Lady Haname

Hi guys, my first fanfic here… I'm really nervous. PLEASE tell me what you think, because I do want to know! Oh yeh and if you are going to flame, be nicer than usual.. and go read some of nativewildmage's stories. evil laugh.

SUMMARY- Lady Haname travels to Tortall with the Princess, what does she find there? Can she learn to live there?

Disclaimer- I own nothing that you recognise.. Don't sue otherwise I'll phone my lawyer.

This chapter is dedicated to nativewildmage

So the Emperor decided I was to accompany the Princess Shinkonami. I was to leave the land I had lived in for all twenty years of my life. I was to travel to Tortall - the land of barbarians. I sighed beneath my mask and dropped a low curtsey to the Emperor. He inclined his head and smiled gravely at me. I flipped out my blue and gold shukusen infront of my eyes to hide my fury. I suppose there were political reasons for sending me; I was the 1st non-royal woman of the court. Also I loved Shinkonami as a younger sister, I had often given her advice on affairs of the court and I did wish to go with her. But leaving now would mean never returning. I sighed internally again as the Emperor intoned

'Rise Lady Haname, flower of the court. You, Lady Yukimi and Princess Shinkonami will be leaving early.' I rose knowing this to be a polite dismissal. As I headed to the door in a majestic swish of silk, The Lord Exalth stepped into my way and grasped my hand

'I'm sorry you are leaving, the palace will seem dark without your brilliant glow' I smiled gracefully at him thankful for my mask. I would never survive the intrigues of the court without it. It was well known he was madly in love with me and indeed he had proposed three times. I supposed he would never realise I would never consent to marry him or become his lover. Perhaps that was the reason I was being sent, so this plump idiot of a man could get his revenge. I was almost glad to leave for a moment, if it meant leaving fools like these behind.

I reached my rooms finally after having been stopped several times so people could offer there condolences. I felt as if someone had died and everyone was mourning. I unlocked the door and entered to find trunks full of clothes packed up, my wardrobe hanging open with only my Kimono for tomorrow in there. I grinned to myself, face outwardly smooth, at the efficiency of my maid, Ada.

'My lady a message arrived for you from the Princess' Ada said without even looking up. She handed me a message with the royal seal and I scanned it briefly

'Lolita, please come to my rooms when you receive this. I wish to talk with you before we leave. Trunks from the emperor will be arriving at your rooms shortly- they contain Kimonos and Tortallan dresses for our journey. I smirked slightly the Emperor was being generous; he obviously wanted the match to work.

Shinko

P.S. Do you think what Prince Eiatro said is true?

I sighed instantly guessing what she waned to talk about. Prince Eiatro had told her that she must not display any interest in her weapons whilst she was in Tortall as Prince Roald was bound to hate it. His reason being that Roalds mother hunted bandits. To me it made no sense, I wished Kel was here to tell her, but she was studying in Tortall……… We would see Kel again! We had all been great friends when Kel had been here, perhaps we would see her again. This would cheer Shinko up immensely. I turned to Ada,

'Don't wait up I will probably be gone ages. Expect some trunks, the Emperor is sending me new Kimonos for the trip.' She nodded to me and continued to fold up my things. I rustled out the door and down the corridor the murmurs of the courtiers expressing there sorrow echoing in my ears.

When I reached the Princess rooms, I was immediately admitted, the letter gaining me instant entry. No-one argued with the royal seal, for fear of loosing their head. I walked gracefully into Shinko's private room, where she and Yuki sat together. I shut the door and sank into a cushion

'If I hear one more courtier saying how sad he is to see me go, I am going to kill someone.' I said brandishing my shusken, knowing I could be free with my emotions here. Yuki giggled – I knew she was excited about going to Tortall and Shinko managed a small smile. Operation relax Shinko had begun.

Eventually Yuki and I had to drug her to get her to sleep; we left her stretched out on one of the many reclining chairs in her room, snoring softly. We smirked at each other, grabbed our shuskens and made our way to our rooms, the emotions leaving our faces as soon as we left the room.

Life was hard in the Islands.

The next morning I rose at dawn and began one of my favourite glaive pattern dances, the royal love. There was a legend that it was named after a great warrior who had fallen in love with the Princess and she with him. Unfortunately they were unable to marry, for reasons I had forgotten, and so they died together – by drowning. I sighed, people were always writing tales of true love, yet no-one ever seemed to find it. I knew that as well as being sent to help the treaty succeed, Yuki and I were going to have to marry in Tortall …. or never marry. I know the Emperor must want the treaty, so maybe we were being sent as prizes, to solidify the bond. Tortall would never want war if it's Prince and top noblemen where married to people from the Isles. We were considered the beauties of the court, though I never understood why. I felt the same fury as yesterday slammed my glaive viciously into the wall, up to its hilt. I heard a slight whimper behind me, I turned twisting the glaive out of the wall as I did so. I sighed in relief, it was only Ada. I smiled and she managed a frown which I took to be a smile.

'Your baths ready Lady, and I thought you might wear this, instead of the dress we picked out last night.' She brandished infront of her a creamy green Kimono with small forest green flower embroidered along the hem, it also had emeralds stitched in the waistband and around the neck. It was beautiful. The shuskan was there as well, in the same creamy green, with tiny flowers. I smiled the palace dressmaker knew only too well I liked to carry a shuskan, I never went unprotected.

'It's Lolita, please Ada and I think I will save that gown until just till we get off the ship, I don't want it too be creased when we arrive.' That dealt with I sank into the warm, raspberry scented bath waiting for me.

As I stepped onto desk with Yuki a few hours later, dressed in a slightly plain, quite old kimono, I shivered with the fear of what was to come, a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.

And somewhere above, true love smiled on the girls.

Well what do ya think? Good/bad review!

And yes I do have a vague idea of what is going to happen, though it doesn't seem it.

Xx

P.s. Hope you enjoyed it!