Shine

PART FIFTEEN
"Shine, what are you doing?"
Shine didn't open her eyes or move from her position on the floor.
"I'm tired."


"Well you're in the way. I need to put your tea on the table."
"I don't want to move."
"Well you won't get any tea, then."
Shine grudgingly moved her legs out of Rhoda's way. Rhoda was her nurse, since her mother, Chrystal, hadn't wanted her. Chrystal hated girls, and had gotten rid of her first daughter, replacing her with Ivan. After she had Shine, she threw her away like a bottle cap, for Rhoda to salvage. They lived in the lower ground floor of the palace, in a small area Rhoda had done up to function as a house. All the furniture was taken from various places where no one would miss them. Their food was provided by the palace kitchen, since although Chrystal had decided to pretend they didn't exist, the kitchen workers hadn't. When Shine was seven she had been ordered to train with the palace dancers and through that she had met Ivan. Well, not so much met as seen, as he frequently was brought to watch with Chrystal. From that time on Ivan was Shine's hero (they were both about ten at the time), she would dance better so he could see and notice her. Even when he didn't act very heroic Shine always made up excuses for him. But Ivan didn't like Shine; he'd been brought up to look down upon her, although the reason for this had never been revealed to Shine. Despite this, Shine would not hate him. Rhoda knew all about it but said nothing to encourage or discourage Shine. She didn't have a high opinion of Ivan, but she kept that to herself. Rhoda was not from the Frozen Plains, but from Tree Land in the warmer regions.


She had told and retold stories of her former life before she was forced into slavery to pay off a family debt. Rhoda loved Shine as if she was her own daughter and had tried to bring her up well, but life in the dancing school had spoiled her- for life perhaps, Rhoda worried.
"Rhoda?" From the floor,
"Yes, twinkle?"
"Who is my real mother?" This was an often repeated question which popped up anytime Shine was upset.
"I think you know the answer to that, sparkle." Said Rhoda, calmly, without turning around.
"If Chrystal was my real mother, she'd act like it. It's not fair!" Muttered Shine, fiddling with the security bracelet on her wrist.
"I'll tell you what's not fair, me making your tea and you not eating it, that's not fair." Rhoda warned.
"Oh fine!"
"You watch your tone young lady."
Shine got up and trudged to the table, her brows lowered. Rhoda sat down opposite.
"What's the matter, Shine? You've been lying on the floor all evening."
Shine's face crumpled. "I have no friends." She managed, before bursting into tears.
"Do you know why?"
"Because, (sniff) nobody likes me."
Rhoda passed her a hankie. "That's not true, I like you, and Walter likes you." Walter was a palace kitchen worker. Shine blew her nose on the hankie.
"Nobody else does." She looked down at her plate. "Rhoda,"
"Yes?"
"Sonia's back."
"Aha?"
"I hate her!"
"Why?"
"She's mean!" Shine was almost shouting.
"Those are not nice words, Shine."
"I don't care! I hate her!"
"Calm down, Shine. Eat something and you'll feel better."
Again, Shine burst into tears.

The Walk

PART FOURTEEN

“How long have I been here?”

Etina held up three fingers. Sonia sighed. It felt like a lot longer than three days.

“I wish we could go for a walk or something.”

Etina smiled mysteriously and opened the door, beckoning for Sonia to follow.

