A/n: Back to where we were. I'm glad the last chapter confused all of you, wait until you find out what happened. Very cool, very cool. Anyway, I've got about twelve chapters of this story written (this is the eighth posted) and I want to get 'em online. I'm unmotivated to write if I don't get them up, so lucky you. Most of them will all be but by the end of next week.

Chapter Seven

We reached his village at dusk. I had made Sam stop earlier so I could put on a dress. The only one I had was the ugly red one I'd gotten from Rufin, but it would have to do. Sam helped me back on the horse, except he instructed me to sit behind him. He offered no explanation when I'd asked him why.

We rode through the woods for a bit more until we reached the village. Set in a meadow, a cluster of houses sat on the far side. Vegetable gardens dotted the landscape, and a large fire was burning in the center of the clearing. It reminded me of the Donhash village. As we got closer, I noticed they weren't finally built houses, but sort of makeshift huts that were made of logs and mud.

"Have you lived here long?" I asked him from behind.

"Yes," he replied quickly. "Why?"

"No reason," I said.

The moment we walked into the cluster of houses, we were swarmed by people curtsying and bowing, trying to shake out hands. They greeted Sam warmly, and stared at me wondrously. It was quite bizarre. We made our way through the crowds to a lavishly decorated house. Once inside, we were greeted by a large, olive-skinned woman with dark curly hair and green eyes. Those green eyes! She had to be Sam's mother.

"Samuel!" she screeched, swooping down on him and enveloping him in a hug. "It's wonderful to see you! I trust you fared well at your father's?"

Sam nodded. "Yes, mother," he replied. "What is everyone so excited for? Are there to be festivities tonight?"

She nodded. "Yes, yes, because of your important news!" she cried, looking at me.

"What news?" Sam asked. "My news?"

She grabbed my hand. "The news of your bride, of course!" she said, gesturing towards me.

"My-my bride?" choked Sam, laughing.

"Yes!" she replied. "Nicola saw you riding in the woods with her. Together, on your horse."

"No, Mother-it's not-" Sam tried to explain.

"Don't be silly, Samuel!" she cried, turning to me. "My dear, my name is Amneris."

I curtsied, her name sounding familiar in my head. "It's lovely to meet you, milady. I'm called Nora Rose," I replied. "But I'm not-"

"You're not, you're right!" she suddenly said. "Jocelyn!"

A girl appeared next to her, a carbon copy of Amneris, except much skinnier. Sam's sister. "This is Jocelyn," explained Amneris. "She'll get you dressed like a true Habblah bride."

Jocelyn peered at me. "She doesn't look to easy," she replied.

"Jocelyn!" Sam called. "You'll need to help Nora Rose with her ankle. She seems to have twisted it."

Jocelyn nodded and peered under my skirt at my ankle. Nodding more, she took me by the hands and pulled me away from Sam. I set a pleading look back, but he just shrugged and winked. She ushered me into a side room, which seemed to be a bedroom. She began walking around me, inspecting.

"Let's see," said Jocelyn, looking at me. "You'll need to take off that dress. It's hideous."

I laughed. "I know," I replied. "But, you see, I'm not-"

She shushed me and led me into a closet, where clothing of every color hung. She pulled out a fuchsia blouse, off the shoulder and loose fitting. It had gold embroidery around the collar and sleeves. Looking around some more, she handed me a black skirt, patterned with red, purple, blue, and brown flowers with green leaves. Jocelyn left the closet, instructing me to put on the clothes. I did as she told, slipping on the airy clothing. When I was dressed, I opened the door and presented myself to the four of them.

"Do you like it?" asked Jocelyn.

I wrapped my hands around my waist. "It's nice," I replied. "Much better than what I was wearing."

She laughed. "Now to your hair," she said, attacking my brown hair with a brush.

She combed it out so it hung down my back in gentle curls. She tied a simple, triangular red scarf over it, so it's point draped over the back of my head. Jocelyn then gave her another triangle scarf that I was instructed to tied around my hips. It was gold and adorned with small gold coins that chimed when I walked. Finally, she removed her gold hoop earrings and gave them to me to wear. By the time she was finished, it was night. Jocelyn led me to a mirror, where I stood, shocked at my appearance. I looked striking. My brown hair wasn't frizzy and caked in dirt, and my brown eyes looked vibrant and sultry. I looked at her in amazement.

"Thank you," I said. "How in the name of the Lady did you do that?

"It was nothing. But you're most welcome," replied Jocelyn. "After all, I expect the best for my brother. Now let's see about this ankle."

She knelt down next to me, instructing me to sit on the bed. She lifted up the bruised ankle, gently unwrapping the dirty cloth that bid it. Holding it delicately, she poured a pungent powder into her hand. She poured it with a liquid that looked a lot like milk into the powder. Then Jocelyn rubbed the mixture between her hands, and began slathering it onto my ankle.

"This is a mineral called cabupera. It can only be found in the gnome caverns. When mixed with goat milk, it has amazing healing power," Jocelyn explained, rubbing the smooth concoction into my black-and-blue skin.

She was right. I started feeling a tingling in my ankle at once. It began to ache, followed by more tingling. Then, the black and blue in my ankle started disappearing, like Jocelyn was washing it away. When I could see no more of the cabupera mixture, Jocelyn pulled me to my feet. I felt no pain in my twisted ankle. I walked. I skipped. I twirled.

"How did you do that?" I asked her. "I've never seen anything heal so quickly!"

Jocelyn shrugged, smiling. "The Habblah have old ways of healing. I'm just a trained healer," she replied.

"Well, thank you," I said. "Again."

Suddenly, we heard the sound of glass crackling. Jocelyn flew to the window and opened it. I flocked behind her, sticking my heads out as well. Below her bedroom stood six or seven boys, staring up at us. Sam was with them.

"Come on out!" one of them cried. "How long must Sam wait for his bride?"

They began laughing and slapping Sam on the back. He looked sheepish. Jocelyn began giggling madly. She shut the window and ran to the door. "Come on!" she cried, beckoning me to join her. "We've got to present you!"

I followed her out the door and outside, where the air was balmy and pleasant; I wasn't too cold or too hot. We walked to the center of the meadow, where the fire was blazing against the night sky. The Habblah were sitting in a large group, and Amneris was in front of them, gesturing to a nearby Sam. My stomach knotted. What's she telling them? I'm not his bride!

A/n: I loved writing this chapter. Did you love reading it? Please tell me in a review! And lucky you, you'll get the next chapter pretty soon. Sooner if you review, that I will tell you. Haha, that rhymed!