[A/N: So, so sorry to not update for a while...but I am a procrastinator.
Now, to answer a few comments, spoken and otherwise, remember the
TITLE....(Nothing Comes Without a Twist). All will be revealed soon enough. I
think. Well, enjoy!]
Lale woke to the blissful warmth of her bed, and birds singing merrily outside her window. For a minute she thought she was back home, until she remembered the night before. Her eyes still closed, Lale grimaced and balled her hands into fists. [Oooh, I don't care if he's a prince—he's damn offensive and rude! And I won't stand for him. If he comes near me, I will simply walk away.] She thought firmly. Then she realized the fatal flaw of this plan; rumors would spread like wildfire that something had happened between them, and Lale blushed to think of what people might say.
"Lale, dear, I know you're awake. It's time to get up!" trilled a thoroughly too cheerful Para. Lale allowed her to help her out of bed. Reluctantly, Lale headed for the washroom. She was tired from the night before and truly wished to remain in bed all day—but it wouldn't do to miss her first real day of Court!
After she was thoroughly scrubbed, Para helped her slip on a new dress—this one was a mellow, corn silk hued dress, with frothy lace bunched up at the sleeves, hem, neckline and waist. The effect made her look golden and radiant, when she felt dreary and only half awake. Para also insisted on rubbing some of her special ointment under Lale's eyes; sure enough, the purple bags under her eyes soon faded. Smiling falsely, she made her way to Beryl's apartment, with a little direction from a steward.
Beryl was waiting for her at the door to her rooms. She quickly grasped Lale's arm and began to lead her down a hallway.
"Now, dear, we're going to have breakfast with a few friends of mine and than maybe go for a ride, afterwards," Beryl told her conversationally. "Ooer, wait, you don't have a horse...hmm, we'll need to get you one, and soon, you can't miss out on the races! And you always were such a good rider..."
"Beryl. Stop chattering on. I have a headache," Lale said, irritated.
"Darling! That's enough of that....Gee, someone's a bit of a Grumpy Gus today," Beryl said, mimicking an old servant of theirs who constantly used the phrase, "Grumpy Gus." Her imitation was good enough to make Lale laugh. Their conversation was much lighter as they reached a section of the building that Lale obviously had not been to before. They came to a room that had a door that was a shocking pink color; Beryl reached out a delicate hand and knocked on the wall beside it. Almost immediately, a servant came to answer it.
"Right this way, madams," the servant told them. They came into a bright, sunny room, where a low table was set up. Large, puffy cushions were all around the table, and four people where sitting at them, although they rose when Beryl and Lale entered. Lale recognized one from the ball; Kirsten, she remembered. Lale smiled brightly at the group.
"Hello, you two! We're just waiting for a few more people," Kirsten said. "Oh, Lale, this is Devon," she pointed to a woman beside her, "this is Robin," She pointed to a young man, who smiled broadly at Lale, "and this is Darla," Kirsten gestured at the woman sitting next to Robin. Darla smiled, too, though more wryly.
"So, Lale, how long are you going to be staying here?" Darla asked. Her voice was fluttery and high pitched.
"Well...I'm not quite sure yet," Lale said, looking at her sister with her eyebrows arched.
"Hopefully long enough to better acquaint us," Devon inserted smoothly.
Lale noted that everything about Devon seemed smooth; from her voice to her hair to her skin, even to her smile, she was just, well, smooth.
"Yes, yes, of course, dear," Darla said, sweetly enough, but Lale could not seem to ignore that she had injected some kind of hidden poison. Lale flushed. [ Maybe this is some kind of court thing....with hidden meanings. I wonder what they're saying about me. Probably all vicious, cruel things,] she thought heatedly. She decided that she did not like Devon or Darla. Just then, Beryl, who had left to find the others joining them, sailed into the room. Behind her, two young men and one lady followed.
"Sweetheart, this is Gavin, this is Fredulin, and this is Lionelle," Beryl said, gesturing to each in turn. Gavin smiled shyly at her, Fredulin grinned mischievously, and Lionelle dimpled.
"Call me Fred," Fredulin said. Lale smiled and nodded, but her mind was still on Darla. [What are they trying to do here? Whatever it is, I won't fall into their stupid no-good trap. I KNOW they're planning something, you just don't act like that if you aren't!] She thought indignantly. Meanwhile, Beryl had grasped her arm and led her to the table. She ended up situated between Fred and Lionelle, as Beryl wanted to sit with Kirsten. Gavin, too, sat nearby; luckily Devon and Darla were immersed in their own conversation about a certain lady's scandalous dress and did not speak to Lale further.
