The Last Legend: Awakened

by Joshua B. Wichterich

  The more Phillip spoke, the more Marrisa’s heart sunk lower and lower. She would be married to a man who boasted with his snobbery, and would be queen over a kingdom where it rained every day.

  She looked off into the horizon, over the beautiful garden of the castle. She could see the amazing mountains and the miles and miles of greenery. She would miss her evening strolls through the garden, and the scenery of that beautiful land. Phillip kept talking, about himself and everything in Ishkar, which bore Marrisa. After a while of listening to Phillip’s repetitive boasting, Marrisa began to accidentally tune him out.

  “Can I ask you a question, Phillip?” Marrisa asked as they made their way to the other end of the garden. Marrisa cut Phillip off, but she didn’t care. “What if…,” she stalled as they sat on a bench beneath a cherry blossom tree. The pink petals of the flowers floated away with the breezes that past them every now and them. “What if I told you that—that I think…”

  Marrisa stopped what she was saying again, thinking that she would offend him if she were to tell him that she thought that she would be unhappy in Ishkar and that she didn’t want to go. She could see him getting upset, confronting her father about it and then calling off the wedding and the alliance that Ishkar would have with Minslethrate, and then there would be a war between the two countries. Marrisa could see this happening and did not want any ill feelings to stir, so she decided to change the subject.

  The sun was up in the center of the blue sky which meant that it was noon. The golden orb burned through the cerulean sky and the billowy white clouds passed its mighty face every now and then.

  “Phillip, I have to go,” she said, standing up quickly, “I’ve forgotten that I—have an appointment at mid-day—which is now. It was a pleasure.” Just as fast as she said it, she was off through the gardens.

  “What about dinner!?—I will see you this evening then at the festivities!” Phillip hollered to her as he watched her run back to the castle.

  †††

  Marrisa hurried through the great hall where the castle servants were still putting things together for the grand ball that evening. One of her handmaidens spotted her and tried to ask her something, something probably dealing with that night, but Marrisa ignored her and continued to rush through the hall. She had to get out of the castle; she couldn’t take the pressure anymore. “So what if I miss dinner today—I’ve had plenty of dinners in my lifetime,” she thought. She finally made her way to the castle entrance, running out and through the courtyard. Her long blue gown fluttered behind her as she rushed towards the town square.

  CHAPTER 6

  Mid-Day

  Tairren sat in his shop, reclining back in his wooden chair. He was reading a book and eating a bright red apple as random shoppers would walk by every once in a while, taking a look at what was on the tables or hanging around the top of the small tent-like shop. The marketplace was actually not that busy as he thought it would’ve been. Most of the shoppers on a random day were usually courtiers or servants of courtiers, or maybe the random commoner; but that day there were actually just a handful of servants shopping for their lords.

  Tairren thought it being slow probably had something to do with that night’s big event. The servant people walked here and there to each shop, mainly for fruits, vegetables and live poultry. Every now and then a random chicken would escape out of its cage, flapping its overexcited wings as it flailed away with feathers flying. Tairren laughed a little to himself as an overweight man went running after the chicken. After a while, the man finally caught his chicken, grabbing it by the neck and tossing it in its cage with curses and grunts. Tairren got back to his book, taking another bite of his apple.

  A carriage came into the marketplace and parked a couple of yards away from his shop. Tairren recognized the carriage to be Natalia’s. He watched as the coachman silently got off his seat and went to open the door. But in a quick second, the door flung open and bashed the poor coachman square in the nose. His head flung back as if it were weightless. Tairren tried not to laugh as the man straightened his back and put his hand over his nose.

  Tairren could hear arguing coming from the inside of the carriage. The louder voice came from Sora who was fussing at Natalia for opening the door her self. Then he could hear Natalia fuss back. He watched as Natalia poked her head out of the carriage, making sure that no one had notice what was going on before she stepped out.

  Natalia let herself out of the carriage anyway, fussed at Sora once more as she yanked a basket out of the carriage, then slammed the door shut. Sora’s muffled voice could still be heard as she put in her last words. The coachman finally got the horses going, flying off towards the gate.

