Aideen's Answer

-Chapter Twenty-

When Aideen finally finished her letters, she got up to stretch a bit. Her muscles felt extremely cramped from sitting and writing for so long.
Turning to her desk, she scooped up all the letters and tried to think of where to hide them. They could not be too difficult to find, for she wanted her family to have them as soon as she was gone. But they could not be in plain sight either, for fear of someone finding them before the time was right.
Undecided, she stashed them under her pillow for the time being, knowing she could move them later if the need arose.
That done, she proceeded to pack her things, so that she could leave with only a moments notice when Kevin managed to get word to her tomorrow.
'Tomorrow,' she thought, her heart fluttering. 'Am I ready for this?'
Her tumultuous thoughts were interrupted by the sound of trumpets piercing the silence.
She looked up quickly with a frown.
'Fanfare?' Aideen thought in confusion, 'What noble would be coming to visit us at this time? Unless,' She gasped as a horrible thought struck her. She closed her eyes and struggled to keep her breathing even.
"Oh, please, let it not be so," Aideen whispered. "I will gladly take anyone else, just please do not let the prince be early."
Invigorated, she finished her packing with earnest.
'I must find out,' She thought fervently as she stuffed her favorite gowns into her traveling case. 'I must see whether or not Prince Garrett is here.'
Once her task was completed, she checked to make sure she was presentable before dashing out the door and down the stairs.
In her hurry, she ran straight into Samantha, who had to hold on to the banister in order to keep them both upright.
"Addie!" Samantha laughed, "In a hurry, are we? I suppose you are terribly excited! I know that I am!"
"Samantha! Oh I am so sorry for running into you like that! But, cousin, I must know, who was it that just arrived?" Aideen blurted out breathlessly.
"You mean you do not know? Goodness, Addie! Where have you been all week? Our newest guest is none other than the Duke of Webrams daughter!"
"Tell me you do not mean-" Aideen began.
"Oh, I most assuredly do!" Samantha exclaimed cheerfully.
"The Duchess of Doom," The two of them said in unison.
"Hello, my dears!" Aideen heard, as footsteps approached them.
"That voice," Aideen said with a mock shudder. "It is the voice I hear in my nightmares."
"Are you aware, Aideen, that you are quite simply awful?" Asked the newcomer.
"Hmmm," Aideen pretended to dwell on that for a moment. "I do recall someone telling me that, a very long time ago. I believe it may have been, yes! About the time you last graced our castle with your presence."
Samantha broke in to laughter and moved forward to hug their newest guest.
"Clarissa! It is so wonderful to see you!" She said with a grin.
"Likewise, girls," Clarissa answered as she returned the hug, then moved to hug Aideen. "I have, unfortunately, missed you both," She said with a wink.
"Oh, no one in the fair Webram can compete with our skills when it comes to verbal sparring, is that it?" Aideen teased. "Or is it merely the wonderful joy of our company, not to mention good looks, that you cannot stay away from? Any of these would be completely understandable."
"Why, actually, it was because no one back home can clean my boots with the same skills you possess, Princess." Clarissa retorted.
"Ah, yes," Aideen sighed dramatically. "People have come from miles around to witness my fabulous boot-polishing skills."
"Indeed," Samantha agreed, "Why, your great feats with boots almost match your skills with the sword!"
"Oh, that was low, Samantha!" Aideen laughed, "Besides, it was years ago!"
"Remind me of the tale, Samantha," Clarissa said eagerly. "What happened, again?"
"Aideen convinced a poor young knight to teach her the basics required to wield a blade, and wound up injuring him in the process," Samantha laughed at the memory. "That poor young man!"
"I remember that!" Clarissa exclaimed as she joined in the laughter. "Although it was not a bad injury, was it?"
"Bad enough that my father forbade me from trying swordplay again," Aideen muttered good-naturedly.
"Come girls," She said. "Let us continue our discussion in my chambers instead of standing in the hall as if we know not which way to go."
The three of them laughed and bantered for a good while as they relaxed in Aideens rooms. the time passed incredibly quickly, with much teasing and more laughter.
"Oh, I do love spending time with you two," Samantha laughed much later as she wiped tears from her eyes. "You amuse me so."
"Pleasure to be of service, madam," Clarissa said as she bowed low to the ground.
"Oh my!" Aideen exclaimed as she looked out the window, "When did it get so late? Why, it is completely dark out! Time completely escaped me!"
"It tis the pleasure of our company, of course!" Samantha said with a grin. "How else could time have moved so quickly?"
"This day has not been long enough!" Clarissa declared, "What say you two, shall we, ah, extend it a bit?"
"How so?" Samantha queried.
"Quite simply! You and I can gather what we need of our own belongings and return to spend the night in here, with Aideen!"
"I think that that is a marvelous idea!" Aideen exclaimed with a clap of her hands, "Shall we?"
'After all,' She thought wryly, 'It is my last chance to do something like this, so I plan to enjoy it fully!'
Samantha left immediately to retrieve a few of her things, and Clarissa was not far behind her.
"Clarissa?" Aideen called as the other girl was leaving the room.
"Yes?"
"What inspired this visit?"
"Is it truly not obvious?" Clarissa asked with wonder, "Why, I would never miss your wedding!"
With that, she closed the door and left Aideen alone.
"Oh, my sweet friends," She whispered as she buried her head in her hands. "Miss it, you shall. And I would do almost anything to have you there. But we must enjoy this! For after tomorrow, I will be gone."

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Hello my lovely readers!!!!! WHO loves my new cover??? I DO!!!! Me, me, me!! Hehe ;) total credit goes to the Wattpad cover app, that was such a great invention! :)
This chapter goes to my awesome and loyal friend, Kitty! Thanks for always sticking with me girl, love ya!!! This ones for you =)
I think I did a pretty good job, modeling Clarissa after her. ;)
As always, if you enjoyed the chapter, please vote/comment/follow! Ta-ta for now!!
Susie U. :):):)