Princess of Shadows

Part 1, The Phoenix - Chapter 6: Simple Swordplay

The days leading up to the festivities, passed quickly. It seemed that with every day that went by, the servants got more and more frantic. They ran around like headless chickens decorating the manor, preparing quarters for the rapidly accumulating number of guests. Ordering and having supplies delivered to kitchens were too on the list as was getting increasingly more tiresome as they attempted to accomplish every other task that needed doing.

Saraid's excitement also increased as the event approached. It was to be expected; Saraid had never even been to a proper party, let alone had one held in her honour. But it got to the point where all she could talk about was what shoes she would wear, how she was going to do her hair, who was going to be there, and the list went on. A very popular topic of conversation was the eligible bachelors who would be attending, and every time one arrived at Orlv Manor, Saraid would bring it up again.

On the second day after Aithne's pact with Selwyn, the old woman returned with Saraid and Aithne's gowns. Saraid's was a dark golden thing, with enough finery attached to it to feed a small family for a month. But Saraid adored it and spent hours matching it with 'those shoes' and 'that ribbon'.

Luckily, the old woman was sensible enough to give Aithne a simpler dress, at least. It was made from a deep purple, shimmery sort of fabric and had a wide curved neckline, like her crimson dress, and was also lined with a golden ribbon. The fabric was tight around her upper torso and encircling her waist was another golden ribbon, below which her wide purple skirt emerged. The sleeves of the dress were tight until the middle of her upper arm, where a band of golden ribbon encircled her arm, after that the sleeves widened and had a slit from the ribbon to her wrist.

As Aithne didn't own a corset, she had been given one by the old woman, who had grumbled and complained about the fact incessantly. To ensure it would mould to her form and fit her by the party, Aithne had been forced to wear it every day leading up to the celebrations. She saw it as a needless discomfort and wearing it put her in a foul mood.

However the garden was her sanctuary. After her first visit she didn't encounter Garth again and so it was just her and the trees. They imparted many of their memories with her and told her of all the things that had happened beneath their protective canopy. She learnt a lot about the history if Orlv Manir, as well as that of Saraid's aunt and uncle. She also discovered that the Shadowlord had taken up his position as the Prif's advisor, only two years ago.

Despite Garth's claims that he had been the only one to visit the garden since his mother's death, Aithne also found out that the Prif and his other two sons had been down to visit on more than one occasion, but that had all stopped once the Shadowlord arrived. Another who still visited to gardens, quite regularly in fact, was Selwyn. She questioned the trees about him and his past but they had little to say; only that he had arrived with Garth's mother and that he spoke with them as well.

The garden was also the perfect place to train herself, as it was quite, secluded and the trees would warn her to a second visitor, not that there ever was. It was true what Garth had said about people finding the clearing spooky, and whenever she brought it up or asked someone about it their eyes would widen and they would supress a shudder. So she 'borrowed' weapons from the armory, took them down to the garden and hid them, using them to train herself up to prime condition again. It wouldn't do to be unprepared and unfit with enemies like the Shadowlord so close.

It was very early, one fine morning, as Aithne was slowly and meticulously going through the 'dance' of sword play in the company of her beloved garden, that she spun to find Garth leaning with his back to a tree, watching her.

"Are you spying one me?" Aithne accused, her voice rising to a shrill note.

"Of course not," Garth began, a playful smirk on his lips. "I am but observing." He stood up carefully made his way toward her, his dark eyes curious. "How long have you...?"