A/N - I'm home sick yet again so i have tons of chapters to update! Things are getting juicy! Here's a little run in with Aaron for you TallemeraRane! Hope you like it! More coming soon! Remember to Review! Love you all!
Chapter 10
Leopold walked into the bright sunlight and looked around in awe. She had of course been in many gardens in her life, but none were as extravagant as the palace ones. Large hedges stood surrounded the gardens trapping in the beautiful flowers that grew everywhere. in the middle stood a large fountain with different layers and pools that allowed the water to flow down the sides. Leopold gawked at the trees that stood everywhere and provided shade to the benches where four girls sat embroidering. Leopold would have made a face at the thought of having to sit all day, even in one of the gorgeous gardens, with a needle and thread, but quickly hid it when most of the girls stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at the two that had just arrived. Eliza gently grabbed Leopold's arm and walked with her to the middle of the garden smiling at the others whilst whispering to Leopold.
"Just be yourself, only a little less boyish." Eliza whispered smiling when Leopold made a face. "Don't worry, Xavier told me all about you. Did he not tell you I'm exactly the same way and would give anything to be anywhere but here."
Leopold smiled at that thought and discovered that not all girls were as air-headed as the ones around her.
"Hello Eliza!" one of the girls muttered rather rudely taking a glance up from her embroidering and staring at the two as they approached the circle of benches under a large willow tree where the thirteen sat. "So nice of you to join us."
"I told you I would Gretchen." Eliza replied trying to keep her voice polite, but anyone could tell the two hated each other. Gretchen glared at Eliza as she flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and made a large over-exaggerated sigh while patting her stomach where she was obviously pregnant. Leopold rolled her eyes and hoped she wasn't going to have to stand there and listen to the girl much longer. "Everybody this is Leopold of Wessex. Leopold this is, Gabriella of Hallows Eve, Parker of Patrons Creek, Rosemary of Pearlsmouth, and Lady Gretchen." Eliza finished introducing everyone.
"Nice to meet you Leopold!" Parker said standing and curtsying to Leopold. The girl was small and petite with brown curly hair that hung down her back. Leopold curtsied back and even smiled at the girl as she sat down again.
"Leopold is it?" Gretchen said ruining the somewhat happy mood of the circle as she placed her embroidery down and stood up looking Leopold over. The girl was a few inches taller than Leopold and couldn't of been a year or two older as she crossed her arms over her rather large stomach and stared down at Leopold. Bracing herself Leopold clasped her hands behind her back to fight the urge to slap the girl, who she already didn't like.
"Has been for the past sixteen years," Leopold replied raising an eyebrow at Gretchen as she waited for her to reply.
"Of course it has, that's why you're still un-married isn't it?" Gretchen replied smirking. "Why any man would want to court a girl with that dreadful name is beyond me, but maybe your parents could do no better. Of course it's alright for me to talk about them now isn't it. They are dead aren't they?"
Leopold clenched her teeth together as she lowered her eyes and stared at the ground. 'It's wrong to hit a pregnant woman' she kept thinking over and over again in her mind as she tried controlling her temper with help from Eliza who was squeezing her arm in attempts to hold her back.
"So has that dumb boy of yours proposed yet?" Gretchen asked placing her hands on her hips and staring at Eliza who clutching Leopold's arm as she stared at Gretchen.
"Of course he has" Eliza replied smiling
"Took him long enough," Gretchen said smirking "How old are you? Nineteen? I can't believe your parents haven't raised the price of your dowry yet. I suppose your not worth it, I mean you aren't that pretty!"
"Some of us are marrying for love and not money." Parker said behind Gretchen crossing her arms and glaring at Gretchen.
"Of course you are." Gretchen replied turning on Parker, obviously finished with the other two. "You may think your marrying for love but that fiancée of yours certainly isn't. Why he's nothing more than a street rat and I for one am ashamed that a woman of your level would stoop so low as to become engaged to a filthy mutt like Tanner!"
"Go to hell Gretchen!" Parker hissed
"Let's face it Parker, you're not worth marrying, but even with your parents fortune you think they could've at least bought you a husband, not pick some scoundrel off the streets of Corus! Although it will give us something to laugh about to see what type of children the two of you will make. Maybe they'll be as ugly as he is! " Gretchen hissed laughing at the girl. Leopold couldn't take any more of the girl's false talk.
