Just Call Her Syndre

Chapter 10 | A Gift to You, From Us

True to her word, Sasha was banging at my door at 7:55 PM. I had been up and moving around for about 20 minutes before her rhythmic beating interrupted me. Making sure that my purple dining dress was straight, I steamed to the door and yanked it open.

Sasha's arm froze, mid-knock, before she let a tremendous smile break across her pink glossed lips. She too had changed from her pink maxi dress to a black dinner gown. It was short, stopping at her knees with a sweetheart neckline and figure hugging design. A trail of white stenciled roses wound around her torso and disappeared at the hem of the dress.

"Well, if I wasn't so interested in Timotheus I'd asked you to be my bride right now, Sash."

She giggled, "I'd say the same thing about you, Syn. That purple dress looks phenomenal on you." Before I could form a response my stomach responded for me, growling with a vengeance. Sasha smiled again and grabbed my arm to pull me down the hall to the elevator.

"Nervous?" I heard her ask as the doors slid open on the first floor. My head shook negatively, I'd met her parent's before and I knew how they were. 

"For what?" 

She shrugged, "I don't know. Some of the people from BrunHilde said that my family is intimidating." Grabbing her arm to pull her to a stop, I met Sasha's gaze with one that was steeped in seriousness. "I've never been afraid of your family. They just behave..." I struggled for the word. "Oddly."

A frown turned her smile somber. "They don't know what to say. I know that my parents loved yours very much."

"What can they say?" The question was out of my mouth faster than I could stop it, "my parents are dead. They aren't coming back. That doesn't mean that I'm made out of glass, nor does it make me bitter. It just is."

My answer seemed to be good enough. Sasha bobbed her head a few times, but remained silent as walked down the hall to the dining room. Her father, Orion Elliot, sat at the head of the table with his hand firmly clasped around Sasha's mother's hand. 

The first time I met Orion Elliot I thought his name 'Orion' fit him like a snug glove. His personality was like an ever burning flame. Always present and always intense. Like Sasha he had soft blonde locks that he slicked back with gel, tanned blemish free skin, blonde beard and hulking muscles that always seemed to be fighting a battle with his clothes.

He was a total juxtaposition to Sasha's mother. Siobhan Elliot was a few inches shorter than her daughter with milky white skin, shocking red hair and emerald eyes that matched Sasha's. To win a few inches, rarely did I ever see Siobhan not tittering on the edges of heels that measured at least four inches high. They both stood and rounded the table to where we had stopped, hugged us and invited us to sit down.

Servants invaded the room, placing plate after plate on the table. Each was stacked high with smoked salmon, roasted vegetables, and crusty breads. I eyed the salmon plate closest to me and piled a few pieces on my plate. I had taken my second bite when I met the speculative gaze of Orion.

He smiled at me softly, pulling one side of his hand face upwards. I swallowed my bite and let my fork gently fall against the edge of the plate to rest. My back stiffened and I sat forward in the seat, waiting for him to speak.

"Syndre, your mother and father were friends of Siobhan and me long before you were even born." My throat struggled to swallow, but I sent him a smile and nodded my head for him to continue. "We have actually began to think of you as our daughter. Our love for you has only grown over the years, especially when we think about how you have become a kind, helpful, young woman and helped Sasha become the same."

"Thank you, Mr. Elliot. I appreciate the compliment. I have done my best to be better."

"Yes, we realize that. Which is why we hope you aren't offended by the gift we decided to give you."

My eyebrows furrowed and I turned confused eyes to meet Sasha's. She was smiling at me, a twinkle in her emerald eyes. A nod of encouragement is all she gave me before pointing my gaze back towards her seated parents. They clasped hands and Siobhan gave me a timid smile.

"The servants unpacked your things, Syndre." Her soft voice came towards me, and I tipped my head to the side. "They told us about your gowns."

"My gowns?" I drawled. "Yes."

"What about my gowns?"

Orion took a deep breath, "they are hand-sewn and very nicely done so. But..." he struggled for the right words, sending a panicked gaze towards his daughter. Sasha picked up where he left off.

"But they won't attract the prince."

A nervous laugh bubbled out of me, "you know my situation, Sasha. Madame does not want me to attract the attention of the prince and frankly, neither do I."

A laugh came from Orion and he leaned his against the dining table, "I know you better than that, Syndre. You deserve the chance to be happy. You deserve the same chance as any other girl at the ball. You sh--"

"We all know the prince is going to take one look at Sasha and fall headlong in love. Why are we even having this conversation? And let's say he doesn't, let's say that he does fall for me: what makes you think that Madame will let me go?"

"She won't have a choice, Syn." Sasha spoke up. Her hand wrapped around my forearm. "She'll have to let you be with the prince by Royal Decree. There's nothing and no one that could stop your union with Prince Valor."

My teeth ground, "the only reason you're saying that because you think he'll choose me. He won't."

"That's what we're here to discuss, Syndre-Lynn." Siobhan's soft voice came across the table, temporarily closing my mouth. "Your chance to impress the Prince or maybe a Noble at the ball."

Teeth still clenched, I asked another question. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"We saw your dresses, Syndre." I froze, "we know that only the Madame could have done something so cruel to you. So..."

Orion picked up where Siobhan left off, "we had dresses made for you."

"Excuse me, what?" I shouted, jumping from my seat. My chair toppled to the side and jerked back with wide eyes. "You did what?"

"We do not believe that you should have to be married to Timotheus." I could barely hear Orion's words beyond the loud beating of my heart.

"We had dresses made for you, Syndre." Siobhan spoke, coming to my side. Her green eyes sparkled with kindness and genuine affection. "You'll have just as much, if not a better chance, at snagging someone to love at the ball now."

"And what if that's not what I want?" 

Sasha looked confused, "Syn, we did this because we wanted to help you find someone other than Timotheus."

My head shook back and forth, negatively, "and if say no?"

Orion shrugged, "I guess you'll have to go naked or in the dresses we bought for you."

"What does that mean?" I dared to ask, despite knowing what his response would be.

"Oh, dear, we had those monstrosities burned. There was no way we were letting someone we consider to be a daughter out in those rags." My head swam and my stomach rolled, "may I be excused?" 

I didn't wait for the answer. My body, shaking and aching, fled towards the elevator. Tearing open and then slamming closed the door to my temporary bedroom, I headed to the closet. My bags had indeed been unpacked and where my handsewn dresses should have hung, were now brightly colored designer dresses tailored to fit me. 

Obviously, Sasha's parents expected me to wear them. My stomach rolled again at the thought. Madame would be furious when she saw them, she'd definitely read me the riot act. A smile peaked out suddenly, if I wore these dresses then she would go out of her way to make sure the prince stayed away from me.

A full blown grin erupted, as I glanced out of the window towards the horse stable at the far back of the yard. If I could stash a pack inside the carriage, then on the final day, I could escape out into the forrest and run to the neighboring country. They would accept me asking asylum being a poor orphan.

There: my plan was finished. 

I wish I had known then that I would never, ever be left in peace.