Just for all of you who were wondering, my Daria and Jerrold are the parents of Char. So that means they really aren't mine, they're G.C.L.'s.
Anywho…
Chapter Three
"Now," Roan said, "you must come to breakfast. I have news for everyone."
I followed him from the room and through a hallway to a set of long, wide, very grand stone stairs leading into the main hall. I felt ridiculously regal was I walked down them, and felt even more ridiculous when I realized that I enjoyed feeling regal.
At the bottom of the stairs, Roan and I turned left into a sunny morning room, with wide windows and a few round tables. Boys sat at the tables, chattering away. This was the first time I actually looked at the boys. They were all of varying heights, with different colored caps of hair- some brown, some black, some blond. They all were dressed in the same raggedy clothing that Jerrold wore.
Roan escorted me to a table, where I sat down next to Jerrold. I suddenly felt absurd and foolish, for still being in my nightdress. I could feel peculiar looks from some of the boys, but when I turned to look at them, Roan stood up and commanded the attention of the room, with a women, who I figured was Iris, standing beside him.
"Alright boys," he said, "and ladies," he added. "Today is an important day for our cause. As you know, support for Kyrria's revolution is pretty poor in Jenn, but elsewhere is beginning to grow. Now is the time to start our campaign elsewhere."
I hadn't the slightest idea what was going on, so I stopped listening. Instead, I studied the room and those listening to Roan. The boys were looking at him intently, their brows furrowed, their fists clenched. It was almost laughable. They looked funny, dressed in their dirty clothing with their defiant attitudes. They were so passionate about this "cause" I wanted to know more about.
My eyes moved to Iris. She was an exotic looking girl; but she was no doubt beautiful. Her hair was black and straight, and it hung down her back like silk. She was a small girl, no taller than I, with eyes the color of copper. She had a strong, small nosed and beautifully curved lips that looked all the more beautiful against her olive skin. She stood next to my brother, her eyes focused on him lovingly, nodding her delicate head at what he said.
Suddenly the room erupted into claps and cheers. I followed suit, perplexed, trying to look as though I actually knew what was going on.
"Okay, Iris, take Daria upstairs and help her with her get ready with her new clothing and such. Boys, go about your daily chores and jobs. No- not you Jerrold. You go get on your best clothes and get ready as well. Lukas brought you a new trunk and some new clothing made of finer fabrics. We all must look the part," Roan said.
We followed him out of the room, and I watched him sweep walk confidently into another room full of men. I stood at the door, watching him sit confidently next to the man at the head of the table, and join in the defiant conversation. I felt a pang of pride. That's my brother. That's MY brother.
Iris tugged on my arm, interrupting my thoughts. I followed her through a maze of hallways into a room across from the boy's room. The room was small, but very cozy. A bed was tucked into a corner, across from window. Under the window was a chest of drawers. There was a wardrobe in another corner, and next to it was a screen. At the foot of the bed was a small bookshelf.
"What a splendid room!" I exclaimed. I was immediately disgusted with myself for using the word splendid.
"Do you like it?" Iris asked timidly.
I nodded. "It's wonderful," I replied.
"Oh, good," she said happily. "Roan thought you would. That's why he designated this room to be yours."
"It's mine?" I asked. "Really? For me?"
Iris nodded. I flopped backwards onto the bed joyously, forgetting all of my manners. My own room in a house I know I'll love! This day has been so wonderful! I couldn't stop a smile from creeping across my face.
Iris began to laugh. "You're so much like Roan!" she cried.
I sat up. "Really?" I said, more anxiously than I wished.
"Oh yes!" Iris said. "You speak like him, walk like him, you look like him. And the first thing he did when he came into our bedroom was flop on the bed, just like you just did," she said, giggling madly.
Now, let me just say, I am not one to giggle ridiculously like some silly girl. But in my defense, Iris's laugh was infectious, and we both started laughing. We collapsed into a big, wiggling heap. After a few minutes we both got up and collected ourselves, wiping our eyes.
"I think you compliment him," I said to Iris.
She smiled. "You think so?" she asked.
I nodded. "Of course. I've spent enough time with Roan to know that he's very stubborn and cautious, and rather uptight. It takes him a while to loosen up and have fun. Aren't I right?" I said. Iris nodded.
"But you," I continued, "seem very fun and easy going. I can sense that you're personable. I bet you two are the perfect match."
Iris smiled. "Thank you, but you're too kind," she said, somewhat bashfully. "But I do love your brother."
I was surprised to hear myself say those things about Iris. I was never one to trust quickly. But for some reason, I found Iris strangely easy to talk to, and I liked her a lot already. She was becoming the sister I'd always wanted.
"All right Daria. We have much to do, and we only have about three hours to do so," Iris said, interrupting my thoughts. People seemed to do that often.
My face contorted into a confused frown. "Why? What's going on?" I said.
Iris laughed. "We must pack! Have you forgotten so soon?" she replied, walking over to my wardrobe. She threw the doors open, displaying dress after dress hung up neatly. They were in more than a dozen colors and fabrics. Iris looked through them, pulling out one at a time and holding them up to me. When she decided that she liked it, she put it neatly in a trunk at her feet. The ones she didn't like she put back.
"Iris, where am I going?" I asked uncertainly.
