hey all!
Wow, it's been awhile. I was debating putting this chapter up as I'm not sure anyone's interested...but well, it's written (since the holidays, hence the plot) and here it is. In relevant but other news, I'm slowly getting off my addiction to nanowrimo (and forgive me if this chapter reads funny, since I wrote my nano in present tense and am still readjusting), though I'm still considering how much longer I should be making this story, so updates may or may not be as frequent. Well, it was all a product of my vanity anyway...alright, I should stop rambling now.
"Mother. Mother!" Lady Hasenhower turned to her daughter, who was racing down the stairs.
"Good morning, Elyssa. Are you that excited about the holidays? You haven't even changed your clothes."
"Mother, have you seen my mirror?" she asked, slightly breathless. Lady Hasenhower tilted her head.
"I haven't been to your room since you've come back. I didn't even know you had a mirror." She turned to Bretha, who shrugged. Elyssa frowned.
"How strange. Maybe I misplaced it?"
"Since you've already come down, do stay for breakfast-Elyssa?"
Pulling out drawers for the dozenth time, Elyssa finally slammed her hands down on the dresser in frustration, making everything on its surface jump. The mirror is gone! How could I have possibly lost the blasted thing? She had it just last night-could she have possibly gone downstairs with it? No, that seemed unlikely-
:Chosen, you've become quite attached to that mirror, haven't you?: Karyla drawled, a yawn in her voice.
:It was my first Midwinter present, more importantly mine, and it has randomly gone missing off the top of my dresser. It would be weird if I weren't worried, you lazy girl,: Elyssa retorted, checking under her bed. She then realized what she was doing. Why would I ever put that thing under my bed? That's ridiculous. And how much time am I wasting looking for this trinket? Karyla had a point. A mirror was always at most an accessory, and she had more important things to do. I didn't need a mirror in the first place, anyway. I just won't tell Eldren. The thought is what matters, right? Of course it is. Nodding, she composed herself with the dignity she had discarded for the last mark and prepared for the day.
Her determination lasted until midday, when a messenger came with the mail.
"A letter for me?" Elyssa blinked, lowering her rapier. She had been in the middle of sparring with her mother, who was as sharp as ever. "Strange, I didn't think of Alys as the sort to write a letter." After taking a quick glance at the envelope, Lady Hasenhower handed her daughter her mail.
"I must say, Elyssa, your Alys has impeccable penmanship," she remarked. After opening the letter, Elyssa realized what she was talking about.
Dear Elyssa:
Are you well? I hope this letter gets to you by Midwinter, so that my wishing you a good holiday is not belated. By the way, happy Midwinter.
Elyssa glanced up from the letter and caught her mother's look. Impeccable, certainly; from Alys, most certainly not. She controlled her expression as she read on.
I am back at home, settling back into being pampered by my maid. It's difficult to have all my needs and whims taken care of again, but I suppose I shall manage. You might be interested to know that Hannan has managed to make the sundries girl smile the other day. Unfortunately, it was because he got attacked by a wild turkey. The jester also bought Alys a present only to give it away to a particularly teary eyed beggar. I suggested he buy three next time, if he wanted to make it to Alys with something still in hand. I'm glad Heralds don't get permanently stationed in cities often because he would certainly be bled dry.
As for Alys, she's been entertaining herself very well, either fantasizing about her beloved Trainee Alberich (Elyssa gagged) or romping about the town with some friends from the city. I presume they met at the orphanage, but I'm not really sure. Whatever the case, the two seem like a nice bunch. One is a rather boisterous rascal who only abets Alys in making the strangest of excursions, whereas the other is a very straightlaced but innocent boy. I think you'll like them, though the latter may surprise you at first-he is very scarred, and I haven't the mind to inquire why.
How are things at Hasenhower estate? Getting a lot of sparring done, per usual? I imagine that's your idea of a holiday, but don't exercise too much, or you will beat me 99 times out of 100, and then I will have nothing left with which to impress you. Keep in touch.
Best,
Eldren
"No admirers, hm?" Lady Hasenhower asked, polishing her blade coquettishly as though checking her nails.
"He doesn't count. He chases every tail he sees," she retorted haughtily, and folded the letter into her pocket. "Are you done already, Mother? We've only just gotten warmed up, you know."
"Oh no, I believe I'm done for the day. It is almost the Midwinter Festival, so I shall help with the preparations. After you've finished a reply or tied up any loose ends you may have, you should also come help." Elyssa frowned at her mother's receding figure. She wasn't exactly sure what Lady Hasenhower was thinking, but she definitely had the wrong idea about something. Didn't they understand that Trainees had no time for this kind of nonsense?
