The Arrangement

f i v e

ஜ Adeline ஜ

My eyes welled with tears, as my servants prepared me for my day ahead. My departure from my home. Who knew how long it would be until I returned?

'I'm going to miss you all so much,' I croaked, a tear falling, as Trinity and Lola helped to lace up my bodice.

Trinity sighed. 'We'll miss you too. We'll be suffering the Queen's wrath from now on.'

'Keep your voice down, Trin!' Lola gasped.

Today they dressed me in a deep blue, nearly floor-length gown, with long sleeves and the gown seemed to glimmer with golden glitter.

'How'd you like your hair today, Adeline?' Gale asked, a sad smile played on her lips.

I patted her arm, as a loving gesture, 'I'll just wear it down today, again. Actually, I'd really like it if you could do a little braid to go down the middle. Thank you.'

She nodded, and touched up my hair obligingly.

Once we'd finished, there was a knock at the door.

'Enter!' I called.

Margaret and Nate stepped inside. I felt a lump in my throat surge, once again.

'Oh, what will I do without you all?' I asked in despair, as I darted toward Nate and his Mother, I enveloped the two of them in a tight hug.

By the time I'd released them we were all teary-eyed. Margaret has been my governess [A/N: a woman employed to teach a child in a private household] for as long as I could remember. I had always been lonely, since I am an only child, despite my always parents promising me a sibling when I nagged them in my younger years. So, luckily, one day Margaret informed me that she has a son. Nathaniel. At first, I was wary of him, screaming at him that boys have cooties. But, as we grew up I didn't care much for cooties, instead I enjoyed his jokes and he brought out a bubbly side of me.

Nate enveloped me once more. 'I don't know what I'll do without you to laugh at,' he spoke into my hair, his words coming out a little muffled.

'Who am I going to nag to about not shaving properly?' I mused, squeezing him tightly, before letting go.

'Oh, Margaret,' I said softly, as soon as I saw the expression of heartbreak on her face.

I hugged her tightly, too. I sobbed into her shoulder; as she reciprocated my hysterics.

Margaret pulled away, wiping at her cheeks. Then, she offered me a handkerchief.

'We wanted you to have it.'

I made use of it, dabbing my face of traces of saltwater. 'Thank you so much,' I murmured.

'It feels as if I'm seeing my own child off.' Margaret smiled sadly. 'I've always wanted a daughter, you know.' she winked, reaching out to touch my hair, memorizing every memory of me... before I disappeared.

'Hey!' Nate nagged.

Margaret waved him off. Then, she gripped my shoulders. 'Adeline. Be strong now. Be the powerful and strong woman that we all know you are. Show them all what a true princess, especially of Libero, is like.' she said with fervor. 'I know that you will be the one to bring the five lands together, again.' she whispered, with a glint in her eyes.

I nodded, Margaret's words providing me with the fortification I needed to go on.

'I will show them,' I promised.