The Painting

Chapter 2: Ten Years Later (Picture of Nami)

Bright morning sunlight splashed across the bed as a tall middle-aged women pushed back the curtains, showing the vast window behind. "Come now your majesty, get up get up! The sun is almost at its peak. You've slept much to long today." The lady pulled the covers off the hiding figure who, in response, reached to pull them back. Instead of getting the covers, though, her hand was greeted with a light slap by the women now holding her only source of warmth.

"Go away Nami! I want to sleep." The girl mumbled curling up into a tighter ball underneath her night gown.

"Princess Annalise! get off your lazy bum right this minute or I'll call your brothers!" Namiavuh threatened.

"Namiavuh Wellingdal, are you threatening your princess?" Annalise teased, fully awakened by the threat, she's learned many times over not to make that mistake.

"Why your majesty! I would never." Namiavuh giggled. Annalise burst into a fit of laughter and Namiavuh soon joined her. The two laughed until tears pooled in the corners of their eyes. By looking at their shared mirth, it was obvious they had a much stronger bond than normal for their social status. Calming down, the two girls stood and moved to Annalise's dressing room. "What do you want to wear today miss? Your green dress or the Yellow one or maybe another?" She asked.

"Hmm. I'm not sure," Annalise moved to the smaller window in the room and opened the shutters. Feeling the slight breeze of the otherwise hot summer day, Annalise turned back to her serving girl with a bright smile, "What about that pink one? The one my brother bought during the last mid-summer festival. I feel like wearing pink today!" Namiavuh nodded in agreement and pulled out the beautiful gown.

"Oh this one is a beauty! Your brother has quite the taste in clothing." She commented as she looked at the gown. Namiavuh pulled out Annalise's undergarments as Annalise shed her night gown. "What do you want to do today miss? Will you stay at the castle or shall we go into town?" Namiavuh asked while pulling the dress over Annalise's head.

"Let's go into town and get some lunch. Isn't there a market in town too? or is that next week." Annalise suggested. Namiavuh nodded in confirmation. Now that Annalise was dressed Namiavuh pulled her hair back in a quick braid and the two walked down to the front gates.

"Annalise! So glad you could join us." A deep male voice drawled from behind. The two women spun around, surprised by his sudden appearance.

"Re! Don't sneak up on us like that. It's rude." Annalise chastised her brother.

"Sorry!" Isaretle surrendered. "Now where are you and the beautiful Namiavuh off to?"

Rolling her eyes Annalise responded, "We are going into town for lunch. Then we were thinking about doing some shopping, and oh! i do believe my new dress should have came in today. We will most likely be home for dinner, or at least before dark." Her brother shook his head in amusement but non the less let the two go into town. Deciding to walk into town and the girls worked up quite the appetite, due to the long walk.

As they strolled into the small town of Hellemere the girls "oo'd" and "aah'd" at the different skirts, dresses, and jewelry the market had to share. Annalise waved at the commoners that knew her and was as polite to them as ever and before they knew it the two had arrived at the local tavern, The Buck and Doe. It was one of the largest and well known taverns in the whole country, known for its fie food and wonderful treatment. Annalise and Namiavuh walked into the 'Doe' part of the inn, it was designed for specifically just women and you had the option of going to the spa or having dainty tea parties with friends while the 'Buck' side was for the men and had a large bar and game tables with ever popular gambling game the owners could come across. Tanya, the wife of the tavern owner, greeted them at the door and led them to an empty table in the room.