7- A Walk and a Talk
Daria sneezed.
"Bless you."
Daria sneezed again.
"Bless you."
Christine looked at her cousin with a worried frown etched on her face.
"Are you coming down with something?"
"Yes; most definitely," Daria nodded fervently.
"Well…won't you be able to come to the-"
"Most definitely not," Sienna interrupted, placing another coverlet over Daria, who was immersed in them already.
Christine hesitated, whilst asking herself where they had found such a rude servant.
"Don't worry Christine, it's only a lesson, I'm sure you don't need me there. Anyway, what about all those friends you have, I'm sure they don't want me shadowing you. Go and have 'fun', by the way, that was you word, not mine. Your friend will be there. That Marsha…Now go," Daria said, her voice raspy.
Christine seemed on the verge of saying something before Sienna promptly ushered her out of the room.
"Oh Sienna, what am I to do? Don't you think it's ridiculous the way I'm lying to get out of Christine's classes?" Daria scowled into her pillow, her words barely decipherable. When Sienna didn't answer Daria faced the young, red-haired girl and questioned her again.
"It's ridiculous," Sienna affirmed bluntly.
"You're probably wondering why I'm even here?"
"Yes."
"I was forced to," Daria sighed. "I'd much rather be at home with a good book and a cup of tea."
"Well…you're 'ere now, make the most of it. Some people would kill to be in your place." Sienna drew the curtains to let in the sunlight.
"It's a beautiful day!" Sienna nearly sung.
Daria groaned.
"Please don't."
"Up! Up you get!" Sienna ordered throwing back Daria's covers. Daria shivered.
"Come on ma'am, why don't you go out and take a walk, it'll be better than sittin' 'ere all day," Sienna said.
Daria considered it for a moment before she said,
"I suppose I should, I haven't ventured outside since I came here, it'll do me good to get some fresh air."
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Daria's boots trudged through the mud as she made her way towards River Lucarno. It had rained in the night; weak sunlight fought through the mist that had gathered. She could see River Lucarno in the distance, its body of water shimmering slightly. She held her leather bag in her gloved hand. She had filled it with food, for Daria insisted on eating lunch outdoors though Sienna had exclaimed ''Ow can you picnic alone?'
It also contained writing paper and inks; she would sit in her secret place by the river side and wait for inspiration to hit her.
Her secret place, when she came to it at last, was screened off from the rest of the world. Tall weeping willows protected it from intruders. Daria quietly entered, shuffling past the overhanging branches. It was a small cut off piece of land, with overgrown grass that was wet with dew and a roof made by the intertwining trees throwing the natural enclosure into a dim light. Daria sat down at the edge of the river, not caring that her cloak would become muddy. Her view of River Lucarno was of a wide meander of which she sat at the head of, on the riverbank. Smiling fondly at the peaceful scenery, she pulled out writing paper. She dipped the tip of her quill into the inkpot and put quill to paper, before she realised she had no idea what to write. She sighed loudly. Why was it so hard? She had so many things she could write about…the weather, for instance.
'The weather is'
She stopped. No, that wouldn't do. What could she write about the weather? She didn't know how many pieces of paper she wasted with her ill attempts to write a poem, so in frustration Daria practised her handwriting. Eleanor said it was beautiful, but to Daria it was spidery and thin. She glared down at her handwriting, concentrating hard.
"Your handwriting is detestable."
Daria jumped.
It was Prince Jerrold.
Daria's heart was still beating hard, loudly, from fright as the Prince gestured to his palomino horse. It trotted closer, nudged the Prince and made its way to the river's edge to quench its thirst.
Daria stared at the pair for a moment.
She felt terribly stupid. She'd allowed the Prince to scare her and moreover, how was it that she didn't hear him or his horse coming up behind her? She felt sad, yet angry; she wasn't the only one who knew about this place after all. It wasn't just hers anymore.
"How did you find this place?"
Daria gulped as nerves overtook her. She started rifling through her papers, gathering them and dropping them in an unorganised mess in her bag.
"I've always come here," she croaked.
He looked at her, his face blank, almost bored.
"You shouldn't be here. You're alone. It's not safe."
Daria was affronted; she stood up to her full height.
She seemed on the brink of saying something. He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
"Why…You…I…where did you come from?" she at last burst out.
"Business," he said, shortly and then added with a smirk, "You wouldn't notice a buffalo charging at you until the last instance."
Daria decided to be the better person and ignored him. She sat down on a boulder, pulling out a sandwich from her bag. She hadn't noticed until now that the Sun was high in the sky, the trees blocked most of the sunlight out.
"Weren't you going?"
Daria huffed. She realised how disrespectful she was being, huffing in front of a Prince! Really.
"No, Your Highness, I only just arrived," she lied, promptly biting into her sandwich.
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Daria watched with narrowed eyes as the Prince splashed water over his face and hair. She blushed and looked away as the water poured down his shirt, sticking to his skin. She bit into her apple. He was so handsome. It was a fact, nothing else. It-he made her feel so ugly. It'd been almost an hour and he was still there. When would he leave? He hadn't even been invited; didn't his parents teach him any manners?
He looked at her from his spot. Daria looked at the Sun pointedly, hoping he'd take the hint.
"I remember you," he proclaimed shortly as he mounted his horse.
Daria stood up, glaring.
He suddenly smiled. Daria was shocked.
