~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Pale sunlight streamed through the tall, arched windows of the sitting room. It danced with tiny dust motes, and lit the cheerful room of scrolling, muted rose prints and soft cream carpets. Caelan Rainier sat in a straight backed, plush chair with her legs folded beneath her and her blue skirts settled neatly over her knees. An emboidery hoop laid upon her lap. "I swear, Nan, if I prick my finger one more time.... I'm done for the day," she finished in a low growl, biting her tongue against more colorful words. The Head Lady in Waiting had been restless for days, and little seemed to hold her attention long. "You wouldn't have a problem if you would simply watch what you were doing," Nanette Vallen stated in her usual matter-of-fact tone. Another of the ladies in waiting, she often reminded Caelan of a bird for the way her piercing blue eyes peered over the spectacles that had slid down her sharp, pointed nose. Her body was much the same. Light, and thin. Thin to the point where her collar bones protruded, and one could see the bones in her wrists. Her gowns always seemed to hang a little bit loose. But she never seemed sickly and she could eat more then some of the RE's though she would never admit to it. "I do watch what I'm do-- Ouch!" Nan was never the sort to state that she was right, her looks were even worse. She looked back at Cael over her wire rimmed spectacles and slowly rose one slim brow as she calmly pulled her thread through her hoop. "Alright.. Alright!" Cael grumbled, glaring back at her good friend as she sucked upon her fingertip and wondered at how she ever managed to prick it by just trying to thread the needle. She gathered up the silk and hoop and tossed it into the linen lined basket at her feet with a grunt. "You should leave this to us, Cael," a sweet voice chimed in. Dora Beale, the firey haired, petite beauty who was often Caelan's rival. She thought she was adorable, most believed her, but Cael often wished she could toss her out the window. "You can hardly stitch a straight line with all that gauze on your finger," she added, tossing a rich red-gold lock over her slim shoulder. She wore a green silken gown that clung in just the right places to accentuate her swaying hips as she strode with a liquid grace across the sitting room. "Oh, just bite it, Dora," Cael grumbled in return, cutting a sharp glance in her direction. "Tsk... if you practiced you might even be able to fix that ratty shirt of your's." "Dora!" Nan's hoop fell onto her lap in her shock. "You just wish you had the attention," Cael snapped back, "Liam doesn't even turn his head when he -is- here." "Cael!" Nan's glasses began to slip down her nose. "Stop it!" she bristled. "That's a horrible thing to say!" It was simply odd to see Nan upset, and surprise registered on both the other girl's faces. Such close accomodations, and weather that left them holed up in this wing of the castle was starting to leave them all a little ragged. Caelan grumbled quietly to herself as she pushed herself up from her chair. It was all she could do to hold her tongue. Head Lady in Waiting and she felt like she was acting like a complete child. Her frustration showed in the heated red of her cheeks as she brushed her way past both of them and strode towards the sitting room door. She could hear Nan's voice as she left. "Really, Dora... that was an awfull thing she went through. You should know better then that." "She's been so sensitive since her brother died. It's been six month--" The door closed on Dora's voice, and Caelan sighed as she leaned against it. She should be thankful Dora found her when she did, really. Even though it had been her own fault that she ended up in the position that she did. She shouldn't have been so stupid as to stay in her room even when she thought there was someone on her balcony. She thought there was, anyhow, and didn't want to trouble the RE's with something so trivial. Eyes playing tricks on her and whatnot. But they weren't, and she was faced with that horrible theif. Her fist fell and hit the wall as she pushed herself away from the door. Frustration swelled in her throat. She could still feel the binds on her wrists, she could still taste the gag in her mouth, and she could still see the look in his eyes as her slowly slit open her shirt with his dagger. But more then anything, she could still feel the way his blade pressed against the sensitive skin of her throat. Her fingers absently brushed her throat as she walked down the tall arched hallways. To find the kitchen, perhaps, for a snack. Or maybe her own bed and a nap. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Sarah _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives & Other DMI Lists: http://www.dragonmyst.f2s.com/lists.php3