“but we're not allowed out.” Sonia hissed, unsure if this was a trap. But since it appeared that Etina would go, even if Sonia didn't and Sonia didn't fancy staying behind, she left the room with Etina. A young guard met them outside and informed Sonia that Lord Ivan had ordered that she could go anywhere she wished under guard. This information almost made Sonia want to stay there and not go out ever, but she decided it wasn't important enough to get worked up over. They would go first to one of the lower galleries overlooking the great hall. Sonia was allowed to lead the way while Etina and the guard brought up the rear. Etina appeared to know the guard, whose name was Evan, as evidenced by their whispered conversations which were silenced if Sonia turned around. Sonia was just a bit jealous that Etina would talk to a guard and not to her, but she supposed Etina had known Evan longer than she’d known Sonia. The gallery was dark and deserted when they reached it, which made the unusual light at one end of the great hall easier to see. Sonia, being more curious than the other two, decided to go into the great hall itself to investigate. She didn't notice for some time, however, that the others weren't following her. She didn't give it considerable thought, as the scene in front of her was much more riveting. Facing the platform stood seven figures: two guards, Ralf, Angele, Lana, Jermaine and a girl who Sonia recognised as the one who had fallen out of the dance. On the platform stood Chrystal and Mirabell. It appeared he had risen in rank, otherwise there would be some other official with him to make sure he did what he was told. The whole group on the floor excepting  Jermaine and the guards were in tears. Sonia was surprised he wasn't comforting Lana, for their behaviour at her hut and certain things Ralf and Angele had said suggested they were engaged, and surely something which would bring tears to Ralf’s eyes in front of Chrystal and Mirabell should not leave Jermaine as indifferent as he appeared. Then Sonia remembered a horrible piece of technology which had not been perfected by the time she left but was still used, at the risk of terrifying side effects. It was for wiping people’s memories almost completely. She desperately hoped this device hadn't been used on Jermaine; too many terrible things had happened to these people already, she was sure. But as she drew closer, keeping hidden from sight, saw the confused expression on his face, the heartbroken longing and disbelief on Lana’s, she realised it had been used. Why? What had they done? There was no reason Sonia could think of that could make up for it. And what was the other girl doing there? At a word from Chrystal the guards came forward and tied the girl's hand to Jermaine’s. Sonia hid her eyes so she wouldn't have to see the rest of it, but that couldn't prevent her from hearing it. The cries of Lana and Angele, sobs turning into screams of the girl as she was dragged away with Jermaine to the labyrinth to die. Despite the size of the great hall, Sonia felt suffocated, as if her lungs and throat were being squeezed and walls were closing in from every side. She wished she could wake up in her hut and this had all been a dream, but the hard truth was that it wasn't. She heard the others being taken away. Sonia had to get away from that place. She headed back to the gallery. She found Evan and Etina dancing.

 She stood in the doorway, watching. It was refreshing to see two people enjoying themselves. She didn't want it to end, but eventually they noticed her and stopped, looking somewhat shame faced.

“I want to go back now.” her voice sounded hoarse and shaky. The prison rooms would be a relief to return to. On the journey back, Sonia wondered if she was a coward, if it was cowardice to fear Chrystal. There was no one she could ask.

cold

PART THIRTEEN
It was bitterly cold in the solitary cell Angele was now in.
To make matters worse, she had been forced to leave all clothes but her dress and undergarments at the door. Apparently warm petticoats and socks didn't count as undergarments.
She sat in the corner, shivering miserably. Through her chattering teeth she wept. Great sobs of self pity, stress and bereavement.

In another cell, right next door, in fact, sat Ralf, thinking. Everything was a mess. Either they'd be killed, or they would stay in these cells for the rest of their lives.
That wouldn't be such an unpleasant prospect if Angele had been there. But even if she had been, there was no chance they would ever get to the hidden city which was where she had wanted to go in the first place. And Connal, their son, had shrunk away from his mother. What had happened to him?

Far from these two cells, but in the same situation, was Lana’s cell, where she sat, bemoaning the fact that she and Angele had fought and she couldn't apologize. She too, had only her dress and undergarments on, and so was pacing the floor in a vain attempt to warm herself. Her attention was caught by the entry of Jermaine. Lana ran to him and tried to throw her arms around him. To her surprise and disappointment, Jermaine held her back. She looked into his face to discover the cause, and found only confusion. She spoke his name but got no answer. She thought this must be some kind of nightmare and screamed, holding onto his arms and sobbing. He shook her off angrily and said she was mad. This was too much for Lana, she thought Jermaine loved her, he had said he
would always love her. She couldn't take this on top of all the stress of the last few days. The release of unconsciousness came swiftly and she collapsed on the floor.

Chrystal

Ivan strode down the corridor to Lady Chrystal's room. At the door he listened out of habit and hearing nothing, entered. Lady Chrystal was sitting on a sofa holding the cup Ivan had thrown at Shine. She looked preoccupied, but Ivan had something important to say.

"Mother."
She looked up. "Ivan." She smiled with her lips only. "You have a sister."
"I know. Shine is my sister."
"Oh. Yes I forgot." A look of hatred briefly darkened her face.
"I meant another one. I thought she was dead or far away from here."
Deciding that what he had to say was more important than the information being passed on to him, Ivan tried again.
"Mother, do you think-"
"The prisoner you showed me last night, she's my daughter." Chrystal spoke through gritted teeth, clutching the cup with white knuckles. "I will make her miserable."
"I'm not exactly sure how all this is important to me, Mother. I want to ask-"
"Don't you see that if you have an older sister, she will be leader instead?"
"Well yes”

“Well then?”

“I suppose it makes sense. But Mother, l need to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think I should marry Sonia?”

“Marry whoever you like.”

“Alright.” at the door he turned, “I think I'll wait a bit, though.”

