A Forbidden Act

Part 1 - The Nobles' Arrival

The sun shone through the curtains in the bright morning. Sharon groaned, sitting up slowly. Her black curls were in a mess. She looked at her reflection in her desk mirror on the other side of the room. She wasn't too messy this morning. She yawned and stretched, then sat by the side of her bed, waiting for her eyes to open wide, her eyelids heavy from drowsiness. When she was finally wide awake, she stood up and opened the curtains. Judging by the height of the sun, it was about 11 in the morning. Curious. Her chambermaid always woke her up before 10. Had something happened to her? A knock on her wooden door answered the question. Sharon could recognise the slow and shy knock of her chambermaid anywhere.

"Yes, come in." she answered after clearing her throat.

The wooden door freaked open.

"Milady? Your father wishes to see you." She said, bowing.

The brunette looked at her, gesturing at her to get up.

"Thank you, Sophie. But help me get changed first." Sharon answered.

She went to her wardrobe and picked out a sky blue corset dress.

"Yes, this will do perfectly." she said, thinking.

Sharon and Sophie went behind the folding screen and Sophie helped her get changed. She tightened the corset, making it difficult for Sharon to breathe.

"Hey, not so tight!" she managed to say in between two pulls.

"Sorry milady, but it has to be done so." Sophie answered, groaning.

About half an hour later - the time to finish the corset, brush her hair, put some makeup on then choose the jewels and shoes - Sharon was with her father.

"You called, father?" She said, as she curtsied.

"Yes."

His voice was loud and imposing. He was a lord of the kingdom of Holland, Jan den Adel so he was a very strong and brave man. He turned around.

"Some nobles are visiting tonight, I want you to be as perfect as you can be." he said, smiling.A sort of crooked smile, that he always had.

"What house are they from, if I may?" Sharon asked politely.

"The brave house of Turunen." Jan answered proudly. "We have had affairs with them for many long years, and they wish to visit us. You will need to know their names."

Sharon started listening intently. "The lady of the house is Marjatta Turunen, and the lord, Teuvo Turunen. The eldest son is Timo, then we have Tarja, their sole daughter, and finally Toni."

"Are those not Finnish names, father?" Sharon asked, a small frown on her face.

Her father laughed loudly.

"Well done, Sharon. Yes they are. They are originally from Finland."

Sharon sighed. Her father was always treating her like she was still a little girl, congratulating her all the time on everything. Oh well. She nodded.

"I will make haste and get prepared, my lord. May I?" Jan nodded.

"You are dismissed."

When she got back to her room she sat at the end of the bed and sighed. She was happy about the noble visit, for she liked meeting new people, but she needed to prepare, and that always took ages. She stood back up and looked at herslef in her spotlessly clean mirror.

"Well, I might as well stay like this." she mumured.

She wasn't bothered today. She was wonderful in that long dress and those shining jewels around her neck. Her long black curls were perfectly brushed, and they shone as she put a hand through them. Deciding she wasn't going to change, she went to her bookshelf and took out an old book, that she always loved reading. It was about vampires, as most of her favourite tales were. She opened the book, smiling, and started reading it from the beginning.

Time flew past, and it was already sunset. Sharon had eaten at noon with her father then gone back to her reading. The servants were used to not seeing her much. She'd either be reading or playing the violin somewhere in the castle gardens. Seeing the sun setting, she carefuly closed the book after mentally recording the page number she was on. She placed it back on the bookshelf, excited for the visit. The brunette walked out of her room and went to see her father.

"They aren't here yet?" she asked him.

She was so excited she forgot the curtesy but her father didn't seem to notice. He simply shook his head.

"No, but they should be here any minute. Here, why don't you come wth me, we'll welcome them."

He reached out to hold her hand but Sharon walked on, pretending to not have noticed. They went outside the castle's front doors and saw a carriage making its way to the home of the den Adels. Sharon just couldn't wait anymore, and she wanted to know what they all looked like. She kept her composure and waited for them to arrive, smiling. The sun was now set and the moon projected its rays on the young woman, making her gleam in the night. As the nobles arrived, the sound of the horses' hooves were heard against the stone ground. They slowly went to halt and the carriage moved as everyone descended the steps. First, lady Marjatta. She was ravishing, in her long and red dress, her nails painted the same colour. Next came Lord Teuvo. His figure was like Sharon's father's, strong and imposing. After Teuvo descended Timo, the eldest son, closely followed by his little brother, Toni. Lastly, Tarja gracefully came out. She looked tired. The long trip had probably exhausted her, and it was late. Sharon looked at them coming down one after the other. The Turunenes came over and bith houses greeted eachother warmly. The brunette's father presented her to them, and Marjatta presented her children to Jan and Sharon. After the introductions had been made, they all walked inside. A feast had been prepared. As they entered, the newcomers all looked around at the beautiful architecture, excepted Tarja. She looked down as she walked. Sharon noticed how she seemed dull. Maybe she's just tired... she thought.

The two houses ate at the feast, and Sharon recieved at least thirty compliments about her beauty, her kindess (she had barely talked to them), her manners, etc. But whenever Jan made a compliment about Tarja, Marjatta and Teuvo would dismiss it, and Tarja would look down again. Sharon got the impression Tarja wasn't welcomed very well by her own parents. When the impressive dinner was (finally) finished, Jan politely but firmly asked Sharon, Tarja and Toni to leave. They all did so, thanking him for the dinner. Toni went to his temporary chambers, but Sharon wandered around with Tarja. None of them spoke. They didn't know what to say. It wasn't one of the awkward silences that often occured. No, it was more of a comforting silence. As if the two women understood eachother without speaking. They eventually went to a quiet place of the castle, far from the kitchens and all the noise. Suddenly Tarja spoke.

"Thank you... For staying with me." she said, but no emotion was in her voice.

Only in her eyes, but Tarja's head was turned away from Sharon. Sharon didn't say anything, she just nodded, a smile on her lips. Some sort of bond was being created between these two women.

Meanwhile, Jan, Marjatta, Teuvo and Timo were still at the table. Jan laughed loudly at some joke Teuvo had just made. Marjatta laughed too, but quietly, and Timo was busy thinking about Sharon. He daydreamed, his eyes looking into space. Suddenly Jan stopped laughing.

"Anyway, this is not why I have invited you all. Not to tell jokes and laugh, no, we must discuss serious matters." He frowned. "You see, I believe my daughter, Sharon, has reached the age where it is time for her to have a fine husband and children, for legacy. I have been thinking about this, for a long time, and I've decided who I want to wed her to. (Timo was suddenly alert, listening intently.) Your eldest son, Timo." He said gravely.

Timo couldn't believe it. Slowly, a smile imprinted itself on his lips. To Jan's surprise, Marjatta and Teuvo weren't all serious like him. They looked at eachother and grinned. Teuvo laughed and he turned to Jan.

"Well, Jan! We were thinking just the same thing!"