AN: Lets all give a big warm thank you to "Saying Hello" for prof-reading
my story! No I'm not dead, just a horrible and lazy person. I am so sorry
for neglecting this story so heinously but I'm working on it now. The last
chapter is in the works and I'm (read Saying Hello is) re-editting
everything I've written so far. Sorry again for being so lazy!
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
- The Beatles, The End
Chapter 1- That damn dog
The dog was halfway across the field before I realized what was happening, and by then it was to late but my hands clenched around the folds of my skirt and I tore after it just the same. By the time I made it to the bank of the river he was almost across. I sighed, I had told Mathew he would just get away from me but he had begged and pleaded that he couldn't walk him while he was gone and the dog needed to be walked. I had resisted at first but Mathew knew just how to push my buttons to get anything he wanted from me, years of being my best friend were finally paying off for him. Mathew was out on a short trip with his father and I had gotten stuck with the chore of walking the stupid dog, I was glad they were coming back tomorrow. I glared at my opponent, sitting smugly on the far bank, his tail wagging, mouth open and slobber dripping form his teeth. I hated that dog more then anything, not only would it get me in trouble with father because of the dress I had ruined chasing it but Mathew would be inconsolable for days.
I rubbed my noes and bit my lip to keep from crying. It was getting dark out and I had strayed to far out of the comforting arms of the castle and to near Ogre camp for comfort during the day much less the twilight that was rapidly becoming a reality. I remembered that when he had wanted the dog to come to him, Mathew snapped his fingers and half-sung 'here Char,' his true name was Charmont but we had shortened it, god only knows why but he thought that the filthy, smelly dog that I was faced with bore resemblance to the Kerryain king. "Here Char." I sung, I couldn't snap but I thought I deserved points for effort.
The dog cocked his head to the side and looked confused. I tried it again and this time he got up and trotted back into the water. The very first thing he did once out of the water was shake himself drenching the front of my gown. I glared at him again, "Are you finished?" I asked as if he could understand me.
He panted back at me the totally innocent expression made him look almost cute. I picked up the sopping end of the lead and grimaced, it had been dragged through mud and god only knew what else. I stooped down and tried my best to clean it off in the river. With an inordinate amount of effort I managed to drag the dog back into the castle's arms to Mathew's house and deposit him back in the kennels.
Mathew and I lived in the shadow of the castle and certainly far into it's court's. Both our fathers were deeply involved and well-respected members of the King's counsel, which was how we had first met. I couldn't wait for him to get home, partly because I didn't want to walk the dumb dog again but mostly because I missed him. It was hard to find quality companionship among nobles, even noble children but Mathew and I had got along great from the beginning, we fought sure but even the best of friends do. Everyone else in Ayortha is quiet and polite but not Mathew and I, we're talkative by nature. We don't say much to anyone else, so as not appear rude but when we're together we rarely shut up.
Feeding the beast proved a lot easier then getting him into his kennel, it ate faster then anything or anyone I had ever seen. I was exhausted by the time I got home and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
It wasn't that I didn't like Ethan DeLac, it was that I hated him. His hateful outlook on everything wasn't the worst of his traits but was defiantly the most prominent. The worst part about him at least in my mind was the way he looked at me, like I was something on display in a market, it never failed to make a cold shiver run up my spine.
Outwardly he was handsome enough, jet-black hair, matching eyes and a stern mouth whose corners always seemed turned down. The sharp angles of his face gave him a commanding air, in truth he scared me a little.
"That guy gives me the creeps." Mathew whispered in my ear.
"Me too." I agreed, I didn't ask whom he meant.
"Dance with me lady," Mathew changed the subject, grinning and holding out a hand for me to take.
"You know perfectly well I dance about as well as I can play the harp." I glared at him.
"I think you're an excellent harpist." He smiled. "Now come on and dance." He commanded."
"I've never taken a harp lesson in my life you goof." I giggled but I stood up and took his hand anyway.
When I tripped over the edge of my skirt on the way to the dance floor Mathew and I decided it would be better if we got some food instead.
