So yeah. Here is chapter two. It was a long time coming because I thought that I didn't want to continue, but then I thought of some new ideas and changed my mind. So yeah. Here it is.
Oh, I almost forgot. Someone asked me to write a little list of the characters. Here goes.
Blake Delongpre (age 11): She is blonde and loves soccer. She is Amy's little sister and doesn't much care for Elena because she thinks that Elena is too girly.
Elena Velasquez (age 16): She is Hispanic and loves her cell phone. She used to be Amy's friend a long time ago, but they kind of drifted apart and they only hang out one time a year, when they go to the Renaissance festival together with Amy and Blake's parents. She really only goes because it's tradition and she makes sure not to tell any of her new friends about the trip.
Amy Delongpre (age 15): She is blonde and Blake's older sister.
CHPTR 2
"Did you gals kill the beastie back there on the road?"
"Uh," Amy said, not knowing what to say. She didn't bother to stand up to speak to the stranger. "We hit it with our car."
The speaker, a young man, furrowed his brow briefly, but shrugged it off. "You killed it though?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that," Amy responded.
"Yourselves?"
Amy shrugged, "Well, with our car. So… yeah, I guess we did."
The boy smiled, "That's impressive."
"It's impressive that no one got hurt, is what's really impressive," Amy replied, leaning against the side of the trailer tiredly. Next to her, Elena was brushing bugs off herself with a disgusted look on her face and Blake was idly picking leaves off a nearby tree and looking over at the stranger curiously.
"May I ask what you ladies are doing out here all by yourselves killing beasties?" he said, his brown eyes sparkling. He had lumpy woolen cap on his head and red hair peaked out from under it. With worn knee high boots and breeches, he looked like he was headed to the festival too.
"We're on our way to the festival," Amy said. "Our car got pretty banged up from hitting the deer so we're pulling the trailer ourselves. Do you know where everyone is camping?"
The boy looked at her strangely. "The festival ain't gonna start till tomorrow 'cause that's the summer solstice, you know?"
"No, I didn't know. So we're here early?"
He shrugged, "Aye."
Elena groaned, "What are we doing here early, Amy? This is ridiculous." She crossed her arms across her chest, but then instantly uncrossed them so she could brush off an ant that was crawling on her peach colored dress.
"You ladies from around here?" the boy asked, looking at Elena thoughtfully.
"No," Amy answered, "We've never been to this location before so we're a little-"
"Lost," Elena filled in for her.
"No, we are not lost," Amy said, turning to Elena.
"Oh sure," Elena said, "So if we're not lost then where's the festival? I certainly don't see it anywhere."
Amy brushed a few blonde hairs out of her eyes, knowing better than to loose her temper with Elena, who was used to things going her way or no way at all.
"So, are ya lost or not?" the boy asked.
"We are so lost it's not even funny," Elena cut in before Amy could deny it. She smiled sweetly, her straight white teeth contrasting beautifully with her dark skin, "You don't know where the festival is, do you?"
"I know where it's going to be," he said, adjusting the small leather bag that was slung over one shoulder. "But don't you ladies want to be staying up at the palace?"
Elena's black eyebrows raised, "The palace? Sounds nice. But we don't have the slightest idea how to get there."
The boy shrugged, "I ain't been in the city for years, but I bet I could find my way enough to show you around a little. Could ring you to the palace at least."
"Oh would you? That would be awesome, we've never been here before and it's just so-"
"Elena!" Amy said, leaning over to whisper into her friend's ear. "We don't have reservations for any palace-"
She turned, brushing her thick black hair over her shoulder, and replied in a quiet voice, "Babe, what's the problem? We go, we check it out, we leave. C'mon this boy will give a tour, maybe it will be your lucky day and you'll score one with him. Even though his hygiene could use some work-"
Amy gave her shoulder a playful shove, "Not funny!"
Elena flashed her a smile, then turned her gaze back to the boy. "It would be stupid to refuse free help."
"Absolutely," he agreed.
"And we have nothing better to do."
"Probably not."
She laughed, "So I guess we will have to take you up on your offer."
"Good choice," he said. "Where are your horses to pull the cart?"
"The ye olde horse broke down," Elena said with a laugh. "These Renaissance fair people are insane, but so funny." She muttered to Amy as she rolled her eyes. Amy shrugged neutrally.
"My name is Elena," she introduced herself, then gestured to Amy, "This is my friend Amy and over there is her sister, the brat."