"Gretchen!" Leopold hissed pushing Eliza off of her arm and taking a step forward as the girl turned. With a swift movement of her arm Leopold's fist collided with Gretchen's eye. The girl stumbled backwards and was caught by Gabriella as the Gretchen cried out in pain and clutched her left eye. Eliza and Parker stood there dazed with smiles on their faces as they bent over Gretchen. Many of the girls from the other benches put down their embroidery and came over to see what the fuss was about. Eliza and Parker started laughing as Leopold gaped at what she had just done. Hearing voices of men coming into the gardens Eliza, Parker, Leopold and most of the other girls turned to see four or five men come out of the same door Leopold and Eliza had and start walking towards the circle of girls that stood around Gretchen.
"Come on," Parker hissed pulling Eliza and Leopold away from the huddle and running farther into the gardens. The three girls ran through the maze like hedges before Eliza pulled them towards an outer gate.
"Lets go," Eliza said opening the gate and leading the other two through. They emerged onto a wide grassy hill as Parker closed the gate behind them. Lifting their skirts the girls ran down the hill and towards the city.
"Where are we going?" Leopold called out of breath towards Parker who had gotten in front and was now leading the way.
"To the city of course!" Parker yelled back laughing as she ran.
"It'll take them centuries to find us there!" Eliza replied as she passed Leopold
"Why are we running?" Leopold called
"You just hit Lord Josephs wife!" Eliza called back laughing. Lord Joseph was a very respectful man of Tortall. He was the son of a very wealthy Duke owned a lot of land towards the east of Tortall.
Once the three girls entered the edge of the city and started winding their way through the streets they slowed down their pace and started walking as they all tried to catch their breath. "I've been waiting forever for someone to give that girl what she deserves!" Parker called laughing one last time before wincing at a pain in her side.
"I don't think you should have run Parker" Eliza said becoming worried as to her friend's pain.
"It's nothing." Parker replied waving off her friend.
"So where to now?" Leopold asked. "I haven't been in a city this big before."
Parker and Eliza exchanged glances and started smiling towards Leopold. "There's so much to show you! We'll never get it done in a few hours!" Eliza exclaimed.
"Well then we'll take her to some of the shops before they close, and then we'll get a drink!" Parker exclaimed.
"Only so you can see that boy of yours!" Eliza replied smiling at her friend and giving her a light shove. Parker smiled and seemed to become giddy with excitement at the thought. She looked at the sky and saw that it was already becoming dark and most of the shops would be closing around now.
"Another thought," Parker said smiling "Is to skip the shops altogether! We could go to the inn now and tomorrow we can spend the day shopping. Then we'll have more time to enjoy everything!"
Leopold and Eliza exchanged glances and Eliza rolled her eyes at her friend. "She does have a point!" Leopold replied laughing. Eliza crossed her arms and stared at the two girls, Parker who held her hands clasped in front of her and was begging Eliza and Leopold who had her arms crossed as well and was shaking with laughter, before making her decision.
"Fine!" Eliza called throwing up her hands as Parker jumped with glee.
"Down girl!" Leopold called laughing. She and Eliza followed Parker through the winding streets as the girl took off running again. Leopold sighed as she picked up her skirts and ran, admitting to herself that this had to be the most fun she has ever had with girls her own age. Most of them are like the other girls in the garden, who would rather be sewing and baking bread than having adventures. When they finally caught up to Parker she was standing outside a small inn named the Dancing Dove.
"Finally! Took you long enough!" Parker said rubbing her hands together from the cold as neither of the three girls had their cloaks with them and the weather was steadily getting colder. Leopold bent over with her hands on her knees and started breathing deeply as she tried getting her breath back from the long run while pushing aside people in order to keep sight of Parker and Eliza. Parker opened the door to the inn and quickly ushered the other two girls in. Leopold went with relief as the warmth of the place surrounded her. As Parker closed the door the three stared around the crowded inn as most of the men stopped their drinking and talking and turned to stare at the newcomers. Leopold moved closer to Parker, who stood in the middle of the three, and started staring around the room feeling awkward at all the stares. Soon the entire inn had become quite as they stared at the three noble girls, waiting for someone to make the first move. The entire time Parker had been searching the room for Tanner, and at that moment spotted him sitting towards the back of the room with his friends.
