76Okay here's chapter 2, edited and corrected by Meneldur...
Chapter 2: Hate?
Galdran (I couldn't call him my father in my head) paled visibly under the candlelight when he saw me. And for a long moment we both stared at each other, waiting for the other to speak while examining each other. He was a man of huge girth, with reddish grey hair and pale blue watery eyes. He had a pasty complexion, and for a second I wished he was as handsome as I had imagined, after portraits I had seen in Sartor which had told only lies or had been made when he was still young. And then I shook my head foolishly, since when did appearance count with me? I remembered according to protocol, I was supposed to speak first in presence of my king, but I don't think I could manage a curtsey on my wobbly legs so I just said;
'I have come as ordered, father.'
I tried really hard to keep my voice clear and cold, while inside I danced with joy, I had a father, and I was finally with him! Finally he spoke, in a smooth voice:
'As I can see, daughter.'
And he stared at me some more, while I made sure not to show any change in my countenance, I didn't know what he aimed at, maybe making me nervous, so I stared at him back for another minute, chin held imperiously high. He laughed. I had no idea why, but he did. Then standing up he said:
'You may have your mother's looks but you have my stubbornness, I am glad. Now time is short, and you probably have many questions which I cannot answer. As you may know, this country is fraught with problems, and that is why I will ensure a few regulations you need to follow. You may not leave palace grounds without my permission; you will take someone, that companion I sent you, wherever you go. You will not show any of your magic to my court. You will present a united front at all time. You will not embroil yourself in politics. You will have dinner with me once a week, here alone. There that is all.'
He must not have seen my eyebrows rising in rebellion with every rule he made.
'And if I don't?'
I said tightly, my joy extinguished with a puff of cold air. He looked at me pensively,
'I did not think I needed to think of that, I would remove some of your privileges or lock you in your room.'
'Lock me in my room? Gal- Father, I am not a child anymore. I deserve more explanations, I am 18, and you haven't so much as sent me a letter since you sent me away, I-'
'You will listen! I have enemies attacking borders, and more in this very court. I cannot have you compromised. Trust no one, and beware of all courtiers, they are only angling for favors and such. Now you may leave.'
I gaped at him, his temper so easily ignited, I was beyond words. He actually thought I would listen to him? King he may be, but he could hardly execute his daughter. I gave a mechanical curtsey before storming out of the room, I considered slamming the door, but the valet was holding it firmly as he beckoned me to follow him to my rooms. I stomped after him, ideas churning in my mind about ways I could anger Galdran. By the time I reached my apartments, I was in a foul mood; I barely looked at the artfully decorated forest green rooms, with motifs all around the wall and threw myself on the bed. Lying down, I thought about my hopes about life here, about my father, about everything I had dreamed he would be and I cried. I'm sure I had muffled my sobs but Nee immediately appeared, concern etched over her face as she took me in to her arms making the type of hushing noises a mother makes to her baby, with that thought I immediately sat up and declared:
'I hate him.'
Nee's eyebrows shot up and she looked around warily Understanding her concern, I waved my arm and muttered a spell, making the room impregnable to spies. But the energy it took out left me even grumpier. So I gushed out:
'He is the worst person imaginable, he ordered me around, placed so many rules I should stay in my room for eternity, warned me against everyone and anyone, and he was fat. And he didn't even talk to me. I wanted to know why I was in Sartor, why mother died, why he was calling me back. But no, he took me for a child, like I mustn't know anything.'
I stopped to breathe in, and Nee took that opportunity to talk,
'Mel, you hardly gave him time, and he could not have lived up to your expectations unless he was a saint or an angel. Give him some time. I'm sure he's only worried about you.'
It would have been convincing if Nee's voice wasn't so unconvinced herself. And I got an awful suspicion of why Nee never talked about Galdran in Sartor. I looked at her straight into the eye and asked:
'What's my father like then?'
Nee avoided my gaze;
'He…he is smart, he has to be, for him to be king for ten years. In his youth he was very handsome. He was a- he is a great lover of the- of the fighting arts and holds lots of tournam-'
'How does he rule?'
Nee looked at me, and the pity in her eyes scared me:
'I would rather you form your own opinion, but don't judge him too harshly, being king hardens a man.'
