Here is a new chapter, and it is on time - somewhat :)
Two weeks later
Wendy opened and closed the lid on the little box.
Should she take it with her? Should she not?
There was a soft knock at the door.
She put the box away. "Come in."
Her mother opened the door and stepped in.
"How is the packing going, my dear? Oh, you look so pretty in that coat." Her mother's smiled gently and stepped over to her. She pulled one of the loose locks of Wendy's hair back behind her ear. "I am so happy for you, dear."
Wendy smiled nervously and looked down. "Who will live in this room? And who will help you with the chores?"
Her mother laughed lightly. "Are you nervous, Wendy?"
"No…" Wendy said and stood up from the bed she had been sitting on. "I am just worried about you and Father, and everyone else."
"My sweet little one." Her mother turned her back towards her and put her hand down her cheek. "This was always going to happen. At some point, you were going to get married and you would move away."
"But I am not getting married." Wendy interrupted.
"Not yet, but you will soon enough." Her mother's smile was gentle. "And to a man you love ... Wendy, we will be fine. Me and your father took care of the inn before you were even born, and we will continue until Edward takes over."
"I could have taken over the inn," Wendy mumbled.
"It is natural to be nervous, little one." Her mother continued in a gentle voice. "This is something you have never done before. But I know my little girl is brave." She gently caressed Wendy's cheek. "And I know that no matter where you are in this world. You will shine like the fairy light you are."
Wendy smiled at the expression. "You learned that from the elven queen, did you not?"
Her mother did not answer but smiled mischievously. "Now. Have you taken...?"
The older woman went to the small cabinet beside Wendy's bed and opened the drawer in it before Wendy could stop her.
"I really do not think I should take that," Wendy said quickly, as her mother pulled out the decorative small box that belonged to her grandmother. "That was grandmothers. It should be passed down to Edward and his children."
"But child. Your grandmother wanted you to have this." Her mother said gently and held out the box for her.
Wendy took the small, shiny box hesitantly and opened it to see the mirror lying inside. "She did."
Her mother nodded and seemed to be a thousand miles away.
"The very first time she held you. She told me that she was so happy to have a granddaughter and this mirror was going to be yours one day."
Wendy felt the tears fall.
"Now, now, none of that." Her mother said gently and enclosed Wendy in her arms. "Your grandmother wanted you to be happy. You must not cry on such a happy day."
Wendy smiled and brushed away her tears. "Thank you."
She gently closed the small box and found a safe place for it in the suitcase Eric had gotten her.
"Oh my little one, I will always be here if you need me." Her mother said and took the hat that had rested on the edge of the bed.
She gently placed it on Wendy's head and moved it so it sat just right.
"You look like such a fine lady now."
Then her mother helped her shut the suitcase and buckle it.
It looked like the entire village had shown up for her to see her off.
"Just look at you," Matilda said and took her hand that was covered with a white glove. "Can you spin for me?"
Wendy gave her a smile and spun, using the suitcase as momentum.
"It doesn't matter what you wear, you still look like a fairy," Mina commented.
It seemed like a thousand people asked her a thousand questions.
"Will you ever come back and play your fiddle?"
"How many of us will be invited to your wedding?"
"Are you having the wedding here or in the Baron's estate?"
"I will be writing to you every week to hear your progress and I expect a reply." Miss Elizabeth said from a table nearby. "I also expect to be invited for tea after you have settled."
"Now, now, we are sending my daughter onwards today." Her father scolded the guests. "There is no need to weigh her journey down with questions."
There was a mumble of apologies, as Wendy finally got the chance to sit down.
"So, when will Prince Charming be coming?" Alice asked.
Wendy smiled nervously. "He had some … things … to take care of, but he will send an escort."
Matilda signed. "To be a nobleman's bride. Sure, sounds amazing."
Wendy enjoyed drinking and talking with her friends for a while.
"We are probably only going to follow you right until you reach the estate." Sarah, the shoemaker's daughter, teased.
"Not a bad idea…" Maya said with dreamy eyes. "We might find some handsome men of our own."
From the next table over, Miss Elizabeth tsked at them. "That estate is not like here. There is only one noble family living there. The rest are servants. So, unless you are trying to come between a man and a wife, there will be nothing there for you."
"Oh, my love," Jacob said and put an arm around his wife. "That the young ladies have their fun with their dreams. And let's drink to Wendy's happiness."
Everyone raised their mugs for Wendy, and she smiled brightly.
"Wendy! Wendy!" The twins gasped as they came through the door. "There's a carriage here for you."
Wendy laughed and emptied her mugs in one gulp.
As she stood up, someone offered her her suitcase and she walked outside confidently.
The carriage was black and decorated with golden trim.
She smiled and hugged each of her siblings and friends. When the time came to hug her father, who had hobbled outside, he held onto her.
