A.N. SORRY! I know it's late but it's here now so please forgive me. Please R&R ^.^ Oh! And idk if you guys are interested... the piece that's being played is Maybe by Yiruma. Easy to find on youtube :P Anyway, here is Chapter 13 of Servant Boy
For some reason, I had this hope that one day I would be able to return to the castle I used to call home. I couldn't help but think about it, although I knew how foolish I was for wishing. I wasn't sure how it would happen, and frankly I didn't care. All I wanted was to see her face for one last time- It didn't matter how, and it didn't matter when. I would wait until I was on my deathbed, taking in my final breaths, as long as it meant that we could reunite one day. That little hope made me more willing to put up with another lonely day. I knew it was wrong, but I conjured many of these dreams to keep myself content. In my heart I knew that there was little chance of me ever seeing Bella again, but that didn't stop me from longing. It didn't stop me from caring.
What was even more upsetting was that fact that, during the long hours of continuous chores, sometimes I felt like she was still there with me. Sometimes when I wandered down the halls, and I heard a piano playing, or when I was outside and heard the trotting of horses, or the sipping of tea, I was reminded of Bella. I remembered every time I spent with her. Like the time she tripped and she fell into a bur bush and Alice spent the rest of the day pulling them out because she refused to cut her hair; or the time she got so mad at me and pushed me into the lake. She was everywhere I looked, and no matter where I went, there was always something there to remind me of her.
Another peculiar thing about the new castle was the fact that everything was done following meticulous routine. We all woke up at the same time, ate together, worked together, and almost never got any time to spend alone. Everything was done at a certain moment, and it was like there was an unwritten rule about everyone being present for it. Every now and then, I would get bored of this and try to escape the schedule. I would walk aimlessly around the castle and wait for everyone else to eat dinner while I treasured the split seconds I had to myself.
In truth, the Black's castle was a nice place to live- we were treated well, got enough to eat, and were given a bit of time to rest. It just didn't feel like I truly belonged. I missed Esme's gentle happiness that seemed to bring a feeling of warmth and love over the whole castle. I missed Carlisle's wisdom and guiding. I missed the playful banter of my 'siblings'. But most of all, I missed my Bella.
Today was one of those days when I had had enough of the schedule. It was dinnertime, and everyone was gathered in the dining room. The halls were bare and quiet. It was raining lightly outside, and I could hear the faint sound of rain falling on the roof. Deciding to skip dinner overall, I walked past the dining room and headed to the servant's quarters. The rain picked up and it started thundering loudly.
I sighed and remembered Bella's fear of thunder. It was the only time I saw her vulnerable side. I smiled as I remembered how she used to hide under the covers until it stopped. I spent most of those times with her, sitting beside her bed. I remembered she got over that fear by distracting herself through the storm. We told each other stories of dragons and fairies and elves. My favourite story she told me was about a bad-tempered old widow had two daughters. The older one was rude and full of pride but because she looked like her mother, she was the favourite child. The mother and the older daughter treated the younger daughter badly. I sighed, remembering the wonderful sound of Bella's voice, telling the enchanting tale...
"The younger daughter was sweet and kind. She was beautiful, with long locks of golden hair and a gentle smile. Although she was courteous, her mother and sister treated the sweet lass quite poorly."
"Well that hardly seems fair, Bella." I said, interrupting her story. She gave me a glare that looked to cute to be scary.
"Let me finish the story then!" she retorted, then continued:
"One day while drawing water from a well, the younger daughter was asked for a drink by an old woman. The girl didn't give it too much though and gave the woman a drink. Suddenly the woman snapped her fingers and turned into a fairy. She explained that she was a fairy who had taken the disguise of an old woman to test the character of mortals. Because the girl was so kind and compassionate toward her, the fairy blessed her with having a diamond or a pretty flower fall from her mouth whenever she spoke,"
"That's blasphemy!" I cried.
"It's just a story, Edward," she laughed, "It doesn't mean it actually happened. Now who's telling the story here?"
"Alright, continue the story please," I pretended to zip my mouth to encouraged her.
"Well, upon arriving home and explaining why she took so long to her mother, the widow was outraged. At the sight of glistening diamonds and fragrant rose petals falling from the kind girl's lips, she desired that the eldest daughter, Fanny, should have the gift as well. Fanny protested, but the widow forcibly sent her to the well with instruction to act kindly toward an old beggar woman.
Fanny set off, but, unbeknown to her, the fairy was now disguised as an old gentleman. Fanny, with no idea that this was the fairy, was rude to her, and refused to draw her a drink from the well. The fairy decreed that, as punishment for her despicable attitude, toads and snakes would fall from Fanny's mouth whenever she spoke.
When Fanny arrived home, she told her story to her mother- disgusting toads and vipers falling from her mouth with each word. The widow, in a fury, drove her younger daughter out of the house.
The girl stumbled to the woods, where she happened across a kind and dashing prince. The lad was immediately taken with her beauty and sweet disposition, and soon they fell madly in love. They were married a fortnight later, and they lived happily ever after."
"Might I ask what the moral of this story is?"
"I think it means to be kind to everyone, never judge a person by their appearance, and that good things come to good people," she smiled, and I understood.
I shook out of my memories, and felt a new surge of hope. I always tried to be the best person I could be, even when it seemed impossible... so maybe something good would happen to me someday.
I was just passing by the darkened storage rooms when I heard it. It was a sweet melody coming from inside, that started off slow with despair then gracefully grew into longing and hope. The sound was powerful and sad, and caught me off guard. I practically ran to the find the source of the music. As I entered the storage room, I took in how dimly lit and cluttered it was. Old, broken things, boxes, and long forgotten furniture were scattered around the room. Then I saw the dusty old grand piano, sitting in the corner of the large room. It was a majestic old instrument, if neglected, and behind it I could just make out the shadowy figure of…
"Seth?" I asked, in awe and bewilderment. The music came to an abrupt halt.
"Ed-Edward," he said, quickly standing up.
"I was heading back to our room when I heard you playing- where in the world did you learn to play like that?" I questioned.
"I… my dad used to teach the Prince how to play the piano. I used to watch their lessons and I saw how much he enjoyed teaching the Prince, so I asked him to teach me. After he died... well, there was no one else who knew how to play, so they moved the piano in here." Seth said.
"Oh," I said softly.
"I suppose I should go now," he said, shyly. He stood up and started making his way out.
"Wait," I said. "So that was you? All the times I walked down the hall and heard the sound of the piano- that was you all along?"
"Yes, it was me, you won't tell anyone, will you?" Seth asked, suddenly concerned. Suddenly I flashed back to all the times I watched Bella play the piano, and when she tried to teach me how too. Then I had an idea.
"I'll tell you what, Seth, teach me to play! I promise I won't tell a soul." I said. He looked at me and then slowly broke into a smile.
"You got it, Edward." he replied, as he sat back down, leaving room for me to sit beside him.
"Shall we start now?" he grinned.
"Put your fingers here... like so..." he demonstrated. Before long, under Seth's cheerful teaching, I was playing a simple, but sweet tune. "I've missed having someone to play piano with…" he trailed off quietly.
As I ventured down the now silent hallways, back to my room, I vowed to myself that I would practice hard. I was determined that the next time I saw Bella, I would play for her. It was one more little thing to keep me going; another way to keep alive my hopes that someday, we would be together again.