by P. A. Wilson
Turning towards the trunk, she pulled a strap that held her toiletries in the lid and extracted a brush. She tugged the bristles through her curls getting stuck half way down the length.
“Let me,” Elise said taking the brush from her hands. “Whatever is bothering you will work itself out. Don’t worry. Before you know it, this will all be over and we can get back to normal.”
Madeline swallowed her sudden tears. “Elise, that’s the problem. No matter what happens on this quest I will have to find a new definition of normal. I can’t go back to what I used to be.”
Elise brushed the last tangle out of Madeline's auburn curls and twisted the shining mass into a loose braid tying it off with a ribbon that matched the pants. “Some would think that is a good thing, a new opportunity. Was your life before this so wonderful that you would wish to have it back?”
“It wasn’t perfect, but I knew where I stood and I was in charge of what went on,” Madeline admitted.
“If it is the life you were meant to live then it will be,” Elise said. “Worrying about what will happen will only make you old. Now, you look presentable. Go be introduced. And then come back so we can start to prepare you for the feast.”
“I don’t want you to fuss over that. I can wear that same dress from the other night.”
“This is my last opportunity to show off my skills before you go. Please, let me make you look as though you were raised as a princess.” Elise looked at her, bottom lip protruding slightly, eyes, blinking back fake tears.
Madeline laughed; apparently, this was a common expression for ‘pretty-please’ across worlds. She agreed and hurried out.
At the door of the dining room, a man at arms was waiting to escort Madeline in. He snapped a bow and preceded her through the door.
“The Lady Madeline, from beyond the world,” he announced to the waiting group.
Madeline felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment and a sudden excitement. There were representatives of every race standing around, wine mugs in their hand, all looking at her. She saw Simon and Arabela standing with a small group of goblins by the hearth. Arabela waved to her and held out her arm as if to pull her into the group.
As she walked towards them, Madeline scanned the room. Jode was not there, he wasn’t with Arabela, and he wasn’t watching her as she walked across the room. Madeline tried to ignore the slight dampening of her excitement because of his absence.
“Madeline,” Arabela started as she approached. “Please assist us in a decision.”
“Whatever I can do to help.” Madeline was a little taken aback by Arabela’s playful tone, perhaps there were no bad feelings about the way she reacted this morning.
“Sir Simon has requested that the musicians be allowed to introduce some new music into the playlist tonight.”
“Sir Simon?”
“I have given him the title of Sir Simon of the Blue Mountain. It is a small estate and will not require his constant presence,” she answered. “Now tell me, do you think we should allow him to lead our court musicians onto a new path?”
“I thought it would be good to add some new songs in honor of our addition to the quest.”
“That depends.” Madeline considered. “What has he suggested be added?”
“He named more than one person, but one of royal blood, a Duke of Ellington, do you know this music?”
“Yes, I think it would be very appropriate.” She winked at Simon. “This is old music from our world and very appropriate to a large company.”
“Then, Sir Simon, I agree. I look forward to hearing your music.” Arabela nodded her head as Simon led the musicians to the curtained room.
“Now let me introduce you to our companions on the quest.” She took Madeline’s arm and started towards a group of goblins. “Not all of course. You will meet the entire company on the road. It’s fitting that the leaders meet you first.”
Prince Jugg looked up as they approached, ending his conversation with a dark stocky man to greet Arabela and Madeline. “My lady,” he nodded to each. “Well met again. I am pleased that you will join us Lady Madeline.”
“I hope that remains true, but please, I am not Lady Madeline, just Madeline will be fine.”
“Oh, please forgive my lapse of memory. I completely forgot to tell you that I also gave you a small estate.” Arabela patted Madeline’s arm. “You are Lady Madeline of the Far Lake.”
“You didn’t need to do that.” Madeline felt another tiny hook dig into her skin, another tie to this place. “What will happen if I go?”
“Oh, Sir Jode will take the land back into his estate, don’t concern yourself.” She excused them from the group and walked to the next, patting Madeline’s arm again.
“Here are two more people you must be introduced to,” she said approaching a couple standing near the windows. “Madam Ethard and Sir AaLa.” She pointed with her open hand at the solemn looking woman and the brightly colored, winged man. At least since Arabela called him sir, Madeline assumed he was the Fay equivalent of a man.
The two bowed and reached to shake Madeline’s hand. “My honor,” she said to each of them in turn.
AaLa touched her hand to his forehead in greeting. “It is my honor, you are the chosen,” he said.
“Oh,” Madeline said, taken aback. “Chosen?”
“Don’t worry about that, dear,” Ethard said. “The Fay tend to be formal in their speech. You are going to be a welcome diversion on a long day of travel. I look forward to speaking to you when we have time.”
“There will be time on the road, as you say,” Arabela said. “Please excuse us. I see Light is waiting patiently by the door.”
