บท 3: A New Time 2.
I left Freya to cool off after I had knocked her painting over and went back to pick up my ball and her easel. She might not show it often, but she was definitely angry.
I stared at the slightly muddy and wet painting and sighed. I knew how important art was to her. As I bent to pick both up, a hand beat me to the easel.
"It's alright, I can handle..." I trailed off at the sight of a familiar face. "Maria? You're back!" I threw my arms around her. "Wait, when did you get back? Does Freya know you're back? You're back!"
"As energetic as always I see."
"Well it's only fair," I released her from the hug to look at her. "You've were gone for over a month. There was nobody to help me keep up my early streak."
"Have you been sleeping in?" She asked, her tone suddenly getting serious.
"What do you mean? I've been waking up even earlier than Freya."
"That is not true."
"It isn't. Did I mention I'm glad you're back?"
She only laughed at that while adjusting the easel in her hands. "Did your sister leave this behind by accident?"
"Um, actually I think I'm supposed to take this to her personally." I made a move to collect it from her but she took a step back.
"Is there something going on between you two?"
I told her what had happened this afternoon not long before she arrived.
"Oh don't worry about it. She's just upset that it couldn't be finished before she started drawing another one." She waved it off.
We both nodded in understanding of Freya's constant desire to reach perfection. It was hard to notice at times, but it was still there, like a little stain that was impossible to get rid of completely. Especially when it came to her art. I should talk to her but I know better than to disturb her between drawing again.
"Maria, I know you're going to my sister's room soon, so could you do me a favour?"
"You want me to make sure she isn't still upset. Will do."
With that I went to my room to do absolutely nothing but stare out the window from my desk. Nothing but birds flying in and out of clouds.
I tapped a smooth stone I had found earlier on the wooden surface, waiting for Maria to get back to me and I almost let my eyelids shut fully until a knock jolted me awake, and I slid to the ground, landing on my elbow.
"Come in." I groaned from the floor.
"Glad to see you weren't doing anything important."
I groaned again as I rubbed the elbow that now had a dull throbbing."Here, let me see." She set me down in the chair and examined my arm. "Maybe a tiny bruise later, nothing a little balm
can't fix." She fumbled around in her pocket for a small bottle of the balm and started applying it.
"So... Freya?"
"Like I said, she's was just upset. Not at you though. She's already started on another one." I looked at my arm after she was done.
I nodded in response and was about to ask her something else but she started talking again.
"Speaking of hobbies how's yours going?"
I searched around and showed her the smooth stone. She took it to examine. "Lovely, and so transparent too. Where did you find it?"
She drew out a chair as I told her about my little morning adventure at the small pond near the orangery far right of the castle grounds. It was really hard to sneak past my parents there with wet dripping clothes.
"You fell in?" She asked me.
"I couldn't resist. It looked so..." Dare I say sparkly? "Unnatural under all that water and I wanted it so much!"
She only laughed at me and brought out a rectangular box from my drawer for me.
"Actually...I have an idea of what I want to do with this one." Make sure my only sister still wants to talk to me.
I watched Maria put the box back into the drawer from the corner of my eyes. "As you wish."
"So what happened while you were at the orphanage?"
"Oh nothing much. You'll have to see your sister for the whole thing but basically, Lula nearly sprained her ankle while trying to help Serena run some errands-"
"But I thought Serena liked to work by herself, and isn't Lula a little too..."
"I believe the word you're looking for is small. Yes. But since Serena is having a baby-"
"Really?! Since when?"
"If you'd let me finish you would know."
"Oops... Carry on."
I listened intently to her story while I rolled the smooth stone around in my palm. So I might not have to meet Freya for the whole story after all. They was always something happening at the Xeldian orphanage, and the new stories Maria brought always filled my imagination with infinite pictures. If only I could visit there someday... Without a time limit and guards that would scare everyone away of course.
"Well, I have to go now, and you should get ready for dinner."
I looked out the window and didn't realise it was getting so late. I turned to see her dusting her apron and walk towards the door with curiousity. "Go where? You just got here didn't you?"
"I wanted to let the two of you know I would be back a little late. I'm just going to check on them one more time. Be back tonight!"
"Bye Maria!"
As she left, another servant entered. "Dinner is almost ready, sire. Shall I escort you?"
