chpter 13 : dandelions

The only news that could compete with the news of Lady Amelia & Sir Edmund's engagement was the news of said engagement being called off.
The whole village had speculate about the recent event - not to mention the mysterious disappearance of the famous rogue (which caused sorrow among all the young females throughout).

Old men thought that Edmund's gambling habits had finally done him good.
The elderly women thought that Amy chased him out of the village - for having a furious & broken-hearted woman was probably as safe as approaching a poisonous cobra.

But the smarter (or more cynical) kinds knew just who may be the cause of the broken engagement.








"Amy, you can't hole yourself up in here because of him," Anna said exasperatedly, knocking on the door again.
"Watch me." came the muffled reply.

It was getting rather old, in Anna's opinion.
Amy had been locking herself up one too many times.
Sooner or later, Amy just had to come out.

At least... That's what Anna hoped.

"Please, Amy. Do you really wish to spend the end of the year like this?"
"This being that I would like to isolate myself from the world... Be alone? Yes, please."

Just as Anna opened her mouth for another retort, Abby waltzed by with a woven basket by her side, clean silks spilling out of it.
"Oh, Amy!" she sang. "I have your favourite silk robe that you so love to wear!"

Abby dangled the flower-patterned robe in front of the door, as if Amy could sniff it out.
"Oh, but of course. Luring Amy with clothes. Pah." Anna smirked.

The door creaked open & Amy's hand quickly snatched the robe out of Abby's fingers.
With that, she slammed the door shut - right back into place.

"It worked the last time," Abby muttered, still not getting over the shock.











"This really is serious. It's been a week now since she last stepped out of her room." Abby cried as she played with her drink.
"You're right. The last time she holed herself up like that, it was only for three days at the very least." Adam said.

Anna nudged him hard in the ribs.
"OW! What? I thought that would help." he muttered, rubbing his sore spot.

"Imagine if we'd told her about that little scene you saw between you-know-who & he-no-hair." James said.
"He-no-hair?" Abby smiled.
"It's being creative! My mind is very imaginative." James leaned forward.
Abby followed his lead. "Ooh, do tell."

Adam & Anna exchanged glances. They wondered how it would seem to turn into a mixture of sick shade of green & a dark crimson.

Adam cleared his throat.
"We're still here, you know." he said. Anna looked at him - he looked (& sounded) as if he was being strangled.
Or that he'd wish to strangle someone.

As if he didn't hear, James whispered something in Abby's ear, causing her eyes to widen, her face to flush & she giggled.
"I," Anna inhaled. "Do not wish to know." she exhaled.










As the girls & boys went their separate ways, Adam caught up with James.
"James, what in hell were you doing with my sister back there?" Adam demanded as they walked to the Hills.
James raised an eyebrow, clearly asking the question Do you really want to know?

Adam shook his head. "Forget I asked." but found himself smiling as well, momentarily unaware that he was discussing about his sister.
"So.." James casually slurred as he put his arms at the back of his head. "When are you ever going to get Anna?"

Adam tripped. Over his own feet.

"Excuse me?" he asked, stunned.
"I said when are you ever going to get Anna? Clearly you like her-"
"Well, I, uh..." Adam was at a loss of words.
"& clearly she likes you-"

Adam snorted.

"She does." James insisted. "I can tell. At the beginning of the year, she could never stop talking about you. It was always Adam this or Adam that. She is so adorable."
"Pardon." Adam said, his voice steely.

James laughed. "That's not what I meant, you ignoramus!"
"Big word." Adam muttered.
"What I meant was," James continued, pretending not to hear. "as her older brother - you are my age, aren't you?"
"Eighteen turning nineteen next year." Adam nodded.
"She is adorable. Completely besotted with you."

Adam flushed.

"Come to think of it, you look adorable, too." James smirked, pinching Adam's cheeks.
Adam responded by first slapping James' hand away, then chasing him (James, not Adam) around the pathway to the Hills.

As the chase came to an end, the two friends fell down & laughed on the grassy slope.
Finally, James sobered up & said in a serious tone, "But Adam, sooner or later, you have to do something for (or to, whichever suits you both best) her before some other fellow comes & snatch her away."

Adam kept silent.

"It is the end of the year." James reminded him. "Things happen."
With that, he whistled his way back to his work, leaving Adam rooted to the spot.









"Anna," she heard a voice say.
Anna turned around & found herself looking up at Adam. She smiled. "Hello, Adam. Looking for your sister?"
"No, I'm... Come to think of it, where is she?" Adam asked, for the sake of asking.
"Well, she's..."
"With James." the pair said in unison.

Adam cleared his throat & rocked on his heels - back & forth, back & forth.
Once. Twice.

"I, um, brought you something." Adam said, in an unusually (adorably, Anna thought) shy manner.
"Well, if it's the laundry, it's not funny, Adam. There is a pile of it with me & if you even sneeze, the whole thing will coll- Oh!" Anna exclaimed as she found a dandelion in front of her nose (literally!)

"They say if you blow all the seedlings off it, you could make a wish & it will come true." Adam explained. "I got one for myself, too."
He held out another dandelion behind his back, smiling sheepishly.

Adam looked much sweeter, with his dark hair a tad more ruffled than usual, his grey eyes looking hopeful, his smile crooked.
He looked like a healthy eighteen year old but really, if one could see souls, his would be the age of 7 at that moment.

"& you're supposedly 2 years my elder?" Anna asked sceptically.
Adam raised an eyebrow.
She shrugged.

"Come, lets go." Adam said, tugging Anna's arm.
"Where are you bringing me?"
"Somewhere nice for the dandelions." he said with a grin.











"I cannot believe you," Anna puffed. "-dragged me (puff) just to climb (wheeze) the peak of the Hills near evening. Really, Adam, the things that goes through your mi- Oh, that's beautiful!"

Adam smiled as he watched Anna staring at the magnificent sunset, the sky a rich crimson & orange with the sun evolving into a big ball of yellow light.
The scenery was gorgeous.

He turned & looked at her.
Adam never realised how beautiful she looked when she was happy.

It was like a second taking of the same scene.

"It is," he said, his voice low.
Anna looked up at him & took a step backwards. He was practically staring her down.

"Adam, are you alright?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair nervously.
Adam blinked, looking as if he quite forgotten where he was.

"Oh. Um," he cleared his throat. "Yes. I'm fine."
"Good."

Silence stretched between them.

"Make a wish." Adam said.
Anna put the dandelion in front of her, took in a deep breath, closed her eyes & blew with all her might.
All the seedlings flew off the flower, dancing in the air.

