Endearment

Chapter Three

Katherine was home sick.

She had been away from her home for almost a week now and she missed it more than ever. Sure she had her own privet room with a personal maid who she liked very much but she still couldn't get it out of her head that this wasn't home. The past week had been pretty uneventful, Katherine had attended all the meals with the Prince and the Queen with her father occasionally present. She'd got the full tour of the castle by Medda and her maid Clara. All in all she'd mostly kept to her room where she didn't have to hold her tongue or sit up straight. She was currently slouched on her bed reading a book when Clara came in.

"Miss Pulitzer, the Queen would like to see you." She said smiling.

She was a very pretty girl, about the same age as Katherine with long blonde hair that was always braided. She wore a simple dress of grey and blue that brought out the vibrant color in her blue eyes. She was just as beautiful outside as she was in, the first day they had met Katherine had accidentally complained about being there when she suddenly found Clara sympathizing with her. She hadn't tried to convince Katherine of what a great place this was to live, she hadn't tried to tell her that she was lucky to have such a great opportunity to marry the Prince. She'd done none of that, if at all she'd encouraged Katherine to let all her steam out. She'd felt so much better after meeting Clara that she felt she might actually be okay. Of course that feeling had diminished as soon as she'd had to put on a fake smile and trudge her way through another day of listening to Medda and her Father plan the great wedding.

Katherine sighed again and sat up off her bed and stood up. She knew exactly why Medda needed her, it was surely to be something about the wedding. That's all anyone was focused about anymore.

"Thank you Clara, and if you would, please call me Katherine." She said walking up to her new friend.

"Of course, Katherine." She said smiling sweetly.

Katherine left without another word feeling vacant of emotion, she wouldn't cry, she wouldn't loose her temper, she wouldn't complain. At least not in front of anybody. If there was ever anything Katherine hated, it was crying in front of people.

Katherine walked silently down the grand staircase trying to remember how to get to Meddas office, the last week had been a nightmare of trying to get from one place to another. She smiled weakly at the helpers in the castle who waved enthusiastically at her. It seemed everyone in the country seemed to know exactly who she was, she had yet to meet someone who didn't. She also noticed with relief that she was pretty popular amoung the people, she hadn't done anything yet and already they were treating her with great respect. She was great full for that, the last thing she needed was to be hated among the people and make her life even more miserable.

Katherine reached the bottom of the stairs and turned in the general direction of Meddas office. She admired the elaborate design in everything and smiled at the diverse paintings on all the walls. They all seemed so unique yet obviously by the same painter, all the pictures held some sort of sadness to them. It was as if the painter was crying as they painted it.

Katherine suddenly found herself in front of a fimiluar looking door and knocked 80% sure his was her office.

"Come in my dear! Come in!"

Katherine opened the door to find Medda at her desk and her father seated opposite her. They seemed to have been in a serious conversation, despite Meddas air of happiness there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere as if they'd been discussing plans for war.

"Come take a seat, Jack should be here any moment." Medda said gesturing to a seat next to her father.

Katherine raised an eyebrow at Pulitzer but he only pressed his lips to gather in response. She made a mental note to ask him what they had been talking about later.