Thank you all reviewers!! I love getting reviews!! They make me write faster!! You all get lollipops!!
This chapter is longer than my other ones, so it took longer to write. Anyway, no one cares about me.
On to Chapter Five!
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I was curious about Ella. She told me much about Mandy, her cook that she loved as a mother, and her friend, Prince Charmont. I was constantly trying to wheedle information out of her. It became a game between us.
I in turn told Ella all about my family and our inn. She loved hearing about my family, especially Isti and little Ettime, my younger sisters.
Ella and I spent most of our time together, eating meals, sewing, or walking in the garden. During this time I noticed something strange about Ella.
Ella always found ways to avoid certain orders. Singing Mistress once spent over a quarter of an hour trying to get Ella to sing at the volume.
When I asked Ella why she did this, she only stated that she disliked being bossed around. This answer did not satisfy me, but I suppose Ella must have a good reason for keeping to herself.
Several times I noticed Hattie, one of Ella's traveling companions, request that Ella spend time with her in the garden. This seemed odd, since Hattie and Ella were exact opposites.
But every time after Ella met with Hattie, I always spotted Ella working, either cleaning Hattie's things or cleaning Hattie. Ella never mentioned it though, so I thought it best not to bring it up. Despite that, I grew increasingly suspicious of Hattie.
Finishing school was a much gayer place with Ella here. She could always make me laugh when I needed it most. We became fast friends, and I soon felt like the luckiest person in Kyrria.
One afternoon, I found myself telling Ella all about Thomas, and how he had paid for my entrance into finishing school.
"He is so good-hearted, Ella," I said as I made a tiny stitch in my embroidery. "I wish you could meet him."
Ella smiled. "I do too. He sounds wonderful." Her eyes twinkled. "I'd better meet him, seeing as I've spent the last hour or so listening to you talk about him."
I blushed. "You exaggerate, Ella."
She just grinned as I leaned over my embroidery so my dark curls covered my red face.
I was fully content with my life, certain that as long as Ella was with me I would be content at finishing school.
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"Gone? What do you mean she's gone?"
Madame Edith looked unnerved. "Ella was called away during the night," she stuttered.
Madame Edith only stuttered when she was trying to hide something. As she walked back to the kitchen, I ran back upstairs to my room. The other girls had already left for breakfast.
I went immediately to Ella's wardrobe and examined it. All her clothes were in it except the dress she had been wearing the night before and a shawl.
That was odd. If Ella had been called away, wouldn't she have taken her things with her? Besides, she surely would have woken me up to say goodbye.
I sat for a good quarter hour before an idea came to me. I quickly rummaged through Ella's things again. As I had suspected, neither her tonic nor her language dictionary was anywhere to be found.
I sank into my bed. Ella had run away. That was the only explanation. I had only two questions. Why hadn't she told and what was I supposed to do now?
I went quietly about my day, thinking miserably about the empty time that stretched before me.
Then it came to me. I didn't have to stay here at all! I had learned how to sew, dance, and even cook. Now all I wanted to do was go home. I wrote a quick note to Mother.
I believe I have learned all that I can here. I'll be coming home as soon as I can arrange it. I've missed you all so much. I can't wait to see you all again.
Your homesick daughter,
Areida
I sealed the letter. Then I went to see Madame Edith.
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I was to leave at the end of the week.
In front of the Mistresses, the girls pretended that they would miss me, but whenever we were alone, they only ignored me.
I took this with a cheerful attitude, knowing I would soon be able to leave.
The afternoon before my departure, I was sitting in the garden, saying goodbye to all my favorite flowers, when a maid came to me.
"Miss Areida, There's a visitor here for you," she said.
I looked up, startled.
"For me?" No one had ever visited me here before.
The maid smiled. "Yes, come with me to the parlor."
I followed her into the school. Who could it be? Was it my father or mother, come to convince me to stay at school? Maybe it was Ella!
The maid opened the door to the parlor. As I stepped inside, the visitor turned, hearing me enter.
"Thomas?" I asked, astonished.
"Areida!" he said, smiling widely.
The maid quietly backed out of the room and closed the door.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, caught off guard. "I thought you were still traveling!"
"I am," Thomas said, spreading his arms out wide. "Father and I are staying in Jenn tonight. Tomorrow we'll be going back to Ayortha."
I sat down tentatively on the couch. He sat across from me.
"If you had been a day later, you would have missed me." I said, remembering my own journey the next day.
"Why's that?"
"I'm going back to Amonta," I said. "I miss my family terribly."
"Won't you miss your friends here?" Thomas asked.
I sighed. "I've only had one friend here, and she was wonderful. But she left school a few days ago."
