Glacia

[1]

Not everyone was perfect. Karla reminded herself sternly as she smiled in encouragement at Della. Her witchling smiled back happily as she continued to murder one of Glacia's folk songs with the piano. The little witch was so bad that already half of the First Circle had fled, including KaeAskavi, who magically disappeared out of the music room.

She turned to look at Hagen then. Her Master of the Guard had started to squirm in his chair and stared longingly at the open door that let to freedom. When the Warlord Prince noticed his Queen's gaze, he instantly settled down once more. There was no way that she would let him leave the room; if she was going to suffer through it, so was he.

The only person to actually be enjoying Della's performance was her lady-in-waiting. Anastasia had not squirmed even a bit and her eyes had always stayed on Della. She sneaked another look at the silent Anastasia, before once more looking at her witchling.

When Della finished the song and stood up to curtsy for her audience as everyone clapped her way, Karla felt relief.

"Another one?" Della asked sweetly towards her audience, before everyone replied simultaneously that they needed to continue with their daily tasks. In a blink of an eye the room was empty, except for Hagen, Anastasia, and herself.

Cowards, Karla said inwardly as she got up and went to hug Della.

"Another time, Witchling. I think you should go looking for KaeAskavi, before he gets into any trouble with cook," Karla suggested to the witch child, before dropping a kiss on the top of Della's blonde hair.

"How did I do?" Della asked, her tone full of insecurity. Karla had always been honest; when she did not like something she would happily say it. Of course, Della was another matter. She gulped loudly and her eyes went up to meet Hagen, who decided to study the décor of the room than give her any support. She looked back at the witchling, those blue eyes staring up at her innocently.

"Well…" She said, trying to find the proper words.

"You did wonderful," Anastasia commented, making Della squeal in happiness. The little witch hugged the Aristo lady in excitement and Karla pursed her lips, it did not help that Hagen chime in as well. Karla could only smile and nod her head, before forcing herself to say the exact same thing.

When Della gave them all one last round of hugs, Hagen decided that she deserved a treat and took the young witch's hand inside his own. The Warlord Prince escorted the witchling out of the music room too fast for Karla to say anything, let alone remind him that Della was supposed to be eating supper soon.

Shaking her head at what just happened, Karla turned to look at Anastasia, gripping her cane hard for support as silence settled between them. Ice blue eyes met turquoise color eyes. She was the first to look away, her stomach fluttering with a surprising known feeling and she tried to will herself to not feel anything at all.

She proceeded then to leave the music room, feeling Anastasia right behind her as they both walked down the long hall towards her private study. Karla mulled over and over what had just happened, remembering quite well how that simple lie had made Della so happy.

When they both reached the study and Karla settled behind her desk to read over some court documents, she decided to break the silence.

"Why did you lie?" Karla asked softly. She was curious as to what Anastasia's answer would be. Her eyes were looking over the documents.

"It was important to her. Your truth would have just sour her mood," Anastasia replied. That made Karla looked up and towards the lady, her ice-blue eyes cold. The Aristo witch only smiled warmly at her.

"Yes, but she would have known the truth. She would not be hurt by someone in the future if she knew it," Karla stated softly, frowning at her lady-in-waiting.

"Yes, my Lady, but sometimes it is necessary to lie. Sometimes the truth can hurt more than a lie," Anastasia pointed out.

She pursed her lips in thought, her eyes never leaving Anastasia. She studied the lady Aristo for a moment, before relaxing into her chair. No longer did she frown at the witch.

"Very surprising, Lady Verruil. Not only do you have impeccable social knowledge, but also you are wise beyond your years. It is good to know that you are not just a pretty face," She commented, a small smile coming upon her own lips.

"My lady honors me," Anastasia replied as she did a small curtsy, her tone carrying a hint of surprise.

Karla studied Anastasia closely, taking in her blushing cheeks and how becoming she looked while wearing that pale green dress. Karla felt that fluttering feeling begin again, making her feel silly. She did not like that one bit.

"You have my leave," She announced in a bored tone. Picking up one of the court documents, she used some of her power to open the door to her study. She heard the rustling of fabric and the soft steps. She heard the click of the door when it closed.

Dropping the document on the desk, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the chair, exhaling loudly. A mischievous smile taking over her lips as she remembered how much trouble she caused the High Lord.

