Angrily Aware:
A/N: Okay I am a horrible person. I said I was almost done with the chapter about a month ago and here I am just posting this now. I am slow. No excuses but here it is now :D
Edmond was mad throughout the carriage ride. Didn't that boy had any common sense? This was not suppose to happen or so soon either. Ishi wasn't even speaking to him after getting in the carriage but he could tell that she was in deep thought. As much as he wanted to wring the boy's neck, he knew that if he did Ishi would wring his. It was never a good idea to provoke her, whether it's direct or indirectly. Looking over towards her, he could tell that she was trying very hard not to glare at him. Okay so he blew his top and didn't stay for an explanation, so what? If he had stayed he probably would've seen the boy to the infirmary.
"I hope you're happy," Ishi finally spoke with a strained voice.
Wincing a bit, Edmond quickly covered it, "You should be happy that I only left the room."
"Before what!" she snapped.
"Before I sent him to the infirmary," he emphasized.
"Honestly, the boy doesn't seem that bad."
"That's the problem! He's a boy."
"You know what I mean Edmond."
Glaring at him, Ishi dared him to say another retort before seeing him huff and turn towards the window. Usually it didn't take long to get to Kai's home but with all of the tension and worry, the trip seemed twice as long. Watching her husband, Ishi softened at his gaze and looked at her hands in her lap. How could her little girl be growing up so fast? How could she look happy? It wasn't as if she wanted Eri to be miserable but she was just 18, barely even a woman. Just a young woman. Taking a deep breath, Ishi willed her hands to still before looking up at Edmond. She could see the worry in his eyes as he watched her and while it wasn't present, there were remnants of anger.
"I don't want to let her go," Edmond whispered with sadness.
"But we can't stop her," Ishi stated with an eerie calm.
"DAMMIT!"
"You know if you don't calm down right now, I'm going to tie you to a chair," Kel stated standing by the door.
"Now is not the time to joke around," I growled.
"Who said I was joking?"
Looking at Kel, I knew that she wasn't joking especially since she was actually looking for ropes in my trunk. Glaring at her, I took a deep breath in an effort to calm down before plopping myself onto the hard floor. Hugging my knees and putting my head down, I hadn't even realized that I was crying till I felt them on my arms. Feeling a bit disgusted at myself, I harshly wiped them away. I didn't want to cry, at least not now when I'm angry. When I couldn't feel them anymore, I tipped my head back and rested it on the bed behind me.
I am in so much trouble, was the first thought to pop into my head.
"You okay?"
I could feel a huge headache coming and shook my head 'no'.
"Well it was bound to happen sometimes."
Glaring at her, "You're not helping."
"What am I suppose to say? It never happened? Be sensible," Kel retorted.
"I am being sensible," I said through gritted teeth.
"No you're not. You're being stubborn and trust me I should know."
Looking at where she was standing, I opened up my arms and waited. Kel only rolled her eyes before sitting down and hugging me. When I was little I used to think that I could trade in one of my brothers for Kel and keep her as a sister but then I figured that if I did, Mama and Papa would be mad. Not only that but if they had found out, they'd have my head.
"You should wait for Yuki or Shinko. You know I'm not meant for girly stuff," Kel said a bit gruffly.
"I know but they're not here right now."
"Well they better get here soon."
We just sat there in silence for a bit longer before we heard the doors open and shut. In a second Yuki came over to my other side and hugged me as well.
"That's it, I'm not cut out to be more feminine that I have to be," Kel said as she started to get.
"But you'll be feminine for Eric?" Yuki questioned slyly.
"I-We-That's not the point," Kel sputtered and huffed.
I laughed a little bit at Kel's red face as she glared and Yuki just smiled.
"So how are you feeling?" Yuki asked as she turned me around to face her.
"Like horse shit."
"Well that's to be expected," she said calmly, "Now tell me what happened."
"Don't you know?" Kel asked.
"No. I ran into Eric and Faleron a minute ago and they just said that Eri was in a tight bind," she explained.
"Papa wouldn't even look at me," I whispered thinking back.
"Why?"
"He knows about Merric. And I mean that he found out in the worst possible way."
"What do you mean?"
"All I know is that he and Faleron came into the room all bruised and a bit bloodied."