Chrystal nodded and smiled

An apology

Unfortunately, there will be no more posts until February, since we are having a screen-free month in January

Etina

PART ELEVEN

Sonia was bored. Never scared, oh no, but bored. The suite of rooms reserved for certain luckier prisoners was extremely comfortable in all but that there was nothing Sonia wanted to do. There was carpet on the floor and nice furniture, but against the wall stood a bookshelf full of nothing but dictionaries!
 She wasn’t sure how long she’d been there. At least two days. A terrified looking woman with an iron anklet had brought her more than enough food, but never stayed long enough for Sonia to say much more than “hello, what's your name? Hey! Where are you going?”.
The encounter in the Cold Forest had reminded her how lonely she had been. How she hadn’t spoken to anyone, properly, since her conversation with Mirabell. She wished there was someone she could talk to. Through experience she had learnt that talking to thin air was a poor substitute for human companionship. She’d gone through all this before in the cold forest, but there, at least, was distraction. The need for shelter and food had given an opportunity to use her mind in other ways than dwelling on such things. Here there was nothing but dictionaries! Sonia was politely awoken from her reverie by the arrival of a short, solemn faced girl in a servant’s uniform, carrying a heavy bag on her shoulder.

 For a moment they both surveyed each other. The girl unslung her bag and took out a piece of paper which she handed to Sonia. 

It said: “My name is Etina. I am to be your servant. Three years ago I was kidnapped from an island near the warmer regions. No one else wanted me because I didn’t talk.” 

When she had finished reading Sonia looked once more at the girl, who was staring expectantly back at her. 

“So your name’s Etina?” The girl nodded. “When you wrote you didn’t talk, um, well, you can talk?” she nodded again. Sonia handed back the paper which Etina took silently and replaced in her bag. “What’s in there?” Asked Sonia, feeling the need for something other than a yes or no question. The girl, instead of answering in words, showed Sonia the contents of her bag. Sonia, less interested in the bag than in Etina speaking, gave it no more than a glance. “We can’t go on like this if you’re going to be my maid.” Etina shrugged, as if to say, 

“maybe not you, but I’m sure I could.” she turned, dragged the sofa to the wall and began to make her bed. It appeared they were both prisoners. Sonia walked disconsolately away.

Apologies for the delay, I have been in the North Island since September and have only just got back

The Figure

PART TEN

In a large lower room crouched a small, black figure. A door opened at the far end. The figure stiffened but did not get up. Two guards entered. They walked slowly and lazily over to the figure. One of them kicked it.

“Get up. You’re in the way of the caretaker.” The figure leapt upon them, knocked them out and stole their guns. :) 
It ran up the stairs with the guns concealed under its cloak. Down the stairs came the sound of cheering and stomping, then silence. At the top the figure passed quietly through an open door into the crowded hall. Removing its hood, it revealed itself to be a girl, possibly sixteen, with bound up brown hair and a melancholy expression.

She pushed her way to the front of the crowd and sat on the floor by a column to get a good view of the proceedings. At one end of the room was the platform, now crowded with many brightly dressed people. Halfway down the floor was a tall, one-legged table and on it sat a jug and a heavy gold and glass cup. At the other end was a group of guards surrounding the four prisoners and Shine, in the ceremonial cup bearer’s dress.

There was almost complete silence. At a signal from someone on the platform, Shine walked slowly and carefully forward. She poured the red liquid into the cup with extreme care; if she spilled it she would be disgraced. From her seat on the floor the girl watched Shine intently as she made her way up the hall to the platform where Ivan received the cup without giving her a glance. The girl on the floor looked back at the group of prisoners. The two women were weeping quietly as the men comforted them and the guards stood by silently. The dark haired woman looked up at the platform across the room. On it she noticed a small blonde boy beside Ivan and shrieked.

Breaking free of the guards she sped across the floor to clasp him in her arms, but he shrank back from her to a tall lady standing a little behind Ivan. the woman was dragged back by the guards, sobbing.

Ivan, who had looked on in a bored, uninterested manner, now stepped forward, held the cup high and shouted: “Let the revelry begin!”

The girl quickly got clear of the crowd as it swept in to close the path to the platform. She now stood quite near it, watching the multitude in its uncontrolled movement and noise like an angry sea. She glanced round to watch the occupants of the platform. Shine was shyly smiling at Ivan. He half turned and without looking at her, asked her what she wanted. Blushing uncomfortably, she knelt. “Lord  Ivan, I gave you the cup and you still haven’t drunk from it. May I go?” he turned on her a black look and struck her face with the full cup. She fell to the floor with a cry. The girl started forward to help her.

“Leave her alone.” commanded Ivan. She remained where she was. Ivan gave an order to one of his guards who took Shine away. While this was happening the girl slipped behind one of the platform’s curtains to observe what followed. By now the crowd was dancing and singing noisily and chaotically. Ivan walked forward, gave another order and the crowd parted to let the prisoners through. The dark haired woman who had run forward before was hiding her face with her hands. Silence fell.

