Ever since that talk with Meryl, Relina lost her faith in fairies. She had nobody to turn to. Everyone at court, except for her parents and a few close friends, treated her like an outcast. There was nobody her age to talk to, and she didn't have any siblings either.
She could not ignore the comments like Meryl suggested. They were there everywhere she went. She'd even heard someone call her a mutt.
There was one boy, Brian, who at least smiled at the princess. Brian was the apprentice of the nurse, Milton the elf. He came to court not long ago. Although he knew from gossip about Relina, he was impressed and amazed instead of afraid or jealous. He loved magic and was determined to make friends with her.
Relina became timid. She swore that she would never fly again, or do any other magic.
One year, when she was twelve, Relina fell sick. Brian was to take care of her. He used this chance to get to know her better.
Relina was shy and unsure at first. She couldn't trust anyone anymore. But Brian talked to her with kind words, and she loosened up. She had perhaps finally found a friend. However, befriending Brian had started more gossip. People shunned her more because Brian was a servant and she was a noble. Finally, Relina couldn't take it anymore. Despite Brian's efforts to tell her to ignore the comments, she took them to heart. She said a tearful goodbye to Brian and never saw him again until she was grown up.
Relina grew up like a proper lady because she felt that she didn't need to be any more different than she already was. She took up embroidery and dancing like a lady. She was really talented at embroidery, and her work could almost match her mother's.
She was tutored privately. Her lessons include history, geography, economics, and of course, Drualt, the epic poem about the great hero of Bamarre. People had already started writing tales based on Queen Addie's adventures.
The girl was taught many languages, because it would be useful when she would be queen. She was primarily taught that Kyrrian. Relina didn't understand why she was learning the language of a distant place, but her language teacher told her that she needed to know because Kyrria was a powerful country, and it could be a potential ally for Bamarre.
When she turned fourteen, her parents started to search for a suitable husband for her. But like she predicted, none of the nobles would have her. They didn't want tainted blood in their children. Relina was lovely enough, though some suspected sorcery. Also, she was tall, as all sorcerers were. Princes and nobles wanted to marry a girl who would gaze up at him becomingly through her eyelashes instead of looking him in the eye. [A/N: I took that bit from the first book of EFC, Dealing with Dragons. I don't own that book, Ms. Wrede does.]
When she was sixteen, her parents decided that she needed to get out and see the world. Perhaps she could find her courage and self-confidence like her mother did.
They decided to send her to a finishing school in Jenn, in the country of Kyrria.
"Mother, Father, why do I have to go there? My manners are good enough, aren't they?" Relina pleaded, for she didn't want to go. She was afraid people there would make fun of her as well.
"Yes dear, your manners are quite good," answered King Rhys. "We want to send you there not only to learn manners, but also to meet girls your age. Besides, you can brush up on your Kyrrian." Relina's parents looked at their daughter in concern. Meryl told them vaguely about Relina's situation. She had suggested that maybe sending the girl to a new place and getting a new start would help her.
Relina hung her head. There was no use arguing. However, after hearing that she might make friends, she saw a glimmer of hope. The hope quickly diminished when she realized that nobody would be a friend. She didn't have any friends here, so what would going to a different location do? She just hoped that things would be better.
A week later, the carriage waited outside for Relina. The trip would take two weeks. The princess said her goodbyes, took a deep breath, and climbed into the carriage. She was hopefully off to a new start.~*~
sry for the short chapter, but at least the update was fast (for me anyway)
