Chapter 13 Dragons and Knights

(At the Great Smial-Pippin is still staying @ Brandy Hall but as his sisters are older they were allowed to remain alone at home)

"It's too long anyway!"

"Oh come now.it's my play!"

Pimpernel and Pervinca argued loudly in the living room over one of Pimpernel's newest works: a script she had been writing for nearly two months. It was about a princess who was locked in a tall tower about to be destroyed by a great firebreathing dragon but was then gallantly rescued by a brave knight. Since there were very few female roles, Pimpernel had suggested that Pervinca be the dragon.

"That's not fair.I don't want to be some great ugly beast! Why doesn't Pearl be the dragon?"

"I will not!" Pearl snapped. "I'm the princess thank you."

"And I'm the knight. So that leaves you to be the dragon."

Pervinca glared viciously at her elder sister. "Fine."

"Excellent! Now you take your places here.and you there. No.a little to the left.yes." Pimpernel held her hand high in the air as though she were holding a sword and leapt out into the open carpet.

"Ah ha!" She pointed the tip of the sword at Pervinca who leaned far back. "You slimey demon.I have you now."

"ROAR!" Pervinca rose to great heights and let out a vicious growl, using her fingertips as claws. The sight was so funny that Pearl burst into uncontrollable giggles and Pervinca whirled around.

"Shhhh!" she hissed.

"Think you frigten me, do you? Ha ha!" Pimpernel pretended to slay Pervinca who let out a few gasping and choking noises before falling to the ground. Then Pimpernel dashed over to the chair, which she used as a barrier between Pearl and herself and kicked it over. "My fair lady.I have come at last!"

Pearl stood and placed her hands against her cheeks. "Oh my.a brave and handsome knight has finally come to rescue me.I am overcome with happiness.tell me.how did you slay the dragon?"

"I used my sword and it lies dead in the corridor. Come lady.let me take you away to my kingdom and." she attempted to lift Pearl but with no success. "Let me take you." She grunted. "My you're heavy."

Pervinca who had sat up to watch the rest of the scene was giggling.

"Well dear me.I do not understand for I have been trapped in here for ages with hardly any food!"

"Give me a hand, will you then?" Pimpernel asked and Pearl wrapped her arms around Pimpernel's kneck and eventually Pimpernel managed to lift her sister, her face twisting in discomfort. "Oof.gotcha. Whoa!" Both girls tumbled to the ground in an array of laughter. Once they managed to sit up, Pearl took a deep breath.

"Some princess I make!" she giggled.

"Maybe I could just lead you out of the castle rather than carry you." Panted Pimpernel. "Or maybe you could loose a few pounds."

Pearl swiped a hand at her sister who shrugged. "What?" she asked. "All right.let's go over the play from the beginning. We." suddenly there was a knock on the front door and the girls stared at each other.

"Who could that be?" asked Pervinca as she and Pimpernel started to follow Pearl out into the hallway, but Pearl stopped them.

"I'll let you know." She whispered and then went on. When the other two were left alone in the corridor they glanced at each other and grinned.

"I'll bet I know who it is!" Pervinca whispered as they walked back into the parlor.

"Who?"

"Pearl's been seeing some boy secretly for the past two weeks. I saw them kissing behind the barn a few days ago.obviously she doesn't want Mama or Papa to find out!"

Pimpernel's mouth fell open. "A boy! Ooh.I must go and see." Pimpernel went to leave but Pervinca grabbed her by the back of her dress.

"Now that's not proper. Pearl wouldn't spy on you if you had someone come to call."

Pimpernel sighed in disappointment and folded her arms in disgust as she went to sit on the couch. "Drat. Everything exciting happens to Pearl." She grumbled. About five minutes later Pearl entered the living room, blushing and smiling a little too much for Pimpernel.

"Who was that?" asked Pervinca.

"Oh.someone." Pearl teased as she sighed dreamily and practically floated onto the couch.

"Oh you're pathetic. At least you didn't let him in.Mama and Papa both would have murdered you for letting a boy in without their permission!"

Pearl's cheeks went white. "What boy? How did you know?" She glared at Pervinca whose face had turned white as well. "Pervinca! I told you not to tell anyone!"

"It was an accident." Pervinca whimpered.

"Oh well.I might as well tell you both now that you know. But you must swear to me that you will NOT tell Mama or Papa."

Pimpernel nodded. "I swear."

"So do I." Pervinca added.

"That was Falco Boffin.he and I met at the court house party. We started "seeing" each other a few weeks later but he said his parents thought he was too young to start courting and when I asked Mama what she thought she said "You're not dating till you're 80!" (Pervinca burst into giggles at that statement. "Surely Mama didn't mean that!" she gasped) So we decided it best to keep our relationship a secret. And yes, that was him.he.he gave me this." She pulled a rose from her dress pocket and the other girls gasped.

"Ooh.how romantic!" squealed Pimpernel. "So do you love him? Would you want to marry him?"

Pearl nearly choked. "Marry?" she cried.

"Well.you're almost sixteen now."

"And that makes me old?" Pearl sobbed.

"All right so you don't want to marry anyone yet. Is he handsome?" asked Pimpernel.

"Oh very." Pearl giggled.

"Oh I DO wish he could have come inside," Pervinca growled.

"As Pimpernel said.Mama and Papa would have had my head if I had let him in." Pearl chucked her little sister under the chin. "Now girls.back to our play, eh? And yes Pimp. I do believe the at I'd better follow you out of the castle. You'll break your back trying to carry me!"

And the play resumed.