and without forewarning, kissed Isabelle just as the Queen turned the corner.
"William! There you--" She stopped short when she saw Isabelle and William kissing. "Hello Lady Mary." She said slyly. "I'll go now." She backed up, eyeing them sneakily until she rounded the corner. Isabelle looked at William with surprise. He looked back and laughed.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. I killed two birds with one stone. I got rid of mother, plus that'll probably shut her up for the next month." When Isabelle didn't answer, he stopped smiling. "What?"
"Nothing." Isabelle shook her head uncomfortably. "How do I get out of here?"
"Uh....I think you take this corridor to the end and then keep going right."
"Thank you." Isabelle turned and ran home just as the clock struck midnight.
"Wait!" he called, almost sadly, as she ran off.
*~~*
It wasn't a horrible kiss, Isabelle wrote in her notebook. In fact, it was quite a nice one. But I think I hurt William's feelings running off like that. I don't know why I did it. Run off, I mean. But he kissed me, brazenly. The thing is, I liked it.
And I think I love him.
*~~*
As usual, Isabelle prepared a supper of soup and bread for William. However, she seemed rather distracted, and overcooked the soup. At least Eliza isn't here to scold me, she thought, pouring the soup into a bread bowl. She absentmindedly stuck a gold necklace into the bowl to make the soup taste better.
Sighing, she recalled the kiss again; then scolded herself for not paying attention. She had to remember to take the necklace out of the soup. She sat up, leaving her dream behind, and looked down at the table.
The tray with the dinner was gone.
Cursing, she pursued the servant with it up the stairs, but it once again was too late. Isabelle watched with recalled horror as the soup was served to William.
*~~*
"Mom, will you get off me about it?" William grumbled, munching angrily at his bread. "I thought this would shut you up."
"-And we can have roses-white, of course-and pink-it's tradition-and we can have banners with red and purple-and we can have minstrels--"
"Mom." William snapped. "Plan the wedding when there's one to be planned." William was rather amazed his mother could talk for so long without sucking in air. He took a sip of his soup. "Hey, this is really good again." He took another sip.
"Maybe you should look for a ring before you kill yourself." The king grumbled.
"Good idea, dad." William stuck his spoon in the soup and swirled it around. This time, instead of a ring, he brought up a necklace-gold, a fine chain. But it made him a bit annoyed. "Maybe they are trying to kill me. Summon the person who made this." He said to a nearby servant. The servant scuttled off, and pulled a frightened cat-skin into the hall.
"Do you have any idea what we found in the soup you made?" the queen asked.
"N-no, your majesty." The maid stuttered. "What?"
"A necklace. Do you have an odd fascination with jewelry?" the Queen held up the necklace for the shivering girl to see.
"No, your majesty, I have never seen that before in me life." William eyed the girl suspiciously. Her face was pale with horror; yet it seemed so damned familiar.
"Do you take us for fools?" she thundered.
"No-I swear, I didn't put that in the soup!" she sobbed. "Please." She got down on her knees. "Spare me, a poor kitchen girl. I didn't do a thing." Instead of looking at the queen, she eyed William. William looked back with an odd expression. She looked SO familiar-perhaps he had seen her at the ball...
"No." he said simply. "Send her to the dungeon."
The dirty girl let out a ferocious howl. Two guards went to drag her off, kicking and flailing, when William cried out.
"Stop!" Everyone froze, including the kitchen-girl. William walked up to her and looked at her. After a few moments of horrifyingly terrifying silence, he backed up. "Never mind. Let the girl go."
The kitchen-girl sighed with relief. "Thank you, you highness." She bowed. "Thank you so much. Thank you--"
"Yes, yes." William waved her off impatiently. She scuttled off, exiting through the kitchen door. William walked back to his seat and sat down.
"What was that all about William?" the Queen asked. "William?"
But William wasn't listening. He was too busy thinking. Thinking about how odd it was that a servant-girl owned such fine gold jewelry. Thinking about how familiar the girl seemed, and how Charles called Lady Mary Cat-skin when the servant-girl's name was cat-skin as well. Thinking about how the servant girl said she had worked in Ginovia, and how Lady Mary had come from there. Thinking about the scrape-the scrape on her hand. The fresh scrape on her hand, in the same place where Lady Mary's was.
Yes, yes, yes, I have finally squeaked by with a chapter twelve. But you guys know the plights of a writer. You can't write unless you're inspired. And you can't force it because then it sucks...right? But this chapter was twice as long to make up for lack of updates, so I hope you're happy! Although it reads shorter, so I don't know...
Special Thanks to those who reviewed:
Mystical Dreams-I know what you mean. I feel the same way about my own stories sometimes too. Especially how John and Charles reacted in chapter 11....but I suppose I was rushing and didn't try really hard. That's what I get for forcing the writing.
