{W/R} As usual, here come the BIG thank yous to my reviewers. Please keep it coming!!!
RoxyBarbieH8er~Thanks for the honest criticism. (I'm not being sarcastic, I'm being absolutely sincere!) Can you explain how I'm choppy in my writing? Please keep reviewing and being honest. Oh yea, your story is great! I really, really enjoy reading it. I hope you update soon.
FelSong~ Yea, I know the recap was redundant. I'm think I'm going to stop making Elestra write in her journal. I only put the journal entries as a bridge from Sherwood Smith's story to mine. Thanks for the tip about the "okay" thing.
Cheese12~ Thanks for the compliments and enjoying my chapters!
SwingQueen29~ Thanks so much for the email!! It was the reason, I actually started this chapter and I'm updating. It came just at the right moment. : ) I hope you like this chapter!
~ [Place Words Here] ~= Thoughts
So here goes:
"Now care to explain?" Father asked, calmly.
I nodded and picking my words carefully. I couldn't let it slip that I had been thinking about Flauvic, almost obsessively, which led to my getting lost in that forest. Luckily, I got through the whole explanation with Father's assessing stare and Mama just quietly listening.
"It does belong to him," Mel said, turning to Vidanric.
"It does, but I think it's more than just Merindar. I just can't figure out what's he's up to at the moment," he replied, staring at ceiling in his own world, almost. "Elestra, why don't you go play with Rhianna for awhile, as your mother and I talk."
I was curious, but I knew from father's tone that he didn't want me there to listen so I left without protest. I knocked on Rhianna's door and heard her give me entry. Rhianna was in her room, looking out the window at the gardens below.
"Hi," I said, greeting her.
She turned and smiled.
"Hi, what have you been up to?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. You just have a look as if you're hiding something. I saw it before, but I assumed that you were only just feeling weird after being lost or something of the like."
I grinned at the girl that had been like an older sister to me the past few months since I've known her.
"You know me too well."
"I don't know if that's a good thing or not."
"Hey," I said, feigning hurt.
She laughed, kindly and moved from her window seat to her bed.
"Come on, you can tell me."
I walked from the doorway and sat down beside her.
"You know about Flauvic, right?"
"Of course, at least one sentence was about him, in all the letters you wrote to me."
I laughed. It seemed that I had slipped about my thoughts of him.
"Yes, well, I met him again when I was lost."
"Ahh, is that why you were lost?"
She giggled, as I rolled my eyes, although it was partially true.
"I won't tell you a thing, if you keep implying that we are a couple or something."
"I never say anything about that."
"Hence the word, implying."
She smiled mischievously and I laughed.
"All right, spill. What happened?"
I explained what happened again and by the end, Rhianna's eyes were wide open, in surprise.
"So what are you going to do about him?"
I shrugged and looked down, picking at a loose thread on the comforter that I sat on. Rhianna collapsed backwards onto the bed with a sigh and I joined her.
"Is he very powerful, as a mage I mean?"
"You think he might be behind your father's illness too, huh?"
"Yes well, you never know what people want secretly."
"That's true. There's no evidence about him being behind it, but he didn't say anything about Raea {W/R: The Demalmis Lands In Sartor}. I know you're worried about your father, but I'm sure my mother will find out if anyone is behind it."
I stared at the canopy above the bed, but I knew Rhianna was reassured that Lord Devin would be fine and healthy once again.
"So what is he like," she asked, inquisitively.
I smiled, thinking about him.
"He's hard to describe. I don't even think I should even be thinking about him so much, especially after what he nearly did to become a tree in the first place."
"People deserve second chances, you know. Plus, you can't control love."
I sat up in the millisecond that Rhianna mentioned the L-word and turned to her.
"I never said I was in love. Besides, I barely know him."
"Yeah, I know, but you're already infatuated with him amid what you know," said Rhianna, sitting up halfway, propping herself up on her elbows.
I stuck a tongue out at her, in which Rhianna started laughing.
"Let's talk about other things. My parents will handle everything Flauvic, who I do not love or even like, might I add."
"I don't think you're so sure about that, but so you won't go off in a huff I won't continue."
I leaned back onto the bed and we were silent for awhile, in our own little worlds, thinking about our own problems.
"Are you going to come with your mother to Raea? It'd be nice to have you visit again."