"What did you wish for?" Adam asked.
"It won't come true if I told you." Anna smiled. "What did you wish for?"
"It won't come true if I told you." he said.

They kept quiet. It was not an awkward silence Anna knew of so well, but a good silence.
Temporary.

"Shall we go then? It's getting dark." Anna said, trying not to sound too anxious.
She did not know why but she felt like running away. Something was going to happen today. She could feel it in her bones.

"The sun has just set." Adam smirked.
Anna rolled her eyes.
He nodded. "Lets go then."

They walked down the Hills, Anna taking the lead, Adam walking behind her.
He whistled down the way & the Anna began to argue with him, telling him how annoying it was to hear one's whistle.
Adam then told her that a whistler is a generally happy person.
Anna replied back that a whistler has nothing better to do than to pucker its lips and blow.

She noticed that Adam did not give a reply back. Little did she know, Adam was biting the back of his hand from saying a word & or laugh out loud at the thought that had entered his mind.

As they finally reached the Hills, the sun was still setting, settling between two mountains as if waiting for something to happen.
The two did not know which was lovelier - the scenery from the peak of the Hills or at the foot of it.

The scenery was reflected across the lake, giving the illusion that it was filled with orange coloured water instead of a green shade of blue.

"Why don't we sit here & savour this moment?" Adam suggested.
Not even waiting for her reply, he sat down by the side of the Lake on the grass, staring at the sun.

She sat down beside him, an arm's length away.

Anna did not know why but suddenly, she thought of Amy. How hard it must be for her to cope with her 'love' to disappear, after finding her first love appeared & that, in three days' time, he was about to be engaged.

She pondered the feelings & tried to imagine herself in the situation. What if Adam got engaged?
Only not to her.

Of course not to her. Who was she fooling? A healthy man of eighteen years, so successful with a pure soul with a sixteen year old girl like herself?
Unlikely.

She felt like crying, all of a sudden.
She felt like mourning over the fact that the chance of him choosing her was as big of a chance as James & Abby stop lurking in dark corners.

Adam, on the other hand, was trying to plan a strategy.
He did not know what to do - because, hard as it was to believe, he had not tried to get a girl to fall in love with him.

It should be easy, shouldn't it? Bring a girl flowers & give a big romantic gesture.
What in the world could he do for a romantic gesture?
Was the dandelion not enough?

Suddenly, he heard Anna sob.
"Anna, what's wrong?" he asked, worried & confused.

Was he that unappealing? He just had a bath!
He resisted to check the level of his odour.

"Anna, do you really want to go back that badly? Come, let us go right n-"
"No!" Anna exclaimed. She did not want this special day to end, all because of a sniffle. "No, it's not that. It's just..."

She took in a deep breath. She knew how men never liked talking, let alone hearing one talk.
But this was Adam.

Well, he is a man, too but he's different.
In a good way.

"It's just that James & Abby already have their happy ending."
Adam muttered something & Anna was fairly certain that it was along the lines of, "Dirty something is more like."

She decided not to press the issue.

"But Amy... Amy's road of life had had potholes & Lord awful bumps along the way. Why couldn't Jeffer just admit? Clearly, his feelings for her were there. I saw it at the dinner."

She had. When he thought no one was looking, Jeffer stole a glance or two (or three or four...) at Amy & quickly looked back at his plate.
When Golden Locks's arm curled around Amy's shoulders, Anna could see Jeffer's knuckles growing a dangerous white as he held on to the fork (& knife, which was very dangerous, indeed).

There was this longing, furious possession from him for Amy that Anna could just feel it.
It was that strong.

& she wondered why the people that mattered could not feel it.

"Maybe he's afraid." Adam softly said.
"Afraid of what? They've known each other since they both came to this world, for Lord's sake!" Anna exclaimed.
"Fear of rejection."
"Now why would Amy reject Jeffer? She's in love with him, too, just in case you didn't notice."
"Yes, but Jeffer wouldn't - doesn't - know."
"Then he's a fool."
"It's not his fault he fell in love." Adam said, even softer than before.
"But it is his fault for being so blind to what's in front of him. For practically the whole of his life! Wouldn't you-"

As Anna was going on & on of Amy's affairs, she did not realised that Adam was leaning in so dangerously close. Before she could finish her question, his lips crashed against hers.

She was so surprised. If Adam's eyes were still open, he would have broke off the kiss & laughed at how wide her eyes were.
But it wasn't.
His eyes were closed & Anna could not help but to admire the length of his eyelashes.
& how gentle & soft his lips were...

So she had no choice but to kiss him back.
Without realising it, his hand crept & covered hers.
Just holding it, as if protecting her hand from the outside world.

Anna moved forward & swung her free hand behind his neck, playing with his soft hair.
She missed this.
He missed this.

But the present was the present & they both realised that they loved moments like these spent together.
They loved each other.

Finally, the kiss ended & took in deep breaths.

Adam sent a prayer up to heaven.
Anna touched her lips, still tingling.

Their hands were still touching.
Suddenly, Adam took his hand off of hers.
"I forgot." he said with no explanation.

Before she could say anything, she found something shoved into her right hand.
"W-what is this?" she asked.
"A gift." he said non-chalantly. "Go on, see for yourself."

But she did not open her hand. She tried to guess the mystery present - was it a ring? Good heavens, she really was a dreamer. No, maybe another dandelion...

But dandelions were not heavy, she thought to herself. & not so small.
It was no bigger than her palm.

She looked up. Adam put his hand atop of hers & gently pried her fingers away from the centre of the palm.
As soon as the index finger was off, she squealed.

"It's the horse!"

He replied with a smile.

"The horse that Chinese boy gave to you."
His grin grew wider.

She ran her fingers over the face of it. She still remembered the details from that wonderful day - the sharp ears, the long nose, the line that seperated the teeth, the awkward shape of its jaw.

"Anna, are you... Crying?" she heard Adam ask incredulously.
Instinctively, she put up a hand to her eyes. She felt something wet & looked down at her fingertips.

She was crying.
But she was not sad...

"I'm happy." she simply said.

The two kept quiet as they began to walk their way to the Hut.
"You remembered?" she suddenly asked.
She flinched. Anna did not want to ask - again, she knew that men did not like to talk about their feelings.

Adam stopped walking & looked at her. It was already dark but she could feel the intensity from those grey eyes of his, looking at her brown ones.
She felt hot.

"I never forgot." he said.
& before she knew it, they were kissing again.

Adam broke off.
"Adam, wha-?"