They turned and walked across to the doorway, threading between the tables, and dodging the servants who were putting the final touches on the room for the feast. Light was one of the white-skinned green-haired people, and the last of the races to be introduced.
“Light,” Arabela smiled as she spoke. “This is the Lady Madeline, who I spoke of earlier. Will you allow me to introduce her?”
“I feel as though I have been waiting my entire life for this moment.” The voice was whispery and baritone. “My people predicted this day a thousand years past. It is my great joy to be the one to meet you.” He bowed, a full out court bow.
“Tell him you are similarly honored,” Arabela whispered, as Madeline stood with her mouth open.
“I…” She paused and gathered her wits. “It is a great pleasure to meet you. I only hope I can fulfill whatever it is you need of me.” She matched his bow with a low curtsy, which would have looked better if she was wearing a dress.
“I must take my leave. My companions and I still have much to do to prepare for this evening.” He bowed again and then strode out to the front door.
“Okay,” Madeline said. “Please tell me I won’t have to be that formal every time we meet.”
Arabela laughed again. She seemed to be in a very good mood; Madeline tried not to be suspicious. “No. Now that he has made formal greeting you will find Light and his companions to be very informal. In fact, you will see the Sylph dancing tonight. They are rehearsing, that’s why he had to leave. Sylph dances are joyous and exciting.”
Jode walked through the doorway and nodded to Arabela, “I think it is time,” he said.
“Hello, Jode,” Madeline said. She felt her body warm to his presence and suppressed the feeling; now was not the time to let her libido loose.
“Lady Madeline,” he gave a short bow of his head.
“Thank you for providing the land that goes with the estate.” Madeline felt hurt at his formal manner, and then annoyed at herself for feeling it. Arabela must have told him about their conversation.
“It was given freely.” He thawed enough to add, “I think you will like it. The lake touches on the small hunting lodge; you will have many visitors if you choose to stay.”
Arabela let go of Madeline’s arm and walked to the fire. She stepped up on the hearth
, which sat a foot off the floor. “Companions,” she said loudly enough to get the attention of everyone in the room. The small groups turned to look at her; a few people raised their glasses in her direction. The servants stopped running around and stood watching her. “We are gathered to bring an end to a threat to all our lands and all our people.”
A few voices called out, hear hear, and damn right. She raised her arms as if to encompass them all in her protection.
“When Sayer Goddard reached through the protections of this castle to strike down Alric of the Summer Lands, he changed the rules of the feud. That fight was between his family and my husband’s family. It was to be waged outside and not invade the homes of others. You know that is why we lived here, in the castle of Summer Lands, my home.”
More encouraging words came from the audience, this time louder. Madeline could feel her own emotions rise despite knowing that Arabela was purposefully rousing the passions of her companions. It was a pep talk and it was good.
“Yesterday we agreed to the plan. Today Lady Madeline joined us. Tomorrow we set out. We will be victorious.” The crowd responded with cheers. “It will not be easy,” she said when the noise died down. “We may lose friends to the battle. We may be lost ourselves.”
The response was more muted as people agreed that it would be dangerous.
“Tonight, we feast. If it will be our last feast, it will be our best.” She threw back her head and laughed long and loud. “Tonight, we will celebrate the life we fight to defend. My companions, no my friends, go prepare for the celebration. We will meet here again when the torches are lit.”
The applause seemed too loud for just these few people. Madeline realized a drum pounding behind the curtain was augmenting the clapping. A flute note floated out riding on top of the wave and then the raspy tone of a bassoon wove in and out of the other sounds. It was odd, but it resonated with the emotions in the room.
Madeline’s hands smarted from clapping. She rubbed them against her side and looked around noticing that the people were leaving and the room was almost empty. Arabela stepped off the hearth and came towards her.
“You should go to Elise,” she said. “It will take some time to prepare you for tonight and she will need to school you in a few dances too. You must enjoy yourself. We consider it a good omen if the first day of a journey is difficult because of the effect from events of the night before.”
“Nice speech,” Madeline responded. “You have them eating out of the palm of your hand.”
“I do not understand.”
“She means you got everyone excited and ready to fight for you,” Simon said as he approached them. “It is a good thing.”
“Then, thank you,” Arabela said. “Now I must go. My servant will be very upset if she doesn’t have time to dress and redress me three times before the night starts.”
14
When Madeline returned to her room, Elise ordered her out of her clothes and into a steaming bath scented with roses. “Ten minutes,” Elise said. A waste of good hot water, Madeline thought.
After, Elise brushed Madeline’s hair until it was dry, and then passed her a jug of violet scented oil. “This will make your skin soft and keep away the small insects that will come into the light and heat of the dining room later.”
While Madeline rubbed it into her skin, Elise moved around the room cleaning up the thrown clothes and placing items on the bed. Madeline saw shiny forest green fabric and bright white filmy material hanging in the wardrobe. Elise passed her new underwear, both were silky, the bra was of a black material.
