Disclaimer: I don't own Tamora Pierce's literature because its hers.
Dedication: All my stories are dedicated to Mags. I hope you can read them from Heaven. And Roisin, I promise to get you a copy in Braille some day.
A/N: Ok well the first bit was the Prologue that's why it was so short! But again italics are my life! Someone tell me how to get them up here! Thanks to Aine Tassoroso: You go Girl!!!!
Lady Mila of Kennan looked approvingly as Ermelian entered the room. The girl was small and petite, she moved with a dancer's grace. Her thick braids of pale gold hair were hanging to just below her waist, her cornflower-blue eyes surveyed the room calmly, though Lady Mila knew the girl had to be nervous. Her dark green dress was simple and elegant, with a full skirt and a tightly fitting bodice embroidered in yellow.
Lady Mila reflected that Cleon would fall in love with her as soon as he set eyes on her. She was a good archer too, which would surely bring her up in his graces. She sighed inwardly. It hurt her, really, to have to marry her only son to a girl he didn't know. What's more, she knew he was keeping time with Keladry of Mindelan. If only the girl had a better dowry! Lady Mila, unbeknown to Cleon, had met with Baron Piers and Lady Ilane. But Kennan needed much work, and a small dowry would not help the people at all.
Ermelian sat down nervously, crossing her ankles delicately under her chair as she had been taught. Her mother poured tea, handing her an eggshell thin cup. Lady Mila looked all right, really. And Ermelian had met her before; the two women had been good friends before marriage. Briskly the interview began
"Dear, could you please stand and walk that way, then come back, then take a sip of your tea when you've been seated." Despite the phrasing it wasn't a request. Ermelian murmured "of course, Lady Mila" and walked lightly to the window and back. She sat down, and then took a dainty sip op tea with hands that trembled.
"Now, Ermelian, why do you think you should be allowed to marry my son?" Ermelian's head snapped up. "Aren't you asking for my hand, lady Mila?" The impertinent question was out before she could think. Lady Candice put her head in her hands. Lady Mila grinned, quite an improper grin. "Why yes my dear, of course. Nice to see you've got spunk. No wilting flowers for Cleon!"
The afternoon wore on. The ladies idly chatted about weather, and the progress, and how Princess Shinkokami was one of the most beautiful ladies they had ever seen. Finally Lady Mila stood up. "Yes, yes, you'll do quite nicely for Cleon. Candice, I approve most definitely!" Lady Candice smiled somewhat coolly at her daughter. "Yes, well, of course Ermelian can charm anyone" she said acidly.
Ermelian smiled at lady Mila. "Thank you, Lady Mila! It is such an honour to be marrying your son!" She didn't really mean the statement, but drama lessons had not been in vain.
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The next day Ermelian woke and breakfasted late. Nanny tended to the welts on her back. Lady Candice did not take mistakes well, and Ermelian's forthrightness had led to three lashes with a silk cord. The silk was soft enough that not much was actually swollen, but bruises would mark Ermelian's back for a while.
In spite of this, Ermelian went on with her day as normal, archery practice in the morning, dancing and music in the afternoon, followed by a long ride through the expansive grounds of Aminar. That evening Lady Candice came into Ermelian's small chamber. "Ermelian, I'm sorry that you had to feel pain last night. You have to learn not to make mistakes like that! Lady Mila is forgiving, but you might not be so lucky next time. Nanny, get Lady Ermelian's things together. She is moving to Kennan now, I am going South for my health."
Ermelian looked at her mother in shock. True, young girls often moved to the house of their betrothed, but that was always about a month before the wedding, so the girls would know where they were going to be living. But up to a year or two! Nanny curtsied deeply. "Yes, Milady, right away Milady."
Lady Candice left in a swirl of lilac silk and strong perfume. Ermelian sat down. Hard. Nanny began to weep. "Och, to be thinkin' that your mither would leave a poor girl all alone in th' house of her betrothed while she goes off to meet her own suitors!" Ermelian kept back tears. She had always known her mother had wanted to get her married and away as soon as possible, but this?
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A/N: I really had fun writing this chapter.. though I didn't really plan on a cruel mother approach.. What can I say? R&R!!!!!!!!