"I'd love to, but I don't think it's a good idea to leave father alone, especially with Flauvic around now."
"He's the King. I think he can handle it. Flauvic probably just wants to belong and be home again. It must be harsh to be thrown back into the world and find that everything that you knew was gone or changed."
I was quieted by the thought.
"Do you think he has an ulterior motive for wanting Merindar?"
"I guess we have to wait and see."
Rhianna sat up, slowly and I joined her.
"Come on, no more dreary thoughts. Let's go have some fun."
"Doing what exactly?"
Rhianna's face lit up roguishly and I realized that she had a good idea.
"What are you thinking, Rhi?"
"The carnival. I saw them setting up when I was arriving. That ought to have all kinds of strange stuff."
"The carnival? I haven't been there, since I was a little baby and anyway it isn't a very popular thing to do."
I was completely let down by the idea and surprised that Rhianna even wanted to go to such a place.
"Exactly why we should be going. Plus, there's one guarantee thing that'll be fun. Trust me."
I reluctantly agreed, seeing that father would explain his plans to anyone, but mother and since I had nothing else to do for awhile.
"We'll have to walk there though, so no one will think that we'll be going there. Don't worry it's not too far."
"I hope you know where you're headed."
"Trust me, I'm perfectly competent."
"With any luck, you'll say the same thing when we get back from there."
Rhianna smiled with a contrived exasperated look.
"We have to get out of our pheasant clothes, so no one will catch us."
"And where do you think we'll get normal clothes?"
"Selene is about your height and size. She must have some clothes for you to borrow."
"And what will you wear?"
"Something from the stables, maybe."
I was shocked that Rhianna, a wealthy and pretty girl wouldn't mind wearing such drab clothing.
"Shut your mouth before a fly goes in it."
I shut it and smiled sardonically with a sarcastic, "Ha, ha."
We pulled off getting a set of stable boy clothing and Selene, although hesitant once she learned of what we were to do with it, let me borrow a blouse and skirt of hers. We changed into it and was transformed, almost, into a peasant girl and stable boy, although it was hard to change Rhianna's look into that of one.
It was quite a laugh, looking in the looking glass at ourselves.
"I'm absolutely nuts to be going along with this."
"It'll be worth it and we'll have our questions answered, if we're lucky."
"I'll be happy, as long we aren't robbed or something."
Rhianna laughed at the idea.
"Forgotten that you learned how to fight, I see."
I started laughing, as well.
"Let's get going and out of here before someone sees us. I'd hate to think of the explanations we'd have to make up."
She smiled and I pulled her out a servants' hallway out of the castle, that Selene had showed me.
It was fun to be out of the confinement of proper conduct. It let me laugh and smile more. A weight was off my shoulders and I didn't think of anything else but running free and being happy, in complete bliss or very close to so. ~It must be the feeling mother couldn't describe when she was with the Hill Folk. ~
I followed or really was dragged by Rhianna. I was exhausted by the time we reached rural side of Athanarel.
"Are we there yet?" I asked for millionth time.
She laughed. It awed me that my whining didn't infuriate her.
"Close," She replied.
Her pace was the same as earlier, quick and with a jump in her step, while mine had slowed immensely.
"You could have warned me that it was this far. Are you sure we're not lost?"
She shook her head, in a response and I hurried again to keep up with her.
"It better be worth this trouble."
"We're here," she finally exclaimed.
The place was larger than I thought it would be and more crowded as well. We walked up to the ticket booth.
"One adult and child ticket, please." Rhianna told the ticket person.
"Ha, ha." I said and nudged her in the ribs. "She meant two ADULT tickets."
The old ticket person, who looked half-asleep despite the noise of the carnival, rolled his eyes at our foolishness. We giggled at our behavior ourselves. When we finally paid for our tickets and entered the place, it was all full of excitement. There were game booths, food stands all over, and many people shouting all kinds of things.
"This is going to be fun," I whispered to Rhianna, beside me with my eyes glittering at the sight before me.
"Didn't I tell you so," whispered Rhianna, as she pulled me into the midst of the crowd. "I have someone you have to see."
"You know someone that works here?"
"Not really, but I know what carnivals always have."
"What's that?"
"Gypsies."
I stopped and looked at her funny.
"A gypsy?"
"What else? She'll be perfect to answer the questions we have about our future."