Before Anna knew what happened, he threw the dandelion on to the floor, wrapped an arm around Anna's shoulders & walked away.

chpter 12 : blessings

The quaint village found at the border of Egypt was in an uproar.
Never had there been such excited news over the nuptials of one of the most eligible bachelors & ladies - not even of the Pharaoh's arranged marriage with Shameeka.

The young ladies throughout were hoping more than ever to be invited to the infamous wedding, which would be held in a week's time.
But the old women speculate between the scandalous relationship of the Pharaoh's & Amelia Shari - was Amelia & Pharaoh not besotted with one another?
Has Amelia finally moved on?
& what of Pharaoh's feelings? Would he do anything about the matter?

Questions of all these were circulated around - until it finally reached the location of Zeddy's Hut.





"Anna! Anna! You won't believe what I've just heard from the water boy out there!" Adam laughed as he walked in at the clothing line area.
"Hm?" Anna responded, a few wooden pegs between her lips.
"He said," Adam said between chuckles. "He said that the Pharaoh plans to murder Golden Locks."
Anna giggled softly - she didn't risk letting out a huge laugh. She didn't want to choke on the pegs.

She hung a linen blanket from the basket & clipped it with pegs on the wire.

"Peophle dese days." she commented, her voice muffled.
"Precisely." Adam smiled, shaking his head.






"Oh, good morning, Edmund," Abby said happily as he passed by.
She was in a good mood, after a morning's walk with James.

"It's Sir Edmund to you, servant girl." he sneered.
"Oh." was all Abby could manage to say, a little taken aback. It was the first time Abby had been alone with Sir Edmund - she had thought he was a charming person.

'Maybe he had a bad morning.' she decided, shrugging the hurt feeling off.
"Are you coming by to visit Amy?" she asked, picking the conversation's pace.
"It is no concern of yours," he spat. "& her name is Lady Amelia."
"Well."

Back to one-word conversations.

'Sir' Edmund smirked. "Good morning to you."
& with that, he walked by her.

Abby shuddered - she felt the cold air trailing behind him.











"Amy," Edmund gasped.
"Edmund."

The two panted & gasped for two whole minutes.
Edmund cleared his throat. "Amy, lets talk."
"Oh, dear. We've suddenly gone serious." she nervously giggled.

Unfortunately, Edmund did not giggle.
(Although he was doing so a few minutes before)

"Amy, I must warn you of your... (ahem) Friends."
"Yes, what about my friends?" she smiled.
"It is just that... One of your social rankings... You should not be (ahem) seen with them."
"Edmund! Surely you jest. They are people with the kindest of hearts." she protested, feeling appalled.

A minute of silence passed & suddenly, Edmund burst out laughing, "Of course I was jesting. Do not take me seriously, dear. I'm just a fool in love."
"Oh, Edmund." she sighed & leaned in forward.

But Edmund pulled back & warned her, "But do be careful with that crowd. You shouldn't be fooled - they're very convincing."
"Convincing? So what are you suggesting?"
"Well. I'm not one to say... But I happened to bump into Abby just now &, well, she didn't act like her normal self."
"What? What did she do?"
"She looked me in the eye & called me a 'spoilt, little rich boy' to my face. I was furious, of course but a gentleman never hurts a lady. I just smiled & walked passed."
"She... I don't believe it! How could she do that? Why would she do that?" Amy sputtered.
"Maybe she's jealous. After all, I am about to marry her dearest of friends - who would like their dearest friend being taken away - even to fulfill her happiness?"
"But... Abby would never..." Amy trailed off, doubt filling her every passing second.
"Oh, I better leave. We've been here for nearly half an hour with the door closed." Edmund winked.

He got up & quietly closed the door, smiling as he whistled away.









"I've always told you that Golden Locks was a two-faced b-"
"Adam." Anna said with a warning tone.
"Sorry. I meant, boy. Two-faced boy." Adam said sheepishly.
"& you did not say that, Adam." Anna sighed. "What you actually said was that he was too pretty for his own good."
"Same difference."
"Ah, your brother the philosopher."

Adam shot her a sour look & opened his mouth for a remark but his sister cut him off. "I'm sorry but are we supposed to be flirting or stopping a matrimonial match?"
James coughed.
Adam & Anna turned into a deep shade of red.

"I really don't want to say it but I told you so," Anna said, brushing aside the previous remark.
Abby sighed. "Well, we didn't really listen because you're so... What's the word?"
"Determined?" James helped.
"Yes, determined for Amy to choose the Pharaoh. & really, why are you so intent for their relationship? Do you not know of how many obstacles there are in their path?"

Anna looked at James. "James, remember our caretaker, sweet Mrs. Cara?"
"Oh, yes. I was always her favorite student."
"No, you weren't. That's me."
"That's me."
"Whatever you say, James. Anyway-"

("Why do you always get away with the argument? What's your secret?" Adam whispered anxiously to James.)

"- she once told us that when we wait for something patiently, it'd be worth it in the end. It's just the Lord testing us. & the letters the Pharaoh had sent her... They were so sweet." Anna smiled.

For a reason Adam could not understand, he felt a tinge of jealousy towards Jeffer.

"But I just do not understand Edmund's behavior! I'd thought he was a gentleman."
"A two-faced, too pretty one, is all." Adam said sweetly.
"That, my dear friends, is why I do not like fair headed people. He's a specimen of a true Golden Locks."

If Anna had looked at Adam, she would have seen his grin grow or his face going a little red.









"How could you treat my fiancée like that?" Amy yelled as she approached Abby.
Abby looked up from her silk rolls to Amy, a furious expression painted on her face.

"To treat my fiancée like- like dirt!"
Abby opened her mouth to protest - to say that he treated her like dirt but decided it was best not to contradict her.
Amy gave a bitter glance. "Of course you have nothing to say. If it was Anna, it'd be understandable (but still not viewed upon). But it was you. You, of all people, are doing this just to ruin my only chance at happiness. Goodbye, Abigail."

She quickly walked away - she didn't want to see Abby's tears.










"Those two are revolting," Abby said to James.
"Agreed." James nodded.

They continued watching their 'friend' walk around the lake with her fiancée.
Ever since the fight Amy had with Abby, they hadn't spoken to one another.

Or in Amy's case, she hadn't spoken to Abby. Abby had tried to talk to her but to no avail.
Amy would either shrug her off or coldly inform her that laundry was due for cleaning.

Anna had never seen her friend acting this way - when they first met, she had initially expected this but instead, she was blessed with a kind-hearted person she dared call a friend.
But now... It was as if she had been alienated. She was no longer the Amy who had given Anna a slice of rum cake when she was sick nor the girl who had once given a bandage to wrap Adam's cut finger.

