A Switch of People

In which we ride ahead of Cathrine and Company to visit Lissie's Daring, Reading, Harpsichord Prodigy sister Ani Belenora Swan

Chapter 17

Ani

I played my piece through for what seemed the one hundreth time, normally I loved playing my harpsichord 

but lately my younger sister came to mind Lissie She'd disappeared a month ago and no word. I wondered if she was safe, if she was okay. I must admit sometimes she seemed a spoiled poetic pain but she was still my sister and the heir to our little palace and surrounding lands even if she was the younger and  father found her unsuitable mother would have her way with her favorite daughter. 

"My Lady Ani." Whispered a timid voice from the doorway. I turned upon instinct. 

"Yes Flavia." 

"Your mother would have you downstairs if you please."

I sighed and got up from my seat. "Alright tell her I'll be down presently." 

Flavia bobbed a curtsy and skittered away.  I put my hand to my forehead before descending the row of endless winding stairs. 

~~~~~~}A{~~~~~~

"My Daughter." My elegant mother said holding out her arms for me to give her the expected hug, I held back. "Belenora my sweet, when your mother holds out your arms you are to embrace her." reluctantly I did so and she sat down on her velvet chair smiling with the grace she and Lissie both possessed. I sat down on a chair beside the window grabbing my favorite book. "Precious." My mother grit her teeth. "Wouldn't you prefer to do something more ladylike." 

I bent my head back and flung a piece of hair away from my face. "Not really, mother but if it pleases you." I made to put the book back. "You may read for a little while." My mother seemed pleased with her act of generosity. I placed my book on my lap and silently began to  read when something outside caught my attention, I pushed back the curtain for a better look.

"Mother." I said drawing in my breath. "It's...it's Lissie and two others." 

Mother jumped up in a most unladylike manner clutching at the arm rests of her chair. "Truly!" she lifted up the long train of her skirts and stepped over to the window and seeing my sister she put her hand up to her mouth and smiled, actually smiled a real loving smile. "My daughter my lovely Lissie" she hurried over to the front door. "Harold!" She gestured for the tall manservant to come. "Get the door my daughter has returned." 

My mind instantly flew to the time when Lissie's disappearance had first been made known mother had ordered search parties sent out and blamed father every day for three weeks and even lately she sometimes glared at him believing it was his fault her favorite daughter had been kidnapped . 

Lissie entered in a somewhat quiet fashion with her normally proud head  lowered mother grasped her hands and hugged her and exclaimed about how ragged and dirty she had become. The boy who had come with Lissie whispered something to the girl beside him she nodded and looked out the door he seemed especially eager to get away and there was something familiar about him.

"My daughters rescuers!" She said raising her voice to a louder and merry tone. "You shall be my esteemed guests and have baths and food to befit royalty." The girl blushed and the boy patted her shoulder. "If you'll excuse us, we must be moving." 

"Nonsense!" Mother said beckoning Harold and Flavia to come. "You shall stay." The boy gazed longingly at the door as he and the girl were paraded away.

"Mother, you should have let them go."

Who was this girl and what had she done with my sister; had Lissie really changed that much that she'd say something against mother's wishes?"

"Well I must say that dirty boy probably wasn't a good idea to keep but his friend that girl...she's royalty I'm sure."

"Of course she's royalty." Lissie whispered twisting her skirt. "She's a princess."

Mother gasped. "A princess!" She turned to me. "Get the maids cleaning and get Flavia to bring that girl a gown befitting her station, I'll not have a princess thinking us crude and dirty oh and tell Rachel to use our best dishes at dinner!"

 I rolled my eyes. "Yes mother."

I turned and saw that girl Cathrine staring at me from up above the staircase and just before she was hastened away she dropped something. What could it be?

Cathrine Wonders Why She is Continually Chased

Chapter 16

Crossing the Boarder 

If I had known that leaving Bren would result in us being chased by two dozen masked men with long curved swords I may have considered staying, but as I did not it seemed perfectly natural to want to cross the boarder as soon as possible.

"Cathrine." Rolic whispered, his horse next to mine. 

"Yes." 

"When we pass into Perlusha I am allowed to tell more." 

"Does that mean that you didn't choose to come with us on your own; are you acting in response to orders?"