I saw Yuki raise an eyebrow before looking at Kel.
Sighing, "I went by Faleron's room and found them beating each other up on the floor," Kel explained.
"And why were they fighting?"
"From the look of what Merric was wearing, I think Faleron was trying to give him fashion tips."
Yuki gave a slight giggle at the thought, while I groaned.
"They weren't suppose to meet him like this. I was suppose to introduce him to them tonight."
"Oh no. The Ball is in just three bells," Yuki panicked.
Kel only shook her head slightly before leaving and going back to her room to change. While Yuki went to call a maid to get her dress from the palace tailor, I sunk even lower on the ground with just one thought...
Oh crap.
Making sure to avoid eye contact, Merric tried to make his way from the Knights' Wing towards the Visitors' Wing when he knocked into someone and fell down. Looking up he could see the brown-haired guy sneering at him with narrow blue eyes.
"Watch where you're going you twit," he barked before walking away.
Merric sat there on the floor and didn't feel like getting up until he felt someone nudge him from the side.
"Geez what a rude pig. You alright there Merric?" Kel asked.
"Yeah," he answered before Kel helped him up.
"Did you go see Duke Baird or Eric?" she asked.
"Yes, moth- OW!"
"Uh huh. Well if you're not going to see them you might as well come with me."
Pulling him along, he was about to protest when she cut him off.
"And don't even think of trying to see Eri right now."
"Wha- How did you know?"
"I just do now come on."
Once they made it to Kel's room, she pushed him inside and sat him down at her table. Hearing a bark, Merric saw Jump climb off the bed and sat down by his feet. Bending down slightly, he rubbed Jump behind the ear while Kel got some ointment out of her cupboard. Setting them down on the table, he heard Kel ask one of the birds to go get Eric before taking a chair and sitting in it in front of him.
He yelped a bit when she yanked his arm forward but hissed when he felt the ointment sting. Trying not to move or scratch them he watched as Kel tried to cover up his bruises and clean away his cuts.
"You know, you're going a great mother someday," Merric thought aloud before hissing again.
"Oops, it slipped," Kel told him sweetly, while taking another swipe at his cuts.
"OW! Okay, okay I get it! But you got to admit it's tru- Ow!"
"I don't know how Eri puts up with you," Kel commented applying some more bruise balm.
"She doesn't. She just likes to whack me on the head," Merric muttered somewhat happily.
"Ah! Now that is a good idea."
"Don't even think about it Kel," Eric said from the doorway.
"I was just joking," Merric heard her mumble.
"No you weren't. Now if you'll excuse me I'll take Merric off your hands and see you in two bells to escort you," Eric stated before pecking Kel on the cheeks and taking Merric with him.
vvvvvvvv
They walked down to Eric's room where Neal, Owen, Seaver, and Dom were congregated. Letting him inside Eric closed the door behind him and sat down next to Dom while Merric winced at Neal's prodding.
"Now I know why your father would be mad, Merric looks like a total wreck," Neal commented.
At the mention of his father, Eric saw Merric pale considerably and looked a bit faint even.
"Don't worry, he's not mad," Eric tired to assure him.
"Really? Is that why he was looking at Merric with such love and murder?" Faleron retorted.
"Just be glad it wasn't you," Eric replied.
Looking over Merric's cuts, he healed as many of them before moving onto the bruises when he heard Merric muttering.
"You'd think he was a Scanran escapee."
"Not really but you can thank Lady Ironheart for that," Eric said with a small smirk.
"What?"
"Didn't we ever tell you?"
Seeing Merric shake his head, "Lady Ironheart's grandfather was a Scanran lord before running here during one of the Great Civil Wars. Never went back."
"No wonder the whole family is nuts," Neal whispered.
"That we are but it doesn't mean we hate without reason."
"Or kill," Dom murmured.
"You know you guys really suck at whispering."
The early guests began to trickle in slowly before the rush came in. Staring out the window, I tried to scan the crowd for my parents but only had luck in spotting a few nobles that I remember from the other ball. Feeling a slight tug, I brushed the hand off until I fell backwards with a harder tug.
"Ow!"
"Well if you had been paying any attention, I was trying to fix your hair," Yuki retorted with another yank.
