Ahahahahahahaha!!!!! A new reviewer!!!!! EEEEEEeeeeeee! Ahahahahahaha! I win. swoons in joy and rapture I thank you for reading my loverly, beeeeeea-utiful perfect (or close to) story!!!!! Ahahaha....alright, I'm done with the maniacal laughter.
Kylie: About that sequel idea...I'm liking it very, very much! Ah, I'm talking (typing, whatever) in exclamation marks...I always hate it when that happens, I seem too cheerful...wait, stay on topic. Yup, Marcus (or Sir DeBracey, as he would probably like to be called by us peasants) will be making an appearance soon, and Lady Jeanine too. And as for Abby's suitors, I wonder if she'll have any...
A reminder that any words I use can be looked up on Fanfiction.net's dictionary page. This is excepting names and places.
A knock on the door woke the sleepy noblewoman. She rolled over on the soft bed and buried her face in the pillows. She heard the door open and muffled footsteps on the rug. Lazily she snuggled deeper into the covers and winced as the curtains were flung open with gusto, bathing her in bright morning light.
"Up, get up, you need to meet the people today," Keosha walked over to the bed and tugged the thick covers off Abby, exposing the girl to the light. Abby cleared her throat slightly,
"What people am I supposed to be meeting?" Keosha held up a finger for each group she named,
"Well you need to meet the Fourth Ladies, the Third Ladies, the Second Ladies, the First Ladies, the Queen's Ladies and some other courtiers. You will be introduced to the King's Men, the First and Second Gentlemen and the new courtiers."
"Oh, so not many. I can go back to sleep, then." With that, she plucked her covers out of Keosha's hands and cocooned herself in them. Her friend sighed with exasperation and kicked the bed, succeeding only in hurting her toe.
"Aaaaarrggg! Flippin' bed. Gods above, that hurt!" Abby peeked over the tops of the covers and burst into laughter. Keosha, the normally composed and wise girl, was hopping on one foot, face as red as possible, muttering and presumably swearing in Manisanrin. She suddenly lost her already shaky balance and toppled onto the ground, shrieking loudly. Abby was overcome with laughter and snorted in the most unlady-like fashion imaginable. She only laughed harder, now at herself. Keosha had pulled herself into a sitting position on the ground and was surveying Abigail with intense displeasure.
"I suppose you think that was mighty hilarious, doncha?" Abby could only laugh at the injured dignity displayed on her friend's face. Before she could look up again, Abby felt a swat on her arm and soon she and Keosha were wrestling on the ground, each trying to tickle or punch the other. Keosha won. It was inevitable, for Abby was laughing too hard to actually try. They lay at opposite sides of the bed, breathing heavily. Keosha shook her head and thought of what her parents would say if they saw her giggling and lolling on a bed at this hour. The thought of her parents sobered her and she sat up quickly, no longer smiling. She rummaged in her pocket and produced an envelope of creamy paper, upon which was a line of firm, uncompromisingly clear handwriting. The script read:
'Lady Abigail of Mattensworth, Daughter of the Earl of Mattensworth.'
Abby trembled as she took the letter, which proclaimed her Father's writing. Such a letter could only contain more orders, ones that Abby felt she wasn't quite willing to follow. She looked in question to the servant- friend and her look was answered when Keosha murmured,
"A courier brought it early this morn, Abby. A palace servant received it for us, and kept it until seven, when I awoke. They handed it to me over breakfast and explained that they received it only because no one could find Gorison, who is apparently in charge (unofficially, of course) of the noble's rooms." Abby nodded absently and Keosha got up and walked over to the stand that held the washing pitcher and basin. As the noblewoman watched her, she sprinkled something into the pitcher, before pouring it into the washing basin.
Abby joined her beside the basin and Keosha offered her a small, soft face towel. Abigail sniffed the steamy fragrance that lifted from the water, closed her eyes and sighed in appreciation. Lavender. When her mistress- friend opened her eyes, Keosha noted the gleaming thankfulness in the mauve and blue streaked orbs. As her friend proceeded to wash, Keosha began to go through the as- yet- unpacked trunks that held Abby's clothes.
After they were dressed, the two girls chatted about their schedule. Firstly, their meeting with the Queen's Ladies would most likely be this morn, for that set of Ladies has no tolerance for tardiness in the paying of respects.
Their wanderings took them all over the expansive castle, and they stopped to look outside, for they were eager to view the outdoors. The rain that puddled on the outdoor courtyard floor making Abby sigh. The climate in the Mattensworth area was much nicer. ' Hardly any rain,' she thought, wistful for the better weather.
Abby and Keosha walked slowly down the halls, their slightly heeled slippered clicking slightly on the stone floors. Suddenly they came by an arched doorway, and they paused at the opening. An older woman walked towards them, her white hair loose and flowing down her back, the locks at the sides of her face drawn back. Her deep green robe flowed about her and was trimmed with gray. A solemn look graced her aged, but lovely features and she smiled at them in welcome.
"You have entered the Green Coterie, and I am the Mother Iku, and you are new to court." Keosha nodded as Abigail said,
" I am Lady Abigail of Mattensworth, this is my maid and friend, Keosha." She paused before continuing,
"I have heard of the Red Coterie, and the Yellow, but not Green. Is your group perhaps an extension?" The woman shook her head and said with an understanding smile,
"Nay, we had existed as long as the others, but we and the blue are of a quieter, less bold set." Abigail nodded, but Keosha looked a little nervous. Abby, noticing her discomfort, began to make their excuses,
"We have walked the castle halls since ten tolls and we are weary. I shall talk with you another time, Mother Iku." The woman nodded and they left. The returned to their rooms and Keosha rang for their mid day meal. As they waited, Abby felt the paper crinkle, tucked in place under her sash. She determinedly placed her thoughts elsewhere; reading such a letter would only result in bitterness towards the man who called himself her Father.