I mumbled a no and told him I'd be down soon. I walked to my mirror to make sure I was presentable. My white hair stuck up in different places and a part of my shirt was rumpled. I did what I could and started down the stairs, not forgetting the stone of course.
As usual, when I arrived at the dining room my parents and my sister were already seated and waiting. Late.
"Father, mother." I greeted as I took my seat, not waiting for someone to help me pull it out first. Freya was to my left and I tapped her under the table. She only nodded her head at my parents, who had stern expressions on their faces.
I offered a quiet apology to them, my father shook his head and ordered that they bring the food, while my mother smiled back. Now for my next apology.
I tried getting my sister's attention under the table again but she only moved her hair to her back before she dug into her food as if nothing was happening.
Maybe she's more upset than I thought.
I let out a sigh and started eating whatever Reece had made for dinner tonight. The sweet spiciness invaded my mouth over and over again, until I felt someone hit my knee under the table. I looked down first, but then realised it was a stupid move unless I was checking to see if my parents actually hit me. I heard giggling and looked up to see my sister forcing a smile back.
Why that little-
I stifled a laugh myself as soon as I sat up straight. We dined in silence once again until our parents began asking how our day went.
"Nothing much. I worked on a few drawings." She shrugged and went back to her food.
"I...had a bit of a watery adventure this morning." I stopped midway of swallowing when I saw my mother's knowing gaze set on me. She knows! My father simply nodded, probably thinking I was referring to playing with the miniature pirate ships he had.
Heat rushed to my cheeks and I started eating quicker, wanting to be done here before she'd get a chance to properly question me later. Freya full on giggled at my state and I rolled my eyes at her, but at least she was laughing so that means she's happy now.
On our way back to our rooms, I stopped Freya to talk.
"So," I reached into my pocket. "I found this close by the-"
"In the pond?" She raised an eyebrow and a stupid grin spread across my face, which triggered a smile on her's.
"Guilty as charged. How did you know?"
"My secret. Now what did you want to show me?"
I took her hand and dropped the stone into her palm. She looked at it with wonder. "It's beautiful." She said as she turned it to different sides. "Hard to believe it was lying at the bottom of a pond."
I agreed. It was by chance that I had caught a glimpse of it reflecting light underwater. The initial desire to add it to my collection was strong, but making sure my sister wasn't angry at me was stronger. "It's yours."
She stopped looking at the stone, her eyes on me now, and her smile dropped for only a second before it returned. She took my hand in her's and placed the stone back before her blue concentrated eyes met my confused ones. "Fern, I would be an idiot to say I can't see how much you love and want it."
I've been caught. "It's fine real-"
"And I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to give me something for my forgiveness. Now shut up, take it and let's get to bed."
I let out a breathy laugh as I returned it back to my pocket, and we started to our rooms with endless chatter on the way there.
"Looks like you two are back to normal."
"Maria!" She nearly toppled over with our combined tackle. After we separated she went down to business of who she would tuck in first. I wanted to suggest Freya, since my room is a complete mess. Not that I care if anyone besides my parents see it.
"Fern will be sleeping in my room because he feels bad for what he did and wants to make up for it." She said oh-so-cheerfully that I couldn't say anything as she dragged me to her door.
"But you said-"
"That sleeping in my room will do for now." She turned to Maria. "Please help him get his nightwear."
I stood in the middle of her room while she disappeared into her wardrobe. Maria brought my clothes for me and I changed after she was done.
"So I kept my promise. I'm here to tuck you in. You're pretty lucky you two." She said as she moved round the bed.
"You almost didn't make it..." I sang from under the covers, and she reached forward to pinch me, but I moved out of the way and almost landed on Freya, who pushed me back to my attacker again. "Ow..." I crawled back into my spot, while Maria sported a triumphant smile on her face. Freya rolled her eyes and a muffled 'grow up' came up.
"How about a story?" She asked, already looking through Freya's bedside drawer.
"No thanks." We chorused. She shut the drawer, and leaned in to plant a kiss on our foreheads. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight children." She quietly left the room, leaving me and Freya wide awake.
"Goodnight Fern."
I tensed up and wrapped myself up more with blanket, but she sat up and pulled them away from me. "What's wrong with you?"
I made a face. "No kisses!"
She burst into laughter and I soon joined her. "Goodnight Freya."
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