"So, Lale, what are your plans for today?" Lionelle asked as a first course was placed on the table.
"I'm probably going to be tagging along with Beryl; I haven't made any real plans yet," Lale replied as she reached for an egg dish. Lionelle smiled and nodded as she replied.
"That's how it was for me when I first arrived—trailing on my cousin's skirts, praying for the life of me we wouldn't get separated," She said, eyes twinkling. Lionelle was a very dignified looking woman, so the idea of her hanging onto someone's skirts was rather ridiculous. Lale laughed.
"Lale, you should come to one of the races, Beryl says you're a –cough—excellent rider," Fred said, but his grin said otherwise. It was true, Beryl had known Lale to be a horrid rider, but that was before she left—soon after, Lale had hired a riding instructor so as not to embarrass herself. She was now a very good rider, if she did say so herself, but she decided to keep that to her self. [After all, they won't be expecting it,] she thought fleetingly.
Lale, Lionelle, and Fred passed the meal merrily. Fred had a very articulate sense of humor, and Lionelle was funny in a very dry way. Gavin did not say much, but smiled appreciatively when jokes were told or someone said something remotely witty. The foursome was about to leave when Darla spoke again to Lale.
"So, Lale, of course you've heard of the bets on you," Darla said, a sickly sweet smile plastering her face. [What is she talking about??? Oh, hellfire, she couldn't know about Terem yet, could she??? Plus, it was only a kiss. Okay, maybe more than one kiss but it's not like we did something horrible!] She thought.
"Uhm...I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," Lale said carefully, a mask of cool calmness on her face, while she writhed with anticipation within.
"Oh, Terem's"-At this Lale's stomach gave a little jolt-"been dared to—" Darla started, but Beryl interrupted.
"Come, Lale. Now. We are late. VERY LATE," Beryl said meaningfully. Lale nodded dazedly, but she still wanted to know what it was that Darla was talking about. On that VERY frustrating note, Beryl pulled her out of the room, Lionelle, Fred and Gavin close at her heels.
******
Terem was still in his room, and still upset. He had had his breakfast sent to his room, even though his mother had sent word via servants that she was displeased at this. Terem ignored the warning, for he had better things to worry about. [I can't believe I fell for this stupid trap,] he thought again furiously. He sighed. Maybe something, a loophole, anything, would become clear if he thought it over again. He sighed and began to replay the scene in his head.
REPLAY Terem walked into the room, where everyone was laughing merrily. So merrily, in fact, that he himself had smiled. Jeral sat, cuddled close to Darla, with the confident grin of someone who has just cracked a successful joke. Others around the room had begun to stop laughing, and Darla was already busy kissing Jeral's neck. He looked away quickly, sobered by the disgusting sight that it was.
"Ah, my dear brother...We were just discussing you," Jeral said, smirking, causing others to snort derisively. Terem's eyes darkened as he awkwardly stood before them, very out of place. These people were the gossips, the nasties, the sluts. These were not his friends.
"Oh?" Terem replied, forcing himself to speak as coolly as his brother had.
"Yes," Jeral said. "We were just discussing the fact that the last time you were given a dare, you backed out of it," he continued.
"Yes, but--," Terem started, remember the last time. He had been given a dare, a very dangerous dare, to cut a lock of his mother's hair, with a dagger, in the middle of the night. He knew that his mother would wake up, as she was a very light sleeper, and he knew that it would be an assumed attempted murder. Son or no, he would either be put to death of imprisoned for live. Terem sighed and did not finish. He knew the others would just call his reason an excuse. They were already hinting that he was a coward.
"So, we have decided that in order to redeem yourself, you must take another dare," Jeral said, pale eyes glittering.
"Well, it depe—"Terem started, but Jeral cut him off.
"No. No depends. It is bravery, or cowardice, my dear brother," Jeral said in that extremely infuriating way of his. Terem felt his ears go hot and then heard himself say
"Fine. Tell me it, and I will do it." Jeral smiled a cold, deliberate smile when his brother accepted. He began to speak, telling him the whole plan...Terem stood, in terrified disgust, as he listened.
BACK [No, no, no! there is NOTHING there to help me.] Terem thought, extremely chagrined. [I need to think logically here. I think I'll talk to Ranas. And Lale, But this time, I'll have to be more careful to NOT kiss her. It'll just get worse if I do. And I did enjoy those kisses, too] he thought ruefully.