Parker's face lit up with glee as she spotted him. He obviously spotted her too and stood as she started walking towards him with Eliza right behind her and Leopold following at the end. As they walked past the rows of tables full of drunken men, one of the reached out and slapped Leopold lightly on her bottom. Stopping in her tracks Leopold turned to the man. His hair was a mess and when he smiled he was missing a couple of teeth. He smiled at her and blew a kiss towards her direction whilst holding his tankard towards her and laughing with his friends. Leopold gave a sarcastic smile back before pulling back her fist and punching the man in the nose before continuing to follow Parker. Eliza stopped when she heard the man call out in pain and turned to see Leopold walking towards her as if nothing had happened. Eliza gave a small laugh when Leopold shrugged her shoulders and smiled as if nothing had happened.
"He started it" Leopold muttered
"Of course he did," Eliza said rolling her eyes as Leopold passed her and continued to follow Parker towards the back. Eliza gave another laugh and followed Leopold as well. When they reached the back Parker and her fiancée were already in a tight embrace as his friends clapped and called towards their friend. Eliza and Leopold took seats at the end of the table that had been added to the others in order to make room for them and smiled towards each other as they joined the boys in their calls. Leopold glanced around the table and stopped clapping when she said Aaron, Gawayn and Jeff laughing along with their friends and whistling towards the couple. She was so shocked that she didn't realize Eliza had been pulling on her sleeve trying to get her attention.
"What?" Leopold asked softly coming out of her daze.
"Whom were you staring at?" Eliza asked looking in the same direction and smiling. "Aaron huh? Yeah he's gorgeous alright. But I wouldn't be fancying him. He's got his eyes set on this noble girl, but no one other than Jeff and Gawayn know who she is, Tanner might." Eliza finished smiling and pointing towards Parker and Tanner who finally broke away from each other and joined everyone else at the table. Aaron leaned his right arm on the table and picked up his fork with his left as he started eating again and going into a conversation with Jeff while Leopold sunk into her chair and tried to make herself invisible. Leopold wasn't the best at doing that especially when Parker decided to introduce her to Tanner.
"Tanner this is my newest friend Leopold, Leopold this is my fiancée Tanner. Don't think much on the fact that he's of the rogue. He's a perfectly presentable man when he wants to be! Father and mum love him and so do I!" Parker said smiling as Tanner wrapped his arms around her as she leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you miss!" Tanner replied reaching across the table with his free hand and shaking Leopold's. He squeezed her hand and winked before slightly moving his head, a movement only Leopold saw, towards Aaron. Leopold stole a glance down the table towards Aaron as well and saw that he was staring at her with his mouth hanging open and a piece of beef hanging off of his fork. Obviously he was too shocked to eat.
Chapter 10
Leopold walked into the bright sunlight and looked around in awe. She had of course been in many gardens in her life, but none were as extravagant as the palace ones. Large hedges stood surrounded the gardens trapping in the beautiful flowers that grew everywhere. in the middle stood a large fountain with different layers and pools that allowed the water to flow down the sides. Leopold gawked at the trees that stood everywhere and provided shade to the benches where four girls sat embroidering. Leopold would have made a face at the thought of having to sit all day, even in one of the gorgeous gardens, with a needle and thread, but quickly hid it when most of the girls stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at the two that had just arrived. Eliza gently grabbed Leopold's arm and walked with her to the middle of the garden smiling at the others whilst whispering to Leopold.
"Just be yourself, only a little less boyish." Eliza whispered smiling when Leopold made a face. "Don't worry, Xavier told me all about you. Did he not tell you I'm exactly the same way and would give anything to be anywhere but here."
Leopold smiled at that thought and discovered that not all girls were as air-headed as the ones around her.
"Hello Eliza!" one of the girls muttered rather rudely taking a glance up from her embroidering and staring at the two as they approached the circle of benches under a large willow tree where the thirteen sat. "So nice of you to join us."
"I told you I would Gretchen." Eliza replied trying to keep her voice polite, but anyone could tell the two hated each other. Gretchen glared at Eliza as she flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and made a large over-exaggerated sigh while patting her stomach where she was obviously pregnant. Leopold rolled her eyes and hoped she wasn't going to have to stand there and listen to the girl much longer. "Everybody this is Leopold of Wessex. Leopold this is, Gabriella of Hallows Eve, Parker of Patrons Creek, Rosemary of Pearlsmouth, and Lady Gretchen." Eliza finished introducing everyone.
"Nice to meet you Leopold!" Parker said standing and curtsying to Leopold. The girl was small and petite with brown curly hair that hung down her back. Leopold curtsied back and even smiled at the girl as she sat down again.
"Leopold is it?" Gretchen said ruining the somewhat happy mood of the circle as she placed her embroidery down and stood up looking Leopold over. The girl was a few inches taller than Leopold and couldn't of been a year or two older as she crossed her arms over her rather large stomach and stared down at Leopold. Bracing herself Leopold clasped her hands behind her back to fight the urge to slap the girl, who she already didn't like.