"I doubt it," I replied, walking beside her again. "I think they'll just blab some nonsense and take our money."
"Well, you believe in prophets, don't you?"
I halfheartedly nodded.
"Think of them as possible prophets."
I laughed, shaking my head.
"Let's just get this over with."
We finally found a gypsy tent with the usual darkness and celestial designs and decorations. Entering it, I was not surprised to find the usual set up of a crystal ball and old woman in a dark-colored turban.
"Greetings, my dears." The gypsy said with a smile. "What can I do for you today?"
I gave Rhianna a look that said, "I can't believe I'm going along with this." which she ignored and smiled at the kind, elderly woman.
"Do you mind answering a couple of questions about our future?"
"No problem," She told Rhianna, but turned to me and gestured at the seat before her. "The spirits say that you should be the first to go."
I took a deep breath and plastered on a smile.
"Why not," I said and took the seat that she indicated. ~This is crazy. A real waste of money, no doubt. ~
"What would you like to know about the future?"
I bit my lip and thought about it. I wasn't going to waste this chance, although I doubted that this woman would bring answers and plus, whatever information she'd tell me, it just might be interesting to hear.
"I'd like to know if I'm going to marry and if I do, who?"
I turned to Rhianna, who smiled and I had no doubt that she suspected that I was thinking of Flauvic, which truthfully I was. The woman smiled and looked down into the clear crystal ball. ~I bet she heard that question, too many times to count. ~
I watched her and suddenly I felt a pull. It was a strong one, although not at all frightening or in any way painful. It was the feeling that someone would get when they were drifting back to reality from a peaceful night's sleep. Suddenly, all my surroundings changed. The gypsy disappeared from my sight, as did the tent and I couldn't see Rhianna anywhere. Oddly, it still didn't scare me at all and I felt like I was in a daze.
{W/R} So what do you all think? Please Review!!!!! As you might have realized, I cut out any journal entries. I decided not to add anymore, because I only wanted to use it to bridge the story of Beauty to mine for the introduction and now that I'm more into the story, I find it unnecessary. I hoped you like the chapter. My vacation from school is ending, so it might be awhile until I update again. Get Ready, Get Set, REVIEW!!!!!
RoxyBarbieH8er~Thanks for the honest criticism. (I'm not being sarcastic, I'm being absolutely sincere!) Can you explain how I'm choppy in my writing? Please keep reviewing and being honest. Oh yea, your story is great! I really, really enjoy reading it. I hope you update soon.
FelSong~ Yea, I know the recap was redundant. I'm think I'm going to stop making Elestra write in her journal. I only put the journal entries as a bridge from Sherwood Smith's story to mine. Thanks for the tip about the "okay" thing.
Cheese12~ Thanks for the compliments and enjoying my chapters!
SwingQueen29~ Thanks so much for the email!! It was the reason, I actually started this chapter and I'm updating. It came just at the right moment. : ) I hope you like this chapter!
~ [Place Words Here] ~= Thoughts
So here goes:
"Now care to explain?" Father asked, calmly.
I nodded and picking my words carefully. I couldn't let it slip that I had been thinking about Flauvic, almost obsessively, which led to my getting lost in that forest. Luckily, I got through the whole explanation with Father's assessing stare and Mama just quietly listening.
"It does belong to him," Mel said, turning to Vidanric.
"It does, but I think it's more than just Merindar. I just can't figure out what's he's up to at the moment," he replied, staring at ceiling in his own world, almost. "Elestra, why don't you go play with Rhianna for awhile, as your mother and I talk."
I was curious, but I knew from father's tone that he didn't want me there to listen so I left without protest. I knocked on Rhianna's door and heard her give me entry. Rhianna was in her room, looking out the window at the gardens below.
"Hi," I said, greeting her.
She turned and smiled.
"Hi, what have you been up to?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. You just have a look as if you're hiding something. I saw it before, but I assumed that you were only just feeling weird after being lost or something of the like."
I grinned at the girl that had been like an older sister to me the past few months since I've known her.
"You know me too well."
"I don't know if that's a good thing or not."
"Hey," I said, feigning hurt.
She laughed, kindly and moved from her window seat to her bed.
"Come on, you can tell me."
I walked from the doorway and sat down beside her.
"You know about Flauvic, right?"
