AN: This chapter's kind of boring but necessary for the story so just bare
with me
Chapter 7
The next two weeks were not exactly my idea of fun. Annette, my step- mother, was driving me insane. Always simpering over my father. I did my best to never be alone with them in the same room. I don't think my stomach could take anymore. I know they're newly weds, but he's my father for goodness sake. I was spending a lot of my time with Betsy and Marta. I was already pretty good at cleaning but now I was getting hands on experience with cooking and unlike cleaning I loved it.
It was fun just Marta, Betsy and I in the kitchen laughing and talking. Believe me if anybody had said I would be having the time of my life with Marta I would've said they were off their rocker. Actually Marta wasn't to bad once you got to know her and she seemed to hate Annette just as much as me. (which is saying a lot). I only got to see Terri once and it was one of the oddest conversations I've had with him.
It was about three days after Annette, I refuse to call her stepmother, had shown up. He was already at the window perch when I arrived and was sitting pretending to read a book. It was upside down so I could tell he was a little distracted. When he noticed me come in he stood up and asked me how I was, the usual questions, and then he got all quiet and told me that he had something really important he needed to tell me. I was all ears, I was still curious about the guards and I was hoping that he might provide an explanation. But then he stopped . . . just stopped and said he had to go and left. I haven't seen him since even though I 've gone to the library every day. I wonder what's the matter.
I was sitting on bed pondering on this when my Father walked in. You could tell by the way he was glaring at me that I was in trouble.
"What did I do?" I asked defensively.
"You have not said a single word to your stepmother since you first met her!"
"And the problem is?" He was right and I haven't said a thing to Annette and I planned on keeping it that way.
"She is most distressed by this and YOU will do anything to make her happy."
"Annette isn't happy? Oh how tragic." I snapped my temper getting the better of me. I hadn't expected my father to apologize about bringing a random women in and calling her my mother but the fact that he was accusing me of not making Annette happy was more then I could bare. My sole purpose in life was not to make that little hoar happy. I continued on knowing full well I was going to regret everything I was about to say, "Your nothing but a blind fool! You can't see through her. She doesn't love you. All she wants is your money and everyone can see that but you." I stopped short. One look from my father told me I was in serious trouble.
" You will respect your mother" he snapped. Then he walked out of my room. I knew he wasn't finished yet something bad was coming my way soon.
I can't believe it. No one could be this cruel. My father is forcing me to go shopping with Annette. I can think of a few things I rather be doing like walking on hot coals in bare feet. When I explained this to Betsy she just laughed and continued braiding my hair.
"It can't be all that bad"
"oh yes it can," I retorted. " The women is soooo annoying and now I have to spend an entire morning looking at dumb dresses with her. There is nothing good about it. NOTHING."
"You get a new dress that Marta wont pick out for you"
"Well. . . um. . . fine you win. but that's the only good thing"
"Just mind your manners" Betsy reminded, "I don't think you want your stepmother as an enemy"
"To late" I replied, "She is MY sworn enemy! and if she feels the same way about me I could care less."
Betsy finished fixing my hair. It was a ponytail with 3 braids coming out. Then it had been looped back up and held with a clasp. I was wearing the usual which included a black dress with a brown bodice. Not to attractive I know but no one said Marta had a sense of fashion. Over my dress was draped a black cloak since there had been an early frost and the air was still slightly chilly. I wouldn't need the cloak by Lunch time but might as well deal with a cloak then an aggravated Marta.
"All set, all you need know is a smile" Betsy grinned
I scowled back at her.
"Remember Marta and I will be gone all afternoon?"
"Where?" I asked
"Market. We have to get some food for some party your father and Annette are having."
"Party?! How come no one informed me of this?"
"Don't worry you don't have to come. The guests will be arriving this afternoon, while Marta and I are at market You and Annette should be back by then. Marta said you could go to the library for a while"
"Yes" Maybe if I spent all afternoon at the library I'd be able to see Terri. It was worth a shot.
"Now go on and remember be polite"
"I'll try but I make no promises" I called back to her.
Annette was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She was looking dazzling in a light pink dress. I thought she looked like a cupcake but even as a cupcake Annette was gorgeous. Sigh.
