WOW. Two chapters in rapid succession. o.O You're getting a lot this week. Of course, I've really been making myself write because I ought to do it more. It's therapeutic. But... you're not hear to read my psychotic babble at the beginning of chapters... so enjoy! 8D
I woke up with a start.
For some reason I was restless. My mind wouldn't settle. I was tired - the ball had been an exhausting ordeal - but I couldn't seem to calm my thoughts down. The dreams that came were a patchwork of events, and then they were glued together with nonsensical things that had never happened.
Running a hand through my hair, I breathed deep. 'In, out, in, out,' I told myself. 'You need to calm down.' Shaking myself, I rubbed my eyes. Well, I was awake, whatever time it was. I noted that the lights were darker than normal, which was saying something. This was probably meant to simulate night…
I was far from ready to go to sleep again.
Staring thoughtfully at the pillows, I stood. If it was dark, then people wouldn't mind me looking around the castle. Besides, it would reduce the chances of my running into any unwanted company.
Slipping into a comfortable dress which I found in the back, I left my room. I was careful to be as quiet as possible. I didn't want Marie waking up and tattling on me to anyone. She seemed like the sort who would do anything for that sort of attention.
Wandering through the castle in the dim lighting was creepy. My own house was somewhat intimidating in the dark. This was creepy on a different level. Shadows clung to the walls, and corridors seemed far more ominous.
Although slightly put off by this, I would not go back to my room. So I collected myself, and pushed onward. My eyes adjusted to the dark, and I noted, to my shock, that there were still some faeries hanging around near the halls. They clung to the shadows, and watched me as I walked by. My skin crawled. I straightened my back and told myself that I could handle it. I was, after all, the one who had stared down a prince tonight.
However, discomfort made me yearn for something somewhat familiar. I directed myself to where I believed the library was – based on my wanderings. I found myself at the portrait, and ran for the door. Once inside, I sighed at the comforting smell.
The library was dimly lit. I could see some vague lighting, but I could barely see beyond my own nose. The creepy factor was hardly better in here. Glancing around, I was glad to see a candle on the table. Before touching it, I paused. That's odd. A candle, in the middle of an empty room.
Who had used it? Squinting, I called softly, "Who else is here?" My voice sounded cowardly to me, and so when I repeated myself, I said it with a little more strength. No one responded. Shrugging it off, I picked up the nub of a candle. Perhaps someone had accidentally left it on.
Whatever it was, I was grateful for it. I wandered quickly through row after row. Finally, I had managed to find myself in a small alcove of the library. A table sat there, wood polished to perfection. On the wall was a painting of some kind; however I could not make out what it was of. Dust coated it.
Reaching forward, I rubbed gently at the painting. Sooner or later this dust would have to come off… and then I stopped suddenly. That was my mother. She was younger looking, but I could recognize this as her. She stood beaming at a woman – whom I identified as the queen by her cascades of black hair. They looked like they had a bond of deep understanding, she and the queen. It was strange for to see my mother looking like she belonged in this world…
"Lanora was always my most faithful companion," a voice chimed from behind me.
I spun around, seeing the queen. I breathed. She had scared me. The woman smiled at me benevolently, allowing me time to recover from my shock. "If she was so faithful, why did she leave?" I said it without thinking.
The queen's face darkened. "The wizard. Markus. She was enchanted by him. I tried to tell her that there were many good Faerie men that she could marry… Any could have been her choice if she just asked me… but no. She loved your father." She spat out the final words. Oooookay. Bitter Faerie queen. Time to stop that conversation.
Suddenly a thought struck me. "Wait, aren't you supposed to be dead? Either you're dead, or I'm really crazy."
I watched her face droop. "Yes. I guess I died…" Suddenly, she shook her head. Her face became resolute. "No. This is…" she stopped speaking. "I am forbidden to tell you. The point of the matter is that I am real. Just… stuck. Elsewhere right now." Those sane words seemed to cost her. I could see how hard she was trying to focus.
"Well, go bother one of your family members, who could actually help you." She shook her head vehemently. "Can't you contact them?"
"I've tried. They… cannot see past their own noses. They believe I am dead, and do not look for more. Your eyes are open and…" She stopped, and her expression lost its ferocious concentration. "You were saying, dear?" Ooh. Back to crazy.
I blinked. What the hell? "I didn't – you –" she looked at me expectantly, and I knew that it would be pointless.
"You really are a strange girl. I do hope you're not too strange for my sons." I grimaced.
"No chance," I muttered darkly. "Why did you do this to me?" I was suddenly angry. This woman had torn my life to shreds because of some delusion that my mother wanted to come back to court. "Why did you obligate me to marry one of them and ruin my life?"
"You don't want to marry a prince?" She asked the question innocently.
"No." I stated hoarsely. "I don't want the fairy tale prince. I want my home, my life, and my mom. And you took that from me!" I pointed at her accusingly. I watched her frown.
"Pity. You'll have to, or no one will become king." She grinned, as if proud of herself. "I cursed the crown. If dear Oberon were to die, someone would have to marry you in order to be king." My heart dropped. This deal just got better and better, didn't it?
My mouth opened and shut as I searched for words. "You can't be serious."