Thomas looked bewildered. "What kind of people wouldn't want to be friends with you?"
I blushed. Luckily, he didn't notice.
Suddenly, Thomas looked at me eagerly.
"Areida, would you like to travel with Father and I? We'll be going through Amonta on our way."
"I don't know," I said uncertainly.
Thomas persisted. "Oh, please do. The time would pass so much more quickly if you were there."
I was still unsure. "Will your father mind?"
"Of course not," Thomas said. "He's quite taken with you. He'd love to have you come with us."
I still must have looked doubtful, because he kept pressing.
"You could ride in the coach with Father, or we have an extra horse you could use if you want to ride." He smiled. "I myself prefer riding."
"Alright, alright," I said, accepting his invitation with an amused smile.
We parted with a promise to be ready to leave at daybreak.
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That evening after dinner, I retired to my room to finish packing. I had only just begun packing my clothes when Hattie and two of her friends, Blossom and Delicia, entered the room.
"Areida dear, how are you?" Hattie gushed.
I was thoroughly confused. Hattie had never spoken to me before.
"Um, fine," I answered.
"Who was that young man with you today?" Blossom wanted to know.
"Thomas," I said, trying to think. Why were they acting so strange? "He's the Earl of Kadia's son."
The three of them exchanged excited glances.
Suddenly I realized why they were being so polite. They had decided that Thomas was worth chasing after. The whole scene was so ridiculous, I almost burst out laughing.
"Will he be coming back?" Hattie asked, smiling so hard I thought her face would crack right down the middle.
"No," I said. "We'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
Hattie's smile froze. "We?"
"Yes, Thomas has invited me to travel with him and his father."
I wondered why Hattie looked so shocked. She recovered quickly though.
"Well, have a lovely trip," Hattie said abruptly. She turned on her heel and marched from my room, Blossom and Delicia following obediently behind her.
I laughed as soon as the door closed. As I finished packing, I shook my head at Hattie's antics. If only Ella had been here. We would have laughed until the sun came up.
Of course, if Ella were here, I would not be leaving in the first place.
As I changed into my nightgown, I thought eagerly of the days ahead. Two days I would get to spend with Thomas, and then I would get to see my family again. I couldn't wait.
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I'm sorry I didn't put a lot of stuff about Ella in here, but I really want this to be about Areida.
Anyhoo, please Read & Review!!!!!
This chapter is longer than my other ones, so it took longer to write. Anyway, no one cares about me.
On to Chapter Five!
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
I was curious about Ella. She told me much about Mandy, her cook that she loved as a mother, and her friend, Prince Charmont. I was constantly trying to wheedle information out of her. It became a game between us.
I in turn told Ella all about my family and our inn. She loved hearing about my family, especially Isti and little Ettime, my younger sisters.
Ella and I spent most of our time together, eating meals, sewing, or walking in the garden. During this time I noticed something strange about Ella.
Ella always found ways to avoid certain orders. Singing Mistress once spent over a quarter of an hour trying to get Ella to sing at the volume.
When I asked Ella why she did this, she only stated that she disliked being bossed around. This answer did not satisfy me, but I suppose Ella must have a good reason for keeping to herself.
Several times I noticed Hattie, one of Ella's traveling companions, request that Ella spend time with her in the garden. This seemed odd, since Hattie and Ella were exact opposites.
But every time after Ella met with Hattie, I always spotted Ella working, either cleaning Hattie's things or cleaning Hattie. Ella never mentioned it though, so I thought it best not to bring it up. Despite that, I grew increasingly suspicious of Hattie.
Finishing school was a much gayer place with Ella here. She could always make me laugh when I needed it most. We became fast friends, and I soon felt like the luckiest person in Kyrria.
One afternoon, I found myself telling Ella all about Thomas, and how he had paid for my entrance into finishing school.
"He is so good-hearted, Ella," I said as I made a tiny stitch in my embroidery. "I wish you could meet him."
Ella smiled. "I do too. He sounds wonderful." Her eyes twinkled. "I'd better meet him, seeing as I've spent the last hour or so listening to you talk about him."
I blushed. "You exaggerate, Ella."
She just grinned as I leaned over my embroidery so my dark curls covered my red face.
I was fully content with my life, certain that as long as Ella was with me I would be content at finishing school.
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"Gone? What do you mean she's gone?"
Madame Edith looked unnerved. "Ella was called away during the night," she stuttered.
Madame Edith only stuttered when she was trying to hide something. As she walked back to the kitchen, I ran back upstairs to my room. The other girls had already left for breakfast.
I went immediately to Ella's wardrobe and examined it. All her clothes were in it except the dress she had been wearing the night before and a shawl.
