~Memories~

By Ola

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A/N~ this is the story of a girl who runs away from tradition and from the fate that her parents have made for her. She enrolls in the guard…and things start to become interesting, especially when she meet a certain guy, who is more than he appears to be. I plan for this to be a rather long story, and as not much is typed yet, it will take a while between each post. Sorry, but I'm kind of busy at the moment. But don't despair. There WILL be and end to this…sometime =) ok, if you're still here, enjoy the beginning of "memories"

Disclaimer- don't own nada that you recognize. Everything else is mine, MINE you hear!!! Muahaha! Ok, ok, errr, read on…..and don't sue, I'm a poor college student having to eat oatmeal for breakfast…

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Part 1~

"No, no no. there is no way I will wear that!" said Micolanea to her mother, as calmly as possible, but strain was showing in her voice. "Why can't I just wear a simple dress? No corset, no triple under dress?...we are just going to a family gathering. It's not as if they haven't all seen me before. And anyway, I will probably just get out of everybody's sight the minute after the welcome is done with," she finished with exasperation. It was harder and harder to deal with her parents; especially with her mother, who with age had acquired strange ideas that were entirely not in keeping with Micolanea's.

"No you won't. Not this time. You are an eighteen years old young lady, practically a woman, and you will behave as such. You will not bring shame to this family by behaving like a wild vagrant," said Mrs. Sephardi, looking pointedly at Mico's rather short hair, disapproval loud in her voice.

"Now off you go. And try to do something with that head of yours. Wear a little hat. All the family will be there, and I want them to see a proper lady. There will be not one person saying that I do not know how to bring up my daughters. Maybe then someone will be hardy enough to notice you," she finished as if in afterthought, but Mico knew that this was one of the reasons her family held such reunions. To make young girls known to the rest of the family as suitable brides. Micolanea was a few years past the time she could have been wed, by Sephardi reckoning, and it plagued her mother more than she cared to admit. Micolanea, however, did her utmost possible to escape that fate as long as possible. Brides? Pfua! More like pieces of property, thought Mico bitterly, stomping up to her room. Why can't I just stay here? Mother won't go so far as to drag me there herself. No, that would be far too shameful and disgraceful. But I would hear from her afterwards, there's no doubt about that. Her ear burned at the thought. With tears in her eyes at her powerless position, she dressed in a green silk skirt with heavy brocade, and embroidery at the hems. The neckline was far too low for her liking, but it was her mother's selection, and once she made up her mind about something, there was no dissuading her. Of course, Mico could simply go downstairs dressed in men's trousers and shirt, but that wouldn't solve anything. As a final touch of rebellion, she stayed up in her room until the last minute, leaving her hair as it was, which was to say, something resembling a very messy black mop on top of her slightly triangular shaped face. But when her mother saw her in that state, it was far too late to do anything about it. It was unbecoming to arrive late, and Mrs. Sephardi would not subject herself to such disgrace. As a well to do merchant's wife, she had her reputation to keep, and in this society, reputations were very quickly dumped into the dirt. So scowling at her daughter, she stepped into the first of the gray carriages that would transport them all over to her uncle's town house. Micolanea waited for the last carriage, hoping that by that time, the first team of horses would have whisked her mother away and she could discreetly sneak back into her room, but the watchful eye of Mrs. Sephardi never left her daughter, who with a heavy sigh finally boarded, making a long face, for all to see her unhappiness.

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The ride lasted a candle mark, the scenery alternating between open fields and clusters of little thatched houses. It was early August, the trees were all laden with green, full leaves; and little flowers showed their heads on a few late blooming ones. Little children played with each other along the road, their little heads empty pf worry. A smile crept on Mico's face as she imagined herself climbing a particularly tall apple tree. She could feel herself rocked by the warm breeze, all around her shiny leaves rustling happily, and the rough bark keeping her from slipping. She would stay there until nightfall, seeing the first stars come up…the hunter and his dog on her right, the swan a little farther from it, to the left. Ahh, yes, she would have loved to spend an evening like that, without her mother pestering her about "proper" lady behavior. The thought of Mrs. Sephardi brought her back to reality, and she looked with envy at a couple of youths in guard uniforms, as the carriage slowly rolled by. At least they don't have to listen to their parents. Their only job is to defend their villages, where nothing really happens. And before that, they have years of training, mostly circuits in some huge forest. Those are peaceful times. She sighed again, this time less loudly, and closed her eyes, trying to imagine herself anywhere but where she was now. I could probably make a better guard than them, she thought after a moment, embittered by her lack of freedom. I'm sure I can at least shoot better than them. That little thought brought a small smile to her face. I wonder what father would say if he knew I have been practicing archery all by myself in the evenings for two full years. Mother would probably have a fit, and when she recovered, she would surely find someone "suitable" for me, and marry me off as soon as possible. Yea, right, someone "suitable" meaning some guy who could beat some sense into me. No thanks.

After a while, she turned her head to look at the other occupants of the carriage. Next to her was one of the maidservants, a pretty but quiet little thing that kept darting her little eyes at everyone, as if afraid they might do something to her. On the padded bench opposite her sat her two youngest brothers, Alen and Mat. They were good enough boys, but could get into mischief faster than anyone could get them out of. That was one reason why she liked them, apart from the fact that when they smiled, they looked like little angels. But the oldest of the two was seven years her junior, and although their little tricks always made her laugh, they were just that: tricks. The next carriage probably held more servants and her sister. She was thirteen, the age when girls fall in love with every good-looking boy they set their eyes upon, and Angela was no exception to that rule. Finally, the first carriage held her parents and her older brother Sam. Mrs. Sephardi was a good-looking woman of middle age. Her dark brown hair were only just starting to turn silver at the temples, but her blue eyes were sharp as ever. Born a low income merchant's daughter, she had set both her eyes on Ted Sephardi, an enterprising young fellow in his time. But Mico's father was as calm and self possessed as her mother was bossy and a perfectionist. Therefore, she had naturally taken over the household, but that did not seem to bother her husband at all, since he could still go out with his old time friends for a couple of mugs of rich ale. As for Sam, he looked like an exact copy of their mother, but with masculine features, while sharing their father's personality, in addition to being hardworking, which made him quite famous among the girls. And then there is me, thought Mico with a wry smile. Her short black hair and fierce green eyes had an appealing wildness about them, and her thin and lithe body added to that image. Mrs. Sephardi had spent more than one night lying awake at night, wondering what to do with her daughter. She just wasn't like anybody else in the family, although she did resemble her father physically, but with more feminine features.

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A/N~ so? I know, I know, it was short, and since I have to do some kind of introduction and setting, it won't sound interesting for a while. But please review, and keep peeping into this site from time to time!~

~Ola~