She was not sure what to make of her relationship with Estelle for the next few days. Estelle on the surface didn't seem any different to her,. However, there was a softness there, she made more eye contact with her and she spoke softer to her. However, Gabrielle found herself making small talk to her while she was helping her dress. It was rather pleasant. Estelle had never been an enemy, or an ally either. Yet, the blonde was glad that Estelle was being kind to her instead of indifferent.
However, Gabrielle would have never expected what would have happened a week later, in the evening. She was in the kitchen, cleaning. When she her stepmother entered the room and Estelle was behind her.
"Gabrielle, Estelle wants you to accompany her to the marketplace to carry her bags." Gabrielle looked past Isodara to see Estelle; she had neutral face. Gabrielle curiosity was peaked and she nodded. Isodara left and Estelle gave her a look.
"I will be waiting in the lobby." Estelle said, simply and left. When she was gone, Gabrielle quickly put everything away and hurried off to a waiting Estelle. Her younger stepsister was wearing a green traveling dress. There was no need for Gabrielle to change, considering all the clothing she owned was her ragged dress and it would not be furthered ruined by a trip to town. Gabrielle walked into the lobby and a seated Estelle rose when she saw her. Estelle gave a nod to her and outside they went to town.
Gabrielle wondered if Estelle would say anything to her, during their trip, but the brunette made no such attempt. The blonde bit her lip, a bit nervously. She oddly felt their should be some form of communication between them on their travel to the market. Why, she couldn't say. She looked to the ground for a moment, before saying.
"So what do you plan to buy in the marketplace?" She asked, in a polite tone. She knew if she asked Rosella the same question that she get an earful of the latest styles and fashions, that where, of course, practically made to be worn by her. But Estelle remained silent for a moment.
"Likely, whatever is still open when I am done." Her voice was calm, but Gabrielle could find a hint of slight challenge in her voice. The chocolate haired girl was wondering what her stepsister would be able to figure out. A judge of Gabrielle's intelligence.
"I had a feeling you weren't taking me out for just a shopping trip." She said, looking at the side of Estelle's head and catching a gleam in those green eyes. "You have never asked for an escort to shop alone before. You never buy enough for that." Estelle almost never went shopping without her family and when she did, she rarely brought more than a single bag back. "However, I am sure your mother was glad you requested an aid, in hopes that you were becoming more like your sister."
She small a small smile tug at the corner's of the brunette's face. Gabrielle felt a flutter in her chest. She seemed to have passed the intelligence test. She knew Estelle valued people of intelligence, not book smarts, but common sense. Being the maid, Gabrielle had little of a way of showing her own intelligence. Estelle might have assumed she was dull or simple. In a way that was true. Gabrielle viewed herself as a rather simple girl.
"You are corrected." Answered, her younger stepsister, "And you are right. She was excited when I mentioned I wanted to go shopping." Her smiled then faded a bit, "She wants me and Rosella to become miniature versions of herself." Her tone now had a bit of a edge to it.
"I have seen that." conferred Gabrielle. Isodara was always trying to mold them into something and while Rosella went with whatever their Mother did, Estelle was usually dragged to it.
"Of course, my pigheaded sister goes with everything dear mother says." Scoffed Estelle, with clear bitterness, "Never disagrees. Of course, how can she? She has no thoughts in that curly blonde head of hers, just whatever mother puts there." She raised her arms in frustration.
"I am not quite sure it is possible for someone not to have thoughts of their own." Gabrielle said , quietly. Estelle turned to give her a "look" maybe she was now rethinking her intelligence now. But Gabrielle decided to continue on. "Following Mother is all she has ever known."
"It is all I have known either." interjected Estelle.
"But not everyone is the same and not everyone is naturally rebellious. We are told by the priests and teachers at a young age to always obey and follow our parents. We are always told they know what is best for us." Gabrielle was trying to explain the best she could. She was not sure if Estelle was understanding or thinking she was stupid, but she continued. "Maybe Rosella something thinks that something Isodara says is wrong or foolish, but she thinks back to what the world says about your parents always knowing best or you. Maybe she once had a lot of rebellious thought when she was younger, but they might have been beaten out of her. After all, there are a few years between you two."
Gabrielle concluded and waited with some worry at Estelle's reaction.
"Why are you defending her? She has been nothing, but cruel to you?"
This question startled the blonde. Why had she defended the blonde? She had been an irritation to her for years. Right now, she couldn't recall a time when Rosella had been nice to her. Gabrielle thought hard as she could, but could only come up with one thing.
"I think there is hope for everyone." She said, hoping it didn't sound to silly. However, but to her embarrassment Estelle laughed.
"You are an interesting little bird. You must be the human incarnation of a Grace to have so much patience with her." Estelle continued to laugh and Gabrielle's cheeks were hot with embarrassment.