"Promise me, my brave girl. Promise me that if something happens, you will return home." He whispered in her ear.
Wendy felt so soft and small in his arms. She breathed in his scent and wondered when she would next see him and hold him like this.
"I promise."
She smiled brightly as she could when they finally let go of each other.
She wanted him to send her off without any doubts.
The escort was the same messenger who had delivered the Baronness' message to them two weeks prior.
He smiled politely and bowed deeply to her, as he held out his hand to help her up in the carriage.
She handed her suitcase to the coachman and she took the messenger's hand.
Wendy was a little surprised, though, when the messenger got into the carriage with her and shut the door.
"Do not be alarmed." His smile was friendly. "I was asked by the young Baron to keep you company on your journey."
Wendy nodded in understanding, as she felt the pull when the carriage began to move.
Outside, people began to wave and follow.
"They don't seem to want to let you go." The messenger sounded amused.
"It is a tradition we have in the village," Wendy explained without taking her eyes off the window and the smiling faces outside. "When someone leaves, we follow them for a while to make sure they're safe on their journey."
"How interesting." The messenger commented and watched the people outside with curiosity.
"It is going to be tough to leave them." She said and held a gloved hand to the window when Matilda managed to catch up and put her own hand on the other side of the window.
"Good luck Wendy." Her voice was distorted by the carriage.
"I can imagine." The messenger agreed. "But I think you will find the state is not lacking in anything. Though I must say I am disappointed I never got to see the girl who dances with fairies actually dance."
Wendy pulled her eyes away from the crowd outside following the carriage, for just a moment to glare at him.
He seemed to understand that bowed his head in shame. "I apologize, my lady."
"It is fine." She said, and turned back to the people outside, following and hollering at her. She smiled again. "I am quite used to it."
There was quiet for a while.
"Are they going to follow you all the way to the estate?" The messenger asked.
Wendy shrugged. "Some said they would."
"But what about that child?" The messenger said and pointed out the window towards the forest. "Is she waving goodbye to you as well?"
Wendy followed his finger and smiled.
Even with standing at the forest edge and waving and jumping in the air.
"Indeed, she is." She smiled and leaned back in the seat of the coach.
"Why is she not with the others? And why is she wearing a nightgown at this time of day?" The messenger questioned.
Wendy's smiled at the young man in front of her. "What makes you think it is the normal child?"
The messenger just stared at her. His eyes grew big, and he looked back out the window again.
Eva was gone. Probably because they had driven past her by now.
"That seemed to be many things you left behind." There seemed to be an awe of respect in his voice now.
The crowd following them slowed down and, in the end, they stopped and waved.
Wendy watched them through the window in the back of the carriage and waved back until she couldn't see them anymore.
It felt so bittersweet.
The messenger was nice to talk to.
Though, he seemed more fascinated by the village than telling Wendy anything about the estate or Eric's family.
"How long have you been working for Eric?" She asked.
"Oh, I work for my Lord and Lady, not the young Lord." He clarified. "Both my mother and father have worked in the estate their entire lives, and so I started working as well when I came of age to do so."
"Is that how it works for servants?" Wendy asked.
She was a bit surprised. It was just like the village where a child learns their parent's trade.
"Not always." The messenger clarified. "It is a great honor to work for noblemen, as they value trust and efficiency. I was lucky enough to prove myself useful and trustworthy by delivering messages, and the Baron saw my value."
Wendy nodded.
"Though tell me that little child we saw, was it really a fairy child? A changeling, perhaps?" The messenger's eyes practically sparkled with curiosity.
Wendy smiled knowingly and tilted her head to one side in her best impression of the elven queen.
"If you have already seen it with your own eyes, why do you deny it?"
The messenger looked at her, amazed, even though she hadn't really said anything.
The estate did not look any less impressive this time. Though she could feel something pushing her stomach.
"Do not be nervous, my lady. Everyone is awaiting your arrival."
Wendy looked at the young man across from her. "Is that true?"
"Indeed." He smiled his friendly smile. "We have all heard so much about you."
She smiled as the carriage went through the gate and into the courtyard.
It was filled with people.
She felt the pull again as the carriage stopped in front of the big entrance to the estate.
She saw Eric through the window as he came up to the door of the carriage and opened it.
"Greetings, Wendy." He smiled at her and held out his hand.
Wendy took it and stepped down from the carriage.
"It is so nice to see you again." She smiled back.
She could hear the people around her whisper, as he turned and led her up the stairs.
Then they were met with the Baroness and an older man who could only be Eric's father, given how much Eric resembled him.
The Baroness smiled warmly at her, while the older man looked at her with a complex mixture of fascination and suspicion.
She gently pulled away from Eric and did her best courtesy. Luckily, the coat followed as she pulled at it. "My Lord and Lady…"
When she looked up again, the Baron smiled in approval.
He held out a hand for her and she placed hers on top of it.