Shrouded Spirit-You like the rhyming deally? It was hard to find a word that rhymed with twelve. (
Stargazer-Actually, the William Mary thing was a coincidence. (I didn't even know there was a William Mary University.)
Silverstar-Actually, it's not a version of Cinderella, or it's not meant to be. But I don't think it matters. Anyway, I am glad you like it.
Also thanks to zumamoonlight.
Well, I've been saving my other story, but I got too excited and posted it already. It's called practical Bedelia...go read it if you get a half a chance. It's pretty good, if I do say so myself.
"I didn't see you." William stared quietly at Isabelle. "When did you come in?"
"I tried to slip in unnoticed." She said awkwardly. "I don't like my name being announced, and having everyone look at me so."
"I know how you feel." William acted slightly more introverted with Charles and John around. Isabelle caught his actions and turned to the two men.
"John, Charles, do you think you could leave us alone for a while?"
"Sure, cat-skin--" Charles was cut short by John's elbow coming into contact with his chest. "I mean, Isabelle--" John once again elbowed him. Charles looked annoyed. "Lady Mary." The two deeply bowed and tittered out. Isabelle turned back to William.
"Cat-skin?" William asked, half-smiling.
"Oh, a pet name. John is my...uncle."
"Ah." William nodded, looking assured, but still with a healthy hint of skepticism in his eyes. "And Isabelle?"
"My middle name. I prefer to be called that."
"May I call you Isabelle?"
Isabelle smiled so broadly it lit up her whole face. "Of course."
*~~*
"Oh, I agree, I would do the same thing in your position." Isabelle and William had linked arms, wandering through the gardens and talking of moral issues. William glanced up at the clock.
"Almost midnight. You're not going to run off, are you, Lady Mary?"
Isabelle looked at the clock and knew she had to get into the kitchen to make William's late supper. But all the same, she lied.
"No, no, of course not." She smiled fakely, looking over at William's shadowy figure. He has a handsome figure, she thought; then shook the reflection quickly out of her head.
"William!" a shrill voice called. "Where are you, pumpkin?"
William immediately tensed. "Mother!" he grabbed Isabelle's hand. "Come with me."
"What?"
"Just do it! Come with me!" he pulled Isabelle through the hedge maze, dashing around corners and never running into a dead end. They passed a few secluded guests, who turned and looked quizzically at them, but the couple ignored them in an attempt to escape the Queen.
"You know this maze well." Isabelle gasped between ragged breaths, trying to keep up with William. "You must do a lot to run away from your mother."
"Yes." William replied, winded.
"William?" her voice rang, shrill and incredulous, over the din of music and guests chattering. Despite all of their running, the Queen's voice was even closer now. William grabbed Isabelle's hand again and they started to run.
"Hurry, this way, she's on the other side of this hedge!"
Isabelle laughed wholeheartedly as she followed William, slowing, gasping for air. William seemed less sure of where he was going now, and their pace slowed as they stopped to catch their breath.
"I've never been in this part of the maze before." He said in between gaining air. "I don't know where we're going. But on the good side, I think we lost mother."
"William!" He had spoken too soon. The voice seemed closer than ever.
"Curses!" he smiled. It almost seemed a game to him,teasing his mother. Isabelle followed him down a dark, narrow maze corridor.
"Ouch!" Isabelle suddenly cried, grabbing her hand in pain.
"What is it?" William skidded to a stop and ran around back to Isabelle.
"A scratch from a thorn; that's all." Isabelle shrugged it off, smiling and looking into William's face, which was partly obscured by his long brown hair. William looked at the bleeding scratch on her hand concernedly, taking her hand in the gentlest manner. His touch made a little shiver go down Isabelle's spine.
"You're okay?"
"Yes...come on let's go!" she bolted and let William follow. When they heard the Queen, now even closer down the way, yelling for them to stop, they ran faster, and turned a corner. It was a dead end. Isabelle screamed with a little thrill, but the two had nowhere to go. They stood in the dead end and waited for their fate to come.
"I know!" William had a brilliant idea pop into his head, and without forewarning, kissed Isabelle just as the Queen turned the corner.
"William! There you--" She stopped short when she saw Isabelle and William kissing. "Hello Lady Mary." She said slyly. "I'll go now." She backed up, eyeing them sneakily until she rounded the corner. Isabelle looked at William with surprise. He looked back and laughed.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. I killed two birds with one stone. I got rid of mother, plus that'll probably shut her up for the next month." When Isabelle didn't answer, he stopped smiling. "What?"
"Nothing." Isabelle shook her head uncomfortably. "How do I get out of here?"
"Uh....I think you take this corridor to the end and then keep going right."