I lay back pensive, and seeing my worn expression, Nee said: 'I'll wake you up for dinner, sleep now.' And so I slept, a sleep of vague nightmares, and pale watery blue eyes watching me through a haze of blood.
The first thing I heard when I woke up was the twittering of birds, and the smell of coffee. I smiled dreamily, as I opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar bed. Starting, I recoiled into a ball and looked around bewildered as memories washed through me about where I was. Then I looked at the open shutters and saw it was bright daylight, I frowned, how long had I slept. I rubbed my eyes in confusion as I heard footsteps closing in. I looked up to see Nee.
'Finally you're awake; I was going to call a palace healer to check on you.'
She said jokingly. Nee knew she was a better healer than any palace snotty healer.
'What time is it?' I asked groggily.
'Midday, you slept through the night, I didn't have the heart to wake you up for supper so I ordered dinner in my rooms. How are you feeling?'
'Well rested for sure' I said as I stood up and yawned.
'Your bath is ready in the room on your left; you'll have to hurry up, if you want to greet Mora and the rest before lunch which is going to be taken with full court.'
'Mora is here? And Domitian, my horse? I was so worried they encountered trouble on the way.' Then my face fell, 'The whole court?'
'Yes, a courtier came with an invitation from the Marquise of Merindar, your aunt. We can hardly refuse, she knows we don't have any engagement and I am sure she wants the court to know she is part of the royal family.'
I groaned, as she pushed me along.
'I don't even know my aunt and I hate her daughter, Fialma was an idiot in Sartor, and she was mean to Domitian when he was a colt.'
'Cheer up Mel, it won't be that bad, and I'm sure the Sartorian ambassador, Lord Dreever is there, do you remember he was your chess partner before he left for Remalna?' When I still sulked she added, 'Flauvic will probably be there too.'
And she pursed her lips in a Nee-like way. I smiled, I had completely forgotten him, he had left for Remalna 4 years ago when I was 14 I had been too young to take a correspondence seriously. Meanwhile Nee had finally pushed me through to the bathing room. There was a large tub in the middle of trees, leaves swaying with a non existent breeze. Magic, it seems, was current around here too. I quickly stripped myself of my gown, which was completely crinkled; I don't think I was supposed to sleep in it. I altered the temperature with the curious dials on the wall to cold, and I gasped as the water had immediately tuned ice cold, it helps when you want to bath quickly. Hurriedly I got out, teeth chattering as I enveloped myself in a big warm towel that had been laid out. Most Sartorian nobles had maids everywhere including during the bath, but I was not Sartorian after all. I stepped out of the room to see Mora talking intently with Nee in the Sartorian dialect, probably to stop any spy but also because Mora was more comfortable with it. They both turned around when they saw me and I ran to hug my housekeeper, towel and all as she smiled one of her rare smiles. Then holding me at arm length she clucked reprovingly,
'You'll catch a cold in that, come with me, this instant.'
I grinned happily, as she led me into a third room, it seemed to be a dressing room but it was full of trunks, Mora had ordered a whole new wardrobe with Nee when she heard we were going to Remalna, apparently the fashion was different, like it mattered but I subjected to Mora as she told me exactly what to wear. I sighed as I dressed; Remalna gowns where so much more constrictive, I could hardly run with these and the sleeves draped so much, only years of practice with Nee could stop me from stepping on them. Finally she fussed over my hair as she brushed the long strands, emitting a purr from me; I loved the feeling of it through my hair. She let them loose,
'They need to dry,' she said dryly, and finally she declared me ready and pushed me out of the room. Nee smiled when she saw me and looked at Mora gratefully.
'Thank you Mora, I was not looking forward to arguing with her about why she couldn't wear breeches right now.'
I smiled, no one argued with Mora about clothing, she had really good taste unlike me, who could never see why she said for example, pink and red don't go together.
'So, can I go see Domitian now?'
Mora looked horrified, I grinned.
'In the stables, now? Where you'll probably roll into the straw? And ruin that gown?'
'Nee said I could,' I stuck out my tongue, but Nee spoke out,
'I'm afraid there's no time Mel, I hear green change, and I know the marquise dines at a very precise hour, we will have to hurry as it is.'
I sighed, aah nobles were such a fussy lot.
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