Blake walked over to the small group, scowling at Elena. "Hey," she nodded to the boy, "I'm Blake."
"My name is Vaughn," he said, "at your service." He looked at Blake, who was standing beside him fiddling with her blond ponytail. She looked incredibly comfortable wearing her breeches and tunic compared to her sister and Elena, who were both in long dresses and slippers. "Are you going to train as a page?" he asked.
"Uh," Blake said, "I guess. I did some of that last year even though the only fun thing was archery. It was better than hanging out with Elena as she hit on everything that moved."
"Shut up, Blake, you're so immature," Elena said, climbing to her feet, suddenly energized. "I say we move on. I want to see this whole palace deal."
"We should get moving," Amy agreed, "Before it starts to get too late. We have to meet up with mom tonight, remember?"
"I'm not the lazy one that needed a break," Blake said, looking pointedly at Elena, who just rolled her eyes.
Amy was starting to get annoyed with their fighting, but she didn't say anything to them. "Let's go," she said, smiling at Vaughn, hoping that he wouldn't change his mind about showing them around because her sister and Elena were acting like they were five.
He smiled back, a quick, secret smile. "I'll help y'all pull the cart," he said to the girls.
"Oh, thank you," Elena said, "That would be so fantastic!"
"Like you were even helping to pull it in the first place," Blake said.
Amy pretended not to hear as she went to the front of the trailer, "Vaughn and I can pull, if you two take turns pushing." She looked at Vaughn, "If that's okay with you, of course."
He shrugged, "No problem."
Amy picked up her side and Vaughn lifted his, Elena and Blake were fighting over who should push, but they didn't really need to. The trailer was easy to pull between just Amy and Vaughn. They dragged the trailer out onto the road and started walking.
"Are we far from the palace?" Amy said stiffly. She was usually shy around people because she had trouble making small talk.
"Not too bad," he replied.
Amy nodded, "That's good." They walked in silence for a length of time, which seemed like eternity for Amy. "Did you know that less than 1 of a tree is made up with living cells?" Amy blurted out without thinking.
"What?"
"It was just something I learned in biology and all these trees reminded me of it, I guess," she said.
"Biology?"
"Uh yeah," Amy said. They continued walking in silence. "Thanks for, you know, helping us out."
"Nothing better to do."
"Oh, okay," Amy mumbled.
Vaughn laughed at her awkward response. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"No-ooo," she said, tightening her grip on the handle of the trailer.
He used one hand to tug at his woolen hat and looked over at her, when he did she promptly avoided his gaze. "Well, I am getting that feeling."
She shrugged, "I would tell you if you were." She knew that she wouldn't, but it seemed the thing to say at the moment.
"Alright then."
"Alright."
"What is that?" Blake shouted, forcing Amy to whip around to see what her sister was yelling about.
"What is what?" Amy asked.
Blake pointed up, over Amy's head. Amy turned to look where she was pointing and saw what her sister had been so surprised about. A collection of towers with banners flapping in the gentle wind loomed above the tree tops. Vaughn had to stop pulling the cart because Amy had stopped walking.
"It's like the freaking Disney World castle," Elena said, staring up at it in wonder.
"Did the festival people put it up?" Blake asked, unable to take her eyes from it.
Amy shrugged, "Maybe. In the brochure they said that they were putting up some impressive new features but I was envisioning something more along the lines of another hot dog stand and a pony ride for the kids."
"That's awesome!" Elena said excitedly, "A whole little castle! Let's go check it out!"
"That is not little. Your brain, now that's little, but that castle is definitely not," Blake muttered and they started fighting again.
Amy started walking again, her eyes still focused on the castle that loomed above them until she tripped on an uneven patch in the road and stumbled forward a few steps. She righted herself and focused on the road and her feet.
"You alright?" Vaughn asked, looking up at her.
Amy blushed and looked away. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."
He chuckled. "So where are you ladies from anyway?"
She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she considered his question. "From Ault, it's like four hours away."
"Where's that? Four hours away? That is a quick trip."
"Uh, yeah, I guess it could be. I don't know," she stumbled to say. She wasn't sure what he was trying to say. "Where are you from?"
"Around," he said with a laugh.
"Where do you live?"
He shrugged, "Here and now."
Amy raised her eyebrows. "Do you have a home?" she asked, trying to be cool but not being able to hide her concern.
"Yeah, it's on my back."
