Lady Ironheart:
Disclaimer: It's amazing how my name isn't Tamora Pierce and yet I like to play with her characters. Too bad that I only own Eriko and her family but what are you going to do when all you have is an overactive imagination and proudly make no money from this.
Sulking, Faleron followed the princess to the visitors' wing but only stopped short of it when she turned and led him into the study.
"I am a knight not some frilly lady!"
"Pipe down Faleron or you'll have an audience."
This shut Faleron up but didn't make his scowl disappear. Making sure the door was closed and locked; he took off the thick cloak and placed it on the table.
"So who wants to be seated?" Eri asked calmly.
"What are you doing?" Faleron asked eyeing her book.
"You'll see... hm. Shinko do you mind standing?" she asked.
"No, I don't mind."
Getting up, Eri pushed Faleron onto the stool that was set up and fixed the dress he was wearing before moving Shinko around to get the right setting. Standing back, Eri measured the amount of light streaming through with her eyes when she noticed that Faleron was fidgeting with his dress.
He didn't look all too bad since he just had to wear a simple blue dress and slippers. Shinko said that she was trying to give him his dignity. Slapping his hands away Eri fixed the dress and sash, which he had undone.
"You never said these things would be so uncomfortable," Faleron commented on the slippers. Hearing her sigh, Faleron watched as Eri got down on her knees and took off his slippers.
"Why do you have paper stuffed in here?" she inquired taking out the bits of wadded paper.
"The slippers were too big," Faleron mumbled, feeling embarrassed.
"Where did you get them anyways?"
"From the palace tailor," Faleron said with embarrasment.
"If they're big, you would stuff cloth and not paper," she commented, restuffing the slippers with pieces of cloth.
"How the hell am I suppose to know! I'm a man not a woman!" Faleron shouted.
"Language, Lady Faleron. It's undignified to swear," Shinko mocked.
"I'm not a woman!" Faleron glared at Shinko.
This has gone on for too long, he thought, even though it has been only a few minutes since they got there.
It was humiliating losing to them but even more so when Shinko came to his room before midday meal to fix him up. Thinking back to this morning, Faleron shuddered as he remembered some of the dresses Shinko had picked out.
"Hold still or I'll make you a woman," Eri finally snapped.
Settling down, Faleron noticed that she was actually sketching them with quick strokes and movement in a matter of minutes. Shinko, who was standing behind him, had on the Yamani face showing no emotions, well at least to him she wasn't.
"Faleron, can you at least smile, even if it's only a tiny bit," she asked him.
"No," Faleron answered stubbornly.
She only sighed inaudibly as she said, "Please. I've heard from some of the ladies that you have the best smile."
"Really?" Faleron was suspicious but then again who was he to complain when the court ladies said such things.
"Of course. They say that it's so handsome that it's enchantingly beautiful."
"Enchanting?" Faleron was slowly starting to lose his scowl, but held his face blank wanting Eri to very much go on with the gossip.
"Very enchanting, but it's alright if you don't want to smile. I'm pretty sure that they were just exaggerating."
Eri looked so disappointed as she lowered her head and bit her bottom lip just slightly. Staring at her, Faleron only took what she said as the truth and began to smile.
"Well... I'll smile."
"You will?"
And without a doubt, Faleron's scowl disappeared only to reappear as a smile, which really did make him look handsome. Taking the chance, Eri made a few strokes that captured it perfectly.
"There! It's done," Eri said aloud.
Releasing a breath of relief, Faleron got up and bowed to the princess before scratching an itchy spot on his abdomen.
"Thank the gods! Well it was nice chatting with you ladies but this is really itchy. See you in the Mess Hall."
Running, Faleron grabbed a thick cloaked, wrapped it around himself to cover the dress and dashed out the door.
"So what do you think?" I asked holding out the picture to Shinko.
"It's really good. I don't know how you do it."
"With practice Shin, practice."
"Can I see the one with Kel and Owen?"
Nodding my head, she flipped the page back and looked. Kel had dragged Owen to my room right after the race the day before because Owen kept complaining to her but at least he was easier to deal with. Not wanting to humiliate him that much, Kel let Owen wear a blouse and skirt while she had one her breeches and tunic. Owen had actually been a good sport about it but like Faleron, had complained about the outfit.
