Disclaimer: (Sorry, I've forgotten to do these) I do not own anything written by Gail Carson Levine. I do not own the song in this chapter. It is from Ella Enchanted.
Reviews, reviews, reviews! I love them! But what I'd love even more is if there were more of them! (please?)
Anyways, on to Chapter 6!
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I woke early the next morning. It was still dark as I slipped out of bed and quietly dressed in a simple white gown.
I couldn't help but feel overjoyed at leaving. Although I had met Ella here, almost every other experience I'd had was miserable.
I stuck the last of my few possessions into my trunk and closed it. I lifted it easily, since I didn't have much, and silently made my way down the stairs.
Madame Edith and the other Mistresses weren't awake yet. I was glad. I didn't want to pretend I would miss them.
I went out in the front yard and set my things on a nearby bench. Hoping there was enough time for a quick walk to the garden, I set off.
I was sitting quietly in the garden a few minutes later, when I heard a coach and the sounds of many horses. I rose to see a large carriage, accompanied by a few riders, turning onto the lane leading to the school.
I spotted Thomas at the front, sitting atop a beautiful chestnut horse.
I waved. He saw me and waved back, grinning. I began the walk back to my trunk.
When I got there, Thomas was already standing beside it.
"Is this one yours?" he asked.
I nodded. He lifted it into his arms and we walked to the carriage.
As my belongings were loaded atop the coach, I was reintroduced to Thomas' father, the Earl of Kadia.
"Oh, hello Areida. I'm glad you you'll be joining us," he said, bowing.
I curtsied. "Thank you for inviting me to travel with you. I very much appreciate it."
He beamed at me, then left to attend to other business.
Thomas took me behind the coach, where the horse I would use was tied. As soon as I saw the horse, I gasped.
"She's beautiful," I exclaimed, reaching out to stroke her mane.
"Her name is Snowbell," Thomas said, patting the mare's neck. "She's very gentle."
I couldn't wait to ride her. "When do we leave?"
"Whenever you're ready."
"I'm ready," I said immediately.
He laughed. "All right then."
He lifted me up onto Snowbell. As soon as he too was mounted, we started away.
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Thomas and I spent the day riding. Often, we would break off from the road and go exploring. Snowbell and I were not nearly as accomplished as Thomas and his horse, Misty, but we were able to keep up.
Once, around midday, we discovered a beautiful waterfall. Thomas and I spent nearly an hour there, lingering to enjoy the beauty of the tumbling falls.
That night we camped out. There was no inn nearby, us having taken a different route home than the one I had originally taken.
At campfire that night, Thomas and I sat together, talking, and frequently laughing. The others, the Earl and whom I presumed to be his bodyguards, were discussing King Jerrold's campaign for the Ogres.
Occasionally, one of them would look over at us and smile. Thomas didn't seem to notice, but I did.
After a while, the conversation began drifting away. Thomas chatted with the other men while I sat and listened.
Somehow the topic of finishing school came up. I was pulled into the discussion.
"What sort of things did you learn there?" The Earl asked politely.
"Oh the usual. Sewing, dancing, singing."
"Singing? A Kyrrian tried to teach you that?" one of bodyguards asked.
I laughed. "She didn't teach me anything I hadn't already learned from my grandmother."
"Would you sing for us?" the Earl asked.
I froze. I'd never performed in front of anyone except for Ella, but that didn't count. She was my friend. These were adults.
"Oh I don't-" I stopped. Everyone had expectant looks on their faces.
"Go on," the Earl said encouragingly. I flushed.
"Alright," I said slowly, my mind racing. What could I sing?
A song came to mind, one I had taught Ella.
I began to sing.
"Oak, granite,
Lilies by the road.
Remember me?
I remember you."
I started out softly, my voice tentative. Every face was watching me with rapt attention.
I chanced a look at Thomas. He was watching me; his eyes riveted on mine.
I smiled at him as I finished the song.
"Sister, child,
Grown tall,
Remember me?
I remember you."
My audience burst into applause.
"Wonderful!" the Earl said, clapping heartily. "You have a superb voice!"
