Chapter Three
I spent the rest of the day alone in my room, sulking. The First Day festival was to be tonight but I wasn't in the mood to dress up in some silly dress and attend a fancy party. There would be dancing. I hated dancing. I couldn't help but think about Mother. She wanted so much from me that I knew I couldn't be. I was horrible at everything she wanted me to be good at. My knitting was rough and every thing I tried to sew fell apart. I was terrible at riding side saddle and dancing. I loved my mother but I could tell she was disappointed I didn't act like a proper girl like Delilah and Anora. My thoughts were interrupted by a rough knock on the door.
"Go away. I'm not going to the festival!" I called through the closed door.
The door creaked open anyway and my father stepped through. "So, pup, I heard what happened from your brother."
"I know, I know. Noblewomen can't be warriors," I replied with a sigh. "But it's not fair! I don't want to be a rogue and do archery and I don't want to get married either! It's boring."
My father's eyes lit up. "Not even to Nathaniel?" my father teased with a smile.
"Father!" I whined. I plucked at a stray thread in my dress, my fingers pulling and twisting the strand in frustration.
"Who said you can't be a warrior? We Fereldans have plenty of strong female warriors in our history."
I stood up and crossed the room to look out my window. It was just after midday and the sun shone brightly on the lawn. I could see the people below, carrying wide baskets of fruit and trays of meat. I saw one man struggling with a barrel of ale, his brow crinkled in determination. I could see the stable boy down there, too. The sun shone of his dark blonde hair as he carried wooden chairs to the tables.
"Mother said I couldn't," I said, pouting.
He stroked his chin in thought. "Ah. I see," Father said. "Your mother just wants you to be safe, Ely. She loves you very much. You know that, don't you?"
"I'm just a disappointment to her. I'm not a proper lady, like Delilah," I said and rolled my eyes.
Father's eyes grew wide. I could tell what I had said had shocked him, but it was how I felt. Eventually he sighed, came over, and kissed my forehead. "I'll talk with her, pup," was all he said before he left.
I threw myself face down on my bed and fell asleep; I felt so tired from crying most the day. I woke up a little while later to a soft knocking sound on my door.
"Come in," I said as I ground the sleep from my eyes.
Mother entered the room, her eyes filled with worry. Her long black hair was peppered with gray and bound tightly around her head. She wore a fancy dress: all lace and silks cinched tight around her waist. My mother was a beautiful woman. I remember when I was smaller I would huddle around her skirts and she would sing to me as she did her hair for special events or dates with Father.
"Eilonwy," Mother began as she handed me some food from the festival. "I spoke with your Father today. He told me what you talked about."
"I'm sorry, Mother. I want to be a better daughter but I'm just not!" A few tears rolled down my cheeks. I really did love my mother and wanted to live up to her expectations, even if she did nag all the time.
Suddenly I felt her arms wrap around me in a warm embrace. She held me tightly and hummed an old Fereldan lullaby like the one she use to sing when I was a baby. She stroked my hair gently until the tears stopped and then released me. I nibbled on a piece of bread and cheese while she spoke.
"Eilonwy, I do not think you are a disappointment. Sometimes we mothers push our ideals of what we wanted when we were young onto our children. That is my fault and I am sorry." I was shocked to hear my mother apologize. "You are my treasure, my darling girl. You are full of so much more spunk than I was as a child. I admire that in you. You must get that from your father." Mother sighed and brushed a strand of hair from my face before continuing. "If it is truly your wish to be a warrior, we'll begin your training when we arrive back in Highever."
"Really? Really, really?" I squealed. "Oh thank you Mother, thank you so much!" I squeezed her tight and leapt off the bed so I could prepare for the festival; my mood had greatly improved.
"You still have to attend the festival tonight and I am afraid you must wear a dress," Mother said with a smile. She helped me dress and brushed out my hair. She did a simple braid down my back and let me pick out one of my less-fancy dresses. It was a simple dress, dark green with plain laces up the back.
When we got downstairs the party was already in full swing. I saw men and women dancing the Remigold, people laughing and drinking. I felt bored already but I was determined to smile and pretend to have a good time. If Mother was going to be generous enough to allow me to be a warrior the least I could do was smile at her silly parties.
Mother soon left my side to go and dance with Father.
"Lady Eilonwy!" Prince Cailan rushed up to me, an excited smile plastered on his face.
"Er… Only my mother calls my Eilonwy." I said, nervously. I was a bit embarrassed the future King of Ferelden had seen me cry and shout. "Please, your Highness, call me Ely."
