Disclaimer: I do not own Areida.
Thanks to Evo422 and The Lady, my first reviewers1 Yaaaaaaay! You two get lollipops!
This chapter isn't very good. I wrote it really late at night. But I'm going to post it anyway.
"Sorry about that," I said, as soon as Mother was out of earshot.
He laughed, immediately easing my nervousness. "My mother's the same way. I guess all mothers feel they have to play matchmaker.'
Thomas turned and grinned at me, his eyes twinkling. "But your mother did seem a little over-enthusiastic."
He laughed again, and I couldn't but giggle, remembering how silly mother had acted. We spent the next half-hour walking under the cherry trees, which were in full bloom with spring approaching.
In only a few minutes, I felt completely at ease with Thomas, and found myself telling him of a secret desire I'd had since I was eleven.
"I wish I could go away to finishing school," I confessed. "I could learn so much that would help Mother and Father. They do so much for me I'd just like to be able to help more."
"Why can't you go?"
"My parents could never afford to send me. Besides, they need me here at the inn." I sighed.
"What sort of thing s do they teach at such schools?" he asked curiously.
"Oh all sorts of wonderful things!" I answered eagerly. " But the thing I would really like to do is be able to meet other girls my age. I've always been so busy I don't know any other girls, except by sight."
"I know how that feels," Thomas said, staring regretfully at the dirt path."
"How's that?" I asked, slowing to a stop. We were nearing the inn, and I wanted to hear his answer.
Thomas stopped also. He sighed. "Father insists I receive a proper education, which to him means staying inside all day and be tutored. This is one of the rare occasions I am allowed to venture out of the manor."
He sat down in the shade of one of our cherry trees. I seated myself beside him.
"What about your mother?" I asked plucking a wildflower from the grass.
"She died about two years ago," Thomas said softly, "from pneumonia."
"I'm so sorry," I whispered. He nodded, continuing to stare at the ground.
We sat in companionable silence; each of us lost in our own thoughts. I didn't know what I would do if I lost Mother, or Uflimu, my dear grandmother, who lived with us at the inn. I studied Thomas as he leaned back against the tree, no doubt enduring unbearable pain.
After a few minutes, Thomas stood up. "We'd best be getting back soon or that mother of yours will have already sent out wedding invitations."
I laughed as he helped me to my feet, and walked comfortably back to the inn.
Thomas spent most of his stay at the inn together. While he helped me do my chores, he would make laugh, once so hard I dropped a whole armful of freshly cleaned laundry.
"What a clumsy little fumble-foot you are," he scolded me playfully, as he helped me gather the clothing from the floor.
By the time Thomas left, we had become close friends. I felt no sorrow at his departure though, since he had promised to write.
At least that's what I told myself. As his carriage rounded the corner, I felt as I the sun had slipped from the sky.
Three weeks later, I was sweeping the front room as a knock came at the door. Mother, Father, and Isti were all weeding the garden, and Uflimu and Ettime were taking a nap, so I went to answer the door.
I quickly straightened my dress and brushed back my hair, then opened the door.
A man stood there, holding a small velvet bag. "I have a gift for the Lady Areida from Master Thomas of Kadia."
Thomas had sent a present to me!
"Um, th-thank you," I stammered, as he handed me the bag.
"He also sends this letter," the man said as he handed me an envelope. He bowed. "Goodday."
I dazedly closed the door. I placed the bag on the table and sat down to read the letter.
Dear Areida,
I'm back in my Manor in Frell, and so bored I've taken to staring at cloud formations. Father has allowed me to take walks around our garden, so that is what I occupy my time with. That and studying.
I'm sorry I could not write sooner. The Royal council dragged on for a considerable amount of time. I cannot write much in this letter, for father is calling me to my studies, but I will soon write you a long letter.
Write back soon,
Thomas
P.S. I hope you can put this to good use.
I put down the letter with a huge grin on my face. I reached for the bag and opened it.
As I had suspected, the bag was filled with gold KJ's. Inside I also found another note. It was short, only three words, but those words held great meaning.