I curtsied, beaming with success. I noticed Thomas was not clapping. He was still string at me, his face illuminated by the fire. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
I excused myself soon after and slipped off toward my tent. But instead of going inside, I kept walking, heading for the small, wooded area near our camp.
I wandered for a long time, finally seating myself on a fallen log. I had lost sight of camp a long while before, but the soothing sounds of the rustling leaves and the crickets chirping kept me entranced.
Why had Ella run away? And where had she gone? Was she all right? These questions had bothered me ever since I had discovered Ella's true reason for leaving.
I sat for a long while, pondering this, before turning my thoughts to my family.
Ettime and Isti were growing so fast. Ettime was almost seven. She was such a dear little girl, always sharing and smiling.
Isti was twelve, and was becoming a lovely young woman. I hoped Mother and Father could send her to finishing school, just not Madame Edith's.
Suddenly, I noticed how late it was. The full moon was high overhead. I rose to my feet and started back.
I hadn't realized how far I had gone. The wind was blowing harder now. I shivered and pulled my cloak tighter around me.
An uneasy feeling came over me. I paused, and glanced nervously around me, but saw nothing. I continued walking, but quickened my pace. I entered a small clearing.
A twig cracked. I spun around.
Again, nothing was there. This was unnerving.
I stood facing the way I'd just come and stared into the gloomy darkness. The moonlight could not penetrate through the trees.
What was there? Perhaps it was only a rabbit.
I turned to continue my journey. Suddenly a huge man jumped in front of me.
"And what do we have here?" he cackled.
I leaped back and opened my mouth to scream. But bony arms reached around me from behind, covering my mouth and holding my waist.
I lashed out, first plunging my elbow into my unseen attacker's gut, then kicking at his legs. The man let go rather quickly.
I had barely caught my breath before the first man grabbed me. I kicked and punched, but he held me tight.
The skinny man eventually recovered enough from the blows I had given him. I would have grinned smugly at him if my situation weren't so serious.
He grabbed a rope hanging from his belt. He first tied my hands, then my feet. The large man kept his hand tightly over my mouth, almost so I couldn't breathe.
I tried biting his hand, but he seemed used to it.
The second man finished binding my feet. He drew a short dagger and held it against my throat.
"If you scream, I will kill you," he said, his eyes narrowing. I didn't doubt him.
The large man removed his hand from my mouth. I stayed silent as a gag was slipped into place.
"What'll we do with her, Bert?" the large man asked in Kyrrian.
The skinny man, Bert, smiled slyly. "Why, she can travel with us."
"No Bert. I mean after we get home."
Bert leered at me. "She will stay with me."
"Why do you get her?" the other man asked, glaring at Bert.
"Because you got the last one, Nate. Remember? You sold her to that slave owner from Kulornia."
My eyes widened with fright. Was I to be sold as a slave? Oh why had I traveled so far in the dark!
"You had the last one. The brown haired wench from Bast," Nate growled, clenching his fists.
This went on for several minutes. I was slowly working myself into a panic. What was I going to do?
Finally, Bert was able to smooth things over.
"Tell you what," he said. "I'll have her work for me for six months, then you can do whatever you wish with her."
Nate agreed. They promptly began arguing about which route to take home.
How was I going to get out of this? I tried struggling with my bonds. They held tight.
They eventually decide on a route to take. Before he left to get their horses, Bert produced another rope and tied me to a nearby tree.
"Stay here," he ordered Nate. "Don't let her escape."
Nate nodded, and Bert left.
As soon as he was gone, I began trying to loosen my bonds. Nothing happened except my wrists becoming raw and chafed.
Nate watched me struggle, scowling at me. I ignored him.
I saw movement in the forest. What was it?
Nate had also become alert. He looked around warily.
Suddenly a figure leaped from the foliage, brandishing a sword. I saw dark hair and flashing blue eyes. Thomas!
My heart thumped wildly as Nate quickly drew his sword and charged at Thomas. Thomas easily dodged.
Nate charged again. This time Thomas deftly parried the blow, then slammed my kidnapper across the head with the flat of his blade.
Nate dropped like load of potatoes. Thomas sheathed his sword and ran to me.
"Are you all right?" he asked, dropping to his knees beside me and slipping off my gag.
