Nixiesocean: I'm back! yay! I have an update for you all. If it seems too rushed, tell me, but I'm eager to start on the older-people part.
This young-people stuff is getting stale, I think.
Responses:
Piratess of Summer: Anna… as in the mother? If you'd notice, and I had Hannah's bodyguard explain it, the first name of the mother/father is passed onto the daughter/son. Cool, huh?
Ardelis Mercy: I think it would be intersesting to have the daughter of a rather untamed land be untamed, while Bavar seems rather tame, and have that daughter be more unruly. Interesting flip of character, no?
Tschau!
Chapter 6: Punishment
Flames dance and twirled. They spun like graceful dancers and curtsied to their bright partners. They cackled with laughter, entrancing the young princess of Hanor into the endless depths of their eyes, and their world of greedy wood consuming. She sighed and watched them prance and play in her fireplace.
A light knock aroused her. She stood and silently made her way to her parlor door. Normally, she would allow her maid to open the door and present the person, but today, Mercy had felt the need to be alone, and had allowed the maid a free day.
Mercy opened the door to her affectionate brother, Marcus. She smiled and allowed her elder sibling into her room. Externally, the princess didn't show any distress over Hannah's leaving Hanor. Internally, Mercy still fought a guilt battle, knowing that Hannah had escaped and left her palace, despite both sides' parent's wishes.
"Marcus." Mercy greeted cordially. "How are you today?" She realized her mistake in being so formal with her brother. Normally, they spoke in contracted sentences, like any commoner, without, of course, the vulgar slang used by them.
"I am fine." He replied, just as formally. His summer-sky-blue eyes bored into her green ones and she realized he knew about her help in Hannah's escape.
"Marcus!" The princess whispered. "I had to! She was miserable!"
Marcus' eyes widened extremely. "I did not know, Mercy…" His sister blushed a deep red for blurting her secret. "I wanted to tell you that Mother will keep me inside if I did not get some sort of confirmation from you." It was always bad news when Marcus called Mama 'Mother'. It meant something terrible in store for either of them.
"Mama would ground you?" Mercy asked, using commoner's slang.
"Keep me inside," He corrected. Marcus knew Mercy had to break the habit of using the servants' speak. Soon, the servants might slip and let a few choice words out, with his darling sister so near. Words that, maybe, Mercy shouldn't ever know, as a princess. "And yes, she would. What can we tell her?"
Mercy crossed her arms, just under where her bosom would end… if Mercy had one. Marcus sighed, seeing that resigned look in Mercy's eyes. "Tell Mama that I will serve punishment. I do not dispute my guilt. I allowed Her Highness to leave, and I do not regret it." Mercy eyed her elder brother. "Do you?"
- - - - - - - - - -
I cannot deny it. He told himself. I am glad she is gone. He saw Mercy's endless jade orbs. Can I tell her the punishment was only if I didn't get a confession? He saw, suddenly, Hannah's dark, peering eyes; he saw her face, framed by a mass of red-tinged brown hair. His thoughts stopped suddenly. Why do I think of this girl so often? I hate her! I despise her, with her ignorant southerner ways!
Mercy was peering at him. "Marcus?" She asked quietly. "What is wrong?"
He realized he was staring in space. He blinked and looked back at her. "We will both stay inside for a week, then, Mercy. I will not let you get chastised by our parents all alone." He patted her back. "Let us go to Mother and tell her of our decision."
Mercy smiled up at her brother. "Let us go forth, then." She winked and they left her parlor.
- - - - - - - - - -
Hannah hung her head. "I understand, Father." She said quietly. King Darrin of Bavar, the duke of Diamond Coast's tanned hands lifted her thin chin. She wore her southern garb. Thin cottons dyed to match the brilliant color of the many-hued seas and wondrous flowers that dotted Bavar's landscape. His near-black eyes sought hers.
"Hannah, I've tried very hard to find you a fiancé. If you do not want one, merely say so. I cannot abide by secrets."
His youngest daughter met his eyes. "I do not wish a fiancé. My sisters' children will be children enough for me."
He smiled. "I will talk to my lady about this. You may be exempt from the law, being my most beloved daughter."
It was not secret among the servants, and royals, of Bavar. The duke of Diamond Coast had always favored his youngest daughter, above his three other daughters and his two sons. No one knew quite why, but he did. Hannah turned to leave and heard her father's amused mutter. She didn't quite know what he meant, but she knew her single-status was in trouble. Her father whispered,
"Assuming times do not change."
- - - - - - - - - -
"I am proud of you two for accepting punishment together." Queen Anna Lilly told her children. "For that, there will be none." Marcus smiled at his sister and was sincerely glad he had offered to take the penalty with his sister. Anna Lilly added, "Assuming, of course, you two don't try to escape lessons again…"
Both children knew enough to look guilty at this accusation. In truth, neither was. They loved the outdoors, and the forests of northern Hanor enchanted Marcus more than any possible girl.
- - - - - - - - - -
My Dearest Friend Princess Hannah of Bavar,
How are you? Marcus and I were not punished. I dearly hope you were not either. How is Bavar? Is it so different from Hanor? Is there snow there? Moutains? Forests? I am eager to see your country. May I visit sometime? I do not mean to be pushy… but the thing you described with the laying in the sun… sunbathing was it? I should like to try it. Maybe Marcus would join me in visiting Bavar? Would you like just me to come?
