literature

My Life as a Companion Ch.9

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My first reaction upon seeing the gates of Amarion was surprise. I was surprised because the underground caves we'd been traveling in had been so close to my home. My second reaction was irritation.  As we approached the gates, we saw two bored-looking men. The nerve! How could they not bring themselves to look proud when they were guarding the entrance to such a fine city?! The capital of our country! One looked up, taking in our tattered appearances, and gave us a disdainful look. I blinked unused to such looks, but after a moment, I realized that in my current condition, I was hardly recognizable. Rhett's clothing was dirty, stained and tattered as well.

Mathias stepped up, still somehow looking immaculate. I do not know how he was able to maintain his appearance, but I wished that I could do the same. The image of my father's expression upon seeing my bedraggled appearance passed through my mind bringing a shudder with it.

"What business brings ye here," the guard asked, his tone flat and matching his poise in boredom.

"We have to come to bring the..." Mathias started.

"daughter of a friend of ours," Rhett cut in. I gave him a puzzled look before remembering the trouble Rhett and Mathias had encountered in the city. Rhett at least hardly looked the part of a rescuer.

The guard eyed me before shrugging. "Go in. Just don't cause trouble."

We passed through the gate into the bustling city street. I couldn't help but stare. This was the first time I had been in the city without a full escort. It was so lively and busy.

"We're nearly there Princess!  We'll just escort you to the castle," Mathias exclaimed.

Rhett started to open his mouth, but I cut in.  "No!" Rhett and Mathias both stared at me. "I mean I...well shouldn't we perhaps clean ourselves up first?" I said quietly, embarrassed at my outburst.

Mathias looked at us, taking in our dirty appearances. "Oh, of course, Princess! I apologize." I nodded, running a slightly shaky hand through my disgustingly dirty hair.  We all desperately needed to bathe.
"I suppose our first objective is to find an inn?" Rhett asked, looking pointedly at Mathias.
"Yes, you're quite right."
"How much money do we have left?" Rhett questioned immediately.
Mathias shrugged. "I thought you were the one who kept track of it."
I saw Rhett grit his teeth. He took a deep breath and, sounding as though he was trying not to sound too exasperated, said, "No. You took it, saying you should be the one to handle it and our affairs as the 'leader'".
"Ahhh..." Mathias drew out the word, as if remembering something important. "Do you remember the last time we were in this city?"
Rhett eyed him warily. "Yes. Quite clearly."
"And you remember how we ended up in the dungeon?"
"So we have nothing?!" Rhett exploded.
"I wouldn't say nothing..." Mathias protested. "We'll figure out something. You worry too much Rhett." I bit my lip, watching the boys go back and forth.  I recalled that I happened to have a small amount of money on hand, thanks to Elos.
"I do... have some money we could use." I spoke quietly, but Mathias and Rhett most assuredly heard me. They both looked appalled.
"Why, Princ-" Rhett elbowed Mathias harshly here, "ow- Libellia. We couldn't!"
"It's really alright. Once I return to the castle, I won't need it, and we need an inn."
"But..." Mathias started to protest again.
"Thank you, Libellia." Rhett overrode Mathias once more, his expression starting to look desperate.

I suppressed a sigh of relief. I just wanted to get to an inn as quickly as we could. Though it was highly doubtful, I still retained the fear of being recognized and the trouble that would follow after.

Thankfully, since they'd been in the city before, Mathias seemed to recall the location of an inn. "See, Rhett, I told you I knew where an inn was!" He said looking up at the wooden building with satisfaction.
"I never said you didn't," Rhett replied. "I just suspected," he added in a low murmur.  Mathias didn't seem to hear him, but I smiled a bit.

Mathias held the inn door open for us with a great smile as I passed through. The common room was small, with many people crowded around wooden tables.  A fire burned cheerily in a hearth by the wall, and a low murmur of voices filled the room. A large friendly looking woman came to meet us.

"What can I get for ye?" She gave me a sympathetic look and I wondered how just bad I appeared.

"We would like rooms for the night," Mathias said.
"And dinner!" Rhett quickly added. I simply nodded my head and tried to manage a smile.
"Alright..." She agreed slowly, "We'll discuss payment after ye've eaten your fill," she added giving me a sympathetic look.