“Look, Mother,” Ivan said to the tall lady behind him, “I have brought you prisoners.”

The lady looked down her nose at them. “You!” She pointed at the dark haired woman. “What is your name?”

The woman lowered her hands to reveal her tear stained face. She looked defiantly and accusingly at the lady.

“My name is Angele Weaver Crispin and you have my son.” She pointed at the boy. The lady’s face twitched ever so slightly. The girl noticed it and wondered. The lady turned, next, to the two men, Ralf Crispin and Jermaine White, and the light haired woman, Lana Kier. the lady looked them up and down once more and ordered for them to be separated and locked up. 
“Let the dancing continue!” and she swept off the platform with the little boy. Once she was gone, Ivan jumped down into the crowd and danced and sang with the rest of them. The girl, now having seen all she wished to see, slipped into a corridor where she met Mirabell and handed over the guns. She left him and retired to a small closet under some stairs where she dressed her hair and changed into a servant’s uniform.

Pictures

 I was practicing drawing waves.

 A mermaid!

 And I was practicing drawing the sea in general.

 These are two of my sisters. The lower one isn't that accurate

 This is a rabbit we found running around our back yard. We caught it and are keeping it in one of our spare cages. (It actually has pink eyes but I changed them so it would look nicer)

I don't like drawing horses for some unknown reason.

Sleeping Beauty! (Ah how nice... um, so much pink.)

Chantel

PART NINE

“Oh (sob) Why did this happen to me? (sob) Now I’ll never be anything. (moan) It’s all Desta’s fault! (sob) If her hand hadn’t been there this wouldn’t have happened!(sob)Now I’ll be turned out of the palace(moan)and I don’t know what I shall do!(sob)”

This had been going on for about quarter of an hour and Ralf was beginning to lose patience.

“Must you? We’re trying to sleep over here!”

“I ca-an’t stop!” said the girl, who was becoming somewhat hysterical.

“Maybe we should just ignore her.” said Angele, in a tired voice. After she and Lana had been captured, they had been separated and Angele was put in a cell with Ralf who she was very glad to see again. They spent one happy day together. It would have been much happier if Connal, Jermaine and Lana had been there too. The next day they had spent worrying, and that evening a tear-soaked girl had been locked in with them. They had gathered from her lamentations that she was- or had been- a dancer, but had made a mistake of some sort and was here because of it. They had tried to feel sorry for her but it was rather difficult since they were both very tired and she didn’t give them an opportunity. They tried ignoring her for a while, they really tried, but eventually they gave up.

“What’s your name?” Asked Angele, hoping this might stop her crying.

“Chantel. (sob)”

Angele sighed, and tried again. “How old are you?” She had to speak quite loudly to make herself heard over the noise of Chantel’s crying. Chantel tried to reply, but couldn’t and therefore sobbed even louder. When she had calmed herself somewhat, Angele said in a quieter voice, “Do you need a hankie?” The girl nodded and continued crying. Angele fetched the box they had thoughtfully been provided with from the ledge in front of the mirror and gave it to Chantel.

“Thag-you” she said, pulling three hankies from the box. It appeared that the worst was over, for the only sounds from Chantel over the next few minutes was her nose being blown and occasional sobs. This soon quietened down into just sniffs. Ralf and Angele decided now would be a good time to go to sleep and were preparing to do so when the door burst open and two large, rough-looking men in grey uniforms walked in.

“You’re comin’ wiv us.” said one.

“Yup.” said the other.

“We’re trying to sleep!” said Ralf.

“Where are you taking us?” asked Angele.

“Ooh, we can’t tell you that, can we, Arthur?” said the first one, exchanging a meaningful glance with the other one, (who we shall now call Arthur).

“Nope. can’t do that, Christopher. Pris’ners aren’t ‘llowed to know that type of thing.”

“How long will it take? We’re tired and need our rest.”

“Can’t be tellin’ you that. You just come ‘long wiv us and it’ll be better for everyone.” said Christopher, smiling.

“Well I suppose you’re right.”

“But what about me?!” Wailed Chantel as the others made a move for the door.

“Ooh dear, I ‘most forgot ‘bout you. You come out the door wiv us and there’s someone for you outside, heh heh.” Said Arthur, chuckling evilly. Chantel blanched with horror at what this might mean but she followed the men and Ralf and Angele out of the door. Outside she was seized by three guards who tied her hands together and dragged her away, kicking and screaming. It was a horrible sight.

“Oi!” said Christopher, “Move faster, pris’ners!”