We found a nice table where we could watch the more graceful people whirl by in perfect timing with the music.
"I wish I could do that." I admitted wistfully.
"It's not actually as fun as it looks." Mathew assured me ripping off half of the untouched piece of bread on my plate and stuffing it in his mouth. "Besides find it rather amusing."
"Yeah, well you named your dog after a king so your sanity is as questionable as my balance." I reminded him taking the other half of my bread and chewing it rather more slowly then my friend.
He shrugged. "Well you'll get to meet the real King Charmont soon enough, he's coming to the feast to welcome his son to Ayortha, then you'll see what I mean."
The feast was scheduled the day after tomorrow night even though Prince Alexander was due to arrive tomorrow, tonight most of the court was busy getting ready for him.
Mathew, whose mother was friends with Queen Eleanor, visited Frell almost every year. Mathew liked the rulers of Frell, he had once told me that he thought he might move to Frell when he was older right after he and his mother had visited the king. I though it was one of the best compliments anyone could give anyone else.
"You sound more exited about that then even the most flirty, shallow court slut." I told him, even though neither of us really knew what a slut was, just that it was derogatory and that it wasn't to be used in front of our parents.
"You would be to if you had met them, they really are amazingly nice Lorelei." He told me. "I think they'd like you." He added almost as and after thought but for me it was the most important part.
Mathew probably didn't realize that he had just complimented me but I caught it. He was the only person I knew who could make you feel really good about yourself just with a simple remark he didn't even really think about saying. It was one of the reasons that people instantly liked Mathew and I envied him for his ability to make friends so quickly, a skill I picked up with less ease.
I looked up from my plate to find him flicking peas into the fire that was a little way from our table, I laughed. "Come on you goof if we go to bed now we can get up early and go swimming before my father gets it into his mind to catch me to fit me for a new dress for the ball."
Mathew grabbed a two pieces of bread for the road, handed me one and we headed out. I munched on the bread thoughtfully as we walked.
"So your birthday's coming up soon what do you want?" He asked suddenly.
"Why do you ask me that?" I asked. "You do it every year, I say jewelry and you come up with something inventive and clever and something I like ten times more."
"Perhaps this year I will get you jewelry." He said mysteriously.
We had arrived at my door and I gave him the rest of my bread, he had finished his and he still had a little way's walk to get to his door. I changed out of my gown and climbed into my bed but sleep was slow in coming that night.
Despite the fact that lurking had gone out of style months before I was doing just that. Mathew and I had come back from our swimming excursion hours ago but I still didn't want to be snagged for any chores so I was sitting in the shade of a very inconspicuous tree hoping that my father wouldn't think to look for me.
I was hungry but if I risked a trip to the kitchen father would certainly find me and drag me off to do something I didn't want to. I noticed that the tree across from the one I was sitting under was a peach tree and a single peach was still dangling from its branches.
It was a tricky business getting up into the tree with a skirt on but I finally managed it and plucked a ripe peach from a near branch. It was so sweet and ripe that when I bit it the juice got all over my chin. It was probably the last peach of the season, it was after all well into September already and beginning to cool off.
I was happy for the change, I wouldn't miss the sticky sweat that accompanies summer nights or the mosquitoes that filled the air at dusk.
"Lorelei get down from that tree this instant!" The harsh voice of the cook de-railed my train of through.
I flinched and looked down to find the enraged woman standing at the base of my tree hands on hips, an annoyed expression on her sever face. She was tall and unnaturally thin, her cold eyes always seemed to smirk a look enhanced by the frown lines around her mouth and sharp chin.
I scrambled down the tree so quickly I almost ripped my dress. She hurried me off towards the house muttering something I could hear but I had no doubt it was an unpleasant prediction of what I would amount to.
If the cook was unhappy my father was livid. "You do realize that the dress makers will be up all night sewing your dress and it will cost twice as much." He raged.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled, I had learned the hard way that lying in these situations was for the best all around.
A brief tirade followed where he summoned up every bad thing I had ever done to make the case that I would amount to nothing and that I was a disgrace to the family name. He then escorted me to the dressmakers where I was poked and prodded by pins and other miscellaneous sewing equipment for the next hour and a half. After which I was banished to my room without supper.