"You can thank me later, dear, when you're Princess." I wanted to scream that I didn't want to be a princess. That was something reserved for when I was a little girl. No, I wanted to teach dance for a living. That was what I had wanted. The woman didn't give me a chance. "Now, now. I need to go. And please, dear, come again." She paused before she left, as if she wanted to say something more, but just kept walking.
Once she was gone, I let out a wail of shock and anger. "You… evil… ugh!" I threw a hand up in the air and looked angrily up. "Does someone up there have something against me? Because it's starting to get old. I really hope you don't have something new and exciting up your sleeve still." Growling ferociously, I looked back at the painting. It was good to see Mom again, even if it was just a picture.
I noted a gold plate underneath the image, and leaned forward to read it. 'Queen Niera and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Lanora' it read blandly. Sighing, something in me wished I knew more about who my mother had been while she was here. Everything else said that sometimes what was unknown was generally better left unknown.
I left the area, and knew that I would come back again. Niera had that information, and I knew that I was a curious person. I'd be back.
Leaving the library, I hastened through the halls. With a candle lighting the way, things were less intimidating. To some extent. The creatures by the walls became quite clear to me. They didn't seem to maintain one shape for very long. One moment there would be a dog and the next a goblin creature. The shifting was not a smooth thing. Although it made no sound, you watched their form twist and break into the next. I shuddered.
Their eyes followed me as I walked. The candlelight filled the trademark dark eyes with devilish fire. I merely walked a little faster, and did my best to ignore them. For the most part they left me alone. Until one finally approached.
He settled upon the shape of a very little man. Like the sort of creepy midget guy that you hope that you never run into. He started following me. When he continued it for a few more halls, I turned around and have him a glare. He looked at me and grinned. It was chilling, but I refused to be cowed.
Fighting the need to run away, I said, "Hey, creeper, back off." It sounded stupid, and he tilted his head at me. "Leave me alone." I enunciated each word carefully. "Ya got me? Scram."
He chuckled malevolently. Well, that was creepy. Time to go. I spun around and he was in front of me. Not cool, man. Not cool. Panic rose as he walked towards me, but I quickly told myself that this was foolish. I could handle this. He was a midget for goodness sake! I began to walk towards him, but he began to shift again.
He became a big wolf. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Well, I was no idiot, and I could see this going badly. I backed away as he growled at me. "Curious humans should learn to stay with their masters, no?" It was odd hearing a gravelly Irish voice from a wolf.
"I have no master. Get the hell out of my way," I managed to muster, starting to walk past him again. He snarled and then his muzzle twisted into a sick smile. I stopped. 'I'll just be staying here then,' I thought, watching the wolf for any movement.
"Mmmm. That could be remedied easily, lass." Shit. I could run, but he would catch up to me. I could stay, but then I would still be screwed. My heart thudded in my rib cage. 'Think, Grace, think,' I ordered myself.
Something told me to dance. Mindlessly, I thought of the dance from Chicago that we had once done. I could hear the music now, with the introduction, "Ladies and gentlemen, Velma Kelly in an act of desperation…" Yep, this was definitely an act of desperation.
Yes, I think I Bob Fosse-d him into chains. I really can't be sure. I started doing some sort of crazy wild something or rather and then I hear upset groans from the floor. Stopping I glanced down, and there was the wolf, trapped in chains that shifted with each shape he took. I stared for a few moments. 'Woah… it worked,' I thought. Triumph filled me, and I beamed.
Laughing victoriously, I did a mini success dance. Hooray for dancing and hooray for me! "Hah!" I said, pointing at the Faerie, clearly gloating. "That, sir, is what you get for screwing with Grace Donovan!" His eyes widened at the name.
"Lady Grace? Apologies m'lady! Have pity on a poor bugger, would ye?" I blinked at him, and sighed. "Lemme go so I can return to my job?" I frowned. That would be stupid.
"Even if I could I wouldn't. Nothing personal, but you just attacked me." I shrugged, and started to walk off. In response he started to howl in displeasure. Whatever. Let him wail. I finally looked up and saw Tiernan smiling at me.
"Well, my lady, I would say your time with Thistle has been good for you. Allow me to get rid of this scoundrel for you." The howls from the bugger suddenly became silent, and I glanced back at him.
"Like hell. He's taken care of." I snapped.
Tiernan frowned. "Crude language for a lady." I rolled my eyes. He could stuff it. "But I only mean to kill him for your honor." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I turned to look at him like he was crazy. "Woahwoahwoah, kill him? What sort of women do you deal with, you idiot? Don't kill him. Killing him won't restore my honor." I paused. "For that matter, what right do you have to protect my honor!" He looked at me balefully, and I threw my hands up in the hair. Finally, I said, "Just… don't let him near me. Again." That sounded reasonable, and it seemed to please Tiernan to have a task to do. 'Like a dog,' I thought.
"In return for the favor, may I have one in return?" he asked hopefully.
In my exhaustion I brushed him off by saying, "Sure. Yes. Whatever."
I did not look back – did not want to look back – at the prince as he strode towards the whimpering form of the bugger lying on the ground. Numbly I walked through the halls. I wasn't tired, simply distracted.
Perhaps that was why I ran into someone. "Watch where you're walking, you moron!" I shouted from the floor before I saw that it was Warren, who know lay on the floor across from me.