Lale woke to the blissful warmth of her bed, and birds singing merrily outside her window. For a minute she thought she was back home, until she remembered the night before. Her eyes still closed, Lale grimaced and balled her hands into fists. [Oooh, I don't care if he's a prince—he's damn offensive and rude! And I won't stand for him. If he comes near me, I will simply walk away.] She thought firmly. Then she realized the fatal flaw of this plan; rumors would spread like wildfire that something had happened between them, and Lale blushed to think of what people might say.
"Lale, dear, I know you're awake. It's time to get up!" trilled a thoroughly too cheerful Para. Lale allowed her to help her out of bed. Reluctantly, Lale headed for the washroom. She was tired from the night before and truly wished to remain in bed all day—but it wouldn't do to miss her first real day of Court!
After she was thoroughly scrubbed, Para helped her slip on a new dress—this one was a mellow, corn silk hued dress, with frothy lace bunched up at the sleeves, hem, neckline and waist. The effect made her look golden and radiant, when she felt dreary and only half awake. Para also insisted on rubbing some of her special ointment under Lale's eyes; sure enough, the purple bags under her eyes soon faded. Smiling falsely, she made her way to Beryl's apartment, with a little direction from a steward.
Beryl was waiting for her at the door to her rooms. She quickly grasped Lale's arm and began to lead her down a hallway.
"Now, dear, we're going to have breakfast with a few friends of mine and than maybe go for a ride, afterwards," Beryl told her conversationally. "Ooer, wait, you don't have a horse...hmm, we'll need to get you one, and soon, you can't miss out on the races! And you always were such a good rider..."
"Beryl. Stop chattering on. I have a headache," Lale said, irritated.
"Darling! That's enough of that....Gee, someone's a bit of a Grumpy Gus today," Beryl said, mimicking an old servant of theirs who constantly used the phrase, "Grumpy Gus." Her imitation was good enough to make Lale laugh. Their conversation was much lighter as they reached a section of the building that Lale obviously had not been to before. They came to a room that had a door that was a shocking pink color; Beryl reached out a delicate hand and knocked on the wall beside it. Almost immediately, a servant came to answer it.
"Right this way, madams," the servant told them. They came into a bright, sunny room, where a low table was set up. Large, puffy cushions were all around the table, and four people where sitting at them, although they rose when Beryl and Lale entered. Lale recognized one from the ball; Kirsten, she remembered. Lale smiled brightly at the group.
"Hello, you two! We're just waiting for a few more people," Kirsten said. "Oh, Lale, this is Devon," she pointed to a woman beside her, "this is Robin," She pointed to a young man, who smiled broadly at Lale, "and this is Darla," Kirsten gestured at the woman sitting next to Robin. Darla smiled, too, though more wryly.
"So, Lale, how long are you going to be staying here?" Darla asked. Her voice was fluttery and high pitched.
"Well...I'm not quite sure yet," Lale said, looking at her sister with her eyebrows arched.
"Hopefully long enough to better acquaint us," Devon inserted smoothly.
Lale noted that everything about Devon seemed smooth; from her voice to her hair to her skin, even to her smile, she was just, well, smooth.
"Yes, yes, of course, dear," Darla said, sweetly enough, but Lale could not seem to ignore that she had injected some kind of hidden poison. Lale flushed. [ Maybe this is some kind of court thing....with hidden meanings. I wonder what they're saying about me. Probably all vicious, cruel things,] she thought heatedly. She decided that she did not like Devon or Darla. Just then, Beryl, who had left to find the others joining them, sailed into the room. Behind her, two young men and one lady followed.
"Sweetheart, this is Gavin, this is Fredulin, and this is Lionelle," Beryl said, gesturing to each in turn. Gavin smiled shyly at her, Fredulin grinned mischievously, and Lionelle dimpled.
"Call me Fred," Fredulin said. Lale smiled and nodded, but her mind was still on Darla. [What are they trying to do here? Whatever it is, I won't fall into their stupid no-good trap. I KNOW they're planning something, you just don't act like that if you aren't!] She thought indignantly. Meanwhile, Beryl had grasped her arm and led her to the table. She ended up situated between Fred and Lionelle, as Beryl wanted to sit with Kirsten. Gavin, too, sat nearby; luckily Devon and Darla were immersed in their own conversation about a certain lady's scandalous dress and did not speak to Lale further.