"You were that jealous girl. The one I tripped over." He ran a hand through his messy hair, almost proudly.
"Yes, that girl," Daria said sarcastically, rolling her eyes behind her spectacles as she took another bite.
He was holding the reins of his horse, but he didn't move to leave.
"Weren't you leaving?" She asked bluntly.
"Aren't you coming?" He asked, imitating her tone.
They stared at each other in silence, either one not willing to break the gaze, knowing which ever did would be the weaker one.
"No."
He sighed. "How much do you eat?"
Daria gasped.
"Why you little-"
"I didn't mean it like that."
Daria glared, stepping closer. She realised the apple was held innocently in her hand. A plan began to form. She smirked evilly, her eyes glinting. Jerrold looked nervously at her, gulping.
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"…And don't come back!" Daria yelled as she loped after Jerrold and his horse. She sighed and fell happily onto the ground, a smile on her face. She couldn't believe the nerve of her, striking the Prince with her half-eaten apple! It would be a story she would retell for years to come. It wasn't her fault, she concluded, after a sudden guilt overtook her. Maybe she shouldn't have pelted him. No, she thought, he was the one who had commented on her weight, however sneakily.
Lying down contentedly in the long grass, a distance away from River Lucarno, Daria smiled up at the now clear sky.
A shadow passed over her.
She groaned. "Why are you back?" She asked.
"Only because it's not safe. I wouldn't want you to get lost now," he said, though Daria knew very well he wished otherwise.
"I'm capable of finding my own way back thank you very much."
He didn't say anything, just crossed his arms over his chest.
Daria growled under her breath, sighed in defeated and decided to return to the castle. With any luck she'd return in time for a late lunch with Christine, she wondered what the Prince would say about that if he knew.
She marched back to the castle, her bag much lighter.
"Taking my advice?" He asked.
Daria snorted.
"You wish."
They walked in silence.
He whistled.
"Don't worry, it wasn't aimed at you." He smirked.
His horse appeared; he'd been hidden behind some trees.
"You're such a pest," Daria stated.
"Stop it, you're hurting his feelings." Jerrold patted his horse comfortingly.
"Not very gentleman-like of you, letting me walk when you're astride a horse."
He pretended to ignore her.
Daria slowed down and so did Jerrold.
Daria speeded up and Jerrold followed.
"Stop it!"
"No."
"You're childish."
"I aim to please."
"Daria! There you are," Christine yelled from a distance. They had nearly reached the castle.
"Is that…Christine?" Jerrold asked, shielding the Sun from his eyes.
Daria didn't miss the small smile on his face.
Jerrold didn't wait for her reply but galloped off on his horse. How rude!
When she at last reached them, she found them conversing quite easily with each other. They hadn't even noticed her arrival.
"Hello," she said, not that anyone noticed. She suddenly felt like a third wheel.
Christine laughed. "Oh Jerrold, it's so good to see you. That Ball left people gossiping for days!" Christine said with a smile in her voice.
"Whatever about? We only danced thrice," Jerrold said though he didn't seem to mind.
"Thrice too many," Christine giggled, twirling a lock of her golden hair flirtatiously. Daria laughed inwardly. She wondered if Christine even knew what she was doing, whether it was intentional.
"Well next time we will dance four times, give everyone something more to gossip about."
"Oh Jerrold!" Christine proclaimed with a sigh, "You're so…"
Daria walked away, not up to feeling like the third wheel for a moment longer.
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Except for the sudden excited buzz for the coming Presentation Ball, the first week passed uneventfully. Daria had explored the castle (…and had become lost) but had found her way back with the help of passing servants. The place was massive; she didn't even think she'd seen everything yet.
Her mother still had not written to her, but Daria ignored the hurt that welled up in her. Christine spent the best part of the week looking over the gown she would wear to the Ball. Daria thought she'd never seen her happier. She spent large amounts of time cooped up in her latest discovery; the library.
It was the one place no one seemed to enter. Dusty volumes lined the shelves in neat lines. It was a cold room; Daria would sit by the fire immersed in books she'd never even heard of before, of places she'd never heard of, of people she'd never heard of before. If she could spend her entire stay in this fashion, she would be happy. But that wasn't to be.
On the sixth day Daria heard the resounding sound of heels.
"Thought I'd find you here, Christine, that pet, said as much," Madam Blythe stated as she took a seat in an armchair by the fire.
Daria remained quiet. There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Wouldn't you like to know why I'm here?" she asked.
"Yes," Daria said and then added quickly, "Madam Blythe."
Daria thought she saw a flicker of a smile.
"I've come to discover why you have not been attending class after I said you would." Her voice was tight, strict. Maybe Daria had imagined that smile.
"I-I've been busy."
"Busy? Busy! No one can be too busy for my classes," she sighed. "Seeing as you've missed some important lessons, I won't make you come to the Ball, but I will have to make you come to my lessons, they are most important."
"I fear I'm too old for these lessons," Daria said quietly.
"What? What nonsense child, no one can be too old for lessons on how to become civilised. No, don't even think of arguing Daria, I'll see you soon," Madam Blythe said as she strutted away and out of the library.
A/N: Hey! Sorry it took so long, I never knew year 10 could be so demanding. Anyway, I reread 'Ella Enchanted' and have found a mistake: Ella says her mother was sixteen when she married!...Oh well, I can't change it now :( Was this chapter boring? I've been writing all day, it feels boring to me.
Thanks to:
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