Suddenly, her embarrassment was forgotten with the sounds of a bubbling stream. She looked down the side of the path to see the small creek. She turned back to Estelle and asked,
"Would you wait here for a moment?"
"What for?"
Gabrielle pointed to the creek at the bottom,
"So I can get a pebble as an offering for the crossroads."
Estelle furrowed her brows, "You can't be serious. Weren't you just talking about how priests makes us believe in silly things? Why isn't giving offerings also silly?"
"I don't give offerings to the priests. I give them to the Gods."
"What use have Gods of offerings? All you give goes back to the priests and priestesses."
Gabrielle thought, a bit more. "I think it is like when a child makes something for a parent, like a drawing or something made of clay. The parent has no use of it, but they care for it as a sign of their children's love."
Estelle gave a sigh, and crossed her arms. Estelle obviously thought she was foolish for wanting to make offerings. In a way, Gabrielle could understand Estelle opposition to offerings. There were greedy priests who kept the richest offerings for themselves, but many offerings just went to keep temples running. And it was something that her father always taught her to do.
"Please, just let me get a peddle. I will be quick about it, I promise." She folded her hands in pleading. Estelle just rolled her eyes and reached into her purse.
"Here." She pulled out a coin and handed it to her stepsister. Gabrielle looked down at the coin in wonder. She had not given money as an offering since her father's death.
"That will likely satisfy the priests more than a pretty pebble would."
For a moment there was silence. Then without warning, Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her stepsister int a big bear hug. Estelle gave a gasp and then Gabrielle quickly released her and backed a few steps away. The stepsisters stared at each other for a moment. If they had ever hugged before now, it had been years ago, likely before he father's death. Then a thought to Gabrielle. Had she ever seen anyone hugging Estelle? Not, in the house, she had never seen it, but perhaps from her lover. After, a moment of awkward silence, Estelle cleared her throat.
"I think we should start going again." Gabrielle nodded in agreement and they silently made their way to town. It was not exactly an uncomfortable silence, more like a needed silence, that was the best way Gabrielle could describe it. They came upon the crossroads. She looked to Estelle, who gave a simple nod, before Gabrielle made an offering of the coin and said her prayers. Estelle made not a sound and they continued on to the village.
Gabrielle had a feeling to where they going, but said nothing, as nervousness filled her stomach. Soon they came to a tiny green house, that nested snuggle between two other other houses. It had several potted plants in front of it, that looked well nourished. The outer parts of the houses were painted in warm and welcoming tones. Gabrielle felt some of the tension leave her, as she looked at the inviting home. Estelle knocked on the door.
It slowly open to reveal to who Gabrielle thought this house belonged too. The ginger baker stood at the door. When the ginger saw Estelle, her smile widened, but when she caught a glimpse of Gabrielle her smile faulted. The ginger's face was full of apprehension and it only added to Gabrielle's. The two girls looked uneasily at each other for a few moments until Estelle broke the silence.
"Relax, Lisette, she has not told anyone about us." The ginger now Lisette's facial tension now gave away and it looked like she could finally breathe.
"I think it be best if we go inside." added, Estelle. Lisette nodded and opened the door wider for them to come in. The girls stepped in and Gabrielle discovered the house was painted just was warmly inside , as outside. Paintings of animals and landscapes covered the walls. Gabrielle then heard the sounds of soft meows and soon saw a curious kitten looking around the corner at them. The fact that Lisette was also a cat person also put the blonde more at ease with her. She invited them both to take seats.
"I know you had a long journey to get here." stated Lisette, "I'll get you some tea." The baker disappeared into her kitchen while the stepsisters waited. The small kitten, from earlier, came up around them and studied Gabrielle. She might have been use to Estelle, but not to the blonde. Gabrielle smiled at the kitten and wished she could pick it up and pet it, but she had better manners than to handle someone's animals without permission.
Lisette soon came pack with a tray of tea and sat it on the table in front of them. She started pouring the tea and asked how many sugars they wanted. Estelle took two. It had been years since Gabrielle had tea and she couldn't quite remember what she liked, but decided to go with Estelle's two. After, Lisette had performed her hostesses duties, she made herself a cup and sat down. A silence followed and Gabrielle was not sure who should break the silence first. Eventually, Gabrielle decided she would. She had caused this mess in the first place.
"I would like to apologize to the both of you." She started and drew the attention of both lovers. Gabrielle took another sip of her tea. Mmmm...she had forgotten how good it tasted. "I should not have run off that day. I was in shock, but that was no excuse for running off like I did. I know, I must have scared you both." Lovers of the same sex could easily be exiled from the village, at the least. "Please, I beg for forgiveness from the both of you." She bowed her head in humbleness.
A quiet followed, and Gabrielle's heart beat fast.
"I have already forgiven you, or I wouldn't have brought you here." Stated her stepsister. Gabrielle looked over to Lisette. The ginger was in the midst of taking a sip of tea. When she set her cup over, she said.