For finishing school.
Thanks to Evo422 and The Lady, my first reviewers1 Yaaaaaaay! You two get lollipops!
This chapter isn't very good. I wrote it really late at night. But I'm going to post it anyway.
"Sorry about that," I said, as soon as Mother was out of earshot.
He laughed, immediately easing my nervousness. "My mother's the same way. I guess all mothers feel they have to play matchmaker.'
Thomas turned and grinned at me, his eyes twinkling. "But your mother did seem a little over-enthusiastic."
He laughed again, and I couldn't but giggle, remembering how silly mother had acted. We spent the next half-hour walking under the cherry trees, which were in full bloom with spring approaching.
In only a few minutes, I felt completely at ease with Thomas, and found myself telling him of a secret desire I'd had since I was eleven.
"I wish I could go away to finishing school," I confessed. "I could learn so much that would help Mother and Father. They do so much for me I'd just like to be able to help more."
"Why can't you go?"
"My parents could never afford to send me. Besides, they need me here at the inn." I sighed.
"What sort of thing s do they teach at such schools?" he asked curiously.
"Oh all sorts of wonderful things!" I answered eagerly. " But the thing I would really like to do is be able to meet other girls my age. I've always been so busy I don't know any other girls, except by sight."
"I know how that feels," Thomas said, staring regretfully at the dirt path."
"How's that?" I asked, slowing to a stop. We were nearing the inn, and I wanted to hear his answer.
Thomas stopped also. He sighed. "Father insists I receive a proper education, which to him means staying inside all day and be tutored. This is one of the rare occasions I am allowed to venture out of the manor."
He sat down in the shade of one of our cherry trees. I seated myself beside him.
"What about your mother?" I asked plucking a wildflower from the grass.
"She died about two years ago," Thomas said softly, "from pneumonia."
"I'm so sorry," I whispered. He nodded, continuing to stare at the ground.
We sat in companionable silence; each of us lost in our own thoughts. I didn't know what I would do if I lost Mother, or Uflimu, my dear grandmother, who lived with us at the inn. I studied Thomas as he leaned back against the tree, no doubt enduring unbearable pain.
After a few minutes, Thomas stood up. "We'd best be getting back soon or that mother of yours will have already sent out wedding invitations."
I laughed as he helped me to my feet, and walked comfortably back to the inn.
Thomas spent most of his stay at the inn together. While he helped me do my chores, he would make laugh, once so hard I dropped a whole armful of freshly cleaned laundry.
"What a clumsy little fumble-foot you are," he scolded me playfully, as he helped me gather the clothing from the floor.
By the time Thomas left, we had become close friends. I felt no sorrow at his departure though, since he had promised to write.
At least that's what I told myself. As his carriage rounded the corner, I felt as I the sun had slipped from the sky.
Three weeks later, I was sweeping the front room as a knock came at the door. Mother, Father, and Isti were all weeding the garden, and Uflimu and Ettime were taking a nap, so I went to answer the door.
I quickly straightened my dress and brushed back my hair, then opened the door.
A man stood there, holding a small velvet bag. "I have a gift for the Lady Areida from Master Thomas of Kadia."
Thomas had sent a present to me!
"Um, th-thank you," I stammered, as he handed me the bag.
"He also sends this letter," the man said as he handed me an envelope. He bowed. "Goodday."
I dazedly closed the door. I placed the bag on the table and sat down to read the letter.
Dear Areida,
I'm back in my Manor in Frell, and so bored I've taken to staring at cloud formations. Father has allowed me to take walks around our garden, so that is what I occupy my time with. That and studying.
I'm sorry I could not write sooner. The Royal council dragged on for a considerable amount of time. I cannot write much in this letter, for father is calling me to my studies, but I will soon write you a long letter.
Write back soon,
Thomas
P.S. I hope you can put this to good use.
I put down the letter with a huge grin on my face. I reached for the bag and opened it.
As I had suspected, the bag was filled with gold KJ's. Inside I also found another note. It was short, only three words, but those words held great meaning.
For finishing school.