  Tairren acted like he didn’t notice her approaching him as he continued to read.

  “Excuse me kind sir,” she said, smiling at him as if nothing had happened.

  Tairren looked up at her from his chair,“oh, it’s just you,” he said, facetiously.

  Natalia stood there with one hand on her hip and the other one holding a large basket.

  “Can you believe Sora? She ruined my entrance,” she fussed as she put her basket down on the ground. “She is so dramatic sometimes… But look at you,” she said in a now playful tone, “don’t you look bored to tears.”

  “Yes, I am, it’s so slow today and barely any one is out; I think it has something to do with the celebration tonight,” Tairren said, taking the last bite of his apple. “It’s a good thing the entertainment has just arrived,” he said, trying not to laugh.

  “Tairren...” Natalia said in a tone that implied that she wasn’t in any kind of mood for jokes. She said nothing else but fiddled around with some trinkets that were on the table.

  “Are you meeting Marrisa this afternoon?” Tairren asked.

  “Yes, but she’s late for some reason. She’s probably walking as usual, I don’t know why she doesn’t ride in a carriage like a normal princess,” Natalia said, smelling different candles that were on the table.

  One candle smelled of rosemary and lemongrass, another of rose petals, and the last one smelled like—mushrooms? Natalia made a funny face as she put down the last candle.

  “She loves her strolls, you know that,” Tairren said, watching as she waved her hand in front of her pretty face with a scrunched nose.

  He didn’t like that last candle either, it was supposed to smell like the sweet earth.

  “I know, I rode in my carriage today,obviously,” Natalia said as she looked back down at her basket. “Oh—Sora packed us a small meal,” she said smiling as she held up the basket. “I thought maybe we could have a small picnic dinner together by the creek, hopefully.”

  “Oh that sounds great, my mother should be here soon, she usually comes around noon and she won’t mind if I left with you both for lunch. But I think we will close up shop early today anyway. I’ll definitely come, you know that I will never pass up food,” Tairren said, smiling as he stood up to stretch.

  A large carriage pulled up across the way on the other side of the large oak tree and fountain that sat in the middle of the marketplace. The old coachman hopped off of the brown horse that pulled the carriage, opening up the small door. He helped out a blonde haired girl about the same age as Natalia and then a blonde haired boy, looking the same age as her. They both resembled each other and looked as if they came from a high-class family. The girl looked around, fanning herself with a red fan that was the same color as her dress and the boy wore a white tunic and hat to match with a red feather that stuck straight out of it.

  “Oh, no,” Natalia said in a stressed voice as she quickly turned towards Tairren, turning her backside towards them.

  “What’s wrong?” Tairren asked, looking at the two courtiers that had just arrived. “Their entrance was quieter, but at least yours was interesting…”

  “No, no Tairren!” she cut him off, “It’s the annoying twins, The Lady Daleasa Vaughn and The Lord Fredrick Vaughn, give me that fan, and do
it quickly!” Natalia said, pointing to a fan that was on the table behind Tairren. It was a smooth wooden fan that had bright colors painted all over it. The flamboyant fan was bright blue with blotches of red, yellow, and green all over it. Moral must have painted it after drinking too much Minsleberry wine. Tairren quickly handed her the fan, “I don’t want them to notice me, and I can’t stand talking to them!” Natalia said as she put the brightly colored fan in front of her face, fanning it. “They are the nobles that my mother wants me to become companions with… What are they doing?”

  “Well, actually the girl is looking this way, and now they are walking in this direction with an older woman following them—she must be their servant.”

  “Maybe they won’t recognize me,” Natalia said in a low voice, fanning herself cantankerously.

  “I don’t think so, they are definitely coming this way,” Tairren said, trying not to laugh. He had never seen Natalia act that way before, and thought it hilarious.

  “Oh look Fredrick, isn’t it The Lady Natalia Ducre’? How quaint…,” Daleasa said as they walked up right behind Natalia.