She pulled her half of the cart forward, pulling it over a rock. "What about your-"
"Parents? Nah, let's not talk about them," he said, brushing off her concern. "Look, it's the city."
Spread out before them was a city, a bustling, real, medieval city. Amy stumbled over a rock. Vaughn reached out to help her up, "Easy there."
Amy stabilized herself, "It's so big. This is amazing."
"Never been to the city before?"
"Not like this," she said, gapping at the busy scene before her. Everyone was garbed in authentic medieval outfitting, no one seemed out of place. "This is so amazing. I can't even believe it."
Vaughn chuckled, "I used to live here. For five years or so, before I- uh, had to go away for a year. It has kind of lost it's impressiveness I guess."
"How long has it been here?" Amy asked. "I thought that it was supposed to be new."
"I don't know. For a long time." Vaughn looked confused, like he was wondering if Amy was insane.
She looked around, taking in her surroundings as she walked. There was no modern equipment, no tourists with cameras, nothing.
"This has gotten really hard core, hasn't it?" she heard Elena say from behind the wagon. She sounded as shocked as Amy felt.
They walked on, everyone's costumes were well worn and they all seemed like they hadn't bathed in a long time. "This is outrageous," Amy murmured, "this is unbelievable."
The people on the street parted to let them pass, they dirty people eyed Elena, who was primping flicking around her long black hair. She looked like royalty in her peach gown and long realistic pearl necklace, especially compared to the grungy people of the fair. She was smiling, loving the attention, and waved at people as they passed. Blake rolled her eyes at Elena's regal behavior; she crossed her arms across her middle irritably. Her bouncing blonde ponytail caught glimpses from the townspeople, probably because she looked so clean compared to them.
Amy flushed as she realized that she too was gathering her share of stares, even though she was pulling the wagon. "Why are they staring at us?" she whispered to Vaughn.
He shrugged, "Because you are wealthy. They are intrigued."
Amy let her blonde hair fall in front of her face as if to hide behind it. "We are hardly wealthy."
Vaughn snorted. "You're clean and you wear expensive clothes. And the slippers? Who wears slippers when they're traveling except for rich gals?"
"They're mad that we didn't wear traveling clothes, huh?" Amy said, thinking that she had figured it out, "They're mad that we aren't all historically accurate."
"Uh, what?"
Amy scowled, "Well, we didn't know that we were supposed to be perfectly historically accurate every minute of every day. They are going to have to deal with it because we are not going to change."
Vaughn looked confused again, "Alright. Don't change."
"Wasn't planning on it," Amy said defiantly, glancing around at the crowd and holding her head high. "They are going to have to put this stuff on a sign if they expect everyone to do it. I'm not going to give them the pleasure of seeing us get all embarrassed."
"Alright."
Amy nodded, satisfied with her selected course of action. They wandered through the city, she was becoming more and more impressed. Whoever was running this thing had to be a mastermind of some sort. She wouldn't be surprised if it got its own reality show, now that would be an idea. They passed a group of soldiers on horseback and a woman hanging out laundry, the detail was amazing. All the while the palace loomed above their heads, gradually creeping closer and closer.
They walked through the maze of buildings and past the staring people, until they reached the palace gate. Amy shook her head and looked pointedly back at Elena, who was still enjoying all the attention that they were getting. She caught Amy's glare and returned it with a smile and a shrug. They stepped through the gate, the palace stood before them.
A short man came from the structure, his robes billowing and bald head shining. "Ladies! Ladies!" he called loudly.
Amy turned back to Elena, this was were the parade was ending because she was sure the short man would tell them that they needed to leave as their costumes weren't perfectly historically accurate. He would also inform them that they had no reservations and even if they did, they would have no way to pay for their stay, Amy just knew it. She almost turned around to glare at Elena again, but stopped herself.
"Yeah, what?" Elena said, coming around the wagon to stand next to Amy.
"There is no need to pull your own wagon," the man said, waving his arms. "We will have someone come to assist your manservant."
"Manservant?" Blake snorted, but tried to cover it up with a cough.
Her cough brought the man's attention to her, he looked her up and down. She didn't look regal like Amy and Elena, instead, Blake was only wearing breeches and a tunic. She looked very tomboyish, which, as it was, matched her personality.
"You must be here for knight training," the man said with a knowing smile.
"Knight training?" Amy said, ever the worried older sister. "Is that safe?"