She was now Lady Amelia, niece of Master Zeddy.

"I just can't believe it." Anna said, shaking her head.
"Mm."
"I really just, can't believe it."
"I know."
"& all because of that- of that-" Anna choked.

'Good Lord, is she about to swear?' Adam wondered.

"Golden Locks!" & with that, she burst into tears like a leaking dam.
Frustration wracked inside of her - what had happened? How could one person change another so much?

Anna felt so upset, so miserable, so bloody frustrated that she didn't notice Adam's arms around her.
But she felt a little better as she heard him telling her that everything would be alright, murmuring in her hair.










"Anna! Hurry up! We're late!" Amy said.
"I'm coming, my lady," Anna said with a curtsey.
"For Lord's sake, girl, get up & do something about your hair. Honestly. You expect me to be seen with some girl in rags?" she muttered.

Every word, every sentence that came out of her mouth was a blow at Anna but she stayed strong & compressed everything inside her & remain her measly servant.

"Where are we going, sweetheart?" Amy asked as she cuddled up beside Edmund.
"Oh, we're following the traditions, schmoopie." Edmund said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

Anna, who was trailing behind the couple, felt like retching.

"One being never engaged, I wouldn't know." Amy teased.
Edmund laughed, "Thank goodness for that."
The two looked at each other for a minute - Anna was convinced that they were about to devour each other right there & then.

She sent a silent prayer as the couple in front continued their walk to the carriage awaiting them at the entrance of Zeddy's Hut.
(She would have run for the Hills if they did so.)

As they got inside, Edmund asked amusedly, "But you honestly do not know?"
Amy shook her head.
"Oh, we're visiting the Pharaoh for his blessing! If one would wish for a happy union, one must get the Pharaoh's blessing."

Amy froze.
Anna tensed. She, Abby, James & Adam had been anticipating a fight so huge that would cause Amy to cry off the wedding.
But Anna didn't want to be in their presence when they fought.

Amy remained silent, staring blankly into space.
Edmund, of course, stayed blissfully ignorant, assuming that Amy was too happy for words.
Anna kept quiet, wondering how thick Edmund's skull really was.

The journey was not a pleasant one - although it was Anna's first time in a proper carriage.

As the three got off, they walked up the stairways, lining up to enter the Palace.
Finally, as the sky darkened, Anna, Amy & Edmund had finally reached the front of the line.
Anna wondered how nobody could hear the racing pace of her heart - it was beating so loud.

She couldn't help but speculate of the Pharaoh's reactions.
Anna was sure - so confident (& that was a rare thing, really) - that the Pharaoh cared for Amy.
She could just tell by reading his letters to her & all the stories told by Amy.

So how would a man in love react when his love of his life visited him to ask for his blessings?
She was about to find out as the magnificent oak doors opened.







Jeffer was still chuckling over the latest villager's visit. She came in & proposed (marriage!) to him.
& he was sure that that young thing was only the mere age of 10.
Oh, his villagers were quite the people.

The guard by the door (or as Jeffer had nicknamed him Biceps Fellow) cleared his throat, as he always did & announced the arrival of the next guests & their purposes.
"Announcing Sir Edmund & Lady Amelia of Zeddy for the blessings of the Lord."

What?

Whenever the Biceps Fellow announce the phrase 'blessings of the Lord', it usually meant for an engaged couple.
Amy wouldn't marry someone - Jeffer had thought there no men were good enough for her in this village.
That & also because Amy was a very, very picky woman.

Surely it was a different Lady Amelia of Zeddy. It was a big village, after all.
Well, actually it wasn't - it's quite small, you know - but a man can hope, can't he?

Jeffer gave a nod to Mr. Biceps, a cue to lead the following couple inside.
There were only two moments when Jeffer had felt a boiling rush of emotions in a jumble (fury, frustration, sadness, disappointment, hurt...) - one was at his mother's funeral & the other was when he caught Amy in another man's arms.

The first time he felt this was when he was the mere age of 9 - whispers of his mother's death had managed to reach his ears - majority were saying that his late mother was dead as she rode on a horse to meet her lover.
Apparently, she was pregnant, too.

It was too much to handle & nobody but Amy knew of this dark secret gnawing at the insides of him.

The second time was caused by Amy.
Amy, of all people! If it was Shari, Jeffer would've understood - lust was a wondrous thing, after all.
But Amy, his dearest & most trusted friend?

All because she was caught in an intimate position with another man.
The first feeling that had hit Jeffer's gut was jealousy - white, hot & unfamiliar.
The following were a rush of confusion (why was he jealous?), anger (why was she in another man's arms?), sadness (why was she in another man's arms?). hurt, betrayal, denial...

It was too much to bear. He felt like a woman.
The third time was now, the present, he thought as Amy, Edmund (& some girl behind the pair) bowed down before him.

"My Lord," Edmund said, bowing down so low along with Amy.
He didn't want that - he felt like laughing at the sight of his friend, practically on her knees.

Jeffer gave a nod of acknowledgment with a smile carefully spread across his lips. He didn't trust himself to speak.
"My Lord," Edmund said again. Jeffer began feeling irritated & thought, 'Out with it already!'
"Please," Edmund cleared his throat. "Indulge us with your blessings for our marriage."









If ever she had a time to freeze a moment, it would be now.
The look on the Pharaoh's face was priceless - she usually saw him as a tall boy with a smirk on his face.
Now... Now he had a face of someone who had just been slapped - appalled, shocked, speechless.

"Um, my Lord?" Edmund cautiously asked.
Anna had never met anyone as thick-headed as the man in front of her (Golden Locks, not the Pharaoh).

"Oh. Yes. Yes, of course." the Pharaoh said, blinking & giving a wide grin.









There had been a million times when Amy was furious at Jeffer - the time when he pulled her hair, their first kiss at the age of 5, the time when a rumor had spread of their liking each other at 9 years of age...

They had history &, though she may loathe a few moments, she cherished them all.
But this. This. How could he just sit there in front of them, grinning like a fool ('a hopelessly handsome fool,' Amy thought with frustration)?

Her fiancée was asking for his blessings! How could he merely sit there? Why was he treating her like a stranger?
What had happened?

'He's changed,' Amy thought.










It was near sunset & the four (Jeffer, Amy, Sir Edmund & Anna) found themselves seated at the Royal Dining Table.
The three could not help but be awed by the magnificence of it all - the rich coloured theme of gold, the delicious smell of roasted ham wafting through, the long, rectangular table taking up two-thirds of the room.