"I applaud your bravery for coming over her and admitting your mistake. I think I more fingers on my hands than the people that would do that around here, for lovers of the same gender." Gabrielle's heart eased a bit, but Lisette still had not officially forgiven her.
"I accept your apology." She said finally, bringing relief to the blonde's heart. The kitten ,Gabrielle almost forgotten about it, set it's little paws on Gabrielle's raggedy dress. Gabrielle looked down and smiled at it and it meowed back.
"Looks like Loki has taken an interest in you." Lisette observed.
"I have a cat at home, Astrid." mentioned Gabrielle.
"You can pick him up and pet him, if you want."
"Oh, I can?" Gabrielle asked, excitedly. Lisette nodded, with a bit of a smile. Gabrielle gently scooped up Loki into her arms. She petted the kitten and he meowed in response. As she was petting the cat, something in the back of her mind was clicking. Loki sounded familiar. Then it clicked.
"Loki isn't that the name of a Northern god?" She asked, curiously. Lisette smiled widened a bit.
"You are correct. He is named after the Northern god of mischief."
"Ah, that's a perfect name for a cat." Gabrielle said, happily.
"Not many people know that. My family is from the North, so we know. However, not many southerners know that."
Gabrielle thought for a second, "I think I read it once in my father's old library." Yes, it had to be it. None of her salvage books contained that name and she would know having gone over them so many times. Estelle had an odd look in her eyes at that mention of her father's library and Gabrielle wondered what she was thinking.
"I sensed you were a good person. When I gave you that letter that day. I somehow felt you wouldn't open it."
"I promise you I didn't." confirmed Gabrielle.
"I believe you." Lisette took another sip of tea. Another silence took over the room, only broken by Loki's purrs and meows. Gabrielle decided to speak up once again.
"If you don't mind me asking. How did you two meet?" She hoped this wouldn't be rude or prying, but she was curious. Much to her relief, neither woman looked offended.
"It was at the spring festival, last year." Began Estelle. Isodara didn't think much of "peasant" festivals as she called them, but she intended anyway to try to look good among the common people. It really didn't work, but Estelle hardly noticed this.
"I was sitting bored and went to the pastries section." continued Estelle, "and that's when I saw her...and thought she was so beautiful." At this, Estelle looked at Lisette with a look of genuine affection in her eyes and Estelle gazed back at her with the same expression. Gabrielle had heard that romantic love could not exist between people of the same sex, but seeing them together, with that look in their eyes. She knew it was a complete lie.
"I asked her for her name and we began to talk, what about I don't recall." Lisette gave a giggle at that and Estelle blushed, "Well anyway, we decided to both get away from the people and we walked to a bridge where no one was and...that's where I had my first kiss." Estelle's check's were hot when she finished the story, but she had a great smile on her face. Lisette seemed to bring out a different side of her, a happier and more relaxed one.
Gabrielle didn't realize it, but she was smiling too. Then Lisette began to speak,
"Then we started to arrange secret meetings between each other...and no one caught us...until you."
"I wasn't spying, I promise. I thought I heard Estelle and went to see if it was her, honest."
"Again, I believe you." Said, Lisette. Gabrielle relaxed again,
"Now, let's talk about you. Aren't you Estelle's stepsister and the only child of our former lord?"
Gabrielle nodded, "Yes, I am."
"Then why are you in rags and why does Estelle say you do all the work around the house?"
Gabrielle blushed in embarrassment and took a glance at her stepsister. Estelle looked shameful at this.
"Because Isodara makes me. I have been a slave in my home since my father's death. I sleep in the kitchens and I do all the work." She confessed seeing no need to lie to her.
"Oh, that's terrible!" exclaimed Lisette, she turned to her lover. "Can't you do anything about this?"
Estelle just nodded no,
"I have no power of the workings of the house, only the "Lady" of the house has that right. I asked about giving Gabrielle a proper room the other day, but she just laughed and dismissed me." Gabrielle had no idea her stepsister had asked if she could have her own room. She was deeply touched at that.
"Oh, my..." Lisette took another sip of tea. "Have you thought of just leaving?"
Gabrielle thought over what to day, carefully, "I have, but how I would do that? I have only my rags and cat. Besides, I am still in Isodara's custody and if I ran away she could fine me and have me dragged back and beaten for running away." She gave a slight shiver at the thought. There was no doubt in her mind that Isodara would have her beaten if she saw the need. She was lucky to have avoided it so far.
"That is quite a conundrum." said, Lisette. "I wished, I could help you, but I see no way too."
"It's okay...I'll somehow make it."
"You are a good girl Gabrielle. You deserved much better."