"Has been for the past sixteen years," Leopold replied raising an eyebrow at Gretchen as she waited for her to reply.
"Of course it has, that's why you're still un-married isn't it?" Gretchen replied smirking. "Why any man would want to court a girl with that dreadful name is beyond me, but maybe your parents could do no better. Of course it's alright for me to talk about them now isn't it. They are dead aren't they?"
Leopold clenched her teeth together as she lowered her eyes and stared at the ground. 'It's wrong to hit a pregnant woman' she kept thinking over and over again in her mind as she tried controlling her temper with help from Eliza who was squeezing her arm in attempts to hold her back.
"So has that dumb boy of yours proposed yet?" Gretchen asked placing her hands on her hips and staring at Eliza who clutching Leopold's arm as she stared at Gretchen.
"Of course he has" Eliza replied smiling
"Took him long enough," Gretchen said smirking "How old are you? Nineteen? I can't believe your parents haven't raised the price of your dowry yet. I suppose your not worth it, I mean you aren't that pretty!"
"Some of us are marrying for love and not money." Parker said behind Gretchen crossing her arms and glaring at Gretchen.
"Of course you are." Gretchen replied turning on Parker, obviously finished with the other two. "You may think your marrying for love but that fiancée of yours certainly isn't. Why he's nothing more than a street rat and I for one am ashamed that a woman of your level would stoop so low as to become engaged to a filthy mutt like Tanner!"
"Go to hell Gretchen!" Parker hissed
"Let's face it Parker, you're not worth marrying, but even with your parents fortune you think they could've at least bought you a husband, not pick some scoundrel off the streets of Corus! Although it will give us something to laugh about to see what type of children the two of you will make. Maybe they'll be as ugly as he is! " Gretchen hissed laughing at the girl. Leopold couldn't take any more of the girl's false talk.
"Gretchen!" Leopold hissed pushing Eliza off of her arm and taking a step forward as the girl turned. With a swift movement of her arm Leopold's fist collided with Gretchen's eye. The girl stumbled backwards and was caught by Gabriella as the Gretchen cried out in pain and clutched her left eye. Eliza and Parker stood there dazed with smiles on their faces as they bent over Gretchen. Many of the girls from the other benches put down their embroidery and came over to see what the fuss was about. Eliza and Parker started laughing as Leopold gaped at what she had just done. Hearing voices of men coming into the gardens Eliza, Parker, Leopold and most of the other girls turned to see four or five men come out of the same door Leopold and Eliza had and start walking towards the circle of girls that stood around Gretchen.
"Come on," Parker hissed pulling Eliza and Leopold away from the huddle and running farther into the gardens. The three girls ran through the maze like hedges before Eliza pulled them towards an outer gate.
"Lets go," Eliza said opening the gate and leading the other two through. They emerged onto a wide grassy hill as Parker closed the gate behind them. Lifting their skirts the girls ran down the hill and towards the city.
"Where are we going?" Leopold called out of breath towards Parker who had gotten in front and was now leading the way.
"To the city of course!" Parker yelled back laughing as she ran.
"It'll take them centuries to find us there!" Eliza replied as she passed Leopold
"Why are we running?" Leopold called
"You just hit Lord Josephs wife!" Eliza called back laughing. Lord Joseph was a very respectful man of Tortall. He was the son of a very wealthy Duke owned a lot of land towards the east of Tortall.
Once the three girls entered the edge of the city and started winding their way through the streets they slowed down their pace and started walking as they all tried to catch their breath. "I've been waiting forever for someone to give that girl what she deserves!" Parker called laughing one last time before wincing at a pain in her side.
"I don't think you should have run Parker" Eliza said becoming worried as to her friend's pain.
"It's nothing." Parker replied waving off her friend.
"So where to now?" Leopold asked. "I haven't been in a city this big before."
Parker and Eliza exchanged glances and started smiling towards Leopold. "There's so much to show you! We'll never get it done in a few hours!" Eliza exclaimed.
"Well then we'll take her to some of the shops before they close, and then we'll get a drink!" Parker exclaimed.
"Only so you can see that boy of yours!" Eliza replied smiling at her friend and giving her a light shove. Parker smiled and seemed to become giddy with excitement at the thought. She looked at the sky and saw that it was already becoming dark and most of the shops would be closing around now.
