A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Many of you have been asking me if Nate would
be continued in this story. Of course! I can't interfere with fate, I
just write the story! And he may be coming sooner than you think. I hope
you enjoy this chapter!
::Chapter 20: Exigency::
"It's been a while."
I looked back and forth between the tutor and the fairy, quite puzzled. I gave Mandy a do-you-know-what-is-going-on? look. Her strange expression told me she did not. My gaze landed on Lucinda as her look of surprise scrunched up in anger.
"Why you little-"
Before I knew what was happening Lucinda jumped up and leapt directly at Brayden, who stepped out of the way just in time before the hit. There was a loud thump on the floor as Lucinda hit the ground.
The three of us gasped.
"Lucinda!" Mandy cried, clearly frightened. "What is the matter with you?!"
"YOU!" Lucinda ignored Mandy and propped herself up to her feet and pointed a thin bony finger into Brayden's face.
"YOU!" she repeated. "YOU DESTROYED MY DAUGHTER!"
I froze, not wanting to interfere with an angry fairy. Brayden stood silently, his eyes narrowing.
"That fool of a women destroyed herself," he said angrily, yet calmly. "You have only yourself to blame for her stupidity." With that he stormed toward the kitchen doors. He turned, nodding at me as he said "Princess." Then he left.
I was so baffled I didn't even react to the odd situation. What had gotten into dull Brayden? And Lucinda!
"Come back here, you. . . you little ingrate!" Lucinda leapt for the door, but Mandy caught her shoulder and pulled her back just in time.
"Lucinda!" She cried with a look of horror. "What has gotten into you?!"
Lucinda huffed angrily, slapping Mandy's hand of her shoulder. "Him. . . that boy. . . WHY IS HE HERE?!"
"H-He's my tutor. . . He's been at the palace since before I was born," I finally spoke up. "Ma'am," I added quickly.
"Tutor? Tutor?! HAH!" Lucinda chuckled maniacally. "That boy is no tutor!"
I raised an eyebrow. What had gotten into this woman?!
Lucinda shook her head in frustration. "I'm sorry for my unaaceptable behavior today, Princess," she apologized with a curtsey. "Mandy." Then she snapped her fingers and disappeared right into thin air!
"Oh! That halfwit!" Mandy exclaimed. "Performing big magic. . . and in front of a human girl too! Why I ought to-"
What was going on with Brayden and Lucinda?! "Mandy?"
"Yes?" She stopped mumbling to herself.
"What. . . what just happened?"
Mandy shook her head slowly. "I'm afraid I'm not sure."
I nodded. "Mandy, I-I think I should be going now. I'll come by later."
Mandy nodded. "All right, love."
I headed out of the kitchen and down the corridor. I knew exactly where I was going. I needed answers.
I climbed up the spiral stairs and up to our study room where we had our lessons. I was pretty sure he'd be in here. I knocked on the door.
After a few moments of silence a voice answered. "Who is it?"
"I-It's me. . . Princess Amena."
I heard a few shuffling of sheets then some footsteps. The door creaked open and Brayden bowed. "Can I do anything for you, Your Highness?"
He looked quite stressed, as though he had been crying without tears.
"Brayden, may I speak with you? That is. . . if you're not busy at the moment."
Brayden pondered upon this for a second before answering. "Of course. Come in, Princess."
I stepped in, hearing the door close behind me.
"Take a seat."
I did.
Brayden took the seat next to me. "What was it you wanted to talk about?" he asked, although I had the feeling he already knew.
I had so many questions I didn't know where to begin. "How do you know Lucinda?" I decided this was an appropriate place to start.
He shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. "I. . . uh. . . met her a while back. At a wedding."
"Who was getting married?"
Brayden shrugged. "Some couple we both happened to know."
I nodded, disappointed at the vague answers I was receiving. But Brayden was obviously uncomfortable with this subject so I let it go. "If you don't mind my asking. . . What did Lucinda mean by you destroying her daughter?"
"It's a long story," he answered plainly.
I nodded again. "And may I ask what you're relationship is with her daughter? Sebille, was it?"
He nodded slowly, and peered at the floor. He fidgeted with his hands for a few moments before answering. "We are old acquaintances."