Rolic shook his curly dirt covered hair. "I'm not allowed to tell you that." 

I sighed. "Of course." 

We rode on farther and Rolic fell back while Ariella pushed her horse forward. "I wanted to ask you, do you believe that you're a princess like he says." She pointed her thumb towards Rolic. 

I shrugged. "I have no reason not to." 

"Yes but still."

I turned a shushing look towards her and felt years older. "Must I always tear you guys apart; you're supposed to be my companions, support my decisions, and accept each other." 

I nudged my horse ahead. It had only been a little bit since we'd all been laughing but I was now very tired, having so much worry placed on my shoulders was dragging me to the ground and it didn't help that my companions squabbled with each like little children. 

Finally we reached the boarder, the very boarder of Bren. I felt my heart leap into my mouth as teh ground started to rumble. "Is it an Earth Quake?" Lissie asked wrapping Sweets reigns around her arms and gripping her halter. 

"No!" Ariella shrieked. "Hurry, move! We need to get far and fast!" 

"Ah What?" Lissie asked confusion lining her pale face. 

"No, ride!" I caught on quickly. 

"Lissie, I'm sorry." I smacked Sweets, she neighed and charged forward. 

"Hoooowwwwww Cooooouuuuulllldddd Yoooouuuuuu." Lissie cried her voice shaking as the horse sped forward.

"Wow, just wow. "

"Oh, be quiet Ariella you and I both know she wouldn't have been able to get up the gumption to speed up ." 

She smiled. "Good thing she wrapped herself up so nicely." Ariella kicked her horse and away they flew. I followed after. 

Looking behind I caught the masked horsemen. "Friends of yours!" I hollered at Ariella. 

"Father's Men!" Her voice hollered back. "He's out for money!"

"What!?"

"He probably wants to ransom you!" She gulped up breaths of heavy wind.

"Why!?" 

"I don't know!"

"Ariella!" Rolic yelled. "I'm going to stall them, I need you to get Cathrine away!" 

"Not happening!" Ariella replied. "These are my fathers men, I'll handle them you watch her!" Before Rolic could argue Ariella had pulled back and unsheathed her two daggers. "If any of them get past me protect her!" 

Rolic could do nothing but nod, she smiled jubilantly. "Till next time." 

Soon I could see neither Ariella nor the masked men. "We'll continue on without her." Rolic said solemnly helping me off Newinta.

 "No we wait for her." I said stubbornly, sitting down to emphasize my resolve. 

Rolic shook his head. "To dangerous I can't allow it. We don't even know if she'll be coming back." He frowned looking back the way we'd come. "Her father is an unpredictable man he may not be lenient with her." 

"Assuming she got captured I pointed out." 

"Cathrine if you want to proceed with this quest and find your mother than we cannot waste time waiting for someone who most likely won't show." He nodded towards Lissie. "Her parents palace is near here, you cannot stop now." 

I saw the sense in his words and reluctantly agreed. 

T-Shirts

Sevenly is selling these super cute T-shirts till the end of this week supporting the Mercy Ship's of Africa.

I follow Ali's blog, she works on the Mercy Ships you should definitely check out her blog!!!

Here

Ali's African Adventures

Ali works helping to heal cleft lip, growing tumors, and dental care.

Mercy Ships is a Christian Organization bent on helping the people of Africa.

I hope I explained this well and you guys aren't all like "What is she talking about?" anyways thank you for reading this and totally go check out Ali's blog. 

And if you'd like to buy a T-shirt to support the Mercy Ships, Click here ---> http://www.sevenly.org/

Posting Winners

Yeah I'll be gone tomorrow so I'm posting contest winners a day early. The choice was hard but I had to make the decision so I have and the winner is......

Brittany Ann!!!!

 

Congratulations Brittany your award is a choice between a place in one my books or you can specially request a post!

Second place goes of course to....

Abilaine!!!

Great job Abilaine I really liked yours a ton it was gorgeous!

And your award is you can have me draw anyone you want!

 

Gotta go now leaving soon.

 

 

Cathrine Belongs

Chapter 15

Rescues, Squabbles, and Other Such Things

Never had a person been more appreciated or more welcome in my eyes then Rolic was right now with Aunt Prune's lovely sword in his hands his eyes flashing with fire, my captor loosed his hold on me momentarily, I thrust myself forward out of his arms. Behind Rolic I felt braver and I glared at the guard gripping Ariella. "Release her you Stumpy Blackguard!" I ordered Rolic emphasized the command by slashing out at the short guards hands he growled letting her go. 

"You have the upper hand now princess but we'll get you back oh yes we will!" The captain yelled at me retreating quickly.

