A New Life...

As they entered the gates of Crilzac Lily couldn't help but wonder how a country could be so isolated. She looked at the little shacks and cottages as she walked down the dirt road.

She made a face. A dirt road. She looked around only to realize that nothing was quite grand in the poor kingdom. A couple of people looked their way curiously but most paid them no mind. It was exactly what she wanted. She appreciated the fact that no one paid them any mind because then no one would be able to recognize her.

They continued down the road through some trees which made her nervous. "Um, where are we going?" she asked.

"The house is just down this road," Sirius explained.

James eyed her. "Scared Princess?"

She narrowed her eyes at him and held her head high. "Of course not." She did not like the way he mimicked her. Then they heard rumbling. She jumped and quickened her pace. "What was that?"

"Looks like it's about to-" Rain began pelting down on them cutting off his sentence. "Rain."

Lily had never felt so cold in her life. The water was easily soaking through her gown weighing her down a little. "I'm cold," she complained.

"We're almost there," Remus called out to her.

It was raining so hard that she barely heard him. She had no idea when they finally made it inside but they did. She was drenched from head to toe and she couldn't feel her toes.

She'd only witnessed rain such as that once. The night her life ended. She was shivering. Lily looked over to the fellows and they were walking around as if it were nothing… as if they go through this sort of thing all the time.

They each began taking off their shoes and putting away their weapons. She took the time to glance around the area she stood in. It was… small. Well not really small but smaller than what she was familiar with.

"Where have you boys been?" Lily jumped in shock. She turned to see a woman exiting from what she assumed was the kitchen. "I've been worried sick. Three days you've been gone. Three long days!"

Lily wrapped her arms around herself as she sized the woman up. She looked to be about her mid forties, a nice figure except she was in rags, and her hair was jet black. She had to have been one of their mothers.

"You told me you were going hunting!" she shouted.

Lily arched an eyebrow. Is that what they call it these days…? She looked over to the boys who had their heads bowed down in shame. She chuckled at the irony. These boys who had saved her life. These boys who'd tried to steal from her.

That's when the woman noticed Lily's presence. "Who are you?"

It wasn't a pleasant greeting. It was more of a 'What are you doing in my house' type of greeting. She had no clue how to respond. She wanted to shout at her for her discourtesy but if she intended to stay in this woman's house she had to respect her no matter how much she hated the idea. She looked over to the boys for guidance.

It was Remus who spoke up. "Miss Grace this is-"

"I don't care who she is. What is she doing in my house?"

Lily tried her best to keep her face impartial. This woman was so… bad-mannered. Her etiquette teacher would just faint at her behavior.

"Mom this is Lily and we offered to let her stay here a while. She's from Gezailya and-" Lily should've guessed it was James' mother.

"Gezailya!" Miss Grace shrieked. They all jumped in alarm. "Are you trying to kill us? She can not stay here. Out, Out I say!" She began pushing Lily towards the door.

"Miss Grace! She has nowhere to go," Sirius tried to explain. But it was to deaf ears because she continued pushing Lily.

Lily couldn't take it anymore. She'd finally had it. Everything she'd been through the last couple of days went flashing through her head as she pushed Miss Grace back. The woman looked at her in shock. "I will not be subjected to such behavior!" she shouted. "The last couple of days I've watched my kingdom fall, I've been betrayed, I've come face to face with a sphinx, while a bunch of goons pursued me not too far behind. So forgive me if I don't take your trying to push me out the door too well! I'll gladly leave!" She began walking out the door but at the last moment she stopped and turned back to see them all watching her in shock. "And I didn't want to come here in the first place!"

She walked out into the cold rain and belatedly realized she was on a farm and it was extremely muddy. She treaded heavily down the muddy path only to slip and fall forward into the mud. Only the gods knew what else was mixed with it. She irately got back up and continued to walk with what little dignity she had left.

She heard her name being called out and she turned to see Remus running after her. She stopped and turned to face him. "What?"

"She said you can stay," he explained as he came to a halt.

Lily humorlessly laughed. "Well hip hip hooray! That makes everything just dandy." She inwardly cringed at how she sounded. She often heard the palace hands speak when they thought she wasn't around and some of it rubbed off on her.

"You have no where to go."

"Well anywhere is better than here."

"Just come inside. She's sorry for what she said. She really is."

Lily looked around. The funny thing about the kingdom was that you could see the starry sky just beyond the gates. She looked back at Remus. "You're right; I don't have anywhere to go. I'll stay."

He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Something she felt very uncomfortable with but she did not protest. When they arrived back inside Miss Grace glowered at her and the boys.

"She better be able to earn her keeps. We don't want anyone getting suspicious." She sized Lily up and down. From her diamond studded slippers to her waist long hair. She shook her head and went back into the kitchen.

For a moment they all just stood there until Sirius broke the silence. I guess I'll show you to your room."

Lily nodded and followed him through the house. Not like there was much traveling to do anyway, Lily noted. They stopped in front of an undersized room. The door was ajar and from what Lily was able to see it only contained a small cot and dresser. There was nothing significant about the dusty room.

Lily glanced at Sirius who was looking at her expectantly. "You can't be serious."

"Well… it is my name." He laughed but stopped when he realized she was not amused. He sighed. "I know it's not much but you'll have 2 deal. Now make sure you wake up when the rooster crows."

Lily cocked an eyebrow not knowing what to say to that. Wake up when the rooster crows? She brushed it off as a popular saying used in their country. Instead of answering she nodded.

He gave her a small smile and a pat on the back. "You'll get used to it. Sleep well." Then he left her… alone.

She entered the room and closed the door behind her. She just stood there leaning on the door. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I can do this. She opened her eyes after she was convinced she was composed. She went across the room and sat on her new 'bed'. It was rigid and seemed uncomfortable.