"He really does have a good smile doesn't he?" Shinko asked.
"Who?"
"Faleron."
"Oh, he does and it makes him look so much better."
"Is it alright to assume that you made the whole thing up?"
"Definitely."
"So enchanting wasn't it?" Shinko mocked.
"Boys worry about their looks just as much as girls do. They just 'hide it better'."
Laughing, we left the room and made our way towards lunch. After putting my sketchbook away, I entered the Mess Hall and got in line for my food. Weaving my way through the crowd, I walked towards one of the back table and sat down besides Kel.
"So how'd it go?" Kel asked.
"Brilliant, although, he was more troublesome than Owen. And here I thought Owen loved to whine," I told her.
"Hello all, Kel, Eri," Faleron greeted, flashing me a smile.
"Okay what was that all about?" Kel asked.
"Ego inflating gone wrong," I replied embarrassed.
"What did you do?" Kel asked again as she watched Faleron flash a smile at every lady that went by.
I was about to tell her when a messenger tapped me on the shoulder.
"Are you Lady Eriko of Heathercoves?" he asked me.
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Your presence is required in the east library of the ground floor."
"Now? Can't it wait until I've eaten?"
"No, milady. You have to come now," the messenger said nervously.
"Alright then, I'm sure it won't take long. Kel can you tell Eric I'll be back soon?"
"Sure."
Turning to the messenger, I followed him to the library. By the time I got there, I was really hungry. I was about to thank the messenger but he had already ran back.
Straightening myself, I knocked and walked in. Looking around, I froze when I saw the aged woman while her back to me with her cane glinted from the sunlight streaming in. Facing me, she was watching me through cold blue eyes with her mouth set in a grim line. Her greying brown hair was pulled back tight in an intricate hairstyle worn by the court ladies.
"Close that door and get over here!" she barked at me.
Complying, I closed the door slowly to make sure that my Yamani mask was in place before facing her again.
All throughout lunch, Eric would occasionally watch the door for Eri to come back but she never did.
"What?"
"If you're worried then go see her," Kel said.
"I'm not worried," Eric retorted.
"Sure. That's why you're staring at the door every few seconds," Dom countered.
Running his hand through his hair, Eric let out a sigh of frustration.
"Come on."
Getting up, Kel pulled Eric to his feet and dragged him out of the Mess Hall. Once outside, Eric hesitated for only a second before walking to the library with Kel, Dom, Merric, Owen, and Faleron. The closer they got, the more Eric started to worry. Something just didn't feel right to him because Eri said she would only be gone a moment. Eric was about to knock on the door when they heard someone shouting.
"You're a disgrace to court ladies and Heathercoves! How can you expect to find a husband looking like you do! Are you stupid or just bloody blind!"
That was all the incentive Eric needed before bursting into the room. The scene before him was something he hadn't seen in a long time, nor did he wish to see again. That polished wooden cane was held high above the woman's head before it came crashing down onto his sister's shoulders. Eric could see a tiny trail of blood slip down her chin, as Eri bit hard to keep from whimpering. A collective gasp could be heard from the open doorway, which drew the attention of the women to them.
"I thought I said no intrusions!" the woman barked.
"Eri get out," Eric said in a quiet voice.
"Move and I'll have your hide girl!" the woman scowled at Eri.
"Kel, take her out of here."
Looking back, even he could see the fear that grew in all of the knights' eyes.
"Kel? As in Keladry of Mindelan? So it is true, leading all the men astray are you Mindelan?" the woman snarled going from Dom, Owen, Merric, and Faleron.
"You take that back right now!" Eric yelled at her.
"I'd expected better from you Eric, not following some whore around."
Eric was about to lunge at the old woman when Dom and Faleron held him back but it didn't mean he would keep quiet.
"You evil bit-"
"What's going on here!" Roald demanded cutting off Eric.