Blake widened her eyes at her sister and sharply nodded. She obviously didn't care if it was safe or not, she was only thinking about how much this knight training would toughen her up for the soccer season.
"Perfect," the man said, "I am Robyn Kellerman, overseer of household duties for the palace. I am concerned about your lack of servants, horses, and carriages. Did something happen to you along the way?"
"Yeah, we hit a deer, can you believe it?" Elena said.
"Um, hit a deer?" the man asked politely.
She rolled her brown eyes and waved away his question, "Never mind, it's a modern thing I guess."
"Yes," Amy cut in before Elena offended Kellerman, "We did run into some trouble, but it's nothing to worry about, we took care of it."
"Your servants? They are on their way?" Kellerman asked, rubbing his bald head thoughtfully.
"Uh, no," Amy replied.
"Dear me, you can't expect to live without them now can you?"
Elena sighed dramatically, "Well I guess we could try but, woe is me, I'm not holding out much hope."
"I will supply you with a full staff," Kellerman said.
"Oh, could you?" Elena said sweetly, even going so far as to flutter her thick eyelashes.
Amy shook her head. She shot Elena an annoyed look, "I don't think that is really necessary. Thank you all the same, though."
"Mistress, Irismere is an important and influential fief, it would be the Crown's pleasure to see that everything is taken care of for you."
"Oh, no, we don't need anyone to take care of anything for us," Amy said, "We actually just came to look around. We came, we saw, we didn't conquer, but we should really be going. Elena, Blake, grab the wa-"
The bald man practically dropped to his knees. "No, mistress, I am sorry if I have offended you, but please do not leave. What do you need? What would you like?"
Elena smiled and grabbed Amy's arm, keeping her from picking up the wagon. "Irismere, eh?" she murmured thoughtfully. "We're pretty loaded, huh?"
"Mistress, I am not sure what you mean," Kellerman said, "But you are quite wealthy. You own the largest living quarters in the palace while most nobles only loan space while they are in town. That is why we were rather distressed when you arrived two weeks after you had originally stated that you would be here."
"So why did you think that we were from Irismere?" Elena said slyly. "I mean, we are from Irismere, but how did you know?"
The man chuckled, he seemed a little nervous as if he was expecting a trap of some sort. "You ladies are the only ones that could afford to travel if such fine apparel, if you don't mind my bluntness. Not to mention you were the only ones we were anticipating at this time."
"Very observant, Mister Kellerman. Now, show us to our rooms. Have someone bring all of this," Elena gestured to the wagon, "brought up to our rooms. Take care of the wagon, but make sure it doesn't get lost or broken, it is very important. And our servant, the red haired one, send him to us immediately."
"Are you sure that you want that particular servant? He is a bit on the scraggly side, mistress," Kellerman asked.
"Of course he is!" Elena nearly shouted, "We had such a horrible experience, you didn't expect him to be sparkling clean, did you? I want you to clean him up and then return him to us."
Kellerman's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, mistress, I will have that taken care of."
"Good," Elena said with all the scorn she could muster. "Now, our rooms?"
"Right," Kellerman muttered. "This way please."
"What was that, Elena?" Amy shouted. They had been led up to their rooms, which were nearly as impressive as the palace itself. There were six rooms in all; one for sitting, three bedrooms, a room for washing, and a room for the servants to sleep in. All the rooms had lofty ceilings and large, plush furniture, and in the sitting room was a large pool with Japanese fish and a fountain that sat in the middle of it.
"Wow, check this out!" Blake shouted from the bathroom. "No running water! For being as fancy as all this, they could have snuck in a little indoor plumbing, eh?"
"Blake! Stop running around!" Amy said loudly. "We aren't staying."
Blake wasn't listening, she had kicked off her boots and was jumping on the bed in one of the bedrooms.
"Girl, that is totally your room," Elena called into the bedroom. She flopped back on one of the sofas next to fish pool. "Aw, Amy, chill out."
She put her fists on her hips. "Elena! You just lied to that Kellerman man! Aren't you the least bit worried that the real Irismeres might show up?"
"Quit worrying. We didn't sign anything or show any IDs, right? So the real people show up and all we have to do is say 'oh dear, they must've mixed up our rooms, see ya later.' It's the perfect crime!" she laughed and kicked off her delicate peach slippers.
"Criminal! Yes, Elena, that is what we are doing. We are being criminal! We can't stay."