That was odd. If Ella had been called away, wouldn't she have taken her things with her? Besides, she surely would have woken me up to say goodbye.
I sat for a good quarter hour before an idea came to me. I quickly rummaged through Ella's things again. As I had suspected, neither her tonic nor her language dictionary was anywhere to be found.
I sank into my bed. Ella had run away. That was the only explanation. I had only two questions. Why hadn't she told and what was I supposed to do now?
I went quietly about my day, thinking miserably about the empty time that stretched before me.
Then it came to me. I didn't have to stay here at all! I had learned how to sew, dance, and even cook. Now all I wanted to do was go home. I wrote a quick note to Mother.
I believe I have learned all that I can here. I'll be coming home as soon as I can arrange it. I've missed you all so much. I can't wait to see you all again.
Your homesick daughter,
Areida
I sealed the letter. Then I went to see Madame Edith.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
I was to leave at the end of the week.
In front of the Mistresses, the girls pretended that they would miss me, but whenever we were alone, they only ignored me.
I took this with a cheerful attitude, knowing I would soon be able to leave.
The afternoon before my departure, I was sitting in the garden, saying goodbye to all my favorite flowers, when a maid came to me.
"Miss Areida, There's a visitor here for you," she said.
I looked up, startled.
"For me?" No one had ever visited me here before.
The maid smiled. "Yes, come with me to the parlor."
I followed her into the school. Who could it be? Was it my father or mother, come to convince me to stay at school? Maybe it was Ella!
The maid opened the door to the parlor. As I stepped inside, the visitor turned, hearing me enter.
"Thomas?" I asked, astonished.
"Areida!" he said, smiling widely.
The maid quietly backed out of the room and closed the door.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, caught off guard. "I thought you were still traveling!"
"I am," Thomas said, spreading his arms out wide. "Father and I are staying in Jenn tonight. Tomorrow we'll be going back to Ayortha."
I sat down tentatively on the couch. He sat across from me.
"If you had been a day later, you would have missed me." I said, remembering my own journey the next day.
"Why's that?"
"I'm going back to Amonta," I said. "I miss my family terribly."
"Won't you miss your friends here?" Thomas asked.
I sighed. "I've only had one friend here, and she was wonderful. But she left school a few days ago."
Thomas looked bewildered. "What kind of people wouldn't want to be friends with you?"
I blushed. Luckily, he didn't notice.
Suddenly, Thomas looked at me eagerly.
"Areida, would you like to travel with Father and I? We'll be going through Amonta on our way."
"I don't know," I said uncertainly.
Thomas persisted. "Oh, please do. The time would pass so much more quickly if you were there."
I was still unsure. "Will your father mind?"
"Of course not," Thomas said. "He's quite taken with you. He'd love to have you come with us."
I still must have looked doubtful, because he kept pressing.
"You could ride in the coach with Father, or we have an extra horse you could use if you want to ride." He smiled. "I myself prefer riding."
"Alright, alright," I said, accepting his invitation with an amused smile.
We parted with a promise to be ready to leave at daybreak.
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That evening after dinner, I retired to my room to finish packing. I had only just begun packing my clothes when Hattie and two of her friends, Blossom and Delicia, entered the room.
"Areida dear, how are you?" Hattie gushed.
I was thoroughly confused. Hattie had never spoken to me before.
"Um, fine," I answered.
"Who was that young man with you today?" Blossom wanted to know.
"Thomas," I said, trying to think. Why were they acting so strange? "He's the Earl of Kadia's son."
The three of them exchanged excited glances.
Suddenly I realized why they were being so polite. They had decided that Thomas was worth chasing after. The whole scene was so ridiculous, I almost burst out laughing.
"Will he be coming back?" Hattie asked, smiling so hard I thought her face would crack right down the middle.
"No," I said. "We'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
Hattie's smile froze. "We?"
"Yes, Thomas has invited me to travel with him and his father."
I wondered why Hattie looked so shocked. She recovered quickly though.
"Well, have a lovely trip," Hattie said abruptly. She turned on her heel and marched from my room, Blossom and Delicia following obediently behind her.
I laughed as soon as the door closed. As I finished packing, I shook my head at Hattie's antics. If only Ella had been here. We would have laughed until the sun came up.
Of course, if Ella were here, I would not be leaving in the first place.
As I changed into my nightgown, I thought eagerly of the days ahead. Two days I would get to spend with Thomas, and then I would get to see my family again. I couldn't wait.
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I'm sorry I didn't put a lot of stuff about Ella in here, but I really want this to be about Areida.
Anyhoo, please Read & Review!!!!!