"Finally! An actual meal!" Rhett commented once our plates were set upon the table. I silently agreed. It was nice to be eating something other than a small handful of berries. Mathias glanced at him sharply before beginning to eat. I'd never seen such poor table manners in my life! I blushed and looked down at my silverware, embarrassed more for him than I was for myself.
A few moments later, I heard a muffled 'Ow! What was that for?' from Mathias. Mathias and Rhett sat glaring at each other, the former with his cheeks full of food and nursing his left hand and the latter brandishing a fork as a weapon. "We're dining with a lady," Rhett said slowly and he gestured towards me. "You could at least ACT like you have some manners!"
"Ah wash ungr!" Mathias tried to protest through his food. Rhett scowled at him and I closed my eyes. There was silence for a moment then,
"I apologize, Princess." Mathias' charming tone had returned. "And I was hungry!" he hissed at Rhett.
"Whose fault is that?" Rhett muttered.
"I...it's alright," I said stiffly though politely, trying to push the image of Mathias'...methods of eating out of my mind.

We soon finished our meal, Mathias eating more carefully. He and Rhett stayed in the common room afterwards, but I retreated to my room. I wanted to clean myself up and I needed some time alone to think. Everything had been happening so fast. I still hadn't thought of what I would say to my father. "Hello, Father.  I know you sent me to Braeton to marry Lord Daegromar, but he was planning to kill me and so I escaped."  Though this was what technically happened, I didn't think I could present it to my father in that manner. "Father! I missed you! Did you know that Lord Daegromar wanted to kill me?" I sank onto the bed with a rather unladylike groan. How could I even think like that? Speaking of what happened in those ways would certainly not aid me with father. I was surprised I had even thought them, and vaguely wondered if I had been around Rhett too much. "Did you know..." the three words floated in my mind. Did my father truly know what Lord Daegromar was planning?

I rose off my bed, pushing the thoughts out of my mind. There was a chamber to bathe at the side of the room and I gratefully entered.  I met myself in the mirror and gaped. I was filthy, my clothing was tattered at best and I was certain I had lost weight. I hardly recognized myself. "Surprised, are you?" My reflection asked. "Of course-- You haven't bathed since you were in Ivria. Since then, you've traveled through grasslands and a swamp, battled an ogre as well as a multitude of goblins. Filthiness shouldn't be all that surprising." I blinked, realizing the words had come from my own mouth and glanced quickly around for a bar of soap.  

After a very long bath I found myself in front of the mirror once more.  My appearance was far more satisfactory and I went back into my rooms feeling a little better, but exhausted.  I wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep.  Tomorrow would bring me home.

~

"Oh dear..." I said while rifling through my knapsack the next morning. "Oh no... What will he say if I...?" When I first woke up, I was excited. Looking through my knapsack to find something presentable to wear in front of my father, however had made me become somewhat of a nervous wreck.
"Libellia...?" Rhett asked from behind me. "Er... What are you doing?"
"Looking for something to wear. Rhett, please be quiet for a moment!" I snapped, mainly due to nerves. At that moment, Mathias decided to march in holding several packages.
"I've got something fit for a princess~" He said, grinning ear to ear. "And some other things."
"Oh you didn't have to!" I exclaimed.
"What...what do you mean by other things?" Rhett said, eying the packages nervously.
"Well," Mathias grin became even wider, how that was possible I have no earthly idea, "I decided that if we were to take our dear Princess back to her castle, we shouldn't be recognized. So, I have some new clothes for us, Rhett!"
"You actually thought about something like that...?" Disbelief was evident in Rhett's voice.
"Of course! I'm a Hero, remember?"

Mathias unwrapped one of the packages and held out an elegant pretty blue gown. It wasn't as fancy as some of my dresses at home, but I thought this one was quite beautiful. He passed it to me with a grand bow. "For you, My Lady."

"And for us..." Mathias said starting to unwrap the other packages. I did not think that Rhett could look more anxious, but I was wrong. His expression slowly changed to one of horror as Mathias pulled out a suit of clothing.