Glaring at her, I let her pull all of my hair into a mock high horsetail before taking another section and wrapping around it. Securing it with various pins, she turned me towards the vanity. She gave me a questioning look before I shrugged my shoulders and patted her hand in thanks. Hearing the knock at the door, I assumed it was the others so I walked towards it before Yuki pulled me back.
"What?"
"Sit."
"Why?"
She only held up the small containers before I groaned and sat down in a huff.
"You're being a brat you know that?" Yuki pointed out.
"And don't I love i- ow!" I said rubbing my head.
A few insistent knockings and powdering later, Yuki left me alone to get the door. Hearing her talk, I ran to get a semi-wet washcloth and wiped away some of the unnecessary face paint. Making sure that a thin layer of it was still on; I straightened my dress and walked out.
Seeing me, Eric gave me a one-arm hug while holding out his other arm to Kel. Looking around, I finally spotted Merric looking rather pale and sick.
He better not throw up, I thought as I sidled up next to him.
Not noticing me yet, I stood there trying to catch Merric's muttering. Rolling my eyes just slightly, I gave him a side nudge to get his attention. I really do hate it when people stare, makes it seem like there's something wrong with me. And let's face it; I'm self-conscious when it comes to these things. It's not like my dress is all that bad. It was made from a dark pink material with red underlining and was rather warm to fight off the cold winter air. Like my other gowns, this one also had a modest square neckline with long bell sleeves and a trim waistline that Yuki had forced me into. She'll be lucky if I even survive the night with this corset-like shift. The dress was pretty but I'd rather tie myself to the bedpost right about now.
Tugging at my sleeves, I glared at Merric before remembering my present and running back to get it... well sort of running back. Running with the dress was like running through mud. Grabbing the box on my trunk, I headed out once more to only find that they had all left me. Well don't I have some wonderful friends? Leaving my room, I was about to run again when I bumped into Merric.
"Uh... the others said you were taking too long, so they left first," Merric explained.
"Fine friends they are," I mumbled again.
"What?" he asked, extending his arm.
"Nothing let's go."
Silence is golden... who ever came up with that must've been tone deaf because the silence between Merric and I was absolutely painful. He wouldn't even look at me and trust me, I'm actually glad he's turned the other way just in case. But I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor guy. I mean it's not everyday my father wants to kill someone, especially one who's already made a bad first impression. The closer we got to the Dining Hall, the more he started to shake.
"You'll be fine," I said, hoping that it was encouraging.
"He wants me dead," Merric mumbled.
"He's not that bad. Besides once he gets to know you he'll... like you?"
"That doesn't sound very assuring you know."
"Look at it this way, if you can get Kai to somewhat like you, Papa should be a piece of cake."
Merric snorted a bit before I snickered. Honestly have you ever heard him snort? It sounds like one of those pigs squealing while being chased in a pen. Passing by Shinko and Roald, I handed him my gift before wrinkling my nose in jest. He looked curious at the packaging but I just raised my eyebrow and smiled.
Okay don't panic. She's right there, and her parents are over there, and... I think I'm going to be sick, Merric thought.
Merric was usually a cheerful and likable person but he couldn't help and feel like minced meat under her father's gaze... well glare was more like it. The room was filled with many different tables and people but there just wasn't' enough to cover him from that glare. Lord Edmond's glare was like daggers; it was as if he was slowly picking away at him with it.
Feeling a little nudge, he turned away to see Eri smiling at him. She was just as ill tempered but could be sweet all the same. Although it does make him wonder if Eric was the only sane one in the family but then again, Eric does have him moments. Eri just squeezed his hand slightly before listening to the King's speech. Taking her hand, he held them between his own two hands and was surprised when he saw a hint of a blush on her face.
"I think I like the blue dress better," he murmured.
"Yes well tell it to Yuki will you? This pink dress is killing me," she responded quietly.
He grinned for a second before noticing that someone was staring at him. For a second he was afraid that it was her father but turning slightly he was surprise to see that it was someone else. Merric frowned but remembered that it was the same knight he had ran into this afternoon. There was something about that guy he didn't like and the way he was sneering at him wasn't very pleasant either.
But why?