"Of course, at least one sentence was about him, in all the letters you wrote to me."
I laughed. It seemed that I had slipped about my thoughts of him.
"Yes, well, I met him again when I was lost."
"Ahh, is that why you were lost?"
She giggled, as I rolled my eyes, although it was partially true.
"I won't tell you a thing, if you keep implying that we are a couple or something."
"I never say anything about that."
"Hence the word, implying."
She smiled mischievously and I laughed.
"All right, spill. What happened?"
I explained what happened again and by the end, Rhianna's eyes were wide open, in surprise.
"So what are you going to do about him?"
I shrugged and looked down, picking at a loose thread on the comforter that I sat on. Rhianna collapsed backwards onto the bed with a sigh and I joined her.
"Is he very powerful, as a mage I mean?"
"You think he might be behind your father's illness too, huh?"
"Yes well, you never know what people want secretly."
"That's true. There's no evidence about him being behind it, but he didn't say anything about Raea {W/R: The Demalmis Lands In Sartor}. I know you're worried about your father, but I'm sure my mother will find out if anyone is behind it."
I stared at the canopy above the bed, but I knew Rhianna was reassured that Lord Devin would be fine and healthy once again.
"So what is he like," she asked, inquisitively.
I smiled, thinking about him.
"He's hard to describe. I don't even think I should even be thinking about him so much, especially after what he nearly did to become a tree in the first place."
"People deserve second chances, you know. Plus, you can't control love."
I sat up in the millisecond that Rhianna mentioned the L-word and turned to her.
"I never said I was in love. Besides, I barely know him."
"Yeah, I know, but you're already infatuated with him amid what you know," said Rhianna, sitting up halfway, propping herself up on her elbows.
I stuck a tongue out at her, in which Rhianna started laughing.
"Let's talk about other things. My parents will handle everything Flauvic, who I do not love or even like, might I add."
"I don't think you're so sure about that, but so you won't go off in a huff I won't continue."
I leaned back onto the bed and we were silent for awhile, in our own little worlds, thinking about our own problems.
"Are you going to come with your mother to Raea? It'd be nice to have you visit again."
"I'd love to, but I don't think it's a good idea to leave father alone, especially with Flauvic around now."
"He's the King. I think he can handle it. Flauvic probably just wants to belong and be home again. It must be harsh to be thrown back into the world and find that everything that you knew was gone or changed."
I was quieted by the thought.
"Do you think he has an ulterior motive for wanting Merindar?"
"I guess we have to wait and see."
Rhianna sat up, slowly and I joined her.
"Come on, no more dreary thoughts. Let's go have some fun."
"Doing what exactly?"
Rhianna's face lit up roguishly and I realized that she had a good idea.
"What are you thinking, Rhi?"
"The carnival. I saw them setting up when I was arriving. That ought to have all kinds of strange stuff."
"The carnival? I haven't been there, since I was a little baby and anyway it isn't a very popular thing to do."
I was completely let down by the idea and surprised that Rhianna even wanted to go to such a place.
"Exactly why we should be going. Plus, there's one guarantee thing that'll be fun. Trust me."
I reluctantly agreed, seeing that father would explain his plans to anyone, but mother and since I had nothing else to do for awhile.
"We'll have to walk there though, so no one will think that we'll be going there. Don't worry it's not too far."
"I hope you know where you're headed."
"Trust me, I'm perfectly competent."
"With any luck, you'll say the same thing when we get back from there."
Rhianna smiled with a contrived exasperated look.
"We have to get out of our pheasant clothes, so no one will catch us."
"And where do you think we'll get normal clothes?"
"Selene is about your height and size. She must have some clothes for you to borrow."
"And what will you wear?"
"Something from the stables, maybe."
I was shocked that Rhianna, a wealthy and pretty girl wouldn't mind wearing such drab clothing.
"Shut your mouth before a fly goes in it."
I shut it and smiled sardonically with a sarcastic, "Ha, ha."
We pulled off getting a set of stable boy clothing and Selene, although hesitant once she learned of what we were to do with it, let me borrow a blouse and skirt of hers. We changed into it and was transformed, almost, into a peasant girl and stable boy, although it was hard to change Rhianna's look into that of one.
It was quite a laugh, looking in the looking glass at ourselves.
"I'm absolutely nuts to be going along with this."
