A/N: Many a New Day is a song from the musical Oklahoma!, which my school is performing this year. This story takes place right after Numair leaves Varice all alone in Carthak. I'm no great fan of Varice, but I respect her right to make her own bad decisions - choosing the Empire over Numair, living a somewhat silly life, etc. She has feelings, too, and it's only fair that she should get to express them.

This song is the property of the estate of Rodgers and Hammerstein, and chances are I really would be sued if anyone at that organization found out about this.

The characters belong to Tamora Pierce.

Many a new Day


Why should a woman who is healthy and strong blubber like a baby if her man goes away?
A-weeping and a-wailing how he's done her wrong - that's one thing you'll never hear me say!

Varice Kingsford blew her nose on a lace-trimmed handkerchief. The ball was to start in less than an hour, and she would never be able to apply her eye paint if she didn't stop crying. Arram was gone for good, and would not be returning. Had he ever really loved her?

Never gonna think that the man I lose is the only man among men.
I'll snap my fingers to show I don't care! I'll buy me a brand new dress to wear!
I'll scrub my neck, and I'll brush my hair, and start all over again!

There would be plenty of eligible young men around tonight. They all would have heard of Arram's arrest and escape, which had subsequently rendered Varice single. Some would be handsome, some rich, some powerful, and some would fit all three descriptions.

But would any of them be funny, and sweet, and loving, as Arram had been?

Many a new face will please my eye, many a new love will find me.
Never have I once looked back to sigh over the romance behind me;
Many a new day will dawn before I do!

Drying her eyes, Varice twisted her hair into a knot and pinned it in place. She carefully removed a few strands and allowed them to dangle around her face. With her emotions well under control, she began to apply lavender paint to her eyelids. Her gown for the evening was purple silk, rather clingy and very flattering to her figure.

The pink gown with the plunging neckline that had been a gift from Arram hung in the back of her wardrobe. She did not plan to wear it ever again. It would do her no good to dwell on a relationship that had died the moment Arram announced his plans to leave.

Many a light lad may kiss and fly; a kiss gone by is bygone.
Never have I asked an August sky, where has last July gone?
Never have I wandered through the rye, wondering where has some guy gone;
Many a new day will dawn before I do!

Varice heard a knock on her door, and His Imperial Majesty calling her name. She could not help smiling with self-satisfaction; she had attended the last ball with a now-disgraced commoner, and was now honored to be the escort of the one and only Emperor Mage. When the three had been at school together, Ozorne and Arram had been almost like brothers. True, the Emperor had lately been displaying a very different character, but Varice knew that at heart he was the next logical choice after the departure of her love.

My former love, Varice corrected herself. A man who is gone - and good riddance to him!

the Emperor called again. Are you nearly ready?

Never have I chased the honeybee who carelessly cajoled me.
Somebody just as sweet as he cheered me and consoled me.
Never have I cried into my tea over the deal someone doled me;
Many a new day will dawn before I do.

replied Varice. After replacing the covers on her jars of face paint, she hurried over to her wardrobe and slipped out of the purple dress. It was new, and she thought that maybe she should wait until Midwinter to reveal it. She had worn the pink gown many times, and it felt comfortable. It also smelled of Arram's rooms - it often found its way onto the floor of his bedchamber - as no new garment ever would.

You look ravishing, Ozorne said when she finally opened the door. That dress has long been my favorite.

I wore it especially for you, Varice replied - truthfully, of course. Of course.

Many a new day will dawn,
Many a red sun will set!
Many a blue moon will shine before I do!