"Good Morning Rialyn"
Morning yes but I wasn't to sure about the good part. "Hello" I replied. We both walked out into the bustling streets were a carriage was waiting to take us to some dress shop. When we arrived a dignified old lady came in. Obviously her and Annette were good friends because they started discussing the latest fashions and which lady was with which Knight. While they were talking it gave me a chance to look around. The shop was filled with the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. Silks lace and velvet were every where in a multitude of colors. But one dress in particular caught my attention. It was dark blue almost the color of my eyes and it sparkled ever so slightly so it looked like stars had been sewn into it . I gaped at it for a moment then ran over.
"A fine choice" said the old lady stopping her conversation with Annette.
"Its so beautiful" I said completely oblivious to all else.
"Would you like to try it on" the lady asked.
"Of course"
She lead me to a changing room. "Annette and I will wait out here," She smiled. It was then that I figured out that she had to be the owner of the shop. Sometimes I am so slow. I tried the dress on and it fit perfectly, like it had been made just for me. I walked out and Annette looked shocked and maybe even a little jealous. She had been trying on a white dress that was all silk and pearls but no were near as fine as mine.
"It's beautiful" the lady replied. You look like a princess in it.
"Thank you" I blushed. I felt like a princess.
"We'll get these" Annette said in a somewhat strained voice. What was her problem. "I'll met you in the carriage" she snapped at me and then to the lady she said, "Put it on Lord Farris' bill"
The lady nodded as Annette walked out, then turned to me. "You must be a saint to put up with her"
"What? but I thought you two were friends."
"She is one of my more frequent customers but she is also a spoiled selfish girl."
"You said it"
The lady laughed. "I don't know why but for some reason I like you. Wait here I want to give you something" She walked into the back of the shop and returned a few minutes later with a pair of slippers made of glass. They sparkled in the early morning sun.
"These are for you"
"But I can't take them" I stammered, "I don't have enough money to pay for them. And I wouldn't want their cost to come out of my Father's pocket. If I get them I want to buy them so I know there mine." I rambled feeling as foolish as I sounded.
"Slow down there" The lady smiled, "No one said anything about buying. They're a gift"
"But I only just met you. An they probably cost a ton and ½ "
"Yes," she replied, "but money isn't everything. Take them and when someone needs something I want you to help them. That will be your payment"
She handed me the shows then shoved me out the door. The dress had been neatly packed in a box along with Annette's dress and both had been placed in the carriage. I hid the slippers in the folds of my cloak. I didn't want Annette to know about them. I didn't want anyone to know about them they were mine. Special and secret.
I
Chapter 7
The next two weeks were not exactly my idea of fun. Annette, my step- mother, was driving me insane. Always simpering over my father. I did my best to never be alone with them in the same room. I don't think my stomach could take anymore. I know they're newly weds, but he's my father for goodness sake. I was spending a lot of my time with Betsy and Marta. I was already pretty good at cleaning but now I was getting hands on experience with cooking and unlike cleaning I loved it.
It was fun just Marta, Betsy and I in the kitchen laughing and talking. Believe me if anybody had said I would be having the time of my life with Marta I would've said they were off their rocker. Actually Marta wasn't to bad once you got to know her and she seemed to hate Annette just as much as me. (which is saying a lot). I only got to see Terri once and it was one of the oddest conversations I've had with him.
It was about three days after Annette, I refuse to call her stepmother, had shown up. He was already at the window perch when I arrived and was sitting pretending to read a book. It was upside down so I could tell he was a little distracted. When he noticed me come in he stood up and asked me how I was, the usual questions, and then he got all quiet and told me that he had something really important he needed to tell me. I was all ears, I was still curious about the guards and I was hoping that he might provide an explanation. But then he stopped . . . just stopped and said he had to go and left. I haven't seen him since even though I 've gone to the library every day. I wonder what's the matter.
I was sitting on bed pondering on this when my Father walked in. You could tell by the way he was glaring at me that I was in trouble.
"What did I do?" I asked defensively.
"You have not said a single word to your stepmother since you first met her!"
"And the problem is?" He was right and I haven't said a thing to Annette and I planned on keeping it that way.
"She is most distressed by this and YOU will do anything to make her happy."
"Annette isn't happy? Oh how tragic." I snapped my temper getting the better of me. I hadn't expected my father to apologize about bringing a random women in and calling her my mother but the fact that he was accusing me of not making Annette happy was more then I could bare. My sole purpose in life was not to make that little hoar happy. I continued on knowing full well I was going to regret everything I was about to say, "Your nothing but a blind fool! You can't see through her. She doesn't love you. All she wants is your money and everyone can see that but you." I stopped short. One look from my father told me I was in serious trouble.
" You will respect your mother" he snapped. Then he walked out of my room. I knew he wasn't finished yet something bad was coming my way soon.