"What is that supposed to be?" he asked in a strangled voice. Mathias held a red velvet tunic and short...the only term I could of was poofy, pants. A hat with a large feather followed.
"Well," Mathias began, "these are what Pages wear. I thought they'd make for a wonderful disguise!"
Rhett continued to look at them warily. "How did you get them?"
"Nevermind that!" He threw the outfit to Rhett, who clumsily caught it. "Let's get changed quickly so we can get the Princess home." He finished by flashing a large grin in my direction.

"I...I'm not sure that is what pages..." I started, but stopped at the sight of Mathias' excited face.  Mathias seemed oblivious and turned to shoo Rhett to his room.

Soon Mathias and I had met up again, but Rhett still seemed to be missing. I had to admit that even in his new outfit, Mathias still looked dashing. He grinned again at me from under his hat, his eyes sparkling. I flushed when I realized that I had been staring and looked away.

Mathias looked back down the hall. "Where is he?" he grumbled and went down the hall to find him. I soon heard an exasperated exclamation of 'I'm not going to wear that!' which was followed by Mathias dragging Rhett down the hall to where I was standing. He looked completely ridiculous, standing awkwardly in the hall seemingly trying not to look down at himself. I could understand why Rhett would be so embarrassed--I tried my hardest not to laugh even slightly.

"You...both look very...good," I tried to say as politely as I could manage without giggling.

"Thank you, Princess." Mathias said.
Rhett seemed incapable of speaking. Mathias offered his arm to me. "Shall we go, milady?"
I smiled, blushed slightly, and took his arm. "We shall."

Traveling the streets of Amarion dressed in such a manner was completely different from traveling the streets in the clothes we had before. Civilians stopped, staring in wonder, and I think I might have heard whispering in the crowd. Once we'd made our way outside, I walked between Rhett and Mathias (who's arm I no longer had) and tried my best to keep my composure.

Rhett pushed up his hat which was threatening to fall over his eyes. He glared at Mathias, "Did you even try to get the right size?"
"That's what they had," Mathias said airily. Rhett sighed and looked at me.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, his expression seeming to soften.
"O-of course! I'm just excited to see home again," I said smiling. Excited...I realized that all I felt was a horrible nervousness.  He smiled kindly, but it didn't seem to reach his eyes. It must be my imagination, I told myself.

The guards in front of the palace gate seemed to be much more alert than the guards at the city gates. Mathias strode forward confidently, but I found myself slowing as we approached. Rhett gave me a questioning look and I shook my head. How was I supposed to tell them that I was afraid of coming back after all that they had done to help me? I set my shoulders and picked up my pace. I needed to find out what was going on.

"We have come escorting Her Highness, Princess Libellia," Mathias said boldly. I wondered if he ever hesitated. One the guards gave him an odd look taking in his clothing.
"Pr-princess Libellia!" The other looked surprised and a bit worried.
"We weren't expecting a visit so soon, Your Highness!" the first said.
"I need to see my father, His Majesty," I said trying to sound commanding. The guards hesitated and looked at each other. "Well?" I demanded.
"Ah... Yes, Your Highness." One of the guards finally answered and opened the gates. I nodded to them as I passed through, my heart beating unusually quickly.  Mathias and Rhett followed behind me. Mathias looked appreciatively around at the courtyard, but Rhett just looked worried.

I suddenly stopped and looked around. This was home. I was home! I had a sudden urge to run through the yards and straight to my father. It quickly faded though as I remembered my worries about him. Poised, calm, confident... That would be how I would approach my father.

We soon entered into the castle and I had to resist stopping again to look around. Instead, I strolled along the familiar corridors smiling at what seemed to be only distant memories, with the boys trailing behind me. Strange, I thought, as I continued towards my father's study and hardly saw any servants. Maybe he's in the middle of something important-- this thought caused me to falter in my footsteps. Father gets mad when I interrupt him...But, surely Father would be happy to see me again. Surely he wouldn't be mad by this sort of interruption. But, he...was the one who sent me to be killed. No, no, I didn't know that for certain. But...he sent me away from home! Sent me to be a bride to a man who wanted to sacrifice me!

I felt my hands clench. How could he do it? His own daughter? And...how was I going to face him? What if he tried to hurt me for coming back? What if he sent me back? What if...what if he tried to kill me himself?

"Libellia?" I jumped at the touch of Rhett's hand on my shoulder and the sound of his voice. "Are you alright? You stopped."

I blinked and realized that I had been paying no attention to where we were and that I had stopped walking.