Anna wondered how such a situation of hell could be held in a place like this heaven.
'Heaven of food!' Anna (or Anna's stomach) thought.

It was pure irony for her.

"So, Miss Amy, Sir Edmund," the Pharaoh said casually, oblivious to the glory of his dining room. "Was your betrothal a, um, recent event?"
"Why yes. I proposed to her just a few days ago." Edmund said as he sat down eagerly on the Pharaoh's left side.

If Anna had not found the delicious meal of lamb placed in front of her, she would have noticed the razor sharp glare Jeffer had given to the ever unaware Edmund.

"We are thrilled." Amy said, breaking the silence.
"Are you?" the Pharaoh murmured.
"Yes, very much. I'm ecstatic, really."

The room was filled with heavy silence. It was not the kind which was normally awkward.
Nor was it the type of which one would grieve.
It was the kind of a silent war - one Amy & Anna knew only too well.

All eyes - except Edmund's, who had no difficulty expressing his hunger by gobbling down his meal - were on the Pharaoh & Miss Amy.
The two were having a duel - some unspoken challenge that had been issued by both/either parties.
Jeffer was clenching & unclenching his jaw - so hard that if one had looked closely, one would have noticed the bulge near his throat & neck moving.
Amy's fists on her dress were turning a dangerous shade of white.

"I really can't believe how delicious this meal! Send my compliments to the cook." Edmund said eagerly to no one in particular.
"I'll inform him right now. Excuse me." & with a nod of his head, the Pharaoh got up & stormed off.
"I'm not feeling so well, darling. I think a little of fresh air would do me good." Amy said with a queasy smile.

Edmund waves his hand & with that, she got up & stormed off, not unlike the style of Jeffer's.









"What do you want?" She didn't bother turning around.
She heard him.
Oh, he was quiet. Quiet, sly, sneaky... But she had heard him creeping up behind her.

Maybe it was the muffled footsteps or his heavy breathing... She didn't know. Or maybe it was just the scent of him that gave her the hint of his presence.
She didn't know.

But it was a curse to her.

"How could you?" Jeffer said, his voice tinged with silent fury.
"Be betrothed? Oh, it's simple, really. Get a man in love plus a woman. A simple equation to get an engagement. You would know, wouldn't you?" Amy asked, still staring at the stars.
"I meant how could you have humiliated me there?"

Amy gave a shrug of her shoulders.
She was too afraid to say anything. Because she might risk Jeffer hearing the sadness in her voice or catching a glimpse of the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Who are you." It was a statement, not a question.
The tone of his voice - lifeless, flat... Like he didn't care. It felt like a stab to Amy's gut.
'He never cared...' Amy thought.

"The proud fiancée of Sir Edmund," Amy replied.
"So where's the Amy I knew?" Jeffer asked.

Amy kept silent.
For a minute, she thought that Jeffer was about to do something - something wild, something unexpected - grab her shoulders, tug her hand... Something.
But the moment passed & it felt all too soon as he heard him walk back inside the dining room.

'I'm still here.' Amy thought as she buried her face into her hands, letting the teardrops spill.



















It was a long ride back to the Hut but thankfully, the day felt short to Anna.
She yearned to reach out to her best friend & give her a hug - the sadness etched in her red-rimmed eyes was too much...
But she couldn't do anything. No.

Before working at the Zeddy Hut, Anna believed that there was no such thing as friendship between a high ranking of a lady to a low-life like herself, a mere servant girl.
But on that fateful day when she had bumped into Amy, dropping her laundry all over the road, when their friendship had begun to bloom, she finally dropped that cynic prophecy & moved on to a happier one - friendship can come in any form.

Now fate had decided to have a cruel twist of turn on the two's life - their friendship was as limited as any other master-servant relationship.
& Anna had no other choice but to let go.









"I think this has been the longest we've been silent together." Adam said, taking the chance of breaking the ice.
"I suppose." Anna said.

Adam wondered what Amy had done to her - to make her feel (& look) so depressed... To just rip her soul away.
He had a sudden urge to strangle Amy.

"Adam? Adam, what's wrong?" Anna asked, touching his arm.
Ever since the event of discussing his 'mastermind' plan, touching Adam's arm was a simple event that takes place every day.
It seemed... Natural - it was just touching his arm!

"It's nothing." Adam managed to choke out.
Although Anna had started this unnerving habit of touching him, he still wasn't quite used to the feeling of her small, satin fingers touching his skin.

Even if it was on his arm.

"Are you sure?"
He nodded his head.
"You look a little... Red in the face."
He shook his head.
"Okay then. I think I'd better be off."

As she headed to the stable door, she froze at her tracks.
"Anna, wha-"
"Shh!"

It's Golden Locks, she mouthed.
Adam nodded his head & silently told her to stay put, he'll go.
Anna stubbornly shook & told him (quietly) that she'll follow.
They then had a mimed argument - which included Anna flying her arms around & Adam pinching the bridge of his nose.

If there was a third person, one would find it a comical sight.

Finally, Adam gave up & mouthed Fine, you can go.
Anna was about to let out a (mute) whoop! of cheer but Adam cut her off with But you just stay behind me, okay?

She nodded.









It felt like an adventure, sneaking off somewhere in the dead of the night with Adam (but for a
different reason).
But Anna was a little impressed with Golden Locks thoroughness to cover his tracks.

He may be thick but he was alert as a thief.

Finally - finally - Golden Locks stopped at a wide, meadow field.
Adam pulled a gaping Anna behind the bushes & put a finger to her lips.

The sounds of crunching leaves & the wind humming a tuneless note (not to mention Adam touching her lips. Technically) sent a thrill up her spine.
"Oh, Sir, good e-"
"What in hell were you thinking?" an angry voice said.

Anna bit her lip from gasping. She knew that voice.
What is it? Adam mouthed.
Don't you know who it is? Anna replied. It's...









"What in hell were you thinking?" he said angrily.
Jeffer knew it was wrong. He was the bloody Pharaoh, after all.
But he was a human being, a friend. He was just looking out for his friend - that was the only reason he stooped so low to do such a thing.

"I greeted you? Sir?" Edmund said dubiously.

Jeffer felt his fists shaking. Edmund really doesn't know when the right time is to open that damned mouth of his.
Which, really, there was no such thing as a right time. Ever.

"No." The calmness in his voice was surprising - even for Jeffer. "Why did you propose to Amy? All I had asked you to do was to take care of her, woo her a little. Not propose marriage!"
"Well, you would know, sire, she really is a catch - pretty, charming, flirtatious - one doesn't kiss & tell but I wouldn't mind being shackled up to her if she would always-"

POW!