Dedication: All my stories are dedicated to Mags. I hope you can read them from Heaven. And Roisin, I promise to get you a copy in Braille some day.
A/N: Ok well the first bit was the Prologue that's why it was so short! But again italics are my life! Someone tell me how to get them up here! Thanks to Aine Tassoroso: You go Girl!!!!
Lady Mila of Kennan looked approvingly as Ermelian entered the room. The girl was small and petite, she moved with a dancer's grace. Her thick braids of pale gold hair were hanging to just below her waist, her cornflower-blue eyes surveyed the room calmly, though Lady Mila knew the girl had to be nervous. Her dark green dress was simple and elegant, with a full skirt and a tightly fitting bodice embroidered in yellow.
Lady Mila reflected that Cleon would fall in love with her as soon as he set eyes on her. She was a good archer too, which would surely bring her up in his graces. She sighed inwardly. It hurt her, really, to have to marry her only son to a girl he didn't know. What's more, she knew he was keeping time with Keladry of Mindelan. If only the girl had a better dowry! Lady Mila, unbeknown to Cleon, had met with Baron Piers and Lady Ilane. But Kennan needed much work, and a small dowry would not help the people at all.
Ermelian sat down nervously, crossing her ankles delicately under her chair as she had been taught. Her mother poured tea, handing her an eggshell thin cup. Lady Mila looked all right, really. And Ermelian had met her before; the two women had been good friends before marriage. Briskly the interview began
"Dear, could you please stand and walk that way, then come back, then take a sip of your tea when you've been seated." Despite the phrasing it wasn't a request. Ermelian murmured "of course, Lady Mila" and walked lightly to the window and back. She sat down, and then took a dainty sip op tea with hands that trembled.
"Now, Ermelian, why do you think you should be allowed to marry my son?" Ermelian's head snapped up. "Aren't you asking for my hand, lady Mila?" The impertinent question was out before she could think. Lady Candice put her head in her hands. Lady Mila grinned, quite an improper grin. "Why yes my dear, of course. Nice to see you've got spunk. No wilting flowers for Cleon!"
The afternoon wore on. The ladies idly chatted about weather, and the progress, and how Princess Shinkokami was one of the most beautiful ladies they had ever seen. Finally Lady Mila stood up. "Yes, yes, you'll do quite nicely for Cleon. Candice, I approve most definitely!" Lady Candice smiled somewhat coolly at her daughter. "Yes, well, of course Ermelian can charm anyone" she said acidly.
Ermelian smiled at lady Mila. "Thank you, Lady Mila! It is such an honour to be marrying your son!" She didn't really mean the statement, but drama lessons had not been in vain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day Ermelian woke and breakfasted late. Nanny tended to the welts on her back. Lady Candice did not take mistakes well, and Ermelian's forthrightness had led to three lashes with a silk cord. The silk was soft enough that not much was actually swollen, but bruises would mark Ermelian's back for a while.
In spite of this, Ermelian went on with her day as normal, archery practice in the morning, dancing and music in the afternoon, followed by a long ride through the expansive grounds of Aminar. That evening Lady Candice came into Ermelian's small chamber. "Ermelian, I'm sorry that you had to feel pain last night. You have to learn not to make mistakes like that! Lady Mila is forgiving, but you might not be so lucky next time. Nanny, get Lady Ermelian's things together. She is moving to Kennan now, I am going South for my health."
Ermelian looked at her mother in shock. True, young girls often moved to the house of their betrothed, but that was always about a month before the wedding, so the girls would know where they were going to be living. But up to a year or two! Nanny curtsied deeply. "Yes, Milady, right away Milady."
Lady Candice left in a swirl of lilac silk and strong perfume. Ermelian sat down. Hard. Nanny began to weep. "Och, to be thinkin' that your mither would leave a poor girl all alone in th' house of her betrothed while she goes off to meet her own suitors!" Ermelian kept back tears. She had always known her mother had wanted to get her married and away as soon as possible, but this?
~*~~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*
A/N: I really had fun writing this chapter.. though I didn't really plan on a cruel mother approach.. What can I say? R&R!!!!!!!!