  She put the fan down by her side, took a deep breath, then turned around to see two insincere looking, smiling faces. They both reminded her of two stupid-looking members of the bard that would travel to the kingdom to perform in their flamboyant clothing.

  “Hello Lady Daleasa, Lord Fredrick,” Natalia said, forcing a smile as Fredrick took her hand to kiss it, “how are you both doing today?”

  “We’re lovely, and it is a beautiful day for shopping,” Daleasa said. “I see that you’re shopping for a fan, is it for tonight? Interesting choice,” she said condescendingly, glaring at the brightly painted fan that Natalia held.

  “Oh, well thank you, I do try to stand out,” Natalia said, still smiling as she put the fan back on the table, “and look at you, I just love that red gown on you Daleasa—have you been in my wardrobe again?” Natalia said, looking up and down at Daleasa, who was wearing a very similar gown as she did.

  Natalia raised her left eyebrow as she smirked. Tairren walked to the other side of the shop to another table, covering his mouth while trying not to laugh.

  “I wouldn’t say that—I never wear cheap material…,” she said defensively, glaring at Natalia’s obviously nicer attire.

  “The last time I checked, Lady Daleasa, the Marquis of Ducre’ purchases the finest gowns of the finest fabrics of the latest fashion for his daughter,” Natalia said, cutting her off.

  Daleasa glared at her, then quickly changed the subject.

  “So how is our Princess Marrisa? Is she excited about this evening? We’re actually shopping for a new brooch for me for tonight and Fredrick a new hat,” Daleasa said, with her same old arrogant smile.

  “Oh, you were invited? How lovely. Her Royal Highness is wonderful as expected and can’t wait for tonight to begin,” Natalia lied as she tightened her jaw, but kept smiling at some effort.

  “Oh that is wonderful—well I better be off Natalia,” she said, “I have so much more important things to do than to be standing around fiddling with a revolting painted fan. I’m sure I will see you this evening,” Daleasa said as she waved her fan at Natalia, as if she was dismissing her.

  She turned around quickly and was off, with Fredrick and their servant right behind her. Natalia had her hands behind her back, clenching them as well as her teeth as they walked away.

  “Okay, well I hope you have a horrific day, and I pray not to see you tonight,” Natalia said to herself, still smiling as they kept walking.

  When the cost was clear, Tairren let out a huge laugh as he bent over, holding his stomach.

  “Stop!” Natalia fussed as she crossed her arms.

  “Well, they seem very nice,” Tairren said, jokingly, still laughing.

  “You see what I have to go through with these snobbish people? I’m so terrified that Marrisa is leaving, I’ll have to associate with people like them!” Natalia said as she shook her head. “I guess it’ll be just you and I then, friend.”

  “I must think so,” Tairren teased, still trying not to laugh. “Just don’t let them bother you Natalia. I think they are just envious of you. But I’m actually surprised that you didn’t throw that fan at them.”

  “They walk around as if they rule Minslethrate,” Natalia said, irritably. “Their father is just a Baron,” Natalia said, still crossing her arms.

  “Baron?” Tairren said, confused.

  “Oh Tairren,” Natalia said with a sigh as she raised her left eyebrow again. “A Baron is of the lowest status of nobility—everyone knows that.”

  “I didn’t know that there were different statuses of nobility. A noble is just a noble in the peasant world—someone of power and wealth.”

  “Yes well, in the world of aristocrats, status is everything,” Natalia said with another sigh. “A rose is a flower and so is the bloom of a weed—but they are both flowers—understand?”

  “I see… Well then, if you are of higher status than she is, you should’ve just thrown that fan at her anyhow,” Tairren said, jokingly.”

  “If I wasn’t a lady I would have!—Why are you selling such an appalling thing anyway, Moral has better style than that,” Natalia fussed as she picked the fan back up, inspecting it.

  “I painted it, actually,” Tairren said, “I think it looks attractive.”

  “Oh, it is indeed,” Natalia said sarcastically as she began to fan herself with it again.