Edmund stumbled back. "S-sire?"
The blow to Edmund's jaw felt broken yet the blasted fool could talk.
He should've hit harder.
But he didn't regret it. Blood spilled from Edmund's nose, causing it to slowly drip down his jaw.

"All I asked you to do was take care of her. Was that so bloody difficult? I suppose it was for that idiot brain of yours. But now you list down the reasons why you so desperately want to marry her - or, as you said, being shackled up to her - was because she was pretty, flirtatious?"
"Now, see here. I am not an idiot brain!"

Good Lord, the man really didn't know when to shut up.
Jeffer decided to ignore that (after taking a deep breath & counting one till three).

"Why didn't you list other things? Such as her smile, her wit, her laugh?"

Silence.

Jeffer let out a bitter laugh. "You disgrace me. You disgrace not only I, but the rest of mankind."
His stony voice gave a better impact than yelling.
"Get out. Don't show me your face. Leave the country. & here's the money I owe you for your services."

He threw a bag of coins in front of Edmund's boots.
Wiping his nose with his sleeve, Edmund fumbled with the bag, got up & ran.

"That's right. Run." Jeffer muttered.
Kicking the leaves as he made his way to the palace, Jeffer walked off, unaware of the two witnesses behind the berry bushes.










"Should we tell Amy of this?" Adam asked the next morning as the two had their breakfast.
Anna shook her head.
"The Pharaoh doesn't seem to be one of her most favourite people right now."
"So he really punched him?" James asked eagerly, for what seemed to be the millionth time.

Adam, Anna & Abby said, "Yes." tiredly & loudly.
"Never knew he had it in him." James muttered.
"So how is Amy? I haven't seen her this whole morning." Anna asked worriedly.
"I wouldn't know, being the mere servant girl that I-"

Suddenly, a girl ran through the pantry doors & stood there, in front of the four.
"Amy?" Anna & Abby asked softly.
"H-He..." Amy sobbed. Her cheeks were tear-stained, her eyes were red-rimmed, her hair flying unusually everywhere. She was still in her night gown & her pale face was a contrast to her eyes & nose.

The four crowded closely & slowly around Amy, hugging her into the tight circle.
"He broke off the proposal." Amy said softly & tears began streaming down.
"It's okay, Amy." everyone begun to say.
"He wasn't worth it."
"What an ass."
"James!"

The gang started laughing - including Amy.
"I'm s-sorry. For being an equal ass." she murmured.
"Amy!" the girls cried while the boys said, "It's alright."

& the five remained like that for a wonderful 10 minutes until Mrs. Geraldine burst in the pantry, scolding everyone to not suffocate Amy.

chpter 11 : a proposal

"You go."
"No, you go first."
"Why should I go?"
"Because, sweet, you're her best friend."
"& why shouldn't you go?"
"Sweet, the real question is why should I go?"
"Because-"

"Lord, how long have you been standing outside her door?" an angry voice said.
Abby & James turned & found themselves facing an irritated Anna.
"Um..." both of them stalled.
"Are you telling me that the two of you have been flirting the whole time since you got here? Abby, go in!"
"Oh, fine. But the next time we're doing this, he's going in."
"Abby, why in heavens would we let a male inside our mistress's chamber?"
"Precisely!" James said triumphantly.

Anna rolled her eyes. Abby took in a deep breath, knocked on the door & entered the chamber.

"How long do you think she's going to last?"
"5 minutes tops?"
"Definitely."





Amy felt like hell.
Yes, she knew it was not her position to go so low as to swear but really, she's only human.
A wealthy, healthy merchant's niece but human nonetheless.

She felt like hell since she heard of Jeffer's news.
What was he thinking? How could he abandon his own village just for... Well, whatever reason it was.

& it is not to say that Jeffer had anything to complain about. He's a Pharaoh! The ruler of this village.
Yes, he may have a crabby old fart as a counselor.
& yes, maybe it is that he is becoming socially declined.

What else is there?
He has a beautiful fiancée, he's the Pharaoh...
Good Lord, how selfish could one person be?

He threw all that away to selling robes for a living? He wouldn't last a season!

So again, Amy locked herself in her room for two whole days with no contact from the outside - asides the meals from the servants.
But that was different.

Knock knock.

'Who could that be?' Amy wondered.
"Hello, Amy." Abby chirped with a smile on her face.

Amy instantly went suspicious.
On rare occasions, Abby would use that smile & tone of voice to when she had to inform someone of bad news.

"What is it?" Amy asked.
"Can't a friend drop by & say hello?"
Amy raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, all right! It's just that... I've got some bad news."
"I see."
"Well, it's not to say bad, really. Maybe, um, unfortunate."
"Unfortunate? How unfortunate? As unfortunate to know that one of your so-called 'dearest friends' abandoned his life for no apparent reason & came back to reclaim the throne? Never sending a letter? Breaking friendship without giving notice to the other end?"

Abby gulped. She knew James should have come in instead.

"Um. Maybe."
"Go ahead then."
"It's... Edmund."
"Sir Edmund."
"Right. Sir Edmund."

& so Abby told the story of Adam & Anna spying on Amy's 'friend'.

"So?" Amy asked.
"That's all you have to say? Aren't you wondering what it could be about? Why is he being so mysterious of all this?"
"Well. Maybe he's gambling."
"Gambling? What for, a man of his status gambling?"
"For pleasure, of course."

Abby mumbled something under her breath & Amy could have sworn it was "Well, men find pleasure in other forms, Mistress."

Amy decided to ignore that.
"So the man is a gambler. Loads of men gamble in this village!"
"How are you certain that Edmund - er, Sir Edmund - is a gambler? He could be a thief, a spy!"
"Oh, really, Abby. This imagination of yours is frightfully entertaining." Amy laughed.

Abby gave up but before she left the room, she said something to Amy that left her food for thought.
"Just be careful. Men of your taste... They really aren't at all what they seem."
"Yes." Amy whispered as Abby closed the door. "They really aren't."









4 days of isolation was enough for Amy.
She decided she should take a walk - one has a limit, even a depressed one.

Her stomach rumbled loudly & she laughed to herself. "Oh, dear."
Changing route, her feet took her to the pantry.

Unfortunately, Amy bumped into her uncle.
"Ah! Amy, dear! How nice it is to see our young relation coming out from her room!" Master Zeddy exclaim.
"Ah."
"Where are you heading, Amelia?"

She winced. Amy hated being called by her full name.