[2]

A wailing witch-child was never good. As she hurried down the hallway and towards the music room, Anastasia tried to calm down. KaeAskavi was behind her and the Warlord Prince was just pushing the edge. She needed to stay calm; after all she did not want to fall prey to the Arcerian cat.

When she reached the room, she found the young witch sitting by the piano. Della's cheeks were tear-stung and her blue eyes were red as well as puffy. Anastasia felt her chest tighten and she rushed towards the girl, making sure that there were no visible injuries on her. When she reached her, Della flung herself into her arms and she hugged the young witch tightly.

"Ana," Della whimpered, letting out a shuddering breath that turned into a soft, hurt whine. Anastasia rubbed Della's back, trying to comfort her as best she could while keeping a close eye on KaeAskavi.

"What happened, Della? Tis okay, Witch-child. What is wrong?" Anastasia whispered, pushing some strands of blonde hair away from Della's face as she looked down at her.

"KaeAskavi is worried, Della. So am I. Please, answer me," She whispered once more, not wanting to scare Della nor the Warlord Prince that stalk the room. Della gulped then, taking deep breaths she extended her hand to KaeAskavi, who silently came closer and pressed himself against the both of them. That action seemed to calm the young witch more, but Ana was quite aware that they were not that far from the storm.

Karla was out in court business and with her was Prince Hagen. Someone needed to stay in court to watch over Della. Her Queen was not sure about leaving her with the young witch, but after some assurance from the Master of the Guard and Della herself, she accepted.

Anastasia knew that the reason Karla accepted was because half of the First Circle was present at court, there were many guards around the grounds, and Della felt safe around her. She did feel very proud at being entrusted such a task, even for such a little time. Of course, she stopped feeling proud the moment Della assured her that someone human needed to be present at court during her music lessons. After all, someone needed to watch over KaeAskavi while she played the piano.

She had never been alone with the Arcerian Warlord Prince before, the thought of it had unnerved her a bit. Clearly, she had worried for nothing. The kindred had settled patiently by her side, quiet and calm as he waited for the lessons to be over. Never did he once disturb her reading. That did not last long.

He was the one to alert her that something was wrong with Della. The change in him was a clear indicator that he was rising to the killing edge. She needed to be very careful.

As Della began to calm so did KaeAskavi. She hummed softly a tune that her father used to sing to her and that helped to get Della's attention. When the young witch gave her a watery smile, she decided to find out what exactly happened.

"Better?" Anastasia asked softly, caressing Della's hair. The little witch gave her a solemn nod, before she cleared her throat.

"Yes, better," Della whispered in replied, before letting out another shuddering breath. Ana decided then to clean the tears away from the girl, before she guided her toward the piano bench. The young witch took a seat and then slid a bit more to the side to leave her some space to sit down. When she took her seat, the girl sighed and looked at the piano.

"What happened?" She asked once more. Anastasia watch as Della raised her index finger to play one of the white keys.

"I finished my lessons early. Master Girard left one of his books and I went to the kitchen to give it to him, since he always goes there to get something to drink or eat. When I got to the kitchen, I heard him telling cook that he did not know what to do. That as much as he tried to teach me, I was still very b-bad," Della said, finishing her sentence with a quiver. Anastasia hugged Della, rubbing her back once more as she inwardly sighed.

She knew first hand what it felt to hear something like that. She knew how painful it was. In that very moment, Anastasia could not help but think of her Queen's words. Shaking her head, she made Della look up at her and she offered the girl a smile.

"Witch-child, everything will be alright. Don't cry over such a thing. So the piano is not your biggest forte? Nothing wrong with that!" Anastasia said, poking softly the tip of Della's nose, making the girl smile.

"Really?" Della asked, uncertainty in her tone. Her eyes looking hard to see if Ana would lie.

"Really. I once knew of a girl who loved poetry. Her father used to praise her so much on it. Then one day she decided to show her tutor the many poems she had written. The witch, who gave her the private lessons, only read one poem and after she was done with it, she proclaimed that the girl should never try to write a poem again. The girl was very hurt and her father, upon receiving knowledge of what happened, decided to let go the tutor. He then proceeded to tell his daughter, that if poetry was what she liked to do, then that she should continue to do so." Anastasia said, still smiling as she remembered how mad her father had been. He had always encouraged her to do what she wanted and to dream as much as she wanted.