"I'm fine," I answered quickly. "Hurry, the other one will be back soon."
He had already begun untying my feet. "I know. I heard him leave."
My thoughts were still swimming from what had happened. but mostly I felt complete relief.
"What happened?" Thomas asked as he untwined the rope from around my ankles.
I quickly summed up what had happened. "And then you showed up," I finished.
He finished undoing the last knot, the one that held me to the tree. "Done."
He took my hands and pulled me to my feet. Off in the distance I heard the neighing of horses.
"Let's get out of her," I said.
Thomas led the way, still holding my hand. "I have Misty with me," he said. "She's over this way."
"How did you find me," I asked as we ducked under a low hanging branch.
"I saw you leave camp. When you didn't return, I took Misty and came to look for you. Watch your step."
He helped step over a fallen log, then continued. "Your kidnappers must have been very inexperienced. I could hear their voices after only a few minutes of riding."
We arrived at the place where Misty was tied. "I left Misty here and followed the voices on foot. I suspected you might have run into a problem."
"Thank you," I said smiling up at him. He blushed.
Thomas lifted me up onto Misty then mounted himself behind me. We started the ride back to camp.
As soon as we arrived, Thomas and I found everyone searching for us. They had discovered Misty gone and soon realized we were gone too.
Thomas and I went immediately to his father, the Earl, and explained what had happened. He quickly organized a group of six men to capture my kidnappers.
The Earl would not allow Thomas nor I to go along.
"You must get some sleep," he said, shooing us out of his tent. He was right. I was exhausted.
Thomas walked me to my tent.
"I'll see you in the morning," he said.
"Thank you again, Thomas," I said gratefully.
He smiled. "No problem."
"Well, goodnight," I said, starting to go into my tent.
"Areida?"
I turned back around. He stood looking at me.
"You...uh," he stammered. "You sing really beautifully."
I reddened. In all the excitement of the evening, I'd forgotten about my earlier performance.
"Thank you," I said. He smiled at me.
"Goodnight, then."
"Goodnight." I turned once more and went into my tent, smiling happily.
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There it is. I'm very proud of this chapter. It's the longest one I've written.
Please Read & Review!!!!!
Reviews, reviews, reviews! I love them! But what I'd love even more is if there were more of them! (please?)
Anyways, on to Chapter 6!
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I woke early the next morning. It was still dark as I slipped out of bed and quietly dressed in a simple white gown.
I couldn't help but feel overjoyed at leaving. Although I had met Ella here, almost every other experience I'd had was miserable.
I stuck the last of my few possessions into my trunk and closed it. I lifted it easily, since I didn't have much, and silently made my way down the stairs.
Madame Edith and the other Mistresses weren't awake yet. I was glad. I didn't want to pretend I would miss them.
I went out in the front yard and set my things on a nearby bench. Hoping there was enough time for a quick walk to the garden, I set off.
I was sitting quietly in the garden a few minutes later, when I heard a coach and the sounds of many horses. I rose to see a large carriage, accompanied by a few riders, turning onto the lane leading to the school.
I spotted Thomas at the front, sitting atop a beautiful chestnut horse.
I waved. He saw me and waved back, grinning. I began the walk back to my trunk.
When I got there, Thomas was already standing beside it.
"Is this one yours?" he asked.
I nodded. He lifted it into his arms and we walked to the carriage.
As my belongings were loaded atop the coach, I was reintroduced to Thomas' father, the Earl of Kadia.
"Oh, hello Areida. I'm glad you you'll be joining us," he said, bowing.
I curtsied. "Thank you for inviting me to travel with you. I very much appreciate it."
He beamed at me, then left to attend to other business.
Thomas took me behind the coach, where the horse I would use was tied. As soon as I saw the horse, I gasped.
"She's beautiful," I exclaimed, reaching out to stroke her mane.
"Her name is Snowbell," Thomas said, patting the mare's neck. "She's very gentle."
I couldn't wait to ride her. "When do we leave?"
"Whenever you're ready."
"I'm ready," I said immediately.
He laughed. "All right then."
He lifted me up onto Snowbell. As soon as he too was mounted, we started away.
