Court Of Blood And Ivory

♤The Garden♤

Sleep did not visit me last night, every time I tried to welcome it images flashed through my head.

The sun slowly rises causing the lace curtains to paint shadows across the walls. I sit up and rest my head on my knees as I watch the outside world.

The cool air signals that fall is coming causing me to smile.

"Athena?" Liliana asks. Her voice is groggy as she looks at me through her sleepy haze.

"Everything is fine, go back to sleep." I tell her softly. She nods and mumbles incoherently before turning over.

Soon after, the bell rings that signals the start of the day. We get dressed and make our out of our room.

Servants are bustling around and the school is in chaos as everyone prepares for the ball tonight. "Are you nervous?" Liliana asks as she links her arm in mine as we walk down the stairs.

"No, are you?" I ask. "Just slightly." She whispers. "You'll do wonderful. Your dowry is good as well as your teir. You will no doubt find a suitable match." I reassure.

After breakfast we all ushered into the library for a final rundown of how the night is supposed to go.

"After this you will each have two hours to yourself, to prepare yourself mentally for the night. After the time is up you all will eat lunch then go and start to get ready for the ball. You each have been assigned a hand maiden who will help you the remainder of your time here." Ms Elena informs with an elegant air about her.

I stand to go outside after she leaves but I'm harshly yanked back. My eyes are hard as I turn around, "take your hand off me."

Melanies eyes hold anger in them, "you told me that Mr. Windam fellow wanted to speak to me. You never mentioned his...stature."

"You never asked." I reply with boredom laced in my tone. "I could have spent my precious time securing Alexander but you send me on a wild goose chase instead."

I can't help the scoff that escapes me causing the anger in her eyes to grow, "it's beneath you to go after a man who clearly isn't interested, now if you excuse me, you're wasting my time." I turn once more to leave but am grabbed once more, "who do you think you are to disrespect me like that!?"

I peel her bony fingers off from around my wrist and frown, "respect is earned, not given as if free food. You have not shown me an ounce of respect since we arrived here. Months of disrespect and you expect me to give you the respect you lack to give me? I am afraid that is not how it works. If you want to be respected, then act that way, not like a blithering idiot who keeps getting her tongue caught."

The harshness in my tone has caused the whole room to stop and listen. My face is hot as I quickly leave the room and make way outside.

The cool breeze washes over me but does nothing to cool my flaming cheeks. I place a hand over my stomach and try to even my breathing.

"She had no right saying thag to you." Seraphina tells me softly as she links her arm in mine and smiles.

I stand up straighter and give her a tightlipped smile, "I suppose I should have tried to control my temper."

"I disagree wholeheartedly, I'm almost positive that if you hadn't, then one of us would have. She needed to hear what you said. Even if she didn't like the words spoken." She replies.

"Let's clear our heads shall we?" I ask her as we start walking towards the garden. "Indeed, have you been to see the gardens yet?" She asks. "Not yet." I reply which causes her smile to turn into a full on grin.

"Perfect." She tells me.

A wooden archway frames the entrance to the garden. It's dark wood is overun by vines only adding to the look.

Roses of every color fill the garden as well as lilies and orchids along with flowers that I haven't learned of yet.

A small pond sits at the far side with a bench that is covered by a large oak tree. "It's peaceful here." I observe.

"It is very. I indulge myself by coming here." She says as her eyes wonder over the flowers. I reach out and touch the silk like petals of an orchid and smile.

"They will be dead soon, but there are many flowers here that are made for the fall and winter months." She tells me.

"They will come when spring and the warmer weather returns though." I reply. "Indeed they will. They are like hope, it can go just as quick as it comes, but it can also come as soon as it goes. These flowers are our hope, easily lost but just as easily gained."

I smile at her and nod, "hope is such a strong thing."

"So is fear." She says softly. "Fear and hope go hand in hand, sometimes, they are the same. One can have fear and still have hope, just as one can be strong and have hope." I respond.

"You saw the servant yesterday?" She asks. "I did." I mutter as my eyes drift to the beauty of the flowers in front of me.

"Did it look like an animal?" She questions. "The details are very gruesome to think about. There was a great amount of blood, I didn't venture close enought to really look for sure."

"I felt fear yesterday, not as much hope." She tells me truthfully as we sit under the tree. "Fear means we have something to lose." I reply and she grins, "I have a great deal to lose."

"As do I." I tell her as I think about my family and my future.

"The future is a very uncertain thing, we must live fearlessly every now and then." I say after a while. "That is a very bold thing to say," she says with a ghost of a smile on her face, "I love it."

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~scarletbride30