Elena snorted, "Calm down, it's not a big deal. We are just checking out how the rich people live. Besides, remember what that Kellerman guy said? They are already a week late, I bet they aren't even coming."
"What if they do?" Amy said, putting her hands up to the side of her own head and tugging at her hair.
"I already told you, we say, 'whoops' and clear out. The people own the joint, it's not like they are loosing anything. We are simply taking advantage of what they aren't. It's simple."
Blake came out of the bedroom to join the conversation. "Amy, come on, I hate to say it, but Elena's right. Plus I want to do the whole knight training thing so I don't get bored out of mind and I have to be staying here to do it, you know?"
"Come on Amy, be a little adventurous for once in your life," Elena added, "You're can't be responsible forever."
"Someone needs to be!" Amy said, crossing her arms. "Fine, we can stay, but when we get busted, I won't hesitate to tell you that I told you so."
"Thank you! We will have so much fun, you won't care what happens with the real Irismeres," Blake said, then recanted. "Which will be nothing, I swear!"
"They can't sue us, can they?"
"Shut up," Blake laughed.
There was a sharp knock on the door.
"They're on to us!" Amy said, pressing her hands to her cheeks. "They're here to kick us out!"
Elena rolled her eyes, "If you keep acting like this they will kick us out. You have to act like a spoiled rich girl, like I was earlier with that Kellerman guy, okay?"
"Yeah, acting, I'm sure that's what it was," Blake muttered. Now that they had convinced Amy to stay, Blake was no longer on Elena's side and she was ready to fight again. Blake walked over to the door and opened it.
Outside stood a squadron of maids that all curtsied in unison when the door was opened. "We come to serve you," they chorused.
"Oh God," Blake muttered.
"What would you like us to do?" one asked.
Elena came to the door. "Bring everything up here from our wagon, like I already told you! We need tea! Food, I'm famished. Hurry, hurry, go!" She shooed the maids and they scattered, all but one.
"Would you like us to move our things into the servant's room?" she asked.
"Why?" Elena asked flatly.
The maid looked confused, "To serve you."
"No, no, you must be confused. You are not here to sleep with us, you are here to serve us. You will live somewhere else."
"Who will live in your servant's room?"
Elena shrugged, "Our manservant I guess."
The maid's eyes doubled in size. "That is most immodest, my lady!"
"Is it now? Huh, silly me, I must have forgotten." She shooed the maid, "Get to work. I will figure out my own modesty, thanks all the same."
"Are you not worried about yer reputation?" a deep voice interjected.
Elena turned to see that Vaughn was leaning against the wall, his woolen cap was back in his head, but he looked much cleaner than they had left him. His clothes were clean and neat, he was wearing a new tunic and breeches. "No, I'm really not," Elena replied.
"Why not?" he asked. The maid looked at him and back to Elena, eyes still wide, then scurried away from them.
"Because we have worse things to worry about, since we're going to be worrying," Amy said, stepping from behind Elena and joining the conversation. "I guess you will be staying with us. Well, we have a whole servant's room. Want it?"
"Sure. But I don't remember when I said I would be yer servant."
"I don't remember ever asking you," Amy replied, she was still angry about the whole scam, but the rooms were so nice. And Blake and Elena were right, she ought to loosen up every now and then, even though it was probably a bad idea to loosen up by impersonating rich people at a renaissance festival. "I guess things are just getting out of control today."
He smiled and pushed himself off the wall. "I guess. So all this servant livery-"
"How serious are we about it?" Amy asked, leading the way into the suite. She gestured towards the door of the servant's room. "Burn it, sell it, eat it, we don't care."
He laughed, adjusting the cap so it covered even more of his bright red hair. "I was thinkin' more of just taking it off."
"That works," she said, smiling. He ducked into the servant's room and shut the door.
"Girl, are you flirting?" Elena cried as soon as he disappeared, she crossed the room to stand next to Amy. "I never thought I would see the day!"
"Shut up, I'm not! I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Uh huh, I'm so on to you miss Amy!"
"I'm just being friendly," Amy said.
At that moment, a maid carried a tray of tea and delicate snacks into the room. She set it on a low table between two chairs by the fish pool. "Mm!" Elena said, going to the tray.
"Food?" Blake said, poking her head out from her bedroom. She had an uncanny talent for smelling food miles and miles away. Coming from her bedroom, she crossed the sitting room and joined Elena at the try.
"This is so good," Elena said in between bites. "Amy, you have to try this! I love being rich."