Time for the Truth: a story of a sleeping beauty

part 11.5: Extra Update :)

"Tell us everything? How did you get better? Were they kind to you?"

"Is the prince handsome? Is their kingdom like spring all the time? Were you scared?"

My sisters spoke over one another, little Parisa hanging onto my arm and jerking it with each new question, and Tarana almost as tall as me now. She brushed my hair away from my face and worked through some of the worst knots from the travel with her fingers. It was more soothing than I had ever dreamed, and I dreamt of them frequently. 

"Where is your guard? We will give them a place..." My mother had entered, and she searched my face and eyes for all signs of health.

"They refuse to enter the castle, it is against their traditions yet." She looked confused, but stepped back as my father boomed out.

"Where is my eldest daughter?" He spun me around in his arms, and I laughed, protesting my being to heavy for his old age. He pretended to be offended and hugged me more tightly.

"Brennus, your daughter was alone in her travels."

"What is this?" my father smiled, the words not quite registering.

"Not alone, my guard was hidden in the woods. It is against their customs. Let me explain, please mother." She looked shocked at how forward I was being but stood silent.

"It is part of the Morijdian custom to allow those who have been made an offer of marriage a chance to get to know their betrothed. In my case, I was being healed as well. It took some time." My mother's eyes filled with tears as she cupped my cheek, and my father gripped my hand more tightly. They had been so worried, and with practically no letters. I cursed the King's stupidity and mistrust. 

In reality, I could almost start to understand- my parents had no choice but to trust Rior, a man who claimed to come from a hidden race of people that had disappeared because we had historically hunted them.

"Then you are- I was given a chance to go home, take a break from my betrothed, and make sure it is not a decision I are taking too lightly. I can choose. They want me to choose." I can hear it, the hope in my voice. My sister's faces look incredulous, and my mother and father are still silent.

"How long will you be here?" Basil, my brother's voice rang out, and he came forward to embrace me.

"A few weeks. It's up to me. I have only need to send word!" Tarana was sitting down, she looked pale- ghostly so. She smiled at me as I came to sit next to her on the arm of the chair. She squeezed my hand, and nodded towards the doorway. I nodded at Basil's wife, whom I didn't know very well still.

"Well, we must give you a chance to get cleaned up after your travels. Ignatius told me that he met you on the road?"

"Yes, he was very helpful." I smiled at Basil, and he ruffled my hair as if I were six.

"Tarana, Parisa, why don't you go help your sister?" They nodded, laughing.

Tarana grabbed my arm to lead me, and she whispered in my ear as we walked out.

"Mother and father dismissed half the staff after they knew you had been being poisoned- it was like the stories! We are getting along fine, but Morrigan pitches a fit if no one helps her. You may be alarmed at the state of affairs between our brother and his wife. It is not an exemplary marriage." I looked, wide eyed at her mischievous gossip, and we nodded at Basil's wife as we walked down the hall.

"My, things are changing." I remark drily. I did not miss knowing the gossip, although part of me used to relish being in the know, there was something sour about the way it reflected all of us. 

"Oh yes." Parisa skipped ahead of us, pointing out anything that she thought had changed since I hadn't been here.

"This tapestry has been cleaned, doesn't it look much better? The music room has had everything rearranged. J'aime le mooosique!" she said with a terrible french accent.

"Parisa is learning french, the little fairy that she is." Tarana smiled good naturedly. Her breathing was labored, and sounded harsh to my ears.

"Tarana, Are you feeling quite well?" She cocked her head to the side.

"I don't want to worry mother and father. I've only just started feeling ill. Let's not tell them unless it gets worse, please? Everyone is so happy you're home, I don't want to spoil it!" She pleaded so sweetly I couldn't resist.

"Of course, whatever you want, my darling sister- never thinking of herself." I smiled at her and kissed her cheek.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tarana was right about Morrigan and Basil, who held his own wife in contempt. The next few days showed me that I couldn't help but agree with him, she was cold and vapid, and preened constantly. She sent thinly veiled insults at all of our ways, clearly hating the drafty castle and the lack of glamour that didn't meet her expectations. Yet she had been born common, as was the tradition for every few generations the new king would marry a commoner. Morrigan seemed to be making an effort to at least spend time with us.

That didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves and going for long rides with Ignatius to lead us, and my father planned on inviting many of our closer friends to celebrate my homecoming.

We all had new clothing made for the occaision, and Tarana seemed no worse than when I had arrived, but also no better. Any time I taught them a new dance, she would sit out every few turns, claiming Parisa needed more practice (Which she did.) I was concerned, but I tried to reason that it could be a common cold, or something else.

Tarana instead would read out loud some of the ancient books mentioning the Moridjians. How strange to think we used to think they were made-up creatures instead of a people gone into hiding. The ancient words spoke of their beautiful hothouse flowers and perfumes. The interesting way their women behaved and their advanced knowledge. I was starting to think of them as my people now, strangely enough. 

Even stranger was that I felt as though my feelings for Rior were growing, instead of diminishing. He had not been given a choice either, and he had saved me, and really my life with him might be better than with anyone else. 

It didn't hurt that he was more attractive than I thought possible, and I did not know what to do about it. Was he really in the woods, like I kept saying? It was like his presence there calmed me, so if I was wrong I didn't know what I would do. 

Tarana had me practicing dancing with her for most of the day, she was nervous about the ball and I teased her that she must have someone she wanted to impress. She would only blush and shake her head. 

I found myself both excited for the society and disappointed that Rior would not be there. 

Which was scary, I should not spend so much of my day thinking about him!