"Catch them you nit!" Ariella shouted at Rolic. "He knows about Cathrine!"

Rolic whirled round to face her. "What!" Then hurled himself after them with such force I thought he might trip and make a fool of himself. 

He came back to us breathless and distraught but mostly empty handed. "I'm sorry Cathrine." He huffed. "They had to much of a head start and they got to their horses before I could stop them." 

"It's okay." I said quietly. "Thank you for saving me." 

"Pleasure highness." he said as he sat himself on the cold cobbled stoned street. 

"Rolic." 

"Yes." 

"Am I really a Princess?"

He hesitated before answering. "Yes." 

"Oh." 

"Alright!" Ariella said plopping herself down next to him. "Truth time, who are you really and what do you know." 

Rolic started but then composed himself. "Before I say anything why don't you tell Cathrine that tiny little detail you skipped earlier." 

Now it was Ariella turn to start. "A...I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Hmm maybe I'm wrong but if I'm not mistaken your are the daughter of the Master Thief." 

"What!!!" screeched a high pitched voice from the corner we all turned and faced Lissie whom I hadn't noticed until now she held the horses reigns in an iron grip. "I always knew she was trouble." 

Ariella glared at Lissie. "Yes I am the daughter of the Master Thief but that doesn't mean that I'm a thief." 

I patted her shoulder. "Of course it doesn't, but why didn't you tell me this earlier." 

She breathed a sigh of sadness. "I thought you would loose all trust in me those people in Perlusha aren't my real parents they just took care of me but I loved them like parents I barely ever saw my father and my mother, she died when I was born." 

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"It's okay." She perked right up and turned towards Rolic again. "Awe now that she knows all about me it's time for you to spill!" She grinned mischievously.  "Don't think I'd forgotten." 

"I...I still can't tell you, it's not time yet." 

"Oh, really." Ariella snorted sarcastically. "Okay then little missy!" She turned to Lissie. "You have a part in this somewhere tell us about Rolic here."

Lissie flushed as Rolic shook his head and mouthed the words "Nooooo" I giggled in spite of myself and they all turned to me. "What's so funny?" Rolic Ventured to ask.

"I just realized what a comical scene this is." I started laughing again and soon we we all laughing together even the tight Lissie who had always seemed above that before. When we were all done I turned to Rolic and asked. "So when the time comes you will tell us everything won't you." 

"Not everything." Rolic said mysteriously. "There's a time for everything but I promise when those times come I will tell you."

"I'll hold you to that." Ariella said fixing her dark eyes on him.

I nodded absently and gazed over our little group and realized with a tinge of surprise and pleasure that they we where somewhat like family now and for the first time in centuries I actually felt like I belonged. I indulged in the feeling, it was wonderful.

Write Anna's Story

Yep my Contest to write Anna's story!

You can either write a short story or a chapter of her story. I'd like it to have something to do with the moon and stars use the pictures above for idea's other than that be creative!

Rules: 

1. Write it on your blog with a link to this post.

2. Post the link in the comments of this post

Also for those of you interested you can make a cover for your story as well I can't wait to see the entries!!!

A little later I'll post another chapter and story contest one where you can write whatever you want. 

 Have fun!

 

Back to my Life

A closer look at how things have been going so basically "A Closer Look" is just what I'll be calling my personal posts where I write about my life and feelings and such so I just wanted to update you guys.

So I shall get started with the current events of the house here.

Today I went shopping with my mum we stopped at a special frozen yogurt place that's one of my favorites we chatted a lot and I enjoyed myself. When we got home my sisters hurriedly told me to put on my best dress, we were going to take a photo shoot you see, so I hurried fast as I could to get dressed my sisters helped with the makeup and hair. So Liz, Ani, and I rushed outside eager to get in as much daylight as we could mum took contol of the camera and the pictures turned out great after viewing each one I proclaimed the theme princess I being Cinderella in a Blue dress, Ani Belle her hair gorgeously arranged and with a pink dress, and Liz Sleeping Beauty in a cream dress with pink and gold laced embroidery, in a word stunning.

Tomorrow is my birthday but by the time you guys read this it'll probably already be my birthday *smile*
Gotta go now.