Snow Fall (Book one)

Chapter Six

      Hugh headed towards the dining-room door when he saw a knight standing in front of the drawing-room door. "Marquis!" Gracelia called out, waving. The knight turned at the sound of his name, he turned and smiled. He looked at the door and walked over to Hugh with his daughter still in his arms.

      Marquis kneeled, " Good evening my lord and lady." Hugh looked down at the knight at his feet, he didn't recognize this boy, he pulled his daughter closer to his chest, suspicious.

      "Who are you?" Gracelia looked at her father in surprise, feeling his body tense under her small hand on his shoulder.

      "Papa? That's Marquis. He was standing at my door this morning, standing guard." Hugh placed Gracelia down and pushed her behind him. Drawing his sword he put the flat of the blade on the knight's shoulder, threatening. Marquis looked at Hugh's face, a stone mask devoid of no emotion. The young girl stared at the knight, confused at what was happening.

      "My lord..."

      "DON'T! STATE WHO YOU ARE!" Hugh commanded the young man, drawing his blade closer to the man's neck.

      "My name is Marquis Volvix. His Highness's' Chancellor sent me to watch over you and your family. My orders were to stay inside and guard the young mistress and the Duchess should the need arise." He looked at the stunned face of the young girl behind her father. He didn't want her to see him as a threat but the look in her eyes made him sad. Hugh withdrew his sword from the man's neck with a sigh.

      "That damned Marcus! He should have told me first!" He sheathed his sword and put a hand on the knight's shoulder. He wanted to show his daughter that even though he seemed like a threat at first, his actions by orders. "Next time, report first before inserting yourself in my family's sights. Understood?" Marquis bowed his head.

      "Yes, my lord." Hugh motioned for the man to stand, Marquis did.

      "From now on, you will guard my daughter at her door and everywhere she goes. Since it seems you've left quite a good impression on her," Hugh motioned to Gracelia. "Introduce yourself my little snowflake."

      "We have already..." Marquis said but Gracelia caught him by surprise. She curtsied as best as she could while wearing pants.

       "I am Gracelia Da Mornica, daughter of Duke Hugh Da Mornica. Pleasure to make your acquaintance knight Marquis." Her hair fell over her shoulders, creating a blanket around her. Marquis smiled and bowed to the young girl.

      "The pleasure is all mine my lady." Marquis looked at the young girl in front of him, not surprised by her attire since he'd heard the gossip from the kitchen staff when the Duchess came down for breakfast. "My lord." Hugh looked at the knight.

      "What is it?"

      "The Duchess has a visiter, she's in the drawing room." Hugh went rigged.

      "Grab Gracelia and hold her in your arms," Hugh commanded the knight. "I don't want her wasting any energy on small tasks such as walking until we can go back outside and let her train." Gracelia lifted her arms up to Marquis, he lifted her up and placed her in the crook of his arm.

      "Marquis?" The young girl asked.

      "Yes, my lady?" He looked at the small girl in his arms.

      "Why don't you wear armor like the other knights?" She waved her hand towards the door leading to the courtyard.

      "I didn't train for battle young mistress." Gracelia looked over at him confused.

      "I thought they trained all knights for battle." Maquis laughed, Gracelia smacked his arm.

      "My sincere apologies my lady. However some knights taught to be guards for noble families, we only know the basics to protect those in our charge." Gracelia wanted to ask more when her father opened the door to the drawing room. Inside there was a hearth on one wall, paintings of flowers and mountains on the other walls. Inside was a plush couch with two love seats, underneath were carpets thrown over each other to provide cushion under people's feet. In the middle was a low table with a white vase that had one rose in it. There were two sets of teacups and a kettle in the middle of the table on a purple cloth. Inside was Gracelia's mother on the couch facing the door, on the other was a woman. Gracelia couldn't see her face because her back was to the door. Much to her surprise, Juliana looked at Gracelia in horror. She quickly stood up, trying to hide her shock from the woman.

      "Excuse me Liliana. I'll be right back, please enjoy the tea." Juliana told the woman, upon further inspection Gracelia could see that Liliana had light blonde hair that was almost pure white in the sunlight streaming through the window. Hugh sighed as Juliana walked around the loveseats and stood infant of him, pushing him out. Shutting the door behind her, she glared at her husband. "What were you thinking?! If she had seen Gracelia dressed like that the secret would be out!" Juliana was fuming at her husband. Gracelia buried her face in the Knights neck, ashamed and embraced at causing her mother to worry. "You!" She pointed to Marquis. The knight straightened his back.

      "Yes, my lady?"

      "Take Gracelia to her room, have her dress worthy of her station." Juliana told him, pointing to her daughter a hint of disgust in her voice as she looked at her daughter in men's clothing. Marquis bowed his head to her before turning to walk towards the stairs. Gracelia peeked from the knight's neck and saw her mother with her arms crossed over her chest in anger.

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      Adelina gracefully weaved Gracelia's curls into a braid down her back, pinning loose hair here and there with white pins. Standing back she admired her handiwork, marveling at the way they wove the sapphire topped pins into the curls. She caught Gracelia's face in the mirror, her eyes shiny. Adelina put her hands on the young girl's shoulders. "Young mistress? Are you all right?" Before she knew it, the tears rolled down her cheeks, leaving a wet trail behind. "Young mistress!" Adelina pulled out the chair and knelt in front of the girl, holding Gracelia's hands in hers.

      "Mother hates me, doesn't she?" Gracelia asked her nanny in a small voice.

"What? No!" Adelina squeezed the young girl's small hands, worried about what had brought on these thoughts. "Why do you think she hates you?" Gracelia sniffled and shook.

      "Mother seemed angry at me earlier..." Gracelia told her, remembering what the look of horror on her mother's face. "I was wearing my training attire, and she looked at me as if I wasn't her daughter." Adelina shook her head.

      "Oh! Oh you sweet girl. She doesn't hate you, she's just not used to you becoming so strong. Forgive me for saying this but she's quite set in her ways. According to your father when they first met she wouldn't do anything that will make people think she was not a lady and when he would court her and go on walks, she always had an umbrella with her as if she was afraid that the sun would burn her to a crisp. She always had her hair up, always in a bun or pins. According to the woman in the village she's the perfect image of a noble lady." Adelina said, watching Gracelia's face as the tears dried.

      "Thank you Adelina." Gracelia said with a sad smile.

      "Whatever happens, don't give up on what you want young mistress." Adelina knew how to talk to kids with hurt hearts when her father passed away her brother had cried for days after they buried him. Thanks to the practice on her brother she could calm down a crying child. Gracelia looked at herself in the mirror, her white hair pulled away from her face, she was wearing a light blue and black dress. She lifted her head and spoke to herself in the mirror, ignoring Adeline's smile.

      "I am a lady and I am strong. I will not bow to the challenge, I will endure. I will prove to mother that I can be both fragile and strong." Gracelia stood and headed to her door for dinner. She was strong and a lady and her mother would finally see she was her own person and she forged her own destiny.

(Sorry for the long wait! I wanted to make sure this chapter was extra juicy for you guys! I hope you enjoyed it! Comments and votes make me a very happy girl! Please don't forget to ask about anything if you have any questions!)