Marcus is busy with raising his new puppies. His female hunting dog has bourn him a litter. Spots… I think is her name. Or is it Pine? I can never keep those dogs of his straight.
Please respond quickly!
Early awaiting your reply,
Princess Mercy Anna
- - - - - - - - - -
My Royal Sister Princess Mercy of Hanor,
I am satisfied to be back in Bavar – back among my people. I should like to see you in Bavar, you would enjoy it; I am quite sure. Bavar is a nation of lakes, streams, clear skies and warm weather. It is slightly more humid than Hanor, but it is pretty. The lakes reflect many colors and dazzle even me. Bavar, though, is quite hilly. While Hanor is dotted with mountains and forests, Bavar is gently sloping, giving everything a lazy feel.
While Hanor is rugged and tempers her people, Bavar encourages a depth of artistry. To me, Hanor seems far too untamed. Bavar is quite tame. Would you send me a picture of the mountain out the window of your parlor's window? I would love to share it with my less-than-worldly sisters. They do not believe my tales of large hills that scrape the horizon and send colors into the sky on nights.
They also do not believe me about snow. I saw it with my own eyes. I only wish there was a way to transport snow to Bavar. It would shame them to see my tales proved true and I do not carry falsehoods!
If I have offended you, my dear friend, do not take it personally. I am merely a daughter of Bavar.
In friendship,
Princess Hannah
- - - - - - - - - -
Princess Hannah,
Bavar sounds delightful! I should like to see it greatly. Would this midsummer be too quick for you? Maybe you could sunbathe with me and see me get windburnt! Is it true in Bavar you can sit in the sun without heavy layering? I cannot imagine it! It seems so… strange!
I have enclosed a portrait of Mont vei Frka'ohna ae Lynka. "Mont vei Frka'ohna ae Lynka" is Ancient Hanor; and I am told it means "Mountain of the Heaven Scraper" or "Mountain of It Who Touches the Sky". I do not know Ancient Hanor, although I think it would be fun to learn it.
How are you? Maybe I could have portraits of lakes or rivers of Bavar? I would love to hang them in my parlor. It would give it an ez –scratched out– exotic theme, I should think. Would you?
I have spoken to my father and mother about visiting Bavar, and they both have refused. I am far behind in my studies due to Marcus and my own escapes out of lessons. I truly hate staying inside, much like my brother.
-Written later-
My mother, Queen Anna Lilly, is starting me on Ancient Hanor, since I begged so much. I might even stay inside the whole hour! Can you believe it Hannah? I am to learn our old language, although only the oldest men and women speak it now. I would love to learn it. It has such a harsh taste, much like the land that birthed it. I do not blame you for calling Hanor untamed. It is. That is the aluer –scratched out– allure of it. I am too excited to write much more.
Your Northern Friend,
Mercy Anna
- - - - - - - - - -
Slowly, however, the replies back and forth between the two princesses died off, as each had more things to do, Mercy was eagerly learning Ancient Hanor and Hannah went off in pursuit of more scholarly things than corresponding with Mercy. Still, around the Equinoxes and Solstices, the two princesses sent each other gifts, and letters. Marcus refused to ever send Hannah anything other than a short note saying, "I hope the rest of your year is pleasant."
The kings' correspondence, however flourished. King Darrin wrote to King Jonas, telling him how he had accepted the fact that Hannah may never marry. He hinted, however, that maybe, when the two were older, they may consent to be wed, since both would then understand the power that their union would bring to both nations.
In the sixth summer after the departure of Princess Hannah of Bavar, the letters between the princesses officially died. Hannah sent one last letter to Mercy, stating that she would be visiting a neighboring country, and that she would be unable to send any more letters to Mercy.
The princess of Hanor cried a lot that night, knowing that their friendship had been one of childhood and they had grown apart. Marcus sat there, wondering why Mercy had felt so deeply attached to Her Highness. He saw the letters, and while Mercy cried her heart into a pillow, he took them and slipped away to read the letters of six years.
He returned them the next day while Mercy was bathing (he was in the parlor, while she bathed in her bathroom, two rooms away – the bedroom was between them). Mercy had hardly noticed they were gone; she was so saddened. Finally, at the insistence of her father, she went to the stables to ride a horse. There, she found two things: one, a magnificent mare, two, the granddaughter of Pine and Spots, a newborn puppy and still a little weak. Marcus held the small puppy in the circle of his arms.
Mercy realized her foolishness at her tears and held the small puppy in her arms. The puppy was just old enough to be away from her mother. It was a blue-gray with a white sock on the left foot. The baby dog also had one big black spot over one ear.
Mercy affectionately called her new puppy, "Flora". Marcus smiled at her obvious reference to the forest and showed her the horse. She was just old enough to be ridden, three or four years. Mercy's eyes glowed as she took in the sleek running horse. The mare had a star on her forehead and a white forelock. Her tail was a magnificent brown color and she was a darker shade. She would be "Fauna".
Unknown to Mercy, Marcus and their father had effectively detracted her from the southerner princess and back into Hanor.