She looked at me, clearly puzzled. "Didn't you listen to what Roan said this morning at breakfast?" she said.
I felt my face grow hot, and I cursed silently. I knew I should of listened. I held my head high. "No," I said simply and honestly. "I grew bored because I didn't know what he was talking about. My thoughts drifted elsewhere."
Iris nodded. "Oh, of course," she said kindly. "You've no idea of what's happening! Well Daria, simply put, we're traveling to the Ayorthia, to meet the King and Queen, to gather support for the revolution."
"Really?" I cried. "I've never been outside of Jenn, except for a cousin's wedding in Bast!"
Iris smiled. "This should be quite the adventure for you then…" she said.
I grinned back, not listening to what she was saying. A journey to the Ayorthian court with my brother and his wife! How wonderful! I'll get to spend time with my family. A family who wants me.
"…Jerrold as well, he's never left Kyrria at all either," she said pleasantly.
My mouth went dry, and my face flushed with anger. Jerrold.
"Jerrold?" I asked calmly. "Jerrold is coming as well? Why?"
"Roan likes Jerrold," Iris said. "He… he knows things that Roan finds helpful to our campaign."
"Like what?" I asked.
Iris shrugged. "Things about the royal family. Their policies, ideas, lifestyle. He told us he used to work at the palace. Roan and I think his parents we nobles," she said.
I nodded, trying to quell my fury. Jerrold was going to ruin my visit to Ayorthia. Why couldn't I just have time with Roan and Iris alone? Why does he have to tag along?
Someone knocked at the door, and I snapped out of my angry thoughts. Iris opened the door and Roan walked in. He kissed Iris on the cheek and smiled, turning to me.
"Will you two ladies please come downstairs? Daria, there are some men I'd like you to meet," he said. "Let's put you in something more appropriate."
He walked to my wardrobe and sorted through the dresses. He pulled out a simple, light pink silk dress with a fashionable square neck and a white cord for a sash. It was embroidered with small blue flowers along the bell sleeves and hem.
"This will be okay," he said, handing the dress to me. He pointed to the screen and Iris pushed me behind it, starting to help me get dressed.
"Where did all this clothing come from?" I asked Roan over the screen.
"Some of it we bought when we decided that you'd be living with us," Roan said.
"Some of them are my old dresses too," Iris said.
"Well, thank you," I said to the both of them, stepping out from behind the screen. Roan looked me over and nodded approvingly. He offered Iris his arm; she took it, smiling, and they walked out of the room. I followed grumpily.
In the next hour, I must have met over thirty men, and I don't remember any of their names. Most of them were older than Roan. They all had red-lined capes, just like the man who mistook me as a messenger boy. I met him as well, but he didn't recognize me.
The men bowed to me, and curtsied shakily, and then shook my hand like I was one of them. I keep my nasty thoughts about being ladylike to myself. They wished me well on my "travels" with Roan, Iris, and Jerrold. Needless to say, the mere mention of Jerrold made me bite my tongue, so as to not scream obscenities, which would be most unladylike and rude.
When I finally escaped back to my room, I only had a few minutes left to finish packing before we left. My head was reeling- I was leaving my home before I could call it home. Looking at my wardrobe and trunk, it seemed as though Iris had packed about every dress I owned, so I just closed it and grabbed a white shawl.
Now, how do I get this enormous trunk out of my room? I put my hands on the trunk's handles and heaved upwards, but it didn't move. It was much to heavy for me to carry. So I began dragging it throughout the manor's corridors. When I reached the top of the stairs, I noticed that the hall was empty, except for a cluster of boys speaking to Roan and Iris. One of them looked up at me.
"Hey! She IS a girl!" he cried, nudging one of his friends.
"Oh, shut up Tam," said Jerrold, who was bounding up the stairs with Roan.
"Daria," Roan said huffily, "you need to start acting more like a lady. No girl should be dragging a trunk about a manor."
I scowled at him. "I'm no damsel in distress, Roan," I said to him, repeating my motto rudely.
Jerrold began to laugh, but quickly turned it into a hacking cough when I looked at him, flashing my eyes.
"No one said you were, Daria," Roan said, trying not to laugh himself. He and Jerrold picked up my trunk on each end and carried it down the stairs.
"Oh, how chivalrous of you two!" I called after them sarcastically. Roan turned and looked at me darkly.
"I'm not scared of you either," I said insolently. I wasn't exactly charming when I was angry, especially to those who were imposing their company on me.
Roan came back up the stairs, his armed raised. I thought he was going to hit me. Instead, he grabbed my elbow. "Let's go Daria," he said, leading me down the stairs and outside the doors. Outside, there was a small carriage lead by four horses.
"Are we to have horsemen?" I asked.
Roan looked at me, perplexed with my change in attitude. "Only to the Kyrrian border," he replied.
I climbed into the carriage, and sat by the small window with my arms crossed. I was still angry. Iris sat across me, and smiled kindly at me. I pretended not to see. Jerrold got in after her and sat next to me.
"Are you excited?" he asked me, obviously trying to be nice to me.
I glared back at him, and he stopped talking. Roan finally climbed in the carriage and shut the door, sitting next to Iris. The carriage jolted forward, and our journey began.
Okay!! I've done my part, time for you to do yours! Please review! I love hearing from anyone!!