Hey everyone! How's it going? I'm going to a picnic on Sunday so I might post some pics after. Anyways here's
Chapter 11 “I’m sorry, what?” asked Kiara. “Oh you know,” said the princess. “Solanine Belladonna Acanthi. The constellation.” “I’ve never heard of that constellation, your highness.” “Oh, not many have. It’s the silhouette of a young girl. Supposedly she was a faery, according to the mythology. Here, come see.” Kiara approached and put her eye to the telescope. Sure enough, she could see, as clearly as if someone had outlined it for her, a young girl with long hair. Near where the eyes would be on a person was a star that had a bit of a purple glint to it. Kiara remembered Solanine’s vibrant eye color. She began to breathe deeply, and tug on her nightdress. She lay back against the roof, starting to panic. Not now, she thought frantically. She’d had panic attacks a couple times before, but they had always been attributed to a faery fit. Not in front of the princess! Surprisingly, Princess Turaya did not seem angry, or suspicious. She was barely perturbed. Gently taking Kiara’s hand, she began to make quiet conversation. “I have panic attacks too, you know,” she said. “Something that always helps is tea. Would you like some tea?” Kiara nodded. “Alright.” The princess helped Kiara to her feet, and supported her trembling frame all the way down to the kitchens, where she made a nice hot mug of chamomile tea for both of them. By this time, Kiara’s panic had mostly faded. When she finished her tea, the princess drifted away, presumably to continue her research. Kiara went back to sleep. The next morning, Kiara awoke with a jolt. Ysabelle was noisily looking for her hairbrush. Yawning, she got out of bed. She washed her face and combed and plaited her hair over the small vanity that her, Ysabelle, and Ceiridwen all shared. Still a bit groggy from sleep, she got dressed, pulling her stays over her shift, then her petticoats and stockings, then the white flowy blouse held in place by her thick woolen kirtle and skirt, then her linen apron, cap, handkerchief, and finally her soft leather boots. Sometimes she wished getting dressed could be a bit less time-consuming. It wasn’t that she minded, really, having all those layers. It came in handy when it was cold out. Still, when she thought about it, getting dressed took a while. When they went up to the main rooms of the castle, it was announced that they would be working on the private parlors and powder rooms that day. Everyone liked doing the parlors and powder rooms, because they were always given more time than they needed to decorate them, and then they were allowed to slack off for the rest of the day. The crates full of decorations were brought into the foyer and carried off to the separate rooms. Kiara was doing the third powder room, which was decorated in shades of the color cream. She was accompanied by Skye, Gwendoline and another girl, Amberlyn. Once they’d finished hanging up the garlands and strategically placing the jeweled pumpkins, Skye suggested a game. “Let’s tell fae stories,” she said happily. END OF CHAPTER 11 Also, please let me know if Kiara's panic attack was okay! I'm drawing from my own experience but I want to know if it was well represented. *woks away*
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Hey everyone! Sorry for not posting last week ;-;
Here's Chapter 10! Chapter 10 Kiara jolted awake. She sat up in bed, pressing a hand over her mouth to suppress her scream. What was that? she thought ruminatively. Solanine’s voice was still ringing in her ears. She took a deep breath. Settling back into bed, she pulled her thin quilt over her eyes and tried to sleep. It was no use; Kiara was restless. She had to know what that dream was. But how? she wondered frantically. The princess has that damned book! Squaring her shoulders, she got out of bed and pulled on her shawl. She would have to go to the royal library alone, something she had never done before. Even if it got her fired, she would have to do it. Kiara quietly stepped out of bed, careful not to wake her roommates. She cringed at every creak of the floorboards, and bolted when she reached the mercifully quiet stone hall. She reached the upper floors, her heart practically beating out of her chest. The polished hardwood floors did not rasp like those of her bedroom. Suddenly, she heard footsteps. Kiara jumped and plastered herself behind a statue in a niche. She stood there with her eyes shut tight, praying to not be noticed. The footsteps seemed to fade. Kiara emerged from her niche and let out a breath. “Hello,” said a dreamy voice. Kiara whipped around, once again suppressing a scream. In front of her stood a thin, wispy girl of about 17. She looked like a gust of wind would blow her away. Her long golden brown hair went to her knees and whipped around in the soft breeze coming from an open window. The girl wore a silver circlet and a long blue-gray dress with the same insubstantiality of her figure. Kiara recognized her as Princess Turaya Estelle Hesperia Leila Myvanwy Pentecost. She was known for her renowned work on mapping the stars. Some said she was out on the castle roof every night with her telescope and star charts, mapping the skies from 11 to 1. Kiara began to stutter, “Y-your Highness- I can explain- I wasn’t- I-” but the princess did not seem interested. She began to glide away as though floating, towards the open window from which, Kiara realized, she had just come. Princess Turaya climbed out onto the castle roof, then stood there, waiting. Kiara realized that the princess expected her to follow. She heaved herself through the window and emerged with a sigh. Princess Turaya regarded her with a mild expression, as though she were an interesting butterfly specimen. The princess turned away and began to climb one of the turrets, her hair and dress floating in the breeze. Kiara followed. Once she reached the top, Kiara saw a telescope and multiple star charts splayed out, along with a charcoal pencil. Princess Turaya sat down in her skirts, which made an audible noise as though exhaling air. What a quiet person, observed Kiara. The princess was absorbed in her work. She peered through her telescope and smiled, then scratched something onto her star chart. “Solanine’s here tonight,” she said. END OF CHAPTER 10 |
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