Della giggled before she looked back down at the piano. She still wore the smile on her lips as she continued to play the same key. Anastasia bit her lower lip, before she looked down at the piano keys. She had never been that good in the piano either, nor on the violin, but she had excelled in the harp. The Queen had no harp in her music room; no one at court played it. Her own was back home and too heavy to bring it to court. It was also a precious gift that she was not willing to risk on damaging.

"Della, if you like the piano continue to play it. No one really cares that much for what Master Girard says," She said, before whispering the last part. That made Della giggle. Her happy expression did not last long; it was replaced by a solemn expression.

"I just…I just wanted to make her proud," Anastasia did not need to know to whom exactly was the girl referring to.

"Witchling… You always do her proud. Come on, I heard Cook did those puff pastries you so much like," She hugged the girl one more time, before getting up and helping her get up. She arranged her pale pink skirts, just as she arranged Della's hair, making sure the young witch looked presentable and wrinkle free.

Anastasia guided her toward the kitchen, already planning what she was going to do to make Della happy and confident once more.

[3]

A loud breath escaped Karla as she finally settled inside her carriage. Hagen looked at her closely, before giving her one of his mischievous smiles. He was dressed in his Master of the Guard uniform. The gray and blue attire suited him well in her opinion. She raised one of her delicate eyebrows at him in curiosity, before she turned to look outside her window.

Her legs were beginning to bother her, which was a clear reminder that she needed to massage them when she got home. She had expected the meeting to be short, but it extended too long for her liking and already the sun was starting to slowly go down.

"Hopefully the court will still be standing when we get there," She commented, breaking the silence. Her words made Hagen chuckle. Looking back at him, she watched as he shook his head from side to side, a big smile on his lips.

"Oh, Karla, why do you have such little faith in her? Della trusts her." Hagen asked, that smile still on his lips. She rolled her eyes at him, finally able to be herself. Both of her hands smoothing out the wrinkles on her sapphire color pants.

" Della is Della. She is a child, Hagen. An innocent. Lady Verruil is not. She is an Aristo. Aristo ladies are not trust worthy. You know what I mean," She pointed out, making him sigh. They had this same conversation in different occasions.

"Yes, I do. Anastasia is not like that. She is pure hearted. Kind. Gentle. If she were not like that, you would have never let her inside the court," Hagen responded, making her snort. It was always his same response to her words.

"Always the same respond, Prince. I'm still waiting on you using different qualities of hers. Qualities that are true to her self and not appearance," Karla jibe, a wicked smile on her lips. She knew Hagen was affectionate of the woman, just as much as he found her attractive; most of the males in her court found the lady attractive. To their chagrin, the lady had not even noticed their attempts at wooing her.

Hagen furrowed his brow in disapproval, but that expression did not last long as he continued to smile at her. He shrugged his shoulders at her, before clearing his throat.

"You know it's the truth. Besides, I appreciate all of her qualities, most specifically the ones that have to do with her character. Not all Aristos are bad; you know that quite well, my Lady. You grew up with some of them," Hagen replied. She let out an exasperated breath, a bit bother by his words. She hated to admit he was right. She turned to look back out her window, watching the night settled in. They both rode in silence for a while, but Karla could still feel Hagen's pleased smile.

"She… Bothers me," Karla confessed to him. She listened to him adjust himself, as if he was ready to move into action. The protector in him coming out more as he rise to the killing edge. His silence a tell-tale sign of him waiting for her to explain herself.

Males, She thought to herself in aggravation.

"Not in the sense that you think. Maybe I used the wrong word to explain myself. I just… I do not know what word to use to describe what she does in me. The first month is almost over and I still do not know what to make of her," She murmured, turning to look at Hagen. His eyes were dark and full of curiosity. He raised an eyebrow in question and that made her grimace. No use on dropping the subject anymore, not when he was so attentive and a curious Warlord Prince was not good at all.

"She confuses me. There, that is closer to what I feel. I do not like it one bit. She confuses me to the point I am starting to forget why I did not want a lady-in-waiting," She looked down when she said that. Her hands were curled into fists and she could feel hotness in her cheeks.

"Interesting. Does this mean that you are retiring from the bet, my Lady?" Hagen asked innocently. His tone of voice made her look up at him.

"Not a chance. After all, I plan to send you out shopping with Della with the winnings I collect. Kiss, kiss, Hagen."

Her Master of the Guard flinched, before he sighed acting saddened by her answer. That made her smile wickedly once more. She relaxed into the carriage's bench, happy to once more ignored the feelings that were bubbling up inside of her.

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Kaerih