"I see. . ." This was going nowhere fast. I decided to leave it at that, said goodbye, and left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Days then weeks passed since the day of the little dispute between Brayden and Lucinda. We acted as if nothing had happened. I didn't bring up the subject matter with Mandy, and my lessons with Brayden went on like normal, starting off from where we had left off about ogres. Brayden seemed quite awkward with the subject of sirens, so we decided to skip over that. Since then nothing out of the ordinary happened. Until today, that is.
"I'll see you at our next lesson, Princess," Brayden said, bowing. He closed the big book on magical creatures.
I nodded. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."
He opened the door for me and I stepped out, heading down the corridor to my room. I reached for the magic fairy book Mother had given me and flipped open the cover, as I had been the past few weeks. This book certainly was strange. Every time I opened it something new would pop up, whether it be a journal entry, a fairy tale, or even a moving picture.
Today it happened to be a story about a shoemaker and some elves.
I flipped through the pages, skimming through the story. Mandy had told me this story numerous times when I was younger, so I was quite familiar with it by now.
*The End *
After it ended I flipped the page for the next story.
*January 27 *
It was a journal entry!
*It has been about four weeks since the men and I left home. So far we had no luck whatsoever with the ogres, although there had been a few close calls. One of father's knights had been badly injured, and we're staying at a kind maiden's house.*
Ogres? This must be Nate's journal entry! After everything that had been going on, I had forgotten he had left to hunt for ogres about a month before. I continued to read on.
*I miss home. I never actually thought I'd be saying that. When I first left I was thrilled to leave my father and his controlling behavior. I mean, it's my life, you know? I'm only sixteen. It's too early to start thinking about taking his place. Oh, and the betrothal is off. With Amena. Prince Charmont decided to cancel it. Father told me it was Amena's idea. I admit she didn't turn out as bad as I thought she was when we were first reacquainted, but I guess she doesn't feel the same way. But none of that matters anymore. The maiden who took us in with the injured knights is absolutely stunning. Blonde hair. . . blue eyes. . . She doesn't look like she could be much older than me, although she was living alone. Her appearance. . . her cooking. . . her kindness. . . everything about her is just absolutely captivating. The other men seem to fancy her too, though she seems to have an unusual interest in me. She probably feels quite sorry for me, for I believe I told her about what happened to the betrothal after a one too many shots of ale. She even offered to sing for me one night, which I'm hoping comes soon. She should take my mind off of things. For a bit, anyway. She is just incredible! And she supposedly has a beautiful voice to top it off. . . *
I slammed the book shut. It was only then that I realized my heart was racing and tears were stinging my eyes. The maiden. . . I desperately tried to think of the description of Sebille from one of my father's older entries. Beautiful. . . long blonde hair. . . wonderful cooking. . . young. . . beautiful voice. . . had Nate met Sebille?!
I cried out softly. If this WAS Sebille, Nate could be in terrible danger!
Without hesitating I leapt from my bed and burst out of the bedroom, heading towards Mayleah's room. We haven't spoken much since she had arrived, but I needed her help desperately.
I pounded on the door. "Mayleah? Mayleah!" I was shocked to see that my voice was coming out in sobs, but didn't care. I only cared about one thing at the moment. Or one person.
The door swung open, and a surprised Mayleah opened the door, her face flushed. "Amena?" she spoke, clearly shocked. "What's the matter??"
"N-Nate m-met your m-mother!" I choked out, tears streaming down my face.
It took a few moments to sink in, but she finally got what I meant. "Oh. . . oh no. . ." a frightened look overcame her face.
"I know I-I haven't been the friendliest sister, and I know we are not very close, and you don't owe me anything b-but please. . . you're the only one I know who can h-help me. . ."
"W-What do you want me to do?" she asked quietly, tucking a strand of curly blonde hair behind her ear.
"I want you to come with me to find him."
"You mean. . . you want me to leave home?" she asked, as though I were crazy.
I nodded, wiping the tears from my face. "Please. . ."
"My mother is a very dangerous woman."
I nodded. "I know."
There was a moment of awkward silence between the two of us. Finally, Mayleah spoke up in a hushed voice, grinning as she looked me straight in the eye. Those green eyes we both shared. "You really do love him, don't you?"
