Miya Mayflower...Stay beautiful

Chapter 8...

Here we go...next chapter...Things are gonna start to get intersting over the next few chapters. hope you like. :) xx

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Chapter 8...

Sometimes, Elime can shout louder than anybody that I have ever known and probably ever will know, but other times she will whisper so quiet that only a mouse can hear her. That is why I didn't hear her straight away. My bedchamber is fairly long with a screen about half way to the door, dividing the room. Behind the screen is my bed and closet. On the other, a chaise-longue stands central, a soft gold that reflects the sunlight from the french doors. The doors open out onto a wide balcony that overlooks the garden. That evening, I was sat on the balcony, when Elime's voice floated gently through the railing. At first, I wasn't sure what I had heard, so I ignored it. 'Miya!' Okay, so someone was whispering my name. I peered over the edge and saw her stood on a wooden crate full to the top with fresh fish.

'Elime, what are you doing? You do realize that you're stood on fish, don't you?' I stood up and leant over, to see her better.

'Ahh, Yeh...fish. Miya, can I talk to you? It's...sorta important...please?' It did sound important...

'Err yeah, okay then is the door unlocked?' she glanced towards it then nodded. 'Then come up here. I'll wait for you.' she shook her head and stepped off the box. 'Do you want me to come and fetch you?' she made an inconspicuous noise, which I took for a "yes." Well something is obviously wrong, but I'll never find out until I get her inside. After rushing downstairs, yanking open the door and tugging Elime through it and back up the narrow staircase, I pushed a seat towards her and she collapsed into it.

After pouring her a small glass of fole-a kind of flavoured water-and some for myself, I slipped the glass into her tense hand and wondered if she would ‘spill the beans’ now that she was inside, or if she would seal up and refuse to tell. As the atmosphere on the balcony started to become awkward, I reached for my own glass and gently sipped it, looking up at Elime. No matter how hard people try, they cannot keep their feelings hidden from me. For example. Right now, Elime was as resolute as a standing stone on the outside, but on the inside, a battle raged between the temptation to tell me everything and the desire to keep it hidden. Right...

‘so..didn’t you come here to tell me something?’ I asked. Although I already knew the answer, I decided that it may get conversation flowing, so it was worth a try.

She considered it, then nodded. It looked as if there was something she wanted to say, but her voice seemed lost.

‘it’s fine if you don’t want to say, I don’t mind, really.’ She looked up at me and finally found her voice.

‘I want to tell you, I do, but its...I’m not supposed to know.’

‘It’s fine, really.’

She stood up and gulped down the rest of her drink. She went outside my bed chamber door and addressed the servant that was hurrying past at the time. ‘Fetch Sir Gayne here, please, I need to speak with him.’ She turned back to me. She seemed to have gained a bit of confidence. I looked down and started to fiddle with a bit of ribbon that was hanging loose off the bodice of my dress.

Soon, a tall manly silhouette appeared in the doorway. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him looking at me and, sensing that he was concerned, I turned around to show him that I was okay. Elime offered her chair to him, but he said that he refused to take a chair whilst a lady remains standing, so she pushed it a little further under the table and started to pace. What she could possibly want to tell us, I did not have a clue.

‘Elime? Are you going to tell us or are we going to be sat here all night?’ I asked.

Speaking up, she glanced at me and then at Gayne. ‘Right. What I want to tell you. It has to stay a secret. You cannot run off to your mother..’ she looked at me. ‘...or Hane...’ She looked at Gayne. ‘...and fly off the hook at them. I’m not even supposed to know. Yes?’ I nodded, without thinking, but Gayne hesitated, obviously trying to find a way around having to promise this to Elime, but it seemed he could find no option B, because he nodded his head, resignedly.

‘Okay then. Well...’ Now she knew that she could tell us, she had become hesitant again. I gave her, what I hoped, was a stern look and she started pacing again. To the rhythm of her footfalls, she spoke. ‘Okay, well, do you guys remember when you two disappeared off behind the bathhouse to talk or whatever?’ We nodded, glancing quickly at each other. ‘Well, I was stood a few feet away from your mother and Hane. They were talking about the best way to try and get you out of having to go to the palace...and...well it seems they found a way.’ I brightened, instantly. ‘...but you aren’t going to like it.’ She added and I sank lower in my chair. I could tell that Gayne was wondering how low his brother would sink to get him out of having to sign up for the army. We both caught her eye and she continued. ‘Well, from what they were saying, they are going to find a way to get you two and Tommi out of the village, then go themselves.’

But surely, that’s a good thing? Then nobody has to go to the palace. But form Elime’s nervous face and the fury being radiated from Gayne, I guessed that I had missed something. I had assumed that she had meant ‘go’ as in escape the village, but as I guessed the real meaning of her words, I gasped. ‘No! Surely not!’ Mother will not last a week in that place. The young, pretty ones last the longest, but soon enough there’s someone to replace them and they get cast aside like yesterday’s rubbish...or in yesterday’s rubbish...Although I have often heard people saying that mother is good-looking, she is not pretty and certainly is not young. Then my thoughts drifted to Hane. Gayne had assumed that he was the one that would be going. He has no home and no secure job or wealth and is better at fighting, from all accounts. I could imagine that Gayne would outlast Hane in a battle anytime, although i have never actually seen them fighting each other. That would be a sight to behold.

Standing up, I walked to the balustrade and looked over. The sun was just beginning to set, pinks, oranges, reds, purples and blues radiated across the evening sky.

‘I...’ Out of the corner of my I eye I saw that a faint breeze was rustling the leaves of the tall tree that grows close so that some of its branches over-hang one end of the balcony. ‘Urgh, Elime, I’ll see you tomorrow. Go home, spend some time with your family, the Gods know you deserve it.’ Wow that sounds stupid coming fro me...the girl with no God. ‘Gayne...’I bowed my head in his direction and walked towards the door. ‘I am going for a walk.’ Grabbing a thin cloak, I pulled the door open and was about to step through it when my mother came towards me from around the corner.

‘Ahh. Have you seen Elime?’ she was stopped in her tracks by me hugging her. ‘Err...okay...’

‘Have I seen Elime? Yes. I sent her home. She’s still here though.’ I waved my hand towards by bedroom door. ‘I am going for a walk. Won’t be back late.’ I smiled. ‘Love you.’ Turning around, I continued down the corridor, leaving her staring after me. Elime stepped out the door beside my mother.

‘What’s gotten into her?’ she asked.

‘you...you probably don’t want to know.’ She smiled weakly and walked off, leaving my mother gaping aimlessly at the spot where we had turned the corner and disappeared. Then, Gayne materialized at her side.

‘Ahh, Gayne...you must be what has gotten into...err...making my daughter behave so strangely.’ He smothered a snigger at my mother’s quick adjustment of her choice of words.

‘Sorry about that, M’aam, but I am afraid I cannot help it. I seem to have that affect on people.’ He winked before following Elime down the corridor.

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I've the the next chapter writtne, I just need to type it up...which might take a while, as it's fairly long. thanks :) xx