I know that a few of you are still confused, but I hope that after this chapter most questions will be answered. Also, this chapter is dedicated to Liz and her inquisitiveness. It's a longer chappie, so enjoy!
August had turned the city into a scorching furnace. Rain had been shortcoming, and the clouds few. Even with the shutters open at all hours, it was impossible to feel a breeze at the Hearty Hart.
Eleni felt that she was right in complaining about the clothes she had been forced to wear. No one had explicitly ordered her to stop wearing male clothing, but Irina was stronger than a force of nature. Knowing that there was no point in keeping up a façade any longer, she had jumped at the chance to dress up Eleni is dresses and skirts. It was like having a daughter of her own, without making her body endure the hardships of pregnancy.
Irina loved every second of it; Eleni hated it.
Avery and James stood by and let the Scanran have her way with the girl. They agreed that Eleni should experience women's clothing and that Irina was a great judge of taste. The Hart's other barmaid had to put her foot down on some of the more risqué dresses, reminding Irina that her toy was twelve years old and barely out of her girlhood years. Either way, Eleni ended up with an entire second set of clothes, all pretty and feminine.
And so, on a blisteringly hot day in the beginning of August, Eleni found herself sitting by her window, trying to find a way to keep cool. Her shutters had been opened once again in hopes that a breeze might drift into her room, but, so far, the day had remained as stifling as any other. Eleni felt that she would have been much more comfortable in leggings and a simple tunic, but Irina had insisted on this exact gown.
She'd been shoved into one of the dresses that they had bought in the Unicorn District. It was a very pretty little thing; even Eleni had to admit that fact. The color wasn't garish, the deep cinnamon brown color not clashing with her red hair, and for that alone Eleni was thankful. The color was the only thing Eleni found herself liking, because she felt like she was drowing in the amount of fabric that made up the dress.
Trying to find a comfortable way of sitting, arranging her skirts rather than just hiking them up, Eleni tried to get her mind off the unbarable heat and back to the letter she'd been trying to write. Letters had arrived at the palace for Eleni, and Lokejo had been dutiful to send them to her. She'd had a dozen letters from Schuylar alone and a few from Warren and Devin, but this was the first that she'd received from Perci. They'd kept a frequent enough corresponce while he was up north, but this was the first that she had received since early March.
Reading his latest letter had brought about conflicting feelings in Eleni. A part of her was very pleased that he had taken the revelation of her gender in stride, that he wasn't rejecting her like Alex had done, but that wasn't the whole of it. Perci had been chosen as Nealan of Queenscove's squire.
Obviously, word had reached the northern borders and the new widower. According to Perci's letter, the knight master had not taken the news well. It had taken four days for Lady Knight Keladry and the fort's other healer to break into Nealan's quarters. Even when Perci had tried to coax him out of his rooms, he'd encountered only silence. They had been detained until now in Queenscove, but would eb heading back to Corus for a month or so.
The letter had arrived three weeks ago, and Eleni still to pen a reply.
She wasn't sure what to write, not without bringing up what had happened. She wanted to go the rest of her life without acknowledging that day, but knew that it wasn't possible. The best she could do was to bear the memory. After all, she had only lost her disguise. Sir Nealan had lost his wife and half of his children.
For the fourth time in three weeks, Eleni put away her quill and paper. She hadn't written a word, yet, somehow, had managed to sit at her desk for hours. There wouldn't be any more time to attempt a reply today. Irina had given fair warning that she planned to make Eleni look like a true lady for dinner this evening.
As if summoned by thought alone, Irina strode into the room, a wide grin on her pretty face. Eleni tried to stand her gorund, but the way that Irina advanced could not have been more frightening.
"We'll simply have to do something with your hair tonight, darling." Had Irina said that she was there to kill her in cold blood, Eleni might have felt safer. She was quickly regretting not having cut her shoulder-length hair. "Come now, it won't hurt after a while."
Irina was a very good liar. An hour later, Eleni escorted to her usual table, only to find that two men were already seated there, an older gentleman and a much younger man, George and Perci.
Of course, she though bitterly, trying her hardest to not trip over the annoying skirt of her dress. Irina would do this to me if they were coming. The whole lot of them are no better than common liars!
"Grandfather, how wonderful to see you," she murmurred carefully. Feeling that she couldn't resisted, Eleni added a loud, "without even telling me." The color on his cheeks and Perci's chuckle was enough to make her forgive them. "And it's nice to see you, too, Perci."
Eleni couldn't say that she wasn't happy to see her friend again, she had missed him dearly. She just wished that she hadn't been wearing a dress. Merle had been telling her that she was looking more and more like a girl with every dress that she wore, and she really didn't want Perci to see her looking like this, not after a year apart.
She might have looked different, her hair arranged and wearing a dress, but Perci had changed too. A year up north had changed him for the better, taken away some of the softer lines of childhood. Though he and George had dressed down in more common clothing, the way he was carrying himself gave away hints of his heritage and calling. His brown eyes were still warm, but after the year he had endured, the innonce was long gone.
"And it's wonderful to see you, as well," he responded. His lips quivered, trying to hold back a smile that broke free easily. "Should I call you Eleni now? Calling you Myles would be a bit silly."
Without looking in a mirror, Eleni knew that she was blushing. What she didn't know was why. Pushing aside her worries and embarrassment, she honestly tried to enjoy dinner, as much as one can enjoy any activity while wearing a dress. At the end of dessert, Eleni was sure that the night had been one of her favorites of the summer. It was perfect, until a loud and bawdy voice rang out from the door.
