A/N – Just a few notes:
Raspberry Girl: Yes, I know that it's against the rules, which is why I took it down. Also, the only reason I even wrote that chapter is because people were saying that they didn't want to wait for the rewrite to see the ending. Everything that happened in that chapter that you said were either sudden or didn't make sense will be further explored in the rewrite, which I hope you of all people read since you seem to want things more fully explained. Sorry if my tone sounds harsh, but I'm in an especially Ringwraith-y mood today.
Also to everyone: The original version has been taken down as it is against fanfiction.net rules to have two of the same stories up, revised or vice versa. If you happen to want to see anything from the original version, please feel free to e-mail me and I will be only too happy to get it to you. Thanks! :)
Ivy had calmed down when a slamming door told her that the prince had left.
"IIIIIIVVVVVVYYYYYY!!!!!" Ivy winced as her stepmother screamed her name. She had been yelled at before, but she had never done anything quite so bad as this.
Her stepmother was in front of her in an instant. "You stupid, foolish, waste of a girl! To think I trusted you with something! One simple task, and you ruin it! The prince must have hid it, but he was furious! Who wouldn't be! You clumsy, inept, idiotic girl!" her stepmother berated her. "I never should have let you stay. I feed you, I clothe you, I keep a roof over your head, and how do you repay me? By humiliating me in front of our royalty!" she screamed, her blue eyes glinting maliciously.
"My father –"
"Your father was foolish. He filled your head with silly dreams that will never come true."
Ivy's eyes filled with tears at the insult to her father.
"You…you witch! You enchanted him, you tricked him! And I'm supposed to thank you for keeping me? I would have left, gladly, any time you asked me to! You never loved him, and now all you care about is your reputation? If anyone is a horrible person around here, it's you!" Ivy burst out.
Eyes filled with fury, the duchess slapped Ivy fiercely across the face.
"How dare you speak to me like that," the duchess said threateningly. Ivy retreated, holding her stinging cheek. "Get out of my house," the duchess said dangerously.
Ivy's eyes opened wide.
"Get out!" her stepmother screamed.
Ivy nodded without thinking, then turned and fled from the room.
******************
"What are you doing?"
Ivy had come to say goodbye to Mehri, only to find her packing.
"I'm coming with you of course!" was the answer.
"Mehri! You cannot come with me! You have it great here!" Ivy exclaimed, startled.
"With that horrible woman? No one has it great here," Mehri said calmly.
"But…but…"
"Oh, Ivy darling, we'll be fine. The palace is a huge place; we can easily find work there."
Ivy opened her mouth to protest, but shut it. Why argue? Her best friend was coming with her: there was nothing to quarrel about.
The two women, one young one old, left the chateau at twilight. Ivy looked back for one last glance at the place that had once been such a happy home. She sighed and turned to go, when something else caught her mind.
"Wait, Mehri!" she said. Dropping her bags, she hurried to the garden. She clipped some roses, then hurried back to Mehri, who was waiting for her in the drive.
"I can press them when we get there," Ivy explained. Mehri smiled at her young friend. Mehri had known Ivy her entire life, and she knew there was more to the girl than met the eye. She put on a cheery exterior, but the older woman knew she held her share of sorrow inside.
They walked to the next village, and stayed at the local inn that night. The following morning, they continued their journey to the city, Jarvisilla, the largest and capital city of their land, Vievalla, and where the palace was located. It was a short journey, and they reached the city by dusk.
"It is grander than I remember it," Ivy commented. The windy, cobbled streets led up a great hill to the majestic palace. The busy markets were still going, and many people crowded the streets. The midsummer evening was cool, but the many bodies and close houses made the air stuffy. Mehri and Ivy exchanged a glance, and made their way up the hill to the castle.
Once up the great hill, Mehri led the way to a side entrance. She knocked what seemed to be a password, and the two were let inside.
"Mehri, is that you?" a short, stout woman with a wrinkled face asked excitedly.
"Of course it is, Maria, you old coot!" Mehri answered.
The woman laughed and embraced Mehri.
"And who is this?" Maria asked in her thick Jarvisillan accent, looking at Ivy.
"This is the girl I left to care for, Maria. This is Ivy," Mehri said, pride in her voice.
"Ivy! Good heavens, child, you are some sort of pretty girl! How old are you, my dear?" Maria asked.
"Eighteen," Ivy answered. She liked Maria very much right off the bat.
"Eighteen! Was it really that long ago, Mehri?"
"Yes, Maria, it was. Seems like yesterday, doesn't it?" Mehri said, tucking in some of Ivy's stray hair fondly.
"Aye, it does. But what brings you here now?" Maria asked.
"We came for some work. Are there any jobs?"
"Are there any jobs!" Maria repeated, as if it was the understatement of the year. "Of course there are jobs! Come, come! Follow Maria!"
Ivy and Mehri followed the woman to the vast servants quarters.
"Just had two leave last week!" Maria said, leading them to some beds. "You will be very comfortable. But rest! You have been walking all day! Go to sleep, I will take care of your belongings," Maria said.
Ivy and Mehri gratefully slid into the beds, and Ivy could tell by her heavy breathing that Mehri had fallen asleep right away. Ivy stayed awake for a few minutes, thinking of how fast her life had changed. But sleep soon claimed her, and she was soon breathing in time with Mehri.