"Oh." He laughed awkwardly. "Sure. Anyway, did you see the swords Uncle Eamon has?"
"Oh, I think I remember seeing them," I replied. I was still in daze at the time over what Nathaniel had said, so I didn't really remember.
"Come one, I will show you," the Prince replied.
"I, uh, can't sneak out. I promised Mother I would attend the festival," I said, dejectedly.
"Huh? It is not sneaking out if you are with me," He said, scratching his head. "I am the Prince. I can go wherever I like."
"Oh, well..." were the only words I got out before Cailan grabbed me by the hand and tugged me out of the great hall. We wandered the halls for a bit before he stopped in the middle of one particularly dark hallway.
"Well, it would appear I have gotten us lost, Lady Eilonwy," he said sheepishly.
"Lost? Oh Maker, my mother's going to kill me!" I said, pacing around. "You don't have any idea where we are?" I asked.
"Father always says I'm really good at getting people lost but not so much on getting them found again," was his only reply. Great. Lost in a castle with a Prince who has no sense of direction.
"You're not far from the stairs leading to the dungeon," a voice came from the shadows. Calian's face turned sheet white and his eyes grew big.
"Wh-who is there? I am the Prince of Ferelden and I demand you show yourself!"
I heard a deep chuckle but couldn't see where the voice was coming from.
"All right, Nathaniel," I said. "I think you've scared his Highness enough."
"Lord Nathaniel? Is it really you?" Calian called out, his voice still holding some fear in it.
"Yep! Just your friendly, neighborhood rogue hiding in the shadows," He said with a laugh as he stepped into the light. "How'd you know it was me, Ely?"
"I know your voice," I replied.
"Really? Huh. Well, anyway, the room you are looking for is this way. Come on, I'll show you, Ely."
Nathaniel grabbed my hand and pulled me away, leaving Prince Calian to trail meekly behind us.
After we explored the swords for a while Nathaniel suggested it was time we head back before we were missed. When we returned Prince Cailan wandered off in search of Anora after a bit, leaving me and Nathaniel alone.
"Nathaniel?" I asked, looking up at him. "Why'd you follow us?"
"You shouldn't go exploring unless I'm with you, Ely. It isn't safe."
I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "Oh. I swear, you're worse than Mother sometimes, Nathaniel." I replied
Nathaniel grinned. "Did you just call me an old woman?"
"Mmhmm. An old mother hen, past her time." I said and laughed.
Nathaniel chuckled and bowed low. "Well Milady Eilonwy, instead of standing around talking like two old hens, how about we dance instead?" He held one hand out to me, a wicked smile on his face. My heart jumped a little, though I didn't understand why. Suddenly my throat felt dry and I didn't know what to say. It was just Nathaniel in front of me, hand waiting patiently for me to grab it, but all my words were lost behind the sound of my own heart thumping.
I nodded, still unable to speak, and took his hand. I had never noticed before but he had calluses running across his palm and fingertips.
Nathaniel winced as I stepped on his toes. I was a horrible dancer. "Ely, try to step near my feet not on them? Follow my lead, like this." He pulled back a little, so I could see his feet more clearly. Back once, over twice, forward and twirl. I kept tripping over my own feet on the twirl and going left when I was suppose to go right.
Nathaniel chuckled low. "Ah, clumsy little Ely. Feel the beat of the music. Once you hear that rhythm, your feet will glide into place. Close your eyes. One, two three. One, two three."
I closed my eyes and gripped Nathaniel's shoulder a little tighter. I tried to make my feet light and airy as I listened to Nathaniel murmuring one, two three. Nathaniel moved gracefully to the music and his hand felt warm in mine.
"There, Ely. Open your eyes. Your dancing quite well, now," I heard Nathaniel say. I opened my eyes and gasped a little. I really was dancing! In my surprise though I stepped wrong and landed on Nathaniel's toe, again.
"Well, you do well when you're not looking at your feet so much. Look at me instead."
I looked up into Nathaniel's eyes. In the light they looked more blue than gray, such beautiful eyes. I felt my face growing warmer as a blushed formed on my cheeks. Nathaniel raised one brow quizzically, probably unaware of my thoughts. The dance ended and the people around me started clapping. I quickly stepped away from Nathaniel and joined in. I mumbled an excuse of feeling tired and excused myself from the rest of the festival. I hoped once I got some sleep I'd be able to look Nathaniel in the eyes again without blushing like an idiot.
Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! Review if you have the time! ^_^ Thanks to my beta for pointing out all errors, all remaining errors are my fault, lol!