Chapter 5- The Third Attempt
Disclaimer- See chapter 1.
I didn't look up as the carriage door opened. My brother climbed into the seat beside me, and looked down at my embroidery. Since he had left, I'd finished both princesses, and was now at work on the dragon Vollys.
"That looks really good," Gavin commented.
"Thank you," I said stiffly. Gavin continued to watch me sew. Crimson thread was following the needle in, and out, in, and out, in and out, giving the dragon hundreds of miniscule scales. In, and out, in, and out.Finally Gavin's gaze grew too heavy for me to bear. "What?" I said sharply.
"Nothing," he innocently repiled.
"Where were you?" I inquired. Gavin grinned lazily.
"Out," was all that he offered. I resigned myself to ignore him and continued weaving the threads in and out, in and out. "Do you really want to know?" Gavin continued.
"Know what?"
"Where I was."
"Not really," I said, although I was dying to know what he had seen in Frell. But I wasn't about to beg for the information. I looked down at the floor and noticed something splattered on Gavin's boot. "Is that blood on your shoes?" I asked, horrified.
"It's not mine," he said coolly. "It's from an asp."
"An asp," I repeated. My brother nodded, and wiped his boot with a cloth out of my rag-bag. I was about to query further when the carriage rolled to a stop.
The door opened, and Gavin climbed down, ceremoniously. I quickly checked that my tiara was straight, as he turned and took my hand, helping me out.
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I stood with my mother and father at the top of the stairs. Trumpets were blaring as a parade of beautiful carriages made its way to the gate. The first carriage stopped, and King Rhys of Bamarre climbed out, turning to escort his wife, the breathtaking Queen Adelina. Soon they were joined by their children, Princess Meryl, and Gavin.
From where I stood I could tell that Meryl had beautiful golden curls cascading down her back, and the sharpest blue eyes I had ever seen. Her brother was also blond, and I had noticed earlier that his eyes were a pale grey.
I descended the stairs behind my parents, unescorted. The formalities continued, with us bowing, and the Bamarrian royalty reciprocating the gesture. I caught Gavin's eyes, and he crossed them.
I put my hands behind my back and pinched myself to keep from laughing, although I did grin broadly. I noticed my father watching me, and Mother shared a smile with Queen Adelina.
Soon enough they released us, and all of our parents adjourned to a sitting room to get to know each other better. Gavin, Meryl, and I did the same. I showed them around the palace, ending on the wall walk.
I was surprised that Gavin did not tell his sister of our earlier encounter with the asp, but I soon forgot as Merry and I were lost in describing our outfits for the ball. Usually clothes did not concern me in the least bit, but this was a masque, and all would be wearing costumes. I was particularly excited about my own; I was coming as a fluffy white cat.
At the end of the day I was exhausted, and I retired early to my chambers. Mandy sent a hearty supper up to me, rabbit stew and two warm biscuits.
"That looks delicious," I said to the maid who had brought the tray to me.
"The biscuits are very good, Milady. Mandy gave me one in the kitchen," she said dropping a quick curtsy. I turned my back to retrieve my slippers, and when I did, I saw the maid's reflection in my mirror. She fell to the ground, gasping for air. Within seconds she was dead.
My screams pierced the quiet of the evening, and soon I was huddled in my mother's arms, while she stroked my hair. I had stopped crying, and was now just staring at the rug. Mother had said it was a fairy trick rug, because if you looked long enough, you could see the hunters and animals moving, the grass waving in the wind. The rug had been in my room since I was a child, and it was very comforting to me.
Father paced back and forth by the fireplace. I had never seen him so concerned about anything.
"This is the second attempt on her life, Ella," he said. Mother was silent, but I spoke up, my trance with the rug broken.
"The third," I whispered.
"What, Darling?" Mother asked.
"It is the third attempt," I repeated. I walked over to my wardrobe. After my day, I had forgotten about the snake, resolving to retrieve it in the night, before it started to smell. I pulled the basket out and handed it to my father.
"I found this in my picnic basket earlier today," I said. Father looked into the basket and sighed heavily. "Prince Gavin came upon me and slaughtered it," I continued. Then I softened my tone. "He saved my life."
My father summoned his knights and ordered a guard for me at all times. When I finally crawled into bed, a knight was standing outside my door. I lay awake, too afraid to sleep, until exhaustion finally took control of my body
A/N: To Gayle( )- Thank you for reading and reviewing so faithfully. I really appreciate it. -Katie