In the Darkness of the Night

Chapter 5

Aralynn went with her mother to her dress fittings and she got seven new dresses, and two ball gowns. Her favorite dresses were a deep crimson red that showed off her black hair and bright eyes. The others a bright yellow and a deep blue that also suited her well.

" Oh! Your so pretty Ary! I wish I could get pretty things and go live at the palace!" Layne exclaimed. Aralynn laughed at her sisters excitement. After days of packing and anticipation though their little part of town, Aralynn dressed in her yellow gown with matching slippers. Her mother set her down to fix her hair, curling it and pulling it half backand pinning it in sweet twists. When the carriage arrived for her to leave she hugged each memeber of her family.

James held her tightly, "Don't forget to talk to the king." He whispered.

"I'll try, i'll miss you James." She said.

"Oh, Aralynn im so happy for you!" her mother cried joyful tears. and embraced her eldest daughter.

"Goodbye Ary. You'd better write to me everyday! Promise me?" Her sister begged. Aralynn mimicked her sisters promise,

"I promise to write everyday, cross my heart and hope to have pixies poke out my eyes." She winked at her sister.

       After saying her goodbyes to her family and friends she climbed into the carriage. And she was off to the palace. It was a fairly quiet ride throught town, the homee and shops along the sunlit cobblestone streets gradually got larger, and fancier. She smiled as she saw children playing, and mothers shopping, fathers working, and young girls eyeing young men as they worked, giggling when they were caught starting. Aralynn grinned and shook her head, 'Lord help me if i turn into a giggling little fool.' Finally after what seemed like ages, but coouldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, they pull through the large gates and past the immense castle walls. Aralynns mouth went slack at the size of it all. She could see the castle from her home in the outskirts of the city, but the mere size of it was incredible. They pulled up to a large staircase, leading to the open from doors of the castle, Lords and their Ladies swarmed the stairs, and the courtyard, and the gardens.

    Her carriage door opened pulling her out of her stupor and back to the present task at hand. Accepting the hand offered by the footman she was helped down and out. Any hope she had had of just gliding into this society dissappated when many stopped to stare at her as she stepped down. She could feel her cheeks begin to flush lightly. She turned back to the carriage and offered to help with the bags when an old butler came up behind her.

" A lady doesn't carry her own bags Miss." He spoke quietly and gently, she turned in suprise.

"Oh! Hello. I- I am... well..."

"I know who you are Miss Aralynn, please follow me. The queen wishes to see you."

" Yes, of course." She turned and thanked the footman and the other men whoo helped carry her things inside, before following the man inside.

"May i ask you your name?" Aralynn spoke quietly.

"I am Simon miss, and i am here at the service of you the king and queen, and the prince and princess as well."

"I'm glad to meet you Simon." She smiled at him. The man smiled back, he was small, but he was still strong. You could tell by the way he carried himself. He had kind eyes that Aralynn was grateful to see. She was glad to have met a friend. She followed him over the marble floors and to a large library, where the queen sat reading in a window seat. She turned and saw Aralynn and the butler waiting to be addressed. When the queen saw Aralynn she smiled kind and motherly , "Hello Aralynn. Welcome to your new home."