"Pantry?" she said weakly.
"Speak in full sentence, child! Good Lord, running my business soon & you speak a word as a sentence! What am I to do with you?"
'What am I to do with you?' Amy thought scornfully but kept the smile on her face.

"No young lady should enter the pantry! Come, join me & your aunty for dinner at the dining room. I won't take a no for an answer."
& with that, Master Zeddy put his meaty paw on Amy & dragged her upstairs.

The dining room was the least liked room of all (asides the Zeddy chamber, of course).
It was huge & elegant but it was so... Dead. No life seemed to radiate from this room.
It was coated a nice emerald, with velvet curtains hanging from ceiling to floor.
The Dining room was used only for the most important - in other words, very wealthy people.

Portraits of the previous Zeddys were framed up on the wall. Amy shuddered. It felt like the eyes on the wall were following her every step.

Master Zeddy sat at the head of the table & Madame Zeddy sitting faithfully on his right.
At the far end of the wide table, Amy sat down.

"Now, Amy. How is Sir Edmund?" Master Zeddy asked.
"Fi- Um. He is fine, my dear uncle. Healthy & breathing. Wonderful, really." Amy smiled as Anna came in, filling the cups with wine.

Master Zeddy ignored Amy's jibe. "Has he, er, talked to you?"
"Well. Yes." Amy said, surprised.

Really. She knew her aunt & uncle were dim at times but she didn't know they were that dim.

"Talked to you about any particular (ahem) subject?"
"Um. We've discussed about many 'particular subjects'." Amy said, confused.
"Amelia, we must discuss of something. When a lady meets a gallant, a lady must be honorable."
"Oh, heavens." Amy blushed.

Surely her uncle couldn't be discussing about... That, could he?
Heavens, she hoped not.

& Anna snickering at the corner really did not help the situation.

"A lady must remain (ahem) committed to the gentleman." Master Zeddy said, putting an emphasis on 'committed'.
Amy let out a breath of relief. "Yes. Yes, I am loyal to Sir Edmund."

She sent a prayer to heaven.
The bread & cheese had arrived.
She kicked Anna when she brought the next platter.

"That is good. To when is the date of your next (ahem) re-union with Sir Edmund?"

Amy dropped her fork with a clatter.
Anna's coughing was suspiciously brought to a halt.
Master Zeddy let out a wheezy chuckle.

Silence (asides the wheezing) was filling the Dining Room with a thick pressure around everyone.

"Close your mouth, Amelia. Portraying as a fish is not one of your attractive traits." Madame Zeddy barked.
Amy closed her mouth.

"You, chit with the jug of wine, come here & fill my glass." Madame Zeddy ordered.
Anna walked over & did as she was told.
The shock was still numb in her brain.








Meanwhile, outside the Dining Room, Adam & James were planning something in the stables.
"I can never fathom why you have such a passion for horses. Among other things (ahem) person, of course." James said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Oh, shut up." Adam said.
"But, really. Why, out of all the careers & jobs you could get here, did you take this?"
"As a horse keeper? Do you know, you're the second person to ask me this."
"& the first, I presume, is Anna?"

Adam said nothing but James smirked at the red of his face.

Adam turned around & groomed his favorite horse, Charcoal, quietly.
He smiled at the memory of when Anna had asked the exact question.

...

"So... You love horses?"
"Yes." Adam smiled.
"Why?" she asked.
"Well. Four years ago, I was at the docks & I met this Chinese boy. He was holding a wooden toy. I got closer & asked him what it was. He told me that it was a horse, given from his father. The boy then smiled & told me what it meant. I still remember his words : 'Horse means freedom. Power. Friendship.' With that, he gave me the toy & I never saw of him again." Adam turned around. Anna quickly wiped her tear away. "What happened to the toy?"
"Oh, threw it away."
"Adam!" she half-screamed.
"I'm kidding." he laughed. "It's here."

Adam took the wooden horse from his pocket.
"Can I... Hold it...?" Anna asked shyly.
Adam nodded & handed her the toy.

Anna was amazed - the carvings... It was all so detailed. & it was so small! No bigger than her palm, Anna ran her thumb over the face of the horse.
It looked as if it was running, the mane brushed back.

"It's beautiful." Anna said softly.
Adam looked at her. "It is."

...

"Adam? Yoo hoo? I'm a little afraid here, Adam. You're smiling to air!" James said, poking Adam's shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Was a little... Pre-occupied there." Adam said.
James gave him a knowing smile.

"We were planning something, remember?" James said.
"Oh, yes. Do you notice that after Edmund's every visit to Amy, he quietly slinks somewhere?"
"Everyone knows of it. But what could we mere servants do? We're just here for the work."
"& did my mother say that?"
"Yes."
Adam looked up & muttered, "Forgive me, mother."
"So what's our plan?" James asked, deciding best not to inquire of Adam's actions.
"Here is what we're going to do. First, we..."






"Edmund! What a surprise!" Amy exclaimed.
"Good eve, SIr," Anna & Abby curtsied.
"Good eve, ladies." Edmund said with a smile & a bow.

He flicked his blonde hair aside & excused himself & Amy for a little privacy.
"But of course," Anna said with a smile.

The two quietly walked out of the couple's radius.
As soon as they walked passed the stables (where James & Adam were), Anna & Abby quickly discussed the shocking news.

"Marriage? Hell's teeth!" Abby exclaimed.
"Abby." Anna said, appalled. Although they were not of blue blood, they were still ladies. Ladies unfit of swearing.
"Well, can you really blame me?"
"I suppose not." Anna sighed.
"Master Zeddy really emphasized on marriage?"
"It would give Zeddy's Hut a boost. Sir Edmund is apparently a very sought out bachelor of our humble village. Marrying such a popular one would rise scandals - & Lord knows how the villagers here love a scandal."
"Lord knows." Abby agreed.
"Our Amy is very notorious."
"Anna!"
"For different matters! I wasn't implying otherwise."

Both girls had turned a delightful shade of crimson.

& so the conversation went on until they had both reached the pantry.
"Abby! Anna! Good Heavens, have you eaten?" Madame Geraldine asked.
"No..." both of them admitted. One could never lie to the Head of Staff.
"I can tell. The two of you - so skinny! Men would never want sticks, you know. They prefer healthy women." Madame Geraldine smiled.

Anna wondered why today was filled with such... Corruptive suggestions?





"Mother," Adam said with a nod of his head.
"Madame Geraldine." James smiled.
"Boys! Come, join us for supper." Madame Geraldine said heartily - she loved having company for any eating event.
"Yes, please, boys. Join us." Abby said, patting a seat next to her.