"I-I'm sorry. We're almost there. Right there, the door up ahead," I stammered.
Rhett frowned at me. "Is something wrong? You've been acting odd all day."
"N-no. I'm fine." I forced a smile and strode forwards with a confidence I didn't feel. He was going to hurt me. I just knew it. "Would you two mind staying out here in the hall? ...My father isn't particularly fond of servants." I gave a brief smile when they nodded and walked to the study's door.
Should I knock? No... I currently had the element of surprise-- I'd be able to see his true feelings as  soon as he knew it was me. I bit my lip and opened the door.  My father didn't even look up to see who had come in.

"Don't you know that you ought to knock?!" my father growled. I shut the door behind me, and he still didn't look up. I assumed he thought whoever had disturbed him had left.
"Father." I spoke quietly and his whole body went rigid.
"Li-Libellia?" My father wasn't one who stuttered his words. "When did you return?" He had cleared his throat and waited several seconds before speaking again. His expression was one that mirrored concern.
"Yesterday." My tone was so nonchalant, it surprised even me. My father seemed to be too shocked to become even slightly irritated.
"Yesterday?" I nodded.
"But how...?" He frowned for a moment, took a deep breath and then smiled, his eyes concerned. For a moment, I felt joy rise. This was my Father! No, no I had to keep my resolve.
"Why have you come home so soon? Is everything alright?"

"'Ow long, do ya tink 'e'll keep 'er up there? M'sure teh king is gettin' impatient."' The memory of Daegromar's minion's words rose in my memory. Was everything alright? Alright?!

"Lord Daegromar was looking forward to spending time with you," Father continued.

Spending time with me...yes, he wanted to spend time with me, to sacrifice me! An unfamiliar rage rose up. "Time? Time?! He wanted to kill me! Sacrifice me!"

"Libellia, what nonsense is this?" Father asked. "Daegromar wouldn't..."

"He locked me up. He trapped me in my room. I heard his soldiers talking!" My voice rose with every word. "You! The King getting impatient! I heard them!"

Now, my father was beginning to show the first hints of annoyance. "You were probably off daydreaming, a habit which you were fond of performing here, and only thought of terrible things simply because you missed familiarity." The annoyance was going, replaced by care and concern. To heighten the act, he even stood with his arms outstretched. "My dear girl, I've missed you as well, but your duty to Amarion--"

I shrunk back from him. "I was not daydreaming!"
"Shh, shh now. It's alright. You must be weary from all your travels. I'll call Malin to prepare your bed--Lord Daegromar was coming here on business anyway, and will take you home--"
"No!" I shrieked. "No, Father! You're wrong. I overheard his minions discussing his plot to kill me; it wasn't a dream. Believe me, Father."
"You are tired and distraught. Please, get some rest. You will see that everything is fine."

He was lying to me. I knew it. I couldn't believe it, but he was lying. He wanted me dead! But, I would not allow it to happen. I would stop him.

"Now, just let me call Malin," he said kindly. False kindness. I wanted to...I wanted to...

"I'm concerned for you, Libellia. To come all this way and act like this." He was suddenly in front of me and I realized that he had come around the desk. He reached out to me with a hand again, but I backed away.

"Libellia, such anger. Why do you think that I would--?"
"No! Don't! Don't say it! Don't lie to me!" My eyes fell on a letter opener on his desk. I could end this. I could save myself. He would pay. Pay for what he did, what he was going to do to me. I grabbed the letter opener and pointed it at him.
"Libellia!" He sounded alarmed. I didn't care.  This would end.
What's this? Ch.9?! It's finally here? Yes! I am sorry for the horrible amount of time this took us. But between my not being here much over the summer and the fact that we were having trouble, we took a long time. A lot of hair pulling went into this one, so I hope we at least got it good in the end.

Belongs to myself and the awesome :iconrukirisa-chan:
© 2010 - 2024 SiverCat
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daddysir's avatar
Whoa! CLIFFHANGER!!

Things moved quickly with this one. Good and Funny and Deadly at the end. I think I had some Poofy pants. Without the hat with feather, it's just not a complete outfit! Poor Rhett.

Such is the fate of a second fiddle. Thanks for posting this. I love these three. "Now Libellia...finish off your father and take his place at my side!"