  “Why, lady Natalia, that is an interesting choice,” a familiar voice said from behind them. Natalia turned around to find Marrisa walking up to them with a big smile.

  “Where have you been!?” Natalia demanded, giving her a hug as she tossed the unwanted fan back onto the table.

  “I’m dreadfully sorry, I got myself caught up with some things at the palace. That I will tell you about later,” Marrisa said, then turned to Tairren. “Why, hello Tairren, I’m happy to see you as well,” she said with a beautiful smile.

  “Hello princess,” Tairren said nervously, smiling back at her. His heart began to beat rapidly as his cheeks turned a rosy shade of red. Even though they’ve known each other for years, he still felt weak in the knees when she came around him. “If you don’t mind me saying it, you look beautiful in that blue gown.”

  “Thank you, and you look very handsome today yourself,” she said with another smile.

  He just smiled at her, wondering if she really meant it or if she was just returning the compliment.

  “I brought us dinner,” Natalia said as she held up the large basket. It was covered in a white piece of cloth. “Something small, yet delightful.”

  “Oh, how lovely,” Marrisa said excitedly as she put her hands together, “you’re such a sweet friend to me, and I was just beginning to get hungry.”

  “I figured we could all eat a picnic lunch by the creek and talk for a while, spend time with each other, you know, before you leave Minslethrate,” Natalia said in a not so happy voice.

  “Yes, well, that sounds great,” Marrisa said, smiling a little.

  “Oh, here comes mother, just in time,” Tairren said as he nodded towards Moral.

  She was wearing a gray shawl around her head, and was carrying a small basket that contained a couple of apples and something else that was wrapped in white cloth. She walked up to them, having a big smile on her round face. Her cheeks were rosy colored and wisps of black and gray hair fell from her shawl.

  “Hello, dears,” she said, giving each one of them a kiss on the cheek.

  “Hello, mother,” Tairren said, returning the kiss on her round cheek, “as you can see it has been very slow today.” They all looked around, noticing only a handful of people that mingled here and there.

  “It probably has something to do with the big affair tonight, the whole kingdom has been talking about it,” Moral said as she smiled again, making her gray eyes look squinty. “You would have to be deaf not to hear about it. Oh, princess, your hear
t must be racing with excitement,” she said, turning to Marrisa who didn’t look excited at all.”

  “Yes, tonight is an important night for me,” she said, looking down towards the gray bricked ground. She was quiet for a second as she fiddled around with a small stone with her foot, pushing it here and there.

  “Oh my,” Moral said, breaking the silence, “Isn’t that your father, dear?” She pointed her round finger to a group of men that entered the marketplace on horses.

  It was King Julpen leading the group, and right beside him was Prince Phillip, riding his great black horse. They were followed by three soldiers who also rode on horses. The king would point here and there while talking, looking as if he were telling a story of some sort as the prince would take a glimpse at whatever the king would point to.

  “Oh—no!” Marrisa said with wide eyes, “I have to hide—I can’t let them see me! I will tell you why later, please help me hide!”

  “Must this whole afternoon be like this?!” Natalia fussed as she rolled her eyes.

  They glanced everywhere quickly, realizing that there was really nowhere to hide without being seen. She could quickly run into one of the bigger shops, but she would definitely be seen with her red hair.

  “Here my lady, put this on,” Moral said, taking off her shawl and wrapping it around Marrisa’s head, covering the long locks of bright red hair. Tairren grabbed a blanket that was folded neatly on one of the tables and handed it over to Natalia. It was white with embroidered designs of flowers all over it. Moral helped Natalia swathe the blanket around Marrisa’s body, covering every bit of her elegant blue gown.

  “Here, take this and act like you are shopping at the other table behind Tairren,” Natalia said as she handed her the notorious brightly painted fan that was on the table beside them. “Oh my, Marrisa you look like a poor tramp,” she said with one eyebrow lifted. “Well, at least a fancy tramp. Anyways, hurry, they’ll see me and come this way,” Natalia said as she pushed Marrisa towards the other end of the little shop.