I smiled, knowing that we finally had some sort of connection. Then, in a barely audible voice I whispered back to her.
"I do."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!
::Chapter 20: Exigency::
"It's been a while."
I looked back and forth between the tutor and the fairy, quite puzzled. I gave Mandy a do-you-know-what-is-going-on? look. Her strange expression told me she did not. My gaze landed on Lucinda as her look of surprise scrunched up in anger.
"Why you little-"
Before I knew what was happening Lucinda jumped up and leapt directly at Brayden, who stepped out of the way just in time before the hit. There was a loud thump on the floor as Lucinda hit the ground.
The three of us gasped.
"Lucinda!" Mandy cried, clearly frightened. "What is the matter with you?!"
"YOU!" Lucinda ignored Mandy and propped herself up to her feet and pointed a thin bony finger into Brayden's face.
"YOU!" she repeated. "YOU DESTROYED MY DAUGHTER!"
I froze, not wanting to interfere with an angry fairy. Brayden stood silently, his eyes narrowing.
"That fool of a women destroyed herself," he said angrily, yet calmly. "You have only yourself to blame for her stupidity." With that he stormed toward the kitchen doors. He turned, nodding at me as he said "Princess." Then he left.
I was so baffled I didn't even react to the odd situation. What had gotten into dull Brayden? And Lucinda!
"Come back here, you. . . you little ingrate!" Lucinda leapt for the door, but Mandy caught her shoulder and pulled her back just in time.
"Lucinda!" She cried with a look of horror. "What has gotten into you?!"
Lucinda huffed angrily, slapping Mandy's hand of her shoulder. "Him. . . that boy. . . WHY IS HE HERE?!"
"H-He's my tutor. . . He's been at the palace since before I was born," I finally spoke up. "Ma'am," I added quickly.
"Tutor? Tutor?! HAH!" Lucinda chuckled maniacally. "That boy is no tutor!"
I raised an eyebrow. What had gotten into this woman?!
Lucinda shook her head in frustration. "I'm sorry for my unaaceptable behavior today, Princess," she apologized with a curtsey. "Mandy." Then she snapped her fingers and disappeared right into thin air!
"Oh! That halfwit!" Mandy exclaimed. "Performing big magic. . . and in front of a human girl too! Why I ought to-"
What was going on with Brayden and Lucinda?! "Mandy?"
"Yes?" She stopped mumbling to herself.
"What. . . what just happened?"
Mandy shook her head slowly. "I'm afraid I'm not sure."
I nodded. "Mandy, I-I think I should be going now. I'll come by later."
Mandy nodded. "All right, love."
I headed out of the kitchen and down the corridor. I knew exactly where I was going. I needed answers.
I climbed up the spiral stairs and up to our study room where we had our lessons. I was pretty sure he'd be in here. I knocked on the door.
After a few moments of silence a voice answered. "Who is it?"
"I-It's me. . . Princess Amena."
I heard a few shuffling of sheets then some footsteps. The door creaked open and Brayden bowed. "Can I do anything for you, Your Highness?"
He looked quite stressed, as though he had been crying without tears.
"Brayden, may I speak with you? That is. . . if you're not busy at the moment."
Brayden pondered upon this for a second before answering. "Of course. Come in, Princess."
I stepped in, hearing the door close behind me.
"Take a seat."
I did.
Brayden took the seat next to me. "What was it you wanted to talk about?" he asked, although I had the feeling he already knew.
I had so many questions I didn't know where to begin. "How do you know Lucinda?" I decided this was an appropriate place to start.
He shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. "I. . . uh. . . met her a while back. At a wedding."
"Who was getting married?"
Brayden shrugged. "Some couple we both happened to know."
I nodded, disappointed at the vague answers I was receiving. But Brayden was obviously uncomfortable with this subject so I let it go. "If you don't mind my asking. . . What did Lucinda mean by you destroying her daughter?"
"It's a long story," he answered plainly.
I nodded again. "And may I ask what you're relationship is with her daughter? Sebille, was it?"
He nodded slowly, and peered at the floor. He fidgeted with his hands for a few moments before answering. "We are old acquaintances."