Nevertheless, Elyssa spent the next mark looking for the (blasted!) mirror. It was rather ridiculous, considering she didn't need such a frivolous thing anyway. Sighing, she sank back into her chair.
Alright, I'm done. I need training. I need to better my swordsmanship and not my vanity.
:This isn't the first time you've said that,: Karyla piped up.
:I know. It's just, well, where could it possibly be? Did someone take it? But who would do that?: Elyssa sighed again. After taking a moment to regard her dresser once again, she ultimately decided to hit it out of frustration. A squeak behind her caught her attention, and she turned around to see the very cowed new maid, clutching a dustcloth to her chest.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Elyssa apologized, getting up to greet her. Heles took a step back."Is everything going well for you? Are you adjusting okay?" Heles didn't seem to comprehend, her face oscillating confusion and fear. Elyssa grimaced and tried to approach her carefully. I need to be more careful of what I'm doing. Fancy me throwing a tantrum. It won't do to scare the help. "I've just been a little on edge today. It's not your fault. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I-I good," the girl stammered. Elyssa smiled in what she thought was a reassuring way, but judging from the maid's hasty retreat, she was fairly sure she didn't accomplish anything. Not about the maid, nor the mirror...at least I can write a letter back, if my guilt about losing his present doesn't stop me.
"Elyssa, is something the matter?" asked Radwell, concerned. Elyssa stopped pushing around her lunch. "You're looking rather haggard, especially considering today is Midwinter's Eve. At this rate, you won't be ready for the vigil, you know." She looked questioningly at her father.
"Father, when have we ever done a vigil?" she asked, a petulant tone creeping into her voice. Radwell just laughed.
"Simply pulling your leg, dear daughter! We've some old bones here that can barely stay up during the day, let alone the night!"
"And who might you be referring to?" Gerald asked imperiously. Radwell shrugged. Elyssa managed a smile.
"I was just up late, is all," she said. Her parents exchanged a look but didn't pursue the subject, instead moving on with the preparations for Midwinter in their usual, eccentric manner.
She was fairly sure the resulting celebration was as large as ever. Everyone in the estate had gathered in the manor, socializing in the great hall, which was filled to the brim with all manners of savory pies and sweet pastries, the lights flickering merrily off the tapestries on the walls. There were many familiar faces that she was happy to see, but for some reason her mood stayed dour. Is this because of that silly mirror? Doubtful-it's probably because the way I lost it was so strange. I've fixated on it because I can't figure it out.
:Yes, that's exactly it, Chosen,: Karyla yawned.
Of the people here, I'm surely the killjoy. Swirling her cup of mead listlessly, she watched her father gesticulate in all manners of ostentation. Gerald had put on his best outfit for the occasion and made some attempts to tidy up his thinning hair, and even the most stoic of the staff was grinning.
Except Heles, Elyssa realized. Although the girl had been flitting about during the preparations earlier, she hadn't seen the newest hand all evening.
"-and then I had Orwen pretend to be one of the bandits I captured and scream his head off like a little girl. Oh, and then we threw some pig guts out the window! Why, you've never seen a group of grown men run so fast-"
I suppose I don't need to hear this story for the twentieth time, Elyssa thought, rolling her eyes. No, considering her possible background, it would be good to see that Heles wasn't too troubled by the commotion.
The girl sat in the corner of her quarters, shaking as she tried to fix what she had done.
In her hands was the lady's mirror, broken in three pieces. Although she tried to hold them together, they were stubbornly apart, the rift between the jagged lines never lessening. She had tried all forms of adhesive, but everything proved useless.
Try as she might, the girl couldn't keep tears from falling onto the silver plates, further sullying the lady's goods. She knew the young mistress loved the mirror, regularly gazing into it in the morning and night. It was only natural that she would throw a fit upon realizing it was gone, stolen from her room. The girl stole it anyway because it would be better than if the lady knew it was broken.
I shouldn't have taken it, she mourned again, trying once more to piece the mirror together, this time with honey. She wasn't even that pretty, but she couldn't resist touching the mirror. Poor all her life, the presence of such a work was bewitching. Even the merchants at home hadn't carried a mirror with such a smooth, polished surface and such a charming design on the edges. She had never been a clumsy person, yet she had chosen the worst time to be so.
Ever since they saved her, the people of the manor had been nothing but kind. Though the lord scared her, she learned his heart was as large as his laugh, and despite her reservations, she also wanted to join the celebration. Still, how could she enjoy herself when she had committed such a grave crime? No, no use pretending, this wasn't self-punishment, but fear-unlike the lord and lady, the young missus's temper was considerable.