“Sit here, please.” Elise pointed to a stool. “No, face the fire I need to dress your hair. You can watch in the mirror on the mantle.”
“Will you be at the party?” Madeline asked as Elise separated her now dry and almost straight hair into wide sections.
“We will be outside,” Elise said through a mouthful of pearl studded hairpins. “The servants who are not assigned to the party have their own celebration.”
“Do you have someone you will be meeting?”
“I have a husband, Lady Madeline.” Elise slid the hairpins in as she wrapped the sections around Madeline’s head, the ends left to hang down in the back. “When you are ready, I will be going to him; after I change into my best dress, of course.”
“You sleep here every night when you have a husband?”
“Of course, you must have a married woman to chaperone you. An unmarried one will not know what she is protecting you from.”
“Wow.” Madeline refrained from letting Elise know that it was too late to protect her virginity. “I guess you’ll be going back to your husband tomorrow night then.”
“No.” Elise twisted the hanging strands into loops intertwined with white ribbons. “Tonight; don’t worry, what happens on a feast night is forgotten in the morning.”
“Like Vegas,” Madeline muttered.
“What is Vegas?”
“A place where you can act like it’s feast night until you leave.”
“Ah.” Elise didn’t add anything else. She tucked the end of the last ribbon in and held it with a final pin. This one topped with a brilliant green stone in a star shaped setting.
“I look like a princess.” Madeline turned her head left and right. “You’re very talented.”
“You are too kind,” Elise said, blushing. She handed Madeline a pair of earrings that were composed of a stack of the same green stones on a silver rod. “Lady Arabela sent these jewels for you to wear. They are her favorite.”
Madeline looked at the necklace Elise held out. This time the green stone featured as a center ball of smooth polished stone, and smaller stones alternating with milky white ones cut square. “I can’t wear that, I might lose it.”
“How will you lose it? The clasp is spelled to remain closed until you say the release spell.” She placed the center stone on Madeline’s chest and drew the ends of the chain around to the back of her neck. Madeline felt Elise touch the clasp together and heard her say, “Seal.” The necklace shifted slightly and the clasp clicked.
The necklace had adjusted to sit an inch below the ends of her collarbones. It would not be possible for her to pull it over her head to remove it. “How do I unseal it?”
“You touch the clasp and say, ‘unseal’. If you are not touching the clasp, then it will not open. See, you can’t lose it.”
Madeline stood to see the necklace in the mirror. The glow of the stones brought out the creamy tone in her pale skin. The pearls in her hair gleamed against the red hues that were highlighted by the color of the green stone.
“Wow, I guess if I don’t have to worry about losing it I’ll be okay.” She looked toward the bed. “Let’s get the rest of this outfit on so I can get used to moving in it.”
“Not yet, you don’t want to arrive at the party with a wrinkled dress. First let me teach you one dance, it will be the first one, and you must be able to manage the steps. After the first dance, you will be able to learn from watching. The first one sets the omen for the evening.”
Madeline looked from the dress to Elise who stood with her arms held out as though she was holding hands with someone on each side.
“This is the starting position,” Elise said. “Take my hand.”
Madeline did and then mimicked Elise’s stance as though she held another dancer’s hand.
“You turn clockwise a quarter turn.” She demonstrated. “And bow to the person you are facing, it should be a man.”
Madeline followed the actions, knowing that if she walked through the steps it would be easier to remember.
“You turn back then turn a quarter turn the other way and curtsy to that person, it will be a woman.”
They curtseyed to each other.
“Then you move around the woman clockwise, changing partners.”
“That’s not too hard,” Madeline said, “What’s next?”
“The men have changed places in a similar fashion. The
dance is around a circle, when you face a man you bow and go counter clockwise, a woman curtsey and clockwise.”
“When is it complete?”
“When you arrive back with your original partner. Remember, the first movement is to bow to your partner; you don’t change with them. You bow and turn, curtsey and turn until you face your partner at the end, then you bow and turn and you end where you started.”
“No offence, but that doesn’t seem so hard.”
“Ah, well are you ready to try it at the right speed?”
“Yes, sure.” Madeline sensed that she was about to find out the problem.
Elise placed the stool and a night table at intervals around the room. “Pretend the furniture is men; ignore the fact they don’t move it will still work. Stand to the left of the stool, he is your partner.”
Madeline got into place and Elise stood beside the bath across the room. She pulled a pipe from her apron pocket and blew one note. “Are you ready? Good, the dance starts on my next note.”
Elise blew one short note and then moved. She blew the tune, at double time to what they’d been practicing. Madeline found herself spinning out of control between the bed and the end table. She doubled over in laughter. “Okay, I get it. Let’s try again. Can you play slower for a turn, then speed up?”
Elise giggled and ran back to the start position. “Good idea.”
They practiced the moves until Madeline was able to complete two full circles at the right speed. She stopped and then checked her hair in the mirror. “Hey, not a strand out of place.”