Welcome to Big!Fat!Revamp! number THREE! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the characters.
I like the nice empty space on the Valdemarian timeline. It gives me working room. In this little empty space on the timeline, the clothing styles are sorta Gone With the Wind-ish. Cause I felt like it. The jewelry is random.
Thoughts :Mindspeech:
Muse responsible: Krathnae
Kamaria awoke the next morning from where she had fallen asleep on the couch and groaned as the sunrise struck her open eyes through the window, where she had neglected to draw the curtains. Yawning and scrubbing at her eyes in the vague hope that the dots would go away, Kamaria changed her clothes and pulled her hair back, before she left the suite and went to Companion's Field, still hoping.
Instead of taking her usual rather circuitous route around the Field, however, Kamaria went straight from the fence, into uncharted territory, lost in thought. Instead of her usual musings about Companions, strangely, though the thought was never far from her mind, her mind was drifting towards the Trainee from yesterday-Alain.
Once she realized this, however, Kamaria shook her head firmly. She'd never been the type to moon over a boy, and she wouldn't let herself now-no matter how handsome said boy was.
It's not as if he'd even be attracted to me, or anything, Kamaria thought-and the thought, strangely, brought fresh pain-far sharper than her longing for a Companion. Hastily, she tried to assuage it with the thought, Well, he didn't seem to be off-put or anything, and he seemed friendly enough.
Sure enough, the pain ebbed, but left the terrible loneliness where it was.
As if her thoughts had summoned it, a voice shouted, "Heyla, Kamaria!"
Kamaria jumped in surprise, and whipped her head around, sending her tail of silver-blonde hair flying to smack her in the face with the other end, prompting a muttered curse.
Sure enough, as soon as Kamaria shook the hair from her eyes, she saw Alain standing on his own, hair mussed as if from a morning ride. However, his Companion was nowhere in sight-for which Kamaria was grateful. "Um. Good morning?" she said, and winced inside as the greeting became a question.
Alain sighed. "I was on foal-watch all night," he said, with a yawn, "The mare's due next week, but she was jumpy last night. Of course, the sunrise is lovely-and the morning is brightened by your presence." The Trainee gestured dramatically and batted his eyes whimsically. Kamaria giggled. "Will your Ladyship walk along with me?"
Kamaria fell into step beside Alain, strangely at ease, and feeling more content than she had in quite a while as they settled into an easy, strolling pace. Alain seemed to know his way around Companion's Field quite well, and led her to a stand of trees, the dawn air filled with the scent of dew-laden pines.
After a moment where he stared off to this side, Alain turned-and took one of Kamaria's hands, holding it lightly in his own. Kamaria's heart skipped several beats, as she thought, No. I'm dreaming. Next, a Companion will come Choose me-
She skipped away from that train of thought, knowing that it would bring pain-but strangely, it didn't hurt as much as it had yesterday. Not to mention that Alain's hand was warm, but held her own gently. Kamaria looked up several inches at him, blinking in surprise and wishing she could think of something to say-
Alain spoke first. "Thank you for defending me against that…girl, yesterday," he said, awkwardly, "I appreciate it, though it was certainly an interesting defense."
"She's a sorry excuse for a noble," replied Kamaria, the words at last coming, "Vanessah is even worse than my mother at being a butterfly-brain."
Alain chuckled slightly in surprise, and said, "I thought all of you nobles were friends with one another. Apparently not." He smiled at Kamaria, looking into her eyes for a moment. "Well, I thank you for defending my honor, at any rate." Alain kissed Kamaria's hand daintily and released it, blue-green eyes shining with good humor.
He could probably be a Bard, thought Kamaria, irrelevantly, as her inner self drooped slightly, He's dramatic enough, certainly.
Belatedly, she realized Alain's thanks warranted an answer, and she said, "You're welcome."
Before Alain could answer, the Collegium bell rang. Kamaria jumped in surprise and said, "I must go. My mother is meeting me for breakfast this morning. Excuse me."
Before the boy could reply, Kamaria whirled and bolted, some part of her sighing in relief as she fled the Trainee, who, however unknowingly, rubbed her face in her loneliness. Putting that thought aside, Kamaria concentrated on running and getting to breakfast on time.
Alain watched Kamaria run, barely noticing as his Companion drifted up alongside him. He didn't acknowledge the mare until she said-
:You seem drawn to her.:
"I-hey! You were eavesdropping again!" said Alain, turning to glare at the tall Companion beside him. Ramya flicked an ear, unrepentant. :Your point? she asked, unruffled.
Alain sighed. "You're impossible," he said, and scratched along her crest. Ramya luxuriated in the feeling, eagerly moving to get the optimal position. Before she realized it, the Companion spoke.
:You know, I may be wrong, but I think she's-
"Mm," said Alain, not even waiting for Ramya to finish her sentence-instead still staring into the distance where Kamaria had vanished.
Kamaria burst into her rooms and looked around, panting for breath. Luckily, Lady Amaya wasn't there, so Kamaria took the opportunity to step into the bathing room, hastily undress, and pull the cord that doused her with a shower of water. Dumping her breeches in the hamper, Kamaria dried herself off and, keeping in mind that her mother was probably annoyed at the least about the other day, selected Amaya's dress of choice for her daughter.
Unfortunately, this dress was also Kamaria's most despised outfit. It was in pale pink-a color Kamaria hated-and went overboard on the so-popular flounces of the day. Muttering several interesting curses she had heard from some Guardsmen once under her breath, Kamaria rang for a chambermaid to help her with her hair. Only Mother would have us dress formally for a breakfast, Kamaria thought, dryly, And it probably wasn't the brightest thing to do to soak my hair before dressing.
