Chapter 17 Not Quite What I was Expecting
When her mother left Anna picked up one of her bags. Darin picked the other two and they headed back to the palace. "Where are we going anyway" Anna asked.
"Well" he said slowly looking at her. "We could go to the quarters the Queen set up for you, or we could go to my room" he said uncertainly. He had felt her slight uneasiness when they became too close. While it was frustrating he knew he had to go at her pace. He knew already how things would end, it was just getting there. He didn't even mind that he was sure his mother was already planning the wedding, the sooner the better he thought to himself.
"Which is bigger" she asked.
He shrugged "I don't know, I haven't seen the rooms they picked".
"Then why don't we go to your room, at least you know where it is" Anna said.
Darin smiled and nodded, then he picked up her two bags leading the way to his quarters.
Outside his door he hesitated "This is it, but I must warn you. I haven't been spending much time here recently its not very personal" he said looking at her. "You can change anything you want" he added.
She smiled at him and said "It's yours, that's all thats important".
As he set the bags down by a clothes chest she looked around the room, he was right it was a little sterile. There were no rugs to soften the wood floor and there was nothing on the white walls. There was only the chest, a table to one side with papers stacked on it with a couple of chairs and the bed. The bed was perhaps the most colorful thing in the room, a lovely throw covered it.
She walked over and felt it, soft. She wasn't familiar with the fabric, perhaps a wool of some kind, but she had never felt a wool so soft.
He looked over at her and smiled "That was a gift from mother".
"What is it, I've never felt anything like it" she asked.
"I think it comes from up north, right near the border of Valdemar. Some place called.... well I think it's called Errold's Grove".
She nodded and smiled an amused look in her eyes "Never heard of it".
He laughed and came to stand by her, slowly the laughter died and they became lost in each others eyes, they leaned closer then.
:Chosen, as much as I dislike interrupting your fun, there's someone looking for the two of you. She should be there shortly. Just thought you'd want to know: she added with a mental chuckle.
He started and flushed, backing up from Anna.
"What" she asked confused.
"Jeraella just told me there's someone looking for us and they should be here shortly" he said.
She looked at him suspiciously "Did she say anything else".
"Not exactly, but you can pick up a lot mind to mind. I think she was a little amused" he said.
"But she likes me, doesn't she" Anna asked.
:Of course I like you, I think you'll be very good for Darin:
"Oh" Anna exclaimed.
Then a sharp knock came at the door and it opened without a wait. In swept Darin's mother. She took one look at Anna's bags standing by the chest and she shook her head "No, that won't do. Not until the wedding". She waved in the servant and pointed at the bags. "Take those to my house and take that one too" she said pointing at the bag Anna still held loosely, she let him take it still surprised at the intrusion.
Darin's mother shook her head at him "I thought I raised you better than that, she's not just another bedmate. She's going to be your wife" she took Anna by the arm and led her out. Anna gave one last helpless look to Darin before she was swept away by his mother.
Darin sat on the edge of the bed still a little stunned at the suddenness, he only hoped that Anna didn't run screaming from his family. It was a good thing they were lifebonded he thought shaking his head.
"Mrs.... I'm sorry I never got your name, I only know you as Darin's mother" she stopped ashamed to have to admit this.
"I don't know what happened to the manners I taught the boy. My name is Lady Reva, but you can call me Reva" she said.
"Reva,I'm sorry about the impression you got when......It was just that he wanted me there and I thought it was expected, customs differ and I........" she stopped and shook her head.
"They don't differ that much" she looked sharply at the girl. "Have you" she started to ask.
"No, never. I've never been with anyone" she said quickly.
"Good" Reva said satisfaction in her voice.
Anna looked confused at the carriage waiting for them at the entrance of the palace gate "Where are we going" she asked.
"I have an estate in town, we'll be staying there" Reva said.
"How will I get back to the palace, I'm supposed to have lessons there. And Derin's there" she said.
"You can take the carriage anytime you wish, and" she compressed her lips as she tried to find a way of saying it diplomatically.
Anna looked at her "Don't worry, I won't do anything I shouldn't. It's a relief to just be with with him without worrying about" she stopped, blushing. This was his mother.
Reva nodded relieved "Then it's a good thing I came when I did, it's not good to start your life on a wrong footing".
Anna nodded, she felt the same way herself.
When she stepped up to the carriage Anna realized that she had a problem, she wasn't able to do everything she used to before her accident and it appeared that climbing up into the carriage was going to be one of those things. She was sure eventually she would make it, but that wasn't quite the impression she was hoping to make on his mother. At her worried look the servant that had just put her bags aboard looked up and saw her problem. "Here, let me" he said lifting her up into the carriage.
"Thanks" she said.
Both Anna and Reva were quiet on the way to Reva's estate. Anna was busy watching the city as they made their way down the twisting city streets. It almost reminded her of some cities she had seen in Europe, there was a medevil feel to it, she could almost see an attacking army floundering as they negotiated the winding streets, never quite reaching their goal. She had the feeling that you had to be a native to know all the ways through.
Another thing she noticed was that there were no cars, and the streets were full of people and horses. Both carts and riding horses. She could see how Jeraella could easily fit right in here, unlike home where she wasn't sure it was even legal to take a horse into town.
The turned into a quieter street than the one they had been on. The houses were larger too, with what looked like tall iron fences and stone walls around gardens for privacy.
Finally the turned into the entrance of one of the large homes, a man at the gate opened it before they came too close and closed it carefully behind them.
The servant helped Anna down from the carriage. She looked around curious, so this was Darin's family home she thought to herself.
Darin stood up and stretched, he already missed Anna. Feeling a little lonely he decided to visit Jeraella, she always made him feel better.
As he walked through the halls, someone called his name. Darin turned surprised as the servant came running up. "I've a message for you Herald Darin" the man said.
He handed him the paper and left on his next errand. Darin unfolded the paper and read, frowning at the words. A new assignment, he felt cold, not now when he just found Anna. Now feeling truly depressed he walked quickly to the room indicated on the missive.
Opening the door he looked in, he was surprised to see Elspeth, Darkwind and Sejanes waiting for him. "you have a new assignment for me" he asked.
Elspeth nodded "It was originally going to be a circuit up north, but considering the problem of a major new untrained mage, we gave that circuit to Gen. As the lifebonded to that mage we decided you were needed here more."
"We need someone she trusts here, we also want her to feel as comfortable as possible" Sejanes added.
"Where is Anna" Elspeth asked. "We almost expected her to come here with you".
"My mother kidnapped her" Darin said dryly.
"Poor girl" Elspeth said.
"Poor me, I probably won't see her until mother finally sets up a wedding"Darin said with a groan.
"You'll live" Darkwind laughed.
Darin shook his head uncertain of the last. As the everyone left the room he headed back to the field and Jeraella.