Roald and Shinko had heard the shouting from outside as they were coming by and came to investigate. It wasn't that Roald was furious but more irritated that people were arguing with no common courtesy. Looking about him, Roald took in the restrained Eric, scared Eri, and a stone Kel, all glaring at the elder woman who was calm and placid as if nothing had just occurred. Shinko on the other hand looked furious losing her mask, which bothered Roald a lot since he's never seen her look so cold.
"I asked a question," Roald said.
"Please excuse me Your Highness but I was merely talking to my grand-niece when these hooligans barged in and caused a ruckus. I'm beginning to wonder what kind of knights you have stationed here," the woman said indifferently.
"They're all well behaved I assure you," Roald said.
"I highly doubt that," the woman said coldly.
"Well then would you kindly leave this to us," Shinko said in a strained voice, cutting Roald off.
"Of course Princess. Your Highness."
The woman then bowed to them before glaring at Eric, "I'll make sure to report this to your father," she said and left.
As soon as she was out of sight, Eric let out a groan of frustration when something fell. The loud thump brought all of them back to their senses, as Eric, Shinko, and Kel rushed towards Eri's side. Not bothering with the common tongue, Roald tried to listen as Eric and Kel explained what happened to Shinko in Yamani.
"Is she okay?" Merric asked tentatively.
Confused Roald joined the small circle to see Eri's bruised and bloody lip. Shifting Eri into a sitting position, Eric's hand glowed a deep blue healing Eri's lip.
"You have the Gift?" Dom asked in surprise but Eric chose to ignore him. Picking up his sister, Eric made his way out of the room with Kel and Shinko right behind them without another word.
Merric could only stare at them before they went out of sight. Turning back, he had forgotten that Roald was there as well as Dom and Faleron.
"What happened?" Roald asked calmly.
Dom and Faleron only shifted nervously, torn between telling him and keeping quiet. Sighing, Merric decided that it was better to tell him but only part of it.
Groaning with a dull ache, I woke up to smell herbs and medicine. Panicking, I sat up very quickly, only to give myself a huge headache but it went away as soon as I felt a cool hand resting on my forehead. Sighing with relief, I scanned the room to find eight occupants and a green hand. Eric and the twins were arguing in a corner while the girls were sitting at a table talking in quiet whispers.
"Thank you," I whispered, when Neal lifted his hand.
When they heard me Kel, Shinko, Yuki, Eric, and the twins crowded around the bed.
"What was Lady Ironheart doing here?" Matt spat out with disgust.
"Lady Ironheart?" Neal questioned.
"I thought you two had left," I stated looking at Matt and Mako.
"We were about to when Shinko sent a messenger to us," Mako said quietly, not to disturb me.
"Good thing too because we saw her on the way back to the palace," Matt said with less distaste.
"How do you feel?" Yuki asked steering my attention to her.
"Honestly? I feel like shit right now," I spoke as I swore, which left Neal a bit speechless to say the least.
"Nice to know you're okay," Shinko said smiling.
I looked about me but avoided Eric's face as I did so. I figured that I was in the infirmary seeing all of the empty beds and various medicine and potions around.
"So Lady Ironheart... who is she and why do you guys call her that?" Neal inquired.
"She's our great-aunt from our father's side," Matt started.
"A very bitter old woman who hates our mother," Mako added.
"She doesn't like the idea that they're half 'barbarian'," Kel said glancing at Eric slightly.
"You know about her?" Neal asked.
"Of course we do," Shinko said while Yuki nodded her head.
"She's actually Lady Lucille of Mirden and she hates our guts," I said bluntly.
"Eri," Eric said. Still not looking at him, I picked at the covers on the bed.
"Look at me Eri," Eric said in a commanding voice. Sighing inwardly, I slowly looked up.
"What?" I asked.
"What did she say to you?" Eric asked.
"Nothing."
"It can't be nothing, if she was going to beat you."
"I don't know what she said, I tuned her out."
"Eriko..."
"Look I don't want to talk about it."
The chief healer, Duke Baird, soon came in a shooed everyone out except for Neal.
"We'll see you tonight," Shinko told me before closing the door behind her.
A/N: It was going to be longer but I thought that I should just split it up into two chapters…. besides this chapter is already 9 pages.