(Love it? Hate it? REVIEW IT!!)
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
- The Beatles, The End
Chapter 1- That damn dog
The dog was halfway across the field before I realized what was happening, and by then it was to late but my hands clenched around the folds of my skirt and I tore after it just the same. By the time I made it to the bank of the river he was almost across. I sighed, I had told Mathew he would just get away from me but he had begged and pleaded that he couldn't walk him while he was gone and the dog needed to be walked. I had resisted at first but Mathew knew just how to push my buttons to get anything he wanted from me, years of being my best friend were finally paying off for him. Mathew was out on a short trip with his father and I had gotten stuck with the chore of walking the stupid dog, I was glad they were coming back tomorrow. I glared at my opponent, sitting smugly on the far bank, his tail wagging, mouth open and slobber dripping form his teeth. I hated that dog more then anything, not only would it get me in trouble with father because of the dress I had ruined chasing it but Mathew would be inconsolable for days.
I rubbed my noes and bit my lip to keep from crying. It was getting dark out and I had strayed to far out of the comforting arms of the castle and to near Ogre camp for comfort during the day much less the twilight that was rapidly becoming a reality. I remembered that when he had wanted the dog to come to him, Mathew snapped his fingers and half-sung 'here Char,' his true name was Charmont but we had shortened it, god only knows why but he thought that the filthy, smelly dog that I was faced with bore resemblance to the Kerryain king. "Here Char." I sung, I couldn't snap but I thought I deserved points for effort.
The dog cocked his head to the side and looked confused. I tried it again and this time he got up and trotted back into the water. The very first thing he did once out of the water was shake himself drenching the front of my gown. I glared at him again, "Are you finished?" I asked as if he could understand me.
He panted back at me the totally innocent expression made him look almost cute. I picked up the sopping end of the lead and grimaced, it had been dragged through mud and god only knew what else. I stooped down and tried my best to clean it off in the river. With an inordinate amount of effort I managed to drag the dog back into the castle's arms to Mathew's house and deposit him back in the kennels.
Mathew and I lived in the shadow of the castle and certainly far into it's court's. Both our fathers were deeply involved and well-respected members of the King's counsel, which was how we had first met. I couldn't wait for him to get home, partly because I didn't want to walk the dumb dog again but mostly because I missed him. It was hard to find quality companionship among nobles, even noble children but Mathew and I had got along great from the beginning, we fought sure but even the best of friends do. Everyone else in Ayortha is quiet and polite but not Mathew and I, we're talkative by nature. We don't say much to anyone else, so as not appear rude but when we're together we rarely shut up.
Feeding the beast proved a lot easier then getting him into his kennel, it ate faster then anything or anyone I had ever seen. I was exhausted by the time I got home and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
It wasn't that I didn't like Ethan DeLac, it was that I hated him. His hateful outlook on everything wasn't the worst of his traits but was defiantly the most prominent. The worst part about him at least in my mind was the way he looked at me, like I was something on display in a market, it never failed to make a cold shiver run up my spine.
Outwardly he was handsome enough, jet-black hair, matching eyes and a stern mouth whose corners always seemed turned down. The sharp angles of his face gave him a commanding air, in truth he scared me a little.
"That guy gives me the creeps." Mathew whispered in my ear.
"Me too." I agreed, I didn't ask whom he meant.
"Dance with me lady," Mathew changed the subject, grinning and holding out a hand for me to take.
"You know perfectly well I dance about as well as I can play the harp." I glared at him.
"I think you're an excellent harpist." He smiled. "Now come on and dance." He commanded."
"I've never taken a harp lesson in my life you goof." I giggled but I stood up and took his hand anyway.
When I tripped over the edge of my skirt on the way to the dance floor Mathew and I decided it would be better if we got some food instead.
We found a nice table where we could watch the more graceful people whirl by in perfect timing with the music.
"I wish I could do that." I admitted wistfully.