"Baron Brian Elias von Branigan, my dear." He said against the back of her hand and kissed it lightly.
"Wendy, the girl who dances with fairies." She greeted back.
The Baron's eyebrows shut up in amusement, and he seemed to be holding back a smile.
Beside him, his wife covered her own smile with a hand.
"Is that so…" Amusement seeped into his voice as he spoke. "Well, Miss Fairy Dancer, I can imagine your journey must have been tough. So, I leave you to my wife for now, but I look forward to your future company."
Wendy curtsied again as he left. "I do too."
Eric reassuringly put a hand on her shoulder.
"You did well, my dear." The Baroness smiled with her, then turned to the servants who had been watching them the whole time. "Now please get my new lady-in-waiting's things up to her room and prepare some refreshments, while I will show her around the manor."
All the servants seemed to start moving at once.
"Come, dear." The older woman said and linked her arm with Wendy's. "Let us get you out of your coat, and I will give you a proper tour."
There were so many rooms in this house, and none of them seemed to be occupied by people.
Wendy's feet ached, but she said nothing as the baroness showed her all the different rooms. drawing rooms, dining rooms, libraries, and ballrooms. And that was all on the lowest floor.
She was relieved when the Baroness finally led her to a double door and told her that was her room.
Wendy was amazed when she opened the doors. It was double the size of the room she and her siblings had slept in together – and so was the bed.
"These two will be your personal maids." The Baroness said and gestured to the two girls standing inside the room. They were wearing black dresses with white aprons and had their hair tied back with ribbons. "Say hello, Lillian, Sarah."
The two girls curtsied stiffly. "Greetings, Lady Wendy."
Wendy curtsied back, which seemed to confuse the two girls.
The Baroness put a gentle hand on her arm. "There's no need for that, my dear."
There was a knock on the open door. "Madam? The refreshments you wanted?"
The Baroness turned around to the man in the doorway with the cart. "Yes of course, if you will bring it right to the table, we will sit down for some tea."
The man did as instructed, and the Baroness guided Wendy to a table near a big window.
"You can see much of the gardens from here." The Baroness said as she looked out the window. "You can even see the edge of the forest over there."
Wendy stretched her neck to sea. There was a tree line at the edge of the view from the window.
"I see that that is an interest." The Baroness smiled and Wendy tried to hide her embarrassment by floating the teacup to her lips.
"Madam?" One of the maids said.
"Yes?" The Baroness asked. "Have you already finished unpacking Wendy's things?"
"Madam, there was only one suitcase…" The other maid answered and nodded towards Wendy, suitcase still standing by the bed unopened.
"Oh dear." Eric's mother sighed and touched her forehead. "I will have to tell Alfred about this." Then she looked back up at Wendy. "I'm so sorry, dear. We'll have the rest of your luggage brought up right away…"
"What do you mean, my lady? That's all I have." Wendy asked, confused.
She looked from the Baroness to the two maids, who all three looked astounded.
"I'm so sorry dear … you have nothing else with you?" The Baroness questioned.
"No. Is that a problem?" Wendy said confused and continued to look back and forth between the Baroness and the maids. "Most of it is clothes that Eric gifted to me."
The older woman raised a hand to her mouth.
"Oh, I am so sorry dear," she said and blushed slightly. "I am just used to my people bringing at least five suitcases."
"Oh." Was the only response Wendy could come up with.
"Then please do unpack her suitcase." She instructed the maids, but Wendy stopped her.
"I would like to … unpack myself…"
Again, there was confusion, but the Baroness allowed it.
After the tea, the Baroness told her to rest up before dinner and left the room.
Wendy pulled the suitcase onto the big bed and realized the two maids were still in the room.
"Can we help with anything?" One of them asked.
Wendy felt uncomfortable.
"I would like to…" She looked down at the suitcase. "Could you please…?"
She did not know the right words.
One of the main smiled reassuringly and bowed her head. "Of course. If you need anything, pull that rope over there." She pointed to a long rope hanging down from the ceiling. "It is connected to a bell that will ring if you need us."
Wendy nodded, and the two girls left the room.
She sighed when she was finally alone and unbuckled the suitcase.
She took out her grandmother's decorative box with the mirror in it and held it in her hands. It had only been a day, and she was already so tired she could sleep through dinner.
A certain font hit her and she dunk through the dresses until her silver coin fell out onto the floor.
Despite the dress she was wearing, she managed to pick up the coin and turned it in her hand.
She was quite sure that the man who had given it to her had been her first love. He had even saved her when she was lost in a dark forest.
She smiled down at the two items in her hands that she sat on the edge of bed.
She probably needed to clone the two mates in to help her unpack the rest, But first, she needed a good hiding place for these two things. So she could keep them safe.
So, please tell me what you think.
I am going to try and get the next chapter out by Sunday, but we will see how it goes.