Crossing the threshold were three very familiar city guards. Cara Reid, Liv Fell, their once-trainee Merle and a few others had entered the Hart, off their shift. The sight of them, normally a happy occasion for Eleni, now had her mind racing.
Eleni had never outright lied to the people she met while a guest at the Hart, the truth had just been avoided. She had preferred to let people make their own assumptions and keep the details scarce. None, apart from the Hart's staff, knew her real identity. Even now, dressed as a girl and dining with people who had seen her as a boy, Eleni had merely fabricated a tale that wasn't too far from the truth.
Her mind was racing, trying to remember what story she'd let them belive, when Irina rescued her. Coming up behind George, she said louder than necessary, "Have you enjoyed visiting your niece, Lucas?"
Apparently expecting the charade, George gave her an easy smile and a heart laugh. "Of course, Ira!" Perci, however, had not been informed, and was about to open his mouth when George looked at him sternly. "Aren't you enjoying the visit, Perci? Seeing your cousin must be nice, eh?" If there was one thing to credit Perci with, it was his ability to grasp the situation and keep on as if nothing had changed.
"It's been wonderful," he replied with on a hint of uncertainty. Perci didn't have achance to question their strange behavior, though. Before he could even form a question, he was too busy trying to fight back violent urges.
Merle, sighting his favority lass in all of Corus, as he had dubbed Eleni, had sauntered over to their table and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Long used to his overly friendly advances, Eleni didn't react to the hug or the kiss on the cheek that followed.
"How's my little lass?" he asked her cheerfully.
If his actions hadn't been enough to set Perci on edge, his blatant ignorance of simple manners had him fuming. He had never considered himself as arrogant as other nobles, but found that he wanted to teach the whelp more than manners. He wanted to teach him what a swordpoint felt like when pressed against a throat.
Ever the effortless hostess, Irina stepped in to difuse the situation. She gave Merle a little tap on the head and a peck on the lips, trying to show both of the men sitting at the table that the young man was not romantically involved with young Eleni.
"Mind your manners," she chided sweetly. Irina had seen George bristle along with the squire, and hoped that she wouldn't get in trouble for Merle's actions. Her master could be a right ogre when it came to his granddaughter's safety. "Or better yet." She said as he opened his mouth. "Let me introduce you. We wouldn't want you to say anything stupid." By now, Irina had curled her body into his side, something that Merle hadn't minded the slightest, and had forced him a step away from Eleni. "Lucas, this is a friend of Eleni's and a guard of the city, Merle Brown. Merle, this is Eleni's uncle, Lucas, and her cousin, Perci."
She really hoped that George wouldn't yell at her later, but by the way he was looking at her, Irina knew that there would be no escape later. She had known that her little stunts with Merle were risky, but the girl had needed a friend to help her forget about nobles and their petty problems. It wasn't her fault that the whelp was a flirt.
"Pleasure to meet you, sir." For someone who was constantly watching his back and be in tune with what people were hiding, Merle wasn't that perceptive to the hate he had just whipped up in the newcomers. "Don't you worry, boys," he gave Eleni an affectionate pat on the back, "the little lady is safe with me."
"Merle keeps me company most nights," Eleni piped up innocently. She didn't notice how George and Perci's expressions turned sour. "He makes from great dinner conversation."
True to his old colors, George kept up his act and smiled, although, he was starting to regret giving Irina reign over his granddaughter. "Thank you, really," he said to the boy. He gave Perci a pointed look and said, "Perci, why don't you take your cousin up to her room for a bit. To give her that present we brought back."
Eleni didn't really want to leave just yet and tried to argue her point. "But, Unc-"
George left no room for argument. "Go." He had a few things to discuss with this very young and very naïve quard, and he didn't want Eleni overhearing anything. The was also the fact that Perci and he had come down to discuss something with Eleni, and Merle couldn't hear the exchange.
As Perci went to help Eleni rise from her chair, Merle took the now empty seat. "Came back from a little journey, huh? Where'd you come from, anyway?"
"Port Legann," Perci bit out in anger. He was the only son of Lord Imrah of Legann and was not about to explain himself to this vagrant. He really didn't like this young man.
Merle wasn't deterred and continued asking. "You from there? I have family down south, you know." Relaxed as ever, he leaned back in the chair and watched Eleni as she was pulled from her chair. The little
"Do you?" he might have asked, but Perci didn't stay long enough to hear an answer. He might have judged the boy on his lack of manners earlier, but he didn't look much better as he practically dragged Eleni up the stairs.
Stumbling in her skirts, Eleni was honestly trying to keep up with the irate squire. "Perci," she cried out. Digging her feet into the hardwood floor and latching onto the stair railing, she pulled back on his grip. "Stop!"
Realizing that he was holding on to Eleni too tightly, he loosened his grip. "Sorry," he mumbled. The comforting hand on his arm told him that he was already forgiven. "Come on then."
"You mean there is a present?" Eleni tried to keep her balance with one hand on the railing and the other hand on Perci's arm. "I thought that was just an excuse to get me away from the table."
"There's a present of sorts," Perci said evasively. He was glad that they were away from the guard, but he was not looking forward to the discussion they were about to have. Gods help him, he would need it.
Did we enjoy this? I apologize for the underage drinking, but there aren't any actual laws about that in Tortall. Are we glad that Merle is back? It's how I'm apologizing for the lack of Alex.