I can't believe it. No one could be this cruel. My father is forcing me to go shopping with Annette. I can think of a few things I rather be doing like walking on hot coals in bare feet. When I explained this to Betsy she just laughed and continued braiding my hair.
"It can't be all that bad"
"oh yes it can," I retorted. " The women is soooo annoying and now I have to spend an entire morning looking at dumb dresses with her. There is nothing good about it. NOTHING."
"You get a new dress that Marta wont pick out for you"
"Well. . . um. . . fine you win. but that's the only good thing"
"Just mind your manners" Betsy reminded, "I don't think you want your stepmother as an enemy"
"To late" I replied, "She is MY sworn enemy! and if she feels the same way about me I could care less."
Betsy finished fixing my hair. It was a ponytail with 3 braids coming out. Then it had been looped back up and held with a clasp. I was wearing the usual which included a black dress with a brown bodice. Not to attractive I know but no one said Marta had a sense of fashion. Over my dress was draped a black cloak since there had been an early frost and the air was still slightly chilly. I wouldn't need the cloak by Lunch time but might as well deal with a cloak then an aggravated Marta.
"All set, all you need know is a smile" Betsy grinned
I scowled back at her.
"Remember Marta and I will be gone all afternoon?"
"Where?" I asked
"Market. We have to get some food for some party your father and Annette are having."
"Party?! How come no one informed me of this?"
"Don't worry you don't have to come. The guests will be arriving this afternoon, while Marta and I are at market You and Annette should be back by then. Marta said you could go to the library for a while"
"Yes" Maybe if I spent all afternoon at the library I'd be able to see Terri. It was worth a shot.
"Now go on and remember be polite"
"I'll try but I make no promises" I called back to her.
Annette was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She was looking dazzling in a light pink dress. I thought she looked like a cupcake but even as a cupcake Annette was gorgeous. Sigh.
"Good Morning Rialyn"
Morning yes but I wasn't to sure about the good part. "Hello" I replied. We both walked out into the bustling streets were a carriage was waiting to take us to some dress shop. When we arrived a dignified old lady came in. Obviously her and Annette were good friends because they started discussing the latest fashions and which lady was with which Knight. While they were talking it gave me a chance to look around. The shop was filled with the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. Silks lace and velvet were every where in a multitude of colors. But one dress in particular caught my attention. It was dark blue almost the color of my eyes and it sparkled ever so slightly so it looked like stars had been sewn into it . I gaped at it for a moment then ran over.
"A fine choice" said the old lady stopping her conversation with Annette.
"Its so beautiful" I said completely oblivious to all else.
"Would you like to try it on" the lady asked.
"Of course"
She lead me to a changing room. "Annette and I will wait out here," She smiled. It was then that I figured out that she had to be the owner of the shop. Sometimes I am so slow. I tried the dress on and it fit perfectly, like it had been made just for me. I walked out and Annette looked shocked and maybe even a little jealous. She had been trying on a white dress that was all silk and pearls but no were near as fine as mine.
"It's beautiful" the lady replied. You look like a princess in it.
"Thank you" I blushed. I felt like a princess.
"We'll get these" Annette said in a somewhat strained voice. What was her problem. "I'll met you in the carriage" she snapped at me and then to the lady she said, "Put it on Lord Farris' bill"
The lady nodded as Annette walked out, then turned to me. "You must be a saint to put up with her"
"What? but I thought you two were friends."
"She is one of my more frequent customers but she is also a spoiled selfish girl."
"You said it"
The lady laughed. "I don't know why but for some reason I like you. Wait here I want to give you something" She walked into the back of the shop and returned a few minutes later with a pair of slippers made of glass. They sparkled in the early morning sun.
"These are for you"
"But I can't take them" I stammered, "I don't have enough money to pay for them. And I wouldn't want their cost to come out of my Father's pocket. If I get them I want to buy them so I know there mine." I rambled feeling as foolish as I sounded.
"Slow down there" The lady smiled, "No one said anything about buying. They're a gift"
"But I only just met you. An they probably cost a ton and ½ "
"Yes," she replied, "but money isn't everything. Take them and when someone needs something I want you to help them. That will be your payment"
She handed me the shows then shoved me out the door. The dress had been neatly packed in a box along with Annette's dress and both had been placed in the carriage. I hid the slippers in the folds of my cloak. I didn't want Annette to know about them. I didn't want anyone to know about them they were mine. Special and secret.
I