She looked up at the sound of a knock. "Come in," she called. In walked James. She groaned. "Oh, it's you."

He glared at her. Then he threw something on her bed. "This is for you to sleep in. Good night." Then he exited, closing the door with a little more vigor than needed.

Lily rolled her eyes at his immaturity. She picked up the clothes he gave her and held it out in front of him. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. It was an old night gown. Probably his mothers. She sighed and changed into it. It hung off her body. She looked in the mirror in disgust. Hard to believe I was sleeping in the finest gems mere nights ago.

She made her way to her bed and dropped herself onto it. She did not bounce up and down as she usually did in her own bed. Instead it bought pain to her neck. A single tear fell from her eye before the anxiety that day took hold of her and she fell asleep.


The next day she was roughly shaken awake. She opened her eyes in irritation. She looked to see who the culprit was and grunted. It was Miss Grace. "What is going on?" Lily asked her voice thick from sleep.

"You were supposed to be up ages ago. Now get up!" She forcefully pulled Lily out of bed by the arm.

Lily stumbled a little but regained her footing. "I did not know there was a certain time when we were supposed to get up."

Miss Grace sized her up and down. "Princesses like you wouldn't." Lily's brows furrowed at this. Like mother like son. "And Sirius informed me that he told you to be up when the rooster crows."

"But-"

"Save your excuses for someone who cares." She opened the curtains to the only window in Lily's room blinding Lily by sunlight.

She covered her eyes to shield them from the blaring light. "I'm-"

Miss Grace threw a cloth at her, which she caught. "This is for you to wash up. The bath is outside past the barn. Make it quick. When you're done you will return to the kitchen." Then she made her exit.

Lily glared at her retreating back and took her dress and stomped her way to the bath.


After she was bathed Lily felt somewhat happier. Though she hated having to wear the same dress again. She did what she could with the mud. She entered the kitchen and found Miss Grace, Sirius, and James.

"Good day," she greeted with a smile. Her smile faltered when the only one to return her smile was Sirius. She looked from Miss Grace to James but neither was paying her any mind. "So…" she began cautiously. "Where are Remus and Peter?"

"Peter is at his mothers and Remus is in town," Sirius answered.

She nodded. She looked around the kitchen. "Um, so what are we eating for breakfast?"

That's when Miss Grace and James chose to acknowledge her presence. She knew she was in for a mouthful by the looks in their eyes. "Breakfast?" James asked. "That was hours ago."

"Surely there are things left over?"

"No!" Miss Grace said forcefully. Lily jumped in alarm. "If you were up at the time you were told your stomach would be full. I will not waste wood heating up food for you. What makes you so special? You will go without eating till lunch, got that?"

Lily just looked at her. "Alright then. I'll proceed to my room then." She was about to leave when she was held back. She looked down at Miss Grace's dirty hands and she was handed a rake. She stared at the foreign object. "What is this?"

"This," Miss Grace said sweetly, "is what you will be using to clean the stables."

Lily stared at her in disbelief. "Clean?" James chuckled and she glared at him but he simply smiled.

"Miss Grace don't you think-"

"Quiet Sirius! When you began living here you too had to earn your stay. I will not treat her any different. Now she will clean the stables and be bathed and ready to eat by noon!" She said it with such finality that no one said further words against her. She proceeded to finish whatever household tasks she had to do.

Lily looked from Sirius to James and back again. "I've never cleaned a stable before," she said in disbelief. "I've never cleaned before in my life."

James got up and for a minute she allowed herself to believe that he would give her some words of comfort… boy was she wrong. "Nice to see we're giving you a new experience." Then he too left.

Lily was burning with fury. "Ugh!" She shouted in anger. Then she marched out to the stables.


When she'd finally finished cleaning the stables, thanks to the memory of her stable boy cleaning her stables back at home, she washed and proceeded to the kitchens. She found everyone rising from the table, their empty dishes in their hands.

She groaned. "Not again."

Sirius and Remus each gave her a look of sympathy. "Late again Princess?" James teased.

She was not about to justify that with a comeback. She decided she'd go for a walk when…

Miss Grace called from the next room. Lily grudgingly followed the voice. She found her in what she assumed was a living area. "Yes Miss Grace?"

Miss Grace sat on her rocking chair glaring up at Lily from her knitting. "You've missed lunch." It was not a question but a statement so Lily just nodded. "I will not have insolence in my house."

"But I-"

"Since you seem set on disobeying me you will go without dinner tonight."

Lily's eyes widened in disbelief. "But Miss Grace-"

"That is my final word! You will go to your room and think about your behavior. Now go!" Lily stood there staring at her. "What are you waiting for? I said go!"

"Am," her voice sounded scratchy so she cleared it. "Am I being punished?" The word was so unfamiliar to her. It was always her little sister Petunia that got punished. Always Petunia that got yelled at. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

"If that's what you would like to call it then yes! Now out of my sight!"

Lily slowly made her way to her room. When she got there she closed the door. For a moment she seemed lost. She took in her surroundings and that is when the tears came. No matter how hard she tried she could not stop. She cried for her kingdom. She cried for her family. But most of all, she cried for herself. She crawled onto her bed and rolled up in a ball. Oh father…


Yay! I'm back!

Sorry it took so long. Wow, the last time I updated was Sept. 7th... first day of school. School was stressin me, you know, the usual. Tryna get out of HS even after the bs I pulled... and I am now happy to say that I am a HS Class of '06 Alumni! But now I'm back and tryna do as much as I can b4 I start college and the heavy loads come. Dunno if I'm gonna get as many reviews as I used to but oh well. This chapter was aiight. Tell me what you think in a review though.

Tootles

BabyD