"So, Lale, what are your plans for today?" Lionelle asked as a first course was placed on the table.
"I'm probably going to be tagging along with Beryl; I haven't made any real plans yet," Lale replied as she reached for an egg dish. Lionelle smiled and nodded as she replied.
"That's how it was for me when I first arrived—trailing on my cousin's skirts, praying for the life of me we wouldn't get separated," She said, eyes twinkling. Lionelle was a very dignified looking woman, so the idea of her hanging onto someone's skirts was rather ridiculous. Lale laughed.
"Lale, you should come to one of the races, Beryl says you're a –cough—excellent rider," Fred said, but his grin said otherwise. It was true, Beryl had known Lale to be a horrid rider, but that was before she left—soon after, Lale had hired a riding instructor so as not to embarrass herself. She was now a very good rider, if she did say so herself, but she decided to keep that to her self. [After all, they won't be expecting it,] she thought fleetingly.
Lale, Lionelle, and Fred passed the meal merrily. Fred had a very articulate sense of humor, and Lionelle was funny in a very dry way. Gavin did not say much, but smiled appreciatively when jokes were told or someone said something remotely witty. The foursome was about to leave when Darla spoke again to Lale.
"So, Lale, of course you've heard of the bets on you," Darla said, a sickly sweet smile plastering her face. [What is she talking about??? Oh, hellfire, she couldn't know about Terem yet, could she??? Plus, it was only a kiss. Okay, maybe more than one kiss but it's not like we did something horrible!] She thought.
"Uhm...I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," Lale said carefully, a mask of cool calmness on her face, while she writhed with anticipation within.
"Oh, Terem's"-At this Lale's stomach gave a little jolt-"been dared to—" Darla started, but Beryl interrupted.
"Come, Lale. Now. We are late. VERY LATE," Beryl said meaningfully. Lale nodded dazedly, but she still wanted to know what it was that Darla was talking about. On that VERY frustrating note, Beryl pulled her out of the room, Lionelle, Fred and Gavin close at her heels.
******
Terem was still in his room, and still upset. He had had his breakfast sent to his room, even though his mother had sent word via servants that she was displeased at this. Terem ignored the warning, for he had better things to worry about. [I can't believe I fell for this stupid trap,] he thought again furiously. He sighed. Maybe something, a loophole, anything, would become clear if he thought it over again. He sighed and began to replay the scene in his head.
REPLAY Terem walked into the room, where everyone was laughing merrily. So merrily, in fact, that he himself had smiled. Jeral sat, cuddled close to Darla, with the confident grin of someone who has just cracked a successful joke. Others around the room had begun to stop laughing, and Darla was already busy kissing Jeral's neck. He looked away quickly, sobered by the disgusting sight that it was.
"Ah, my dear brother...We were just discussing you," Jeral said, smirking, causing others to snort derisively. Terem's eyes darkened as he awkwardly stood before them, very out of place. These people were the gossips, the nasties, the sluts. These were not his friends.
"Oh?" Terem replied, forcing himself to speak as coolly as his brother had.
"Yes," Jeral said. "We were just discussing the fact that the last time you were given a dare, you backed out of it," he continued.
"Yes, but--," Terem started, remember the last time. He had been given a dare, a very dangerous dare, to cut a lock of his mother's hair, with a dagger, in the middle of the night. He knew that his mother would wake up, as she was a very light sleeper, and he knew that it would be an assumed attempted murder. Son or no, he would either be put to death of imprisoned for live. Terem sighed and did not finish. He knew the others would just call his reason an excuse. They were already hinting that he was a coward.
"So, we have decided that in order to redeem yourself, you must take another dare," Jeral said, pale eyes glittering.
"Well, it depe—"Terem started, but Jeral cut him off.
"No. No depends. It is bravery, or cowardice, my dear brother," Jeral said in that extremely infuriating way of his. Terem felt his ears go hot and then heard himself say
"Fine. Tell me it, and I will do it." Jeral smiled a cold, deliberate smile when his brother accepted. He began to speak, telling him the whole plan...Terem stood, in terrified disgust, as he listened.
BACK [No, no, no! there is NOTHING there to help me.] Terem thought, extremely chagrined. [I need to think logically here. I think I'll talk to Ranas. And Lale, But this time, I'll have to be more careful to NOT kiss her. It'll just get worse if I do. And I did enjoy those kisses, too] he thought ruefully.