My Little Fighter: Chapter Five: Just a Taste
Mae woke early to find her one of her sisters shaking her. She couldn't tell who it was through her grogginess. "Getting up anytime soon?" she asked. It was Falathiel. She had the older sister tone in her voice.
"No," Mae said turning over to go back to sleep.
"Get up Maethoriel," she said.
"No Fala," Mae said, snickering beneath the covers. Her sister hated that nickname with a passion.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me that?" she asked.
"Call you what Fala?" Mae asked.
"Alright then. I'll tell ada you don't want to go to the market," she said.
"I really hate that you're a morning person," Mae mumbled as she swung her feet over the side of the bed.
"I really hate that you're not," Falathiel replied.
"You want to leave so I can get dressed?" Mae asked.
"Sure. You have five minutes," Falathiel said, turning to leave.
As her sister left Mae laid back down.
"MAE!" Falathiel yelled from the door, causing Mae to jump and fall off the bed,
"How does she know?" Mae whispered to herself.
Outside the door Falathiel was snickering.
Mae groggily walked down the long stair case following her sister. At the bottom her ada was waiting with two escorts and her other two siblings.
"Why do we have to go so early?" Mae asked.
"So we can get done by the time everyone is out," Aragorn said.
Mae sighed and followed him down the long hallway and out into the courtyard. Mae and her siblings followed Aragorn down to the market place.
The early morning was warm, meaning that it was going to be a hot day. Mae sighed as she trudged along beside her father. The market place was quiet with only a few people going about their business.
The market looked vaguely familiar. Mae remembered it from thee day before. Her sisters seemed very much in awe at how big the market was. Her brother looked around nervously and her father just seemed to be looking for the tailor's.
When they arrived at the tailor's Mae went straight over to the dress she had looked at yesterday and picked it out.
"I see you were here yesterday," Aragorn observed as he looked at the dress. Mae smiled and handed it to him.
"Can I go look around outside?" She asked.
"What do you think?" Aragorn asked.
"I think that you love me and the answer is yes," She replied.
"You're right about one of those," Aragorn said.
"So you hate me and the answer is yes?" she asked hopefully.
Aragorn chuckled. "I do love you and the answer is no." Maethoriel sighed as Aragorn wrapped an arm around her. "You're sisters will be done soon enough." He said as Eldarion came over with his suit picked out.
"I beg to differ," she muttered.
Bryn stood in an alley kicking around bits of broken cobblestones back and forth with a foot. He had watched the king and his children go into the tailor's across the street. He knew his father and brother would be watching his every move. How can I possibly get Mae to come with me, especially with her family so near? Bryn thought. Why did I ever agree to this?
Sighing he leaned up against the wall of a building and watched the tailor's door. What if I tell the king what I'm supposed to do? Maybe then I could get some help and stop my father. Or maybe I might as well just… Bryn sighed and laid his head against the wall.
He was tired from the night before. He'd hardly slept. He was scared and confused. Just when he thought his life was getting better he had to be thrust back into his father's dirty work. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the tailor shop door open. He looked and saw Mae leaving with her family. Mae walked toward the back of everyone else, looking rather annoyed.
Bryn was sure he wouldn't catch her eye if he moved back into the shadows of the building quickly. He wasn't even sure if she'd remember him. As he began to back up Mae glanced in his direction. Recognizing him she smiled and waved. Bryn gave a small smile and gave a small wave before disappearing into the shadows. He watched as the king turned around for his daughter. He only heard snippets of their conversation. "Who are you waving at?… Just thought I saw… Come along darling…" Bryn sighed in relief as they began to walk away. Although Aragorn's suspicious glance into the alley did not go unnoticed.
Bryn sighed and leaned back against the far wall at the end of the alley. He had escaped that time, both without getting caught and without fulfilling his task. He closed his eyes and let the feeling of relief sink in. He felt a smile creep onto his lips as he thought about Mae. She had remembered him. And she had waved.
"Napping on the job Bryn?" Came a familiar husky voice.
Bryn jumped and opened his eyes. He saw his father standing in front of him with his arms crossed.
"I-I was… uhmm…" Bryn stuttered.
"That's what I thought," Owullyn said. "Last night when I asked you to get the girl for me you had eight chances before we needed her. The girl is under close watch especially because of the incident yesterday. I am assuming you'll get at least seven more chances before she's needed. I trust that you remember the deadline and the price you'll be paying if I do not have her by then."
Bryn nodded. "Remember… I'm watching your every move," He said before turning to leave.
"Naneth, do I really have to?" Mae complained, glaring resentfully at the dance floor.
"Yes. Your brother is a great dancer. He'll show you how to dance," Arwen said nudging her forward. Eldarion still seemed to have not forgiven her for the day before.
Mae crossed her arms and looked at her brother. "Just hurry up Mae. The sooner you cooperate the sooner it'll be over," Eldarion said.
Mae sighed and held her hands out as her brother showed her where to move her feet when dancing.
"This is dumb," She muttered.
"Maethoriel," Eldarion scowled.
"Well it is," she replied.
Sighing, she looked lazily around as she stepped absentmindedly with the music. Falathiel was working on her skills with Elladan. Falathiel was very skilled in the dancing arts and merely needed someone to practice with. Elladan endure his punishment quietly. That was Arwen's idea of punishing her brother for aiding Mae's fighting skills when told not to. Mae and often envied her sister's talent when she was younger. Now she thought it foolish.
Mae snickered as Fala watched Miriel enviously. Miriel was practicing with Faramir's son Elboron. Elboron was both a great dancer and a handsome young man of nineteen. Right between both of her older sisters. They both liked him and thought he was the sweetest boy they'd ever met.
"Ow! Mae watch what you're doing," Eldarion yelped as she stepped on his foot a second time.
"Sorry," she muttered. She let her mind wander again as she corrected her steps.
She found herself wondering about Bryn again. She had seen him in the alley earlier. She was sure of it. He waved back at her when she waved. He had remembered the day before. Though she didn't notice the cut on his head. It was too dark in the alley to see, but she knew it was him.
He looked tired though. He had circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept for a long while. He wasn't with his father. He had said he needed to get back to his father. He wasn't with anyone that she could see. She pictured him in the alley like he was that morning. The shadows of the buildings made him look even more curious.
She found herself wondering if he liked to dance. She couldn't help but imagine him dancing with her. She couldn't help it. She imagined his hand on her waist while hers sat on his shoulder. He held her other hand as they twirled around the ball room together.
Eldarion's voice brought her back to the present. "Mae! Pay attention!" he said, but it was too late. They ran into Falathiel and Elladan, who ran into Miriel and Elboron, causing them all to fall onto the floor.
As everyone collected themselves they all turned to Mae. She smiled sweetly and tried to hide her embarrassment.
"What were you thinking Maethoriel!" Miriel said, angered that her dance was interrupted.
"I just… I was…" Mae couldn't come up with an excuse.
"Daydreaming as always," Falathiel said.
"I was not!" Mae argued.
"Darlings, please," Arwen said hurrying over to help everyone up. "Mae, please watch where you're going. Falathiel, you'll do well to watch your own steps as well. Miriel ease up on your sister."
Maethoriel stood with her arms crossed staring out the window. She was truly miserable in the ball room. She wanted to find Bryn. She had a taste of danger. Just a taste. She had no idea what this feeling was, but she longed to Bryn again. She had had a taste of the forbidden. And she liked it.
That was an uber long wait huh? Well summer will be here in nearly two weeks! Yay! I'm excited. Not only because of the lack of school but I will have plenty of time for updates! I hope you haven't given up on me! Please review!