"Thank you." Isabelle turned and ran home just as the clock struck midnight.
"Wait!" he called, almost sadly, as she ran off.
*~~*
It wasn't a horrible kiss, Isabelle wrote in her notebook. In fact, it was quite a nice one. But I think I hurt William's feelings running off like that. I don't know why I did it. Run off, I mean. But he kissed me, brazenly. The thing is, I liked it.
And I think I love him.
*~~*
As usual, Isabelle prepared a supper of soup and bread for William. However, she seemed rather distracted, and overcooked the soup. At least Eliza isn't here to scold me, she thought, pouring the soup into a bread bowl. She absentmindedly stuck a gold necklace into the bowl to make the soup taste better.
Sighing, she recalled the kiss again; then scolded herself for not paying attention. She had to remember to take the necklace out of the soup. She sat up, leaving her dream behind, and looked down at the table.
The tray with the dinner was gone.
Cursing, she pursued the servant with it up the stairs, but it once again was too late. Isabelle watched with recalled horror as the soup was served to William.
*~~*
"Mom, will you get off me about it?" William grumbled, munching angrily at his bread. "I thought this would shut you up."
"-And we can have roses-white, of course-and pink-it's tradition-and we can have banners with red and purple-and we can have minstrels--"
"Mom." William snapped. "Plan the wedding when there's one to be planned." William was rather amazed his mother could talk for so long without sucking in air. He took a sip of his soup. "Hey, this is really good again." He took another sip.
"Maybe you should look for a ring before you kill yourself." The king grumbled.
"Good idea, dad." William stuck his spoon in the soup and swirled it around. This time, instead of a ring, he brought up a necklace-gold, a fine chain. But it made him a bit annoyed. "Maybe they are trying to kill me. Summon the person who made this." He said to a nearby servant. The servant scuttled off, and pulled a frightened cat-skin into the hall.
"Do you have any idea what we found in the soup you made?" the queen asked.
"N-no, your majesty." The maid stuttered. "What?"
"A necklace. Do you have an odd fascination with jewelry?" the Queen held up the necklace for the shivering girl to see.
"No, your majesty, I have never seen that before in me life." William eyed the girl suspiciously. Her face was pale with horror; yet it seemed so damned familiar.
"Do you take us for fools?" she thundered.
"No-I swear, I didn't put that in the soup!" she sobbed. "Please." She got down on her knees. "Spare me, a poor kitchen girl. I didn't do a thing." Instead of looking at the queen, she eyed William. William looked back with an odd expression. She looked SO familiar-perhaps he had seen her at the ball...
"No." he said simply. "Send her to the dungeon."
The dirty girl let out a ferocious howl. Two guards went to drag her off, kicking and flailing, when William cried out.
"Stop!" Everyone froze, including the kitchen-girl. William walked up to her and looked at her. After a few moments of horrifyingly terrifying silence, he backed up. "Never mind. Let the girl go."
The kitchen-girl sighed with relief. "Thank you, you highness." She bowed. "Thank you so much. Thank you--"
"Yes, yes." William waved her off impatiently. She scuttled off, exiting through the kitchen door. William walked back to his seat and sat down.
"What was that all about William?" the Queen asked. "William?"
But William wasn't listening. He was too busy thinking. Thinking about how odd it was that a servant-girl owned such fine gold jewelry. Thinking about how familiar the girl seemed, and how Charles called Lady Mary Cat-skin when the servant-girl's name was cat-skin as well. Thinking about how the servant girl said she had worked in Ginovia, and how Lady Mary had come from there. Thinking about the scrape-the scrape on her hand. The fresh scrape on her hand, in the same place where Lady Mary's was.
Yes, yes, yes, I have finally squeaked by with a chapter twelve. But you guys know the plights of a writer. You can't write unless you're inspired. And you can't force it because then it sucks...right? But this chapter was twice as long to make up for lack of updates, so I hope you're happy! Although it reads shorter, so I don't know...
Special Thanks to those who reviewed:
Mystical Dreams-I know what you mean. I feel the same way about my own stories sometimes too. Especially how John and Charles reacted in chapter 11....but I suppose I was rushing and didn't try really hard. That's what I get for forcing the writing.
Shrouded Spirit-You like the rhyming deally? It was hard to find a word that rhymed with twelve. (
Stargazer-Actually, the William Mary thing was a coincidence. (I didn't even know there was a William Mary University.)
Silverstar-Actually, it's not a version of Cinderella, or it's not meant to be. But I don't think it matters. Anyway, I am glad you like it.
Also thanks to zumamoonlight.
Well, I've been saving my other story, but I got too excited and posted it already. It's called practical Bedelia...go read it if you get a half a chance. It's pretty good, if I do say so myself.