Soon enough, her lady's maid appeared at the door. The girl, despite being a year younger than Kamaria, was almost a foot taller, not to mention that she was so shy, she hardly ever spoke a word in Kamaria's presence. The maid-in-training had been a "gift" from Amaya, and Kamaria usually didn't ask for help-but the girl, whose name was Leira, was quick at braiding and arranging hair-a talent for which Kamaria was thankful.
Leira set to braiding Kamaria's hair, winding the forehead-stone of pink ruby and silver chain so it rested on the girl's brow. Kamaria hastily put on the matching necklace, continuing to mutter under her breath about her mother, who always approached everything with an avid eye towards fashion and, of course, higher status.
Sometimes, Kamaria wondered how her father, Garethe-who had been the best General Valdemar had had in these past few decades, and preferred good conversation to politics-had ever stayed married to her butterfly-brain of a mother.
There was a knock at the door of Kamaria's rooms-a very small sitting room, a bedroom, and a washroom, adjoining with a larger room and her mother and father's bedroom and sitting room-and Kamaria took a breath before opening it.
In the door stood her mother, in a matching dress to Kamaria's pink, minus a few inches of the neckline. Amaya was taller than Kamaria by several inches, and had light brown hair. Kamaria groaned inwardly. I wish Father were here, but since Uncle Leon was injured, he has to look after the lands.
"It's just you and me this morning," fluted Amaya, "Kamaria dear, let us eat."
Kamaria dutifully brushed her mother's cheek with her lips, and followed her into the large sitting room, where a table had been set for two. Why was I the one picked to come to Haven? thought Kamaria, as she swept out her wide skirts to sit. I mean, I know only one of us could come, but-oh, I've been over this. I'm the eldest daughter, and Sivan's on the Border, so it's me or no one.
This rambling train of thought led Kamaria nowhere, however, and merely occupied her mind for a moment while Amaya fussed with her own skirts and motioned for her own lady's maid to serve them. "We must speak, dear," she said, at last finding a position to her liking.
Bad, bad sign, thought Kamaria instantly, Whenever Mother wants to talk, it's always something I don't want to hear.
"You know of your duty to our family as eldest daughter," said Amaya, as Kamaria's alarmed train of thought continued, "Since Sivan is in the Guard and has a chance of being killed, you must prepare to step into the position of Heir of the Chantrea holdings."
Kamaria stared at Amaya, uncomprehending. Her mother continued. "Not to mention, dear, that you are entirely too firebrained, as demonstrated by throwing your drink in that dear Vanessah's face yesterday."
"She was speaking ill of a Heraldic Trainee, Mother," said Kamaria, trying to regain her balance, "She must learn respect-"
"But you need not have taken such extreme measures," said Amaya, firmly, and Kamaria sensed trouble. "Darling, we must settle you down before you are entirely too wild to raise children properly."
Now, this is going too far, thought Kamaria, numbly, I mean, I'm firebrained compared to Mother, but-
Before her train of thought could finish, Amaya said, triumphantly, "You must be married! I have already arranged it for next week."
Kamaria blanched. Her ears roared as her entire body went numb. As if from a long way away, she heard Amaya say, "He's a lovely man, and very high-ranking in the Council, as well. We are so lucky he agreed!"
Kamaria's eyes went wider, and she felt sick. There's only one eligible man- she began to think, but her mother spoke his name before Kamaria could get to it.
"I'm sure you know Earl Domanda Frethatsa," beamed Lady Amaya, as if she were presenting Kamaria with a great gift.
Kamaria gripped the table as if I were a lifeline as she tried to speak, couldn't, and instead just managed to nod. This was an incredibly bad turn of events-for the Earl was twice her age, and his former wife had killed herself, because Domanda was highly unfaithful, and-rumor had it, though it had never been proved-a man who beat his wife when he got angry.
"You may go, Kamaria. I'm sure you want to tell all your friends," said Lady Amaya, through the roaring in Kamaria's ears. Kamaria nodded, faintly, still unable to speak, and stood carefully, trying not to pass out with shock. Slowly, Kamaria went to her rooms, closed the door, and staggered to clutch at the wall as soon as she was out of her mother's sight. Still dizzy with shock, Kamaria nearly tore the dress in her haste to get it off, and only just managed to pull on breeches and a shirt before collapsing into a chair.
Think, Kamaria, think. This marriage had to be arranged without Father's knowledge-we agreed that I would not be forced into a marriage, and if we had to arrange one, we would do so when I was 17.
So, what am I to do now? Kamaria stood and left her rooms, so distracted she did not notice she was barefoot. Habit brought her to Companion's Field, one of the few places her mother never went-and Kamaria felt she needed the protection.
Kamaria stopped in the stand of trees she had been in barely a candlemark ago, and began to pace. Now that she was outside, and farther from the situation, she tried to think rationally. Right. I can't stay here, she thought, There are two options.
Stay and get married, or run.
A few minutes more of pacing brought no other conclusions, and Kamaria stopped to stare into the distance.
Run, she decided, and said it aloud.
"I need to run."
And there is big!fat!revamp! of chapter three!
Hah! Who saw that coming? You know, I think I'll write another chappie of this! I like this story, and I'm fighting writer's block for my others at the moment.
Um…I posted this a little after chappie 2, so no reviewers to thank as yet. Thank you to future reviewers!
I'm going to go write more of this! Now!
Fireblade K'Chona