"I see. . ." This was going nowhere fast. I decided to leave it at that, said goodbye, and left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Days then weeks passed since the day of the little dispute between Brayden and Lucinda. We acted as if nothing had happened. I didn't bring up the subject matter with Mandy, and my lessons with Brayden went on like normal, starting off from where we had left off about ogres. Brayden seemed quite awkward with the subject of sirens, so we decided to skip over that. Since then nothing out of the ordinary happened. Until today, that is.
"I'll see you at our next lesson, Princess," Brayden said, bowing. He closed the big book on magical creatures.
I nodded. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."
He opened the door for me and I stepped out, heading down the corridor to my room. I reached for the magic fairy book Mother had given me and flipped open the cover, as I had been the past few weeks. This book certainly was strange. Every time I opened it something new would pop up, whether it be a journal entry, a fairy tale, or even a moving picture.
Today it happened to be a story about a shoemaker and some elves.
I flipped through the pages, skimming through the story. Mandy had told me this story numerous times when I was younger, so I was quite familiar with it by now.
*The End *
After it ended I flipped the page for the next story.
*January 27 *
It was a journal entry!
*It has been about four weeks since the men and I left home. So far we had no luck whatsoever with the ogres, although there had been a few close calls. One of father's knights had been badly injured, and we're staying at a kind maiden's house.*
Ogres? This must be Nate's journal entry! After everything that had been going on, I had forgotten he had left to hunt for ogres about a month before. I continued to read on.
*I miss home. I never actually thought I'd be saying that. When I first left I was thrilled to leave my father and his controlling behavior. I mean, it's my life, you know? I'm only sixteen. It's too early to start thinking about taking his place. Oh, and the betrothal is off. With Amena. Prince Charmont decided to cancel it. Father told me it was Amena's idea. I admit she didn't turn out as bad as I thought she was when we were first reacquainted, but I guess she doesn't feel the same way. But none of that matters anymore. The maiden who took us in with the injured knights is absolutely stunning. Blonde hair. . . blue eyes. . . She doesn't look like she could be much older than me, although she was living alone. Her appearance. . . her cooking. . . her kindness. . . everything about her is just absolutely captivating. The other men seem to fancy her too, though she seems to have an unusual interest in me. She probably feels quite sorry for me, for I believe I told her about what happened to the betrothal after a one too many shots of ale. She even offered to sing for me one night, which I'm hoping comes soon. She should take my mind off of things. For a bit, anyway. She is just incredible! And she supposedly has a beautiful voice to top it off. . . *
I slammed the book shut. It was only then that I realized my heart was racing and tears were stinging my eyes. The maiden. . . I desperately tried to think of the description of Sebille from one of my father's older entries. Beautiful. . . long blonde hair. . . wonderful cooking. . . young. . . beautiful voice. . . had Nate met Sebille?!
I cried out softly. If this WAS Sebille, Nate could be in terrible danger!
Without hesitating I leapt from my bed and burst out of the bedroom, heading towards Mayleah's room. We haven't spoken much since she had arrived, but I needed her help desperately.
I pounded on the door. "Mayleah? Mayleah!" I was shocked to see that my voice was coming out in sobs, but didn't care. I only cared about one thing at the moment. Or one person.
The door swung open, and a surprised Mayleah opened the door, her face flushed. "Amena?" she spoke, clearly shocked. "What's the matter??"
"N-Nate m-met your m-mother!" I choked out, tears streaming down my face.
It took a few moments to sink in, but she finally got what I meant. "Oh. . . oh no. . ." a frightened look overcame her face.
"I know I-I haven't been the friendliest sister, and I know we are not very close, and you don't owe me anything b-but please. . . you're the only one I know who can h-help me. . ."
"W-What do you want me to do?" she asked quietly, tucking a strand of curly blonde hair behind her ear.
"I want you to come with me to find him."
"You mean. . . you want me to leave home?" she asked, as though I were crazy.
I nodded, wiping the tears from my face. "Please. . ."
"My mother is a very dangerous woman."
I nodded. "I know."
There was a moment of awkward silence between the two of us. Finally, Mayleah spoke up in a hushed voice, grinning as she looked me straight in the eye. Those green eyes we both shared. "You really do love him, don't you?"
I smiled, knowing that we finally had some sort of connection. Then, in a barely audible voice I whispered back to her.
"I do."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!