"Thank you, Lisette." They continued to talk till the sun started to set. Estelle rose,
"It's best we go. We still have to buy something or mother will ask questions." Gabrielle nodded, and gently placed Loki down from her lap. Giving the kitten one last pet. She said her goodbyes to Lisette and Loki, as they left. When the door closed, she turned to Estelle.
"Thank you." She said, firmly.
"For what?"
"For bringing me here to meet Lisette. You didn't have to do that, but you did. I had the best evening I've had in a long time." Her last attempt at a good evening had gone wary, thanks to a certain white haired prince.
"Well, you're welcome. Now...we can have "fun" shopping." Gabrielle knew of Estelle's dislike of shopping, and gave a giggle at her sarcasm. The brunette gave a light smile at her, before they headed off to the market. Businesses were starting to close, but they managed to find a few items: a green scarf, a perfume bottle, and a fan. It all fit into one little bag that Gabrielle was happy to hold in comparison to the heavy bags that she usually had to carry when Rosella joined the trips. When, Gabrielle thought they were about to leave her when her stepsister surprised her.
"What would you like to buy?" She asked her.
"What? I can't get anything?" Gabrielle blushed, "Your mother would be bad at you."
"I don't care and we can hide it. Now tell me what do you want." That was easy, Gabrielle knew what she wanted...but risking Isodara's wrath if she found out her daughter spent money on her. She thought about it and then decided she would likely never get this chance in a long time.
"What I really love is...books." Gabrielle admitted.
"Books?" Asked, Estelle. "Oh, your father's library. I remember when all those books were taken out." Gabrielle frowned at that memory.
"Well, come on the bookshop will close soon." Said Estelle as she took her stepsister's hand and dragged her to the bookshop. The blonde felt excitement in her chest. She was going to get a new book! A new friend! They hurried to the closing bookshop and Gabrielle looked in wonder at all the volumes. Oh, how could she possibly pick one and in such a short amount of time? She looked through the shelves. She finally decided to go ask the book keeper for help and ask him what was popular.
"Romance is usually popular with girls your age." He responded, casually,
"I want something a little different...maybe with more magic and adventure?"
"Fantasy?" He asked. She thought for a moment, before nodding. She had fairy tales, but a full blown fantasy story would be interesting to read about. She followed the book keeper to the selves and he searched until he picked up a brown volume.
"This is one of our best selling." He announced proudly. "far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise." He handed it to her and she took it.
"Sounds wonderful." except the prince part, she mentally added. Then she mentally slapped herself for that. Had one bad experience with a prince made her prejudice against all princes? She shook her head and showed the book to Estelle.
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yes, I am." Gabrielle handed her the book and Estelle went to pay for it. She stuck the book into her bag. They happily walked home together under the setting sun. When they passed the crossroads, Gabrielle turned to the Hecate placate and waved to it.
"Thank you, for the wonderful trip we had today!" Behind her, Estelle rolled her eyes, but in amusement, not annoyance. They continued the peaceful walk home and arrived at the manor only the last reaches of daylight with them. When they entered, Estelle quickly handed her the book and Gabrielle ran off the kitchen to hide it with the rest of her books under the straw bed. As she was opening the door to the kitchen, she was greeted by the sound of Isodara and she didn't sound happy. But when did Isodara ever sound happy.
"You brought a servant with you to carry one little bag and you were gone till dusk!" She screeched at Estelle. Gabrielle cracked the door opened as she watched the mother and daughter. She didn't think it would be best if she made her presence known now. She just watched,
"I thought I would buy more, but the quality was poor, so I mostly just windowed shop." Gabrielle couldn't help, but admire Estelle cleverness. That was the answer to likely satisfy her stepmother, blaming the merchants for not having stuff good enough for her.
"Well, our merchants are some of the poorest in the region." Isodara agreed with her daughter, "But that's not the point. I have news, good news. I have been waiting for the two of you to get back to share it. GABRIELLE, ROSELLA get down here this instant." Her shrieks sounded the halls. Slowly, the blonde emerged from the kitchen and Rosella hurried down the stairs. When they were all assembled, Isodara started.
"I have received a royal message." Isodara announced, in a neutral tone. Rosella gasped and Gabrielle felt her heart drop to her stomach. What if Isodara now knew she was at the ball and the one who had ran out on the prince?
"What is it, Mother?" urged Rosella to her mother.
"The prince is coming over in a week!" She cried with excitement and Rosella started to squeal. Gabrielle felt like she was going to throw up...the prince...was coming here. Oh, no, no, no. This couldn't end will for her. She barely noticed it when Isodara addressed her.
"I except this place to be in top shape." She commanded firmly.
Gabrielle gave a weak nod, her mind a thousand miles away. Rosella and Isodara began to talk excitedly about the prince coming over and without waiting to be excused Gabrielle went back to the kitchen. She didn't even fell like reading her new book. She just went to her altar to Hestia and prayed for strength.
She had an uneasy rest that night.