Well, that didn't work. I probably should've waited longer for people to respond, but I'm too impatient and I already finished the chapter. I decided on my own what I would do w/the story. So there! Just kidding. I am trying my best to not drag this out and bore you to death. So, in parts, months are going to fly by within sentences, so you're going to have to hang on. I could go through them in detail, but then even I would fall asleep. Plus, I added a touch more of love to later chapters to make them more interesting. You'll see. Thanks to Mellem and Lela-of-Bast for the reviews! Oh, and Mellem, what was "argh come on" for? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Just wondering. So, here is my next chapter, and I hope you enjoy.
I told John. His response didn't surprise me at all.
"I'm coming with you," he stood up.
We gathered our few belongings and placed them in my handkerchief that I had worn on my head.
"Now let's find Emma."
"Remember, we only have an hour," John warned.
"Humph. We'll be out of here way before then."
But I was wrong. How many times must I be wrong before maybe just once I will be right?! First, we had to get Moonlight, Cinnamon (John's horse), and a protesting Ginger out and saddled (I made it easier because Moonlight I would ride bareback).
Then, I had to get Emma, somehow. John went the other direction, towards the vineyards and apple orchards.
I quickly looked up and down the dark shadow of the mansion that loomed above me. I tried the door. Of course, it was locked. But then I remembered that there was a back door. Thankfully, it wasn't locked. I crept in. Then, I heard footsteps. I froze, not really knowing what else to do. Somebody carrying a candle stepped towards me. I squinted in the light. Please, please don't be…
"Elisa?" I heard a whisper.
"Emma!"
We hugged, and she began firing questions at me, but I got right down to business.
"Come on! Ginger is waiting!"
I could see her smile. She followed me out of the house with her few belongings stashed under her arm. John was waiting.
"The hour's up! We have got to get out of here now!" He whispered. He threw off his cloak, his eyes gleaming brighter than ever. "I won't need to cover anything up anymore!"
"What? I thought it was just you and me, Elisa. Who is he? What's going on?" Emma protested as she hopped onto Ginger.
"No time to explain now! Let's go!"
We left. John had grabbed some food, and the keys to open the gate. We were free. Oh, how it felt to be free! I felt like singing, and then decided against it.
Then I told Emma everything (except for the part about John, for I was ordered not to tell anyone about that, but Emma figured that part out). She told me she had seen me get whipped, and she decided that it was time to run, just like I did. So she had also grabbed some food and her belongings.
We had enough food to last us a few days, but what would we do after that? John said he could find us a job, and we could work away from everyone.
We rode away from Frell until lunchtime. Then we stopped and rested.
"You know, you guys have grown." John remarked.
"So?" I asked. What did that have to do with anything?
"You two could pass as elves."
"What?!" Emma and I shouted together.
John shrugged. "It could help us get a job."
"If only we were boys," Emma sighed, staring at her knife after a long silence. We were all thinking the same thing. "Of course," Emma added quickly, "that's impossible. And foolish of me to say such a thing. I mean, who wouldn't know that we were girls?"
"But, we are really dirty…" I began.
"Oh, yeah, like that's going to help us!" Emma scoffed.
"Your hair could go, and then it would make it easier for people to believe you're male elves," John said quietly.
"How about NO! I am not getting rid of my hair!" I shouted, clutching the long locks of hair that flowed down my back as if that would protect them. Emma nodded in agreement.
"Then what will we do? I don't see you giving any fabulous ideas!" John snapped back.
"Oh, stop it! It's simple, watch," Emma twisted her hair, and swiftly coiled it on the back of her head. "Now, all you need to do is find a cap and place your hair underneath it! And, if we get pins, we can make sure our hair stays up. It's not foolproof, but definitely better than getting rid of our hair. Besides, we are returning home eventually, if not now, so I'm keeping my hair long!"
"And you'd better not have any problems with it!" I straightened my back, still much smaller than John, but much more stubborn.
John shrugged. "Yastay," he sighed, meaning, "whatever". "Get yourselves in trouble for all I care. And you will get in trouble, just to let you know."
I rolled my eyes. "Okay, sure. Now, where can we get pins, boys clothing, and caps?"
Emma smiled, pulling out a couple of pins from her tangled hair. "I kept them for picking locks, just in case. And," she now pulled out a brush from the small bundle she carried, "I, um, 'borrowed' this from Amelia."
"'Borrowed'? Yeah, sure you did. Anyway, I have clothes. I had a feeling you might have to disguise yourselves, but then again, I thought you'd have to get your hair cut, too. Are you going to argue that you won't wear the boy servant's clothes I brought as well?" John looked at us defiantly.
Emma shook her head, while I rolled my eyes again. John handed us the clothes, and we went into the forest to change. When Emma came back out, I almost laughed. She looked extremely uncomfortable in a light tunic and pants. John stifled a burst of laughter.
"Oh, leave us alone!" Emma snapped, annoyed.
We went to a nearby stream and rinsed our hair. Emma and I attempted to brush our hair. It worked, and soon our hair had almost regained its natural shine. Well, almost. Then, Emma, being a better expert at how to put up hair, pinned my hair up in a bun, and did the same for hers. We stuck caps on our head. Now John was rolling on the ground laughing. Emma glared at John, and I ignored him.
John controlled his laughter enough to say, "Now, onto job-hunting! Come along, men."
"John!" I smacked the back of his head. "That was not funny."
John laughed again. "Actually, it was."