Adam quickly sat down there, sandwiched between Abby & Anna.
Abby threw a sour glance at her brother while Adam remained blissfully unaware.

"The food's delicious." Anna said with her mouth full.
"Yes, I can see that." Adam said, amused.

Anna narrowed her eyes. Adam remained his angelic look.

"They're making progress." Abby whispered delightfully to James, who was standing behind her.
"They're always making progress. Today's just a fast day." James whispered back.
"You know, we can hear you." Anna hissed to the couple.

She had to lean so far as to go over a very flustered Adam.
Adam cleared his throat.

"Well, I'll leave you children alone." Madame Geraldine laughed & walked off with a laundry basket in her hand.

Anna immediately returned position & continued eating her bread & cheese.
Adam quietly sipped his beer.

"We have plans." James said as soon as the coast was clear.
"Plans? Of what, may I ask?" Abby smiled.
"Plans to follow our beloved Sir Edmund."
"Oh, you mean our best friend's future betrothed?" Anna casually asked as she sipped her glass of water.

Adam choked on his beer (causing Anna to pat him on the back) while James allowed his jaw to drop ("Close your mouth, dear." Abby said).
"B-betrothed?" Adam managed to stammer.
"Yes. I think the definition of that word is engaged to be married."
"B-betrothed?" James echoed.
"Or so Master Zeddy says."

"Would make sense. The popularity of the Hut would increase by a miles' worth." Adam said after a moment of silence.
Anna shot Abby a look that one would interpret as I-told-you-so!
Abby shot Anna a look that one would interpret as Oh-you-really-are-meant-to-be-with-my-brother.

The look Anna shot next was one that needs no interpretation.

"Wait. I thought we were supposed to tell you about our devious plan?" James asked, confused & oblivious to the silent look war.
"Oh, yes. Sorry. Gossip corrupts." Anna joked.
"Continuing?" Abby asked.

"Yes, well. We plan to follow Edmund as soon as he slinks away." James said.
"I thought you've already done that?" Anna asked Adam.
"It's foolproof."
"If you subtract the fact that you got one to your eye, then it's definitely foolproof."
"Do you know," Adam asked. "that sarcasm isn't very attractive?"
"Hm."

Adam did not like that 'hm'.

James cleared his throat. "The conditions?"
"Ooh, let me guess! We can't follow you?"
"Precisely. My sister is smart." Adam said.
"Thank yo- Wait. What do you mean by that?" Abby demanded.
"Well, I'm ju-"
"Here he comes!" Anna whispered.

The four plastered a smile upon their faces. "Oh, back so soon?" Anna asked sweetly.
Amy & Edmund looked at each other & burst out laughing.
"Yes. Very soon." Edmund said, giving a glazed look at Amy.

Amy wondered why the room felt very hot all of a sudden.

The four could feel their supper coming back in their throats.

"Well. I'll be off. See you next time!" Edmund said & walked out of the door.
"Say, Adam. I thought you were suppose to groom Charcoal?" Anna asked as soon as Amy opened her mouth.
"Wha- Oof! I mean, yes. Yes, I did. James, care to meet Charcoal?"
"Couldn't think of a better thing to do." James said with a too-wide grin.

If Amy was in a sober state, she would have narrowed her eyes in suspicion & pester all four of her dearest friends to tell her what was going on.

But alas, she was not. Amy was too besotted to mutter a sensible word.
She was a fool.
'A fool in love!' Amy thought giddily.

"See you soon." James & Adam said. With that, they were off.









"He may be pretty," James puffed. "But Golden Locks here really could run."
"Shush! Those too-pretty ears of his are sharp as a goblin's." Adam hissed.

The two had been following his every step, turn & twist. If an unexperienced stranger would have followed, he would've thought that Edmund was lost.

But Adam knew better. There really was a brain beneath those gold locks of his. 'Devious, little mind.' Adam thought scathingly.

Finally - finally - Edmund stopped.
He looked around to check if he was being followed.

Adam & James quickly hid behind a broad tree.
"Not the Sacred Gardens?" James asked.
"They must've changed the location."

Devious mind, indeed.

"Someone's coming." Adam whispered.
The two held their breath & every muscle. They did not dare take the risk of being discovered.

"Edmund? Edmund! I'm here." a voice said loudly.

Adam frowned. It was the Venom voice - the voice he last heard before someone threw that punch in his eye.
But something else was not right... He just couldn't put his finger on it.

"Oh. It's a good eve, don't you think so, Sir?"
"Cut the proprieties. We're here strictly on business - nothing personal."
"Oh, yes, Sir."

It was disgusitng. Pathetic, really.
Clearly Edmund was trying to get on the mysterious man's good side. He was practically a lap dog, for Lord's sake!

"How are things doing?"
"Fine, sir. Just fine. Amelia is as fine as rain."

The mysterious man kept silent.

Adam & James heard a rustling sound. The mysterious man must be walking.

"Good, then. Now here."
Sounds of clinking metal was heard - every man could identify this sound - money.
A sack of coins thrown.

"T-thank you, Sir!" Edmund said, barely restraining the glee to creep in his voice.
"Now go." the mysterious man ordered with disgust. "Before that meddling ass appears."

James gave a smirk to Adam, the 'meddling ass'.
'Oh, this day is getting better & better.' James thought to himself.







"We must tell the girls!" Adam said as soon as they got to the stables.
"It's the middle of the night. We must care." James hastily added when he glancd at Adam. "-for at least their sake. What good would it do to find boys like us going in their rooms?"

Adam gave a sigh of frustration. "You're right. Lord. But I just think that we better do now before it's too late."








"Where is Amy? We must tell her now!" Anna said as soon as Adam told the tale.
"I haven't seen her yet. You know how she's not a morning bird." Abby said.

"Good grief. Even I'm not that bad!" Anna muttered.
Adam coughed but Anna could still see his smile.

Suddenly, someone bursted in the stables.
"Lord, James! What in the- Um." Adam cleared his throat, remembering that there were ladies present. "Why couldn't you just walk in like a normal person?"
"Funny. I never realized how blessed your brother is with humor." James said to Abby.

It was the girls' turn to cough & hide their smiles.

"Sir Edmund is waiting for Amy. She's coming down now. I think he's about to court her." James said.
"NO!" both the girls cried.
"So soon? It's barely half a season - a quart of the season, even! They barely know each other." Abby exclaimed.
"He comes at the crack of dawn to court her?" Anna said skeptically.
"It's actually nearing noon." Adam muttered.

Anna narrowed her eyes at him. Adam shrugged helplessly.