"It's not actually as fun as it looks." Mathew assured me ripping off half of the untouched piece of bread on my plate and stuffing it in his mouth. "Besides find it rather amusing."
"Yeah, well you named your dog after a king so your sanity is as questionable as my balance." I reminded him taking the other half of my bread and chewing it rather more slowly then my friend.
He shrugged. "Well you'll get to meet the real King Charmont soon enough, he's coming to the feast to welcome his son to Ayortha, then you'll see what I mean."
The feast was scheduled the day after tomorrow night even though Prince Alexander was due to arrive tomorrow, tonight most of the court was busy getting ready for him.
Mathew, whose mother was friends with Queen Eleanor, visited Frell almost every year. Mathew liked the rulers of Frell, he had once told me that he thought he might move to Frell when he was older right after he and his mother had visited the king. I though it was one of the best compliments anyone could give anyone else.
"You sound more exited about that then even the most flirty, shallow court slut." I told him, even though neither of us really knew what a slut was, just that it was derogatory and that it wasn't to be used in front of our parents.
"You would be to if you had met them, they really are amazingly nice Lorelei." He told me. "I think they'd like you." He added almost as and after thought but for me it was the most important part.
Mathew probably didn't realize that he had just complimented me but I caught it. He was the only person I knew who could make you feel really good about yourself just with a simple remark he didn't even really think about saying. It was one of the reasons that people instantly liked Mathew and I envied him for his ability to make friends so quickly, a skill I picked up with less ease.
I looked up from my plate to find him flicking peas into the fire that was a little way from our table, I laughed. "Come on you goof if we go to bed now we can get up early and go swimming before my father gets it into his mind to catch me to fit me for a new dress for the ball."
Mathew grabbed a two pieces of bread for the road, handed me one and we headed out. I munched on the bread thoughtfully as we walked.
"So your birthday's coming up soon what do you want?" He asked suddenly.
"Why do you ask me that?" I asked. "You do it every year, I say jewelry and you come up with something inventive and clever and something I like ten times more."
"Perhaps this year I will get you jewelry." He said mysteriously.
We had arrived at my door and I gave him the rest of my bread, he had finished his and he still had a little way's walk to get to his door. I changed out of my gown and climbed into my bed but sleep was slow in coming that night.
Despite the fact that lurking had gone out of style months before I was doing just that. Mathew and I had come back from our swimming excursion hours ago but I still didn't want to be snagged for any chores so I was sitting in the shade of a very inconspicuous tree hoping that my father wouldn't think to look for me.
I was hungry but if I risked a trip to the kitchen father would certainly find me and drag me off to do something I didn't want to. I noticed that the tree across from the one I was sitting under was a peach tree and a single peach was still dangling from its branches.
It was a tricky business getting up into the tree with a skirt on but I finally managed it and plucked a ripe peach from a near branch. It was so sweet and ripe that when I bit it the juice got all over my chin. It was probably the last peach of the season, it was after all well into September already and beginning to cool off.
I was happy for the change, I wouldn't miss the sticky sweat that accompanies summer nights or the mosquitoes that filled the air at dusk.
"Lorelei get down from that tree this instant!" The harsh voice of the cook de-railed my train of through.
I flinched and looked down to find the enraged woman standing at the base of my tree hands on hips, an annoyed expression on her sever face. She was tall and unnaturally thin, her cold eyes always seemed to smirk a look enhanced by the frown lines around her mouth and sharp chin.
I scrambled down the tree so quickly I almost ripped my dress. She hurried me off towards the house muttering something I could hear but I had no doubt it was an unpleasant prediction of what I would amount to.
If the cook was unhappy my father was livid. "You do realize that the dress makers will be up all night sewing your dress and it will cost twice as much." He raged.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled, I had learned the hard way that lying in these situations was for the best all around.
A brief tirade followed where he summoned up every bad thing I had ever done to make the case that I would amount to nothing and that I was a disgrace to the family name. He then escorted me to the dressmakers where I was poked and prodded by pins and other miscellaneous sewing equipment for the next hour and a half. After which I was banished to my room without supper.
(Love it? Hate it? REVIEW IT!!)