"It'll be worth it and we'll have our questions answered, if we're lucky."
"I'll be happy, as long we aren't robbed or something."
Rhianna laughed at the idea.
"Forgotten that you learned how to fight, I see."
I started laughing, as well.
"Let's get going and out of here before someone sees us. I'd hate to think of the explanations we'd have to make up."
She smiled and I pulled her out a servants' hallway out of the castle, that Selene had showed me.
It was fun to be out of the confinement of proper conduct. It let me laugh and smile more. A weight was off my shoulders and I didn't think of anything else but running free and being happy, in complete bliss or very close to so. ~It must be the feeling mother couldn't describe when she was with the Hill Folk. ~
I followed or really was dragged by Rhianna. I was exhausted by the time we reached rural side of Athanarel.
"Are we there yet?" I asked for millionth time.
She laughed. It awed me that my whining didn't infuriate her.
"Close," She replied.
Her pace was the same as earlier, quick and with a jump in her step, while mine had slowed immensely.
"You could have warned me that it was this far. Are you sure we're not lost?"
She shook her head, in a response and I hurried again to keep up with her.
"It better be worth this trouble."
"We're here," she finally exclaimed.
The place was larger than I thought it would be and more crowded as well. We walked up to the ticket booth.
"One adult and child ticket, please." Rhianna told the ticket person.
"Ha, ha." I said and nudged her in the ribs. "She meant two ADULT tickets."
The old ticket person, who looked half-asleep despite the noise of the carnival, rolled his eyes at our foolishness. We giggled at our behavior ourselves. When we finally paid for our tickets and entered the place, it was all full of excitement. There were game booths, food stands all over, and many people shouting all kinds of things.
"This is going to be fun," I whispered to Rhianna, beside me with my eyes glittering at the sight before me.
"Didn't I tell you so," whispered Rhianna, as she pulled me into the midst of the crowd. "I have someone you have to see."
"You know someone that works here?"
"Not really, but I know what carnivals always have."
"What's that?"
"Gypsies."
I stopped and looked at her funny.
"A gypsy?"
"What else? She'll be perfect to answer the questions we have about our future."
"I doubt it," I replied, walking beside her again. "I think they'll just blab some nonsense and take our money."
"Well, you believe in prophets, don't you?"
I halfheartedly nodded.
"Think of them as possible prophets."
I laughed, shaking my head.
"Let's just get this over with."
We finally found a gypsy tent with the usual darkness and celestial designs and decorations. Entering it, I was not surprised to find the usual set up of a crystal ball and old woman in a dark-colored turban.
"Greetings, my dears." The gypsy said with a smile. "What can I do for you today?"
I gave Rhianna a look that said, "I can't believe I'm going along with this." which she ignored and smiled at the kind, elderly woman.
"Do you mind answering a couple of questions about our future?"
"No problem," She told Rhianna, but turned to me and gestured at the seat before her. "The spirits say that you should be the first to go."
I took a deep breath and plastered on a smile.
"Why not," I said and took the seat that she indicated. ~This is crazy. A real waste of money, no doubt. ~
"What would you like to know about the future?"
I bit my lip and thought about it. I wasn't going to waste this chance, although I doubted that this woman would bring answers and plus, whatever information she'd tell me, it just might be interesting to hear.
"I'd like to know if I'm going to marry and if I do, who?"
I turned to Rhianna, who smiled and I had no doubt that she suspected that I was thinking of Flauvic, which truthfully I was. The woman smiled and looked down into the clear crystal ball. ~I bet she heard that question, too many times to count. ~
I watched her and suddenly I felt a pull. It was a strong one, although not at all frightening or in any way painful. It was the feeling that someone would get when they were drifting back to reality from a peaceful night's sleep. Suddenly, all my surroundings changed. The gypsy disappeared from my sight, as did the tent and I couldn't see Rhianna anywhere. Oddly, it still didn't scare me at all and I felt like I was in a daze.
{W/R} So what do you all think? Please Review!!!!! As you might have realized, I cut out any journal entries. I decided not to add anymore, because I only wanted to use it to bridge the story of Beauty to mine for the introduction and now that I'm more into the story, I find it unnecessary. I hoped you like the chapter. My vacation from school is ending, so it might be awhile until I update again. Get Ready, Get Set, REVIEW!!!!!