She might beat me-no, she'll definitely beat me, the girl thought. After all, she had been beaten for less at home. Even worse, she might be kicked out, to be scooped up by slave traders or bandits again, killed in the winter cold, death first creeping in through her frozen solid toes-
"Heles?" The girl whipped around, suddenly face to face with the last person she wanted to see. The young mistress was staring at the mirror, her eyes rotating between the pieces and the girl's face, whose color was draining rapidly. The girl was so scared she forgot to gulp. It was impossible to read the lady's expression, as it seemed to fluctuate wildly between astonishment and anger. Of course she's angry, the girl thought, her lip trembling. She's spent the last week looking for it like a possessed woman, only to find it like this.
"Is that my mirror?" The lady asked, slowly and hesitantly. The girl could only nod. The ensuing silence seemed to last forever. Finally, the lady reached over, past the girl who instinctively flinched, and gathered the pieces of the mirror into her hands. As the lady looked into them, the girl thought of how pretty the lady was now, all done up for the party like a doll. And to think, the girl had broken it just to look at her own ugly mug-
"This is perfect." Although she had prepared herself for a blow, the girl couldn't help but look up at the lady with surprise. Her Common wasn't very good, so perhaps she had heard incorrectly? Nevertheless, she was greeted with a smile. The smile was so unwontedly warm that she stared. "I should have given you a welcoming present but didn't know what. Now this mirror is exactly the right shape." With that, she placed the largest piece of the mirror in Heles' hands.
The lady then grinds it into my hand, the glass cutting into my skin, laughing as she asks if I'd really thought she'd forgiven me, then she proceeds to kick me to the ground and then throws me out the next day-
"Heles?" The girl looked into the lady's questioning gaze, then back down at her hand. No, none of that had happened. The girl didn't dare to believe what was happening, even as the lady retracted her hand, leaving the piece of the mirror in the girl's unwounded hand.
"Would you like to come down and meet everyone else? It would be a shame for you to spend your first Midwinter here alone." The lady smiled again-the smile trembles slightly, but the voice is kind. Although she could think of other scenarios where this was all an elaborate trick, for some reason she believed in the sincerity of that voice. Perhaps it was because the people of this manor have always been kind to her, and the lady should be no exception.
Elyssa sighed.
"Companions are strong, but I don't think Karyla can, or even should, walk halfway across Valdemar with a whole feast strapped to her back."
"Nonsense! Didn't you have her walk halfway across Valdemar with a whole armory strapped to her back?" Lord Radwell put his hands on his hips.
"You exaggerate," Elyssa grumbled, taking off a sack of cheeses and throwing them to Bretha. "We look like a food cart."
"Hah! Food carts wish they had anything this delicious!" Radwell threw his head and laughed, as though he had won some tournament. With much bickering, the Hasenhower family finally compromised, with Elyssa only taking back some sausages and the kitchen's signature pies.
"Before I leave, Father, there's something I wish to tell you. About the nature of my letters-"
"A war, right?" Elyssa blinked. The lord and lady of Hasenhower looked to her with strong gazes, though a smile still played on Radwell's lips.
"We received your message, Elyssa," Lady Hasenhower said. "We had noticed something different at our sentry posts, even without."
"Then why didn't you-"
"And ruin Midwinter?" Radwell laughed as though this was absurd. "There's a time and place for everything, my dear daughter, and when you've returned, it is only a time for revelry!"
"Father-" Elyssa started warningly.
"Never you mind, Elyssa. Hurry back to Haven and do what you do best." He patted Karyla one more time. "Which is everything, by the way!"
"Father-"
"Worry not for us, Elyssa," Lady Hasenhower interrupted, a smile on her face as well. "We shall take care of ourselves, as we always do." Defeated, Elyssa simply nodded. As the farewells came to an end, she at last greeted the young servant that had broken her mirror. Heles beamed up at her-perhaps giving up the mirror had been worth it.
"Goodbye, Heles. I shall be back next winter." The girl fidgeted, and Elyssa waited for her words.
"I learn speak better," she said, her voice straining with each word. Elyssa smiled.
"And I will try to learn Rethwellan." Heles put a hand on Karyla to stop Elyssa from leaving.
"Name-not Heles. Heles-home."
"O-oh, is that so?" Heles is the name of her town? Why didn't she tell us earlier? Heles-the girl nodded.
"Name, Salilemesthena!" There was a moment of silence as everyone digested this conversation. Elyssa looked at her parents, but it was Gerald that spoke.
"Alright, she's definitely Rethwellan."