"Another thought," Parker said smiling "Is to skip the shops altogether! We could go to the inn now and tomorrow we can spend the day shopping. Then we'll have more time to enjoy everything!"
Leopold and Eliza exchanged glances and Eliza rolled her eyes at her friend. "She does have a point!" Leopold replied laughing. Eliza crossed her arms and stared at the two girls, Parker who held her hands clasped in front of her and was begging Eliza and Leopold who had her arms crossed as well and was shaking with laughter, before making her decision.
"Fine!" Eliza called throwing up her hands as Parker jumped with glee.
"Down girl!" Leopold called laughing. She and Eliza followed Parker through the winding streets as the girl took off running again. Leopold sighed as she picked up her skirts and ran, admitting to herself that this had to be the most fun she has ever had with girls her own age. Most of them are like the other girls in the garden, who would rather be sewing and baking bread than having adventures. When they finally caught up to Parker she was standing outside a small inn named the Dancing Dove.
"Finally! Took you long enough!" Parker said rubbing her hands together from the cold as neither of the three girls had their cloaks with them and the weather was steadily getting colder. Leopold bent over with her hands on her knees and started breathing deeply as she tried getting her breath back from the long run while pushing aside people in order to keep sight of Parker and Eliza. Parker opened the door to the inn and quickly ushered the other two girls in. Leopold went with relief as the warmth of the place surrounded her. As Parker closed the door the three stared around the crowded inn as most of the men stopped their drinking and talking and turned to stare at the newcomers. Leopold moved closer to Parker, who stood in the middle of the three, and started staring around the room feeling awkward at all the stares. Soon the entire inn had become quite as they stared at the three noble girls, waiting for someone to make the first move. The entire time Parker had been searching the room for Tanner, and at that moment spotted him sitting towards the back of the room with his friends.
Parker's face lit up with glee as she spotted him. He obviously spotted her too and stood as she started walking towards him with Eliza right behind her and Leopold following at the end. As they walked past the rows of tables full of drunken men, one of the reached out and slapped Leopold lightly on her bottom. Stopping in her tracks Leopold turned to the man. His hair was a mess and when he smiled he was missing a couple of teeth. He smiled at her and blew a kiss towards her direction whilst holding his tankard towards her and laughing with his friends. Leopold gave a sarcastic smile back before pulling back her fist and punching the man in the nose before continuing to follow Parker. Eliza stopped when she heard the man call out in pain and turned to see Leopold walking towards her as if nothing had happened. Eliza gave a small laugh when Leopold shrugged her shoulders and smiled as if nothing had happened.
"He started it" Leopold muttered
"Of course he did," Eliza said rolling her eyes as Leopold passed her and continued to follow Parker towards the back. Eliza gave another laugh and followed Leopold as well. When they reached the back Parker and her fiancée were already in a tight embrace as his friends clapped and called towards their friend. Eliza and Leopold took seats at the end of the table that had been added to the others in order to make room for them and smiled towards each other as they joined the boys in their calls. Leopold glanced around the table and stopped clapping when she said Aaron, Gawayn and Jeff laughing along with their friends and whistling towards the couple. She was so shocked that she didn't realize Eliza had been pulling on her sleeve trying to get her attention.
"What?" Leopold asked softly coming out of her daze.
"Whom were you staring at?" Eliza asked looking in the same direction and smiling. "Aaron huh? Yeah he's gorgeous alright. But I wouldn't be fancying him. He's got his eyes set on this noble girl, but no one other than Jeff and Gawayn know who she is, Tanner might." Eliza finished smiling and pointing towards Parker and Tanner who finally broke away from each other and joined everyone else at the table. Aaron leaned his right arm on the table and picked up his fork with his left as he started eating again and going into a conversation with Jeff while Leopold sunk into her chair and tried to make herself invisible. Leopold wasn't the best at doing that especially when Parker decided to introduce her to Tanner.
"Tanner this is my newest friend Leopold, Leopold this is my fiancée Tanner. Don't think much on the fact that he's of the rogue. He's a perfectly presentable man when he wants to be! Father and mum love him and so do I!" Parker said smiling as Tanner wrapped his arms around her as she leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you miss!" Tanner replied reaching across the table with his free hand and shaking Leopold's. He squeezed her hand and winked before slightly moving his head, a movement only Leopold saw, towards Aaron. Leopold stole a glance down the table towards Aaron as well and saw that he was staring at her with his mouth hanging open and a piece of beef hanging off of his fork. Obviously he was too shocked to eat.