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Thomas and I spent the day riding. Often, we would break off from the road and go exploring. Snowbell and I were not nearly as accomplished as Thomas and his horse, Misty, but we were able to keep up.
Once, around midday, we discovered a beautiful waterfall. Thomas and I spent nearly an hour there, lingering to enjoy the beauty of the tumbling falls.
That night we camped out. There was no inn nearby, us having taken a different route home than the one I had originally taken.
At campfire that night, Thomas and I sat together, talking, and frequently laughing. The others, the Earl and whom I presumed to be his bodyguards, were discussing King Jerrold's campaign for the Ogres.
Occasionally, one of them would look over at us and smile. Thomas didn't seem to notice, but I did.
After a while, the conversation began drifting away. Thomas chatted with the other men while I sat and listened.
Somehow the topic of finishing school came up. I was pulled into the discussion.
"What sort of things did you learn there?" The Earl asked politely.
"Oh the usual. Sewing, dancing, singing."
"Singing? A Kyrrian tried to teach you that?" one of bodyguards asked.
I laughed. "She didn't teach me anything I hadn't already learned from my grandmother."
"Would you sing for us?" the Earl asked.
I froze. I'd never performed in front of anyone except for Ella, but that didn't count. She was my friend. These were adults.
"Oh I don't-" I stopped. Everyone had expectant looks on their faces.
"Go on," the Earl said encouragingly. I flushed.
"Alright," I said slowly, my mind racing. What could I sing?
A song came to mind, one I had taught Ella.
I began to sing.
"Oak, granite,
Lilies by the road.
Remember me?
I remember you."
I started out softly, my voice tentative. Every face was watching me with rapt attention.
I chanced a look at Thomas. He was watching me; his eyes riveted on mine.
I smiled at him as I finished the song.
"Sister, child,
Grown tall,
Remember me?
I remember you."
My audience burst into applause.
"Wonderful!" the Earl said, clapping heartily. "You have a superb voice!"
I curtsied, beaming with success. I noticed Thomas was not clapping. He was still string at me, his face illuminated by the fire. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
I excused myself soon after and slipped off toward my tent. But instead of going inside, I kept walking, heading for the small, wooded area near our camp.
I wandered for a long time, finally seating myself on a fallen log. I had lost sight of camp a long while before, but the soothing sounds of the rustling leaves and the crickets chirping kept me entranced.
Why had Ella run away? And where had she gone? Was she all right? These questions had bothered me ever since I had discovered Ella's true reason for leaving.
I sat for a long while, pondering this, before turning my thoughts to my family.
Ettime and Isti were growing so fast. Ettime was almost seven. She was such a dear little girl, always sharing and smiling.
Isti was twelve, and was becoming a lovely young woman. I hoped Mother and Father could send her to finishing school, just not Madame Edith's.
Suddenly, I noticed how late it was. The full moon was high overhead. I rose to my feet and started back.
I hadn't realized how far I had gone. The wind was blowing harder now. I shivered and pulled my cloak tighter around me.
An uneasy feeling came over me. I paused, and glanced nervously around me, but saw nothing. I continued walking, but quickened my pace. I entered a small clearing.
A twig cracked. I spun around.
Again, nothing was there. This was unnerving.
I stood facing the way I'd just come and stared into the gloomy darkness. The moonlight could not penetrate through the trees.
What was there? Perhaps it was only a rabbit.
I turned to continue my journey. Suddenly a huge man jumped in front of me.
"And what do we have here?" he cackled.
I leaped back and opened my mouth to scream. But bony arms reached around me from behind, covering my mouth and holding my waist.
I lashed out, first plunging my elbow into my unseen attacker's gut, then kicking at his legs. The man let go rather quickly.
I had barely caught my breath before the first man grabbed me. I kicked and punched, but he held me tight.
The skinny man eventually recovered enough from the blows I had given him. I would have grinned smugly at him if my situation weren't so serious.
He grabbed a rope hanging from his belt. He first tied my hands, then my feet. The large man kept his hand tightly over my mouth, almost so I couldn't breathe.
I tried biting his hand, but he seemed used to it.
The second man finished binding my feet. He drew a short dagger and held it against my throat.
"If you scream, I will kill you," he said, his eyes narrowing. I didn't doubt him.
The large man removed his hand from my mouth. I stayed silent as a gag was slipped into place.
"What'll we do with her, Bert?" the large man asked in Kyrrian.
The skinny man, Bert, smiled slyly. "Why, she can travel with us."
"No Bert. I mean after we get home."
Bert leered at me. "She will stay with me."
"Why do you get her?" the other man asked, glaring at Bert.
"Because you got the last one, Nate. Remember? You sold her to that slave owner from Kulornia."
My eyes widened with fright. Was I to be sold as a slave? Oh why had I traveled so far in the dark!
"You had the last one. The brown haired wench from Bast," Nate growled, clenching his fists.
This went on for several minutes. I was slowly working myself into a panic. What was I going to do?
Finally, Bert was able to smooth things over.
"Tell you what," he said. "I'll have her work for me for six months, then you can do whatever you wish with her."
Nate agreed. They promptly began arguing about which route to take home.
How was I going to get out of this? I tried struggling with my bonds. They held tight.
They eventually decide on a route to take. Before he left to get their horses, Bert produced another rope and tied me to a nearby tree.
"Stay here," he ordered Nate. "Don't let her escape."
Nate nodded, and Bert left.
As soon as he was gone, I began trying to loosen my bonds. Nothing happened except my wrists becoming raw and chafed.
Nate watched me struggle, scowling at me. I ignored him.
I saw movement in the forest. What was it?
Nate had also become alert. He looked around warily.
Suddenly a figure leaped from the foliage, brandishing a sword. I saw dark hair and flashing blue eyes. Thomas!
My heart thumped wildly as Nate quickly drew his sword and charged at Thomas. Thomas easily dodged.
Nate charged again. This time Thomas deftly parried the blow, then slammed my kidnapper across the head with the flat of his blade.
Nate dropped like load of potatoes. Thomas sheathed his sword and ran to me.
"Are you all right?" he asked, dropping to his knees beside me and slipping off my gag.
"I'm fine," I answered quickly. "Hurry, the other one will be back soon."
He had already begun untying my feet. "I know. I heard him leave."
My thoughts were still swimming from what had happened. but mostly I felt complete relief.
"What happened?" Thomas asked as he untwined the rope from around my ankles.
I quickly summed up what had happened. "And then you showed up," I finished.
He finished undoing the last knot, the one that held me to the tree. "Done."
He took my hands and pulled me to my feet. Off in the distance I heard the neighing of horses.
"Let's get out of her," I said.
Thomas led the way, still holding my hand. "I have Misty with me," he said. "She's over this way."
"How did you find me," I asked as we ducked under a low hanging branch.
"I saw you leave camp. When you didn't return, I took Misty and came to look for you. Watch your step."
He helped step over a fallen log, then continued. "Your kidnappers must have been very inexperienced. I could hear their voices after only a few minutes of riding."
We arrived at the place where Misty was tied. "I left Misty here and followed the voices on foot. I suspected you might have run into a problem."
"Thank you," I said smiling up at him. He blushed.
Thomas lifted me up onto Misty then mounted himself behind me. We started the ride back to camp.
As soon as we arrived, Thomas and I found everyone searching for us. They had discovered Misty gone and soon realized we were gone too.
Thomas and I went immediately to his father, the Earl, and explained what had happened. He quickly organized a group of six men to capture my kidnappers.
The Earl would not allow Thomas nor I to go along.
"You must get some sleep," he said, shooing us out of his tent. He was right. I was exhausted.
Thomas walked me to my tent.
"I'll see you in the morning," he said.
"Thank you again, Thomas," I said gratefully.
He smiled. "No problem."
"Well, goodnight," I said, starting to go into my tent.
"Areida?"
I turned back around. He stood looking at me.
"You...uh," he stammered. "You sing really beautifully."
I reddened. In all the excitement of the evening, I'd forgotten about my earlier performance.
"Thank you," I said. He smiled at me.
"Goodnight, then."
"Goodnight." I turned once more and went into my tent, smiling happily.
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There it is. I'm very proud of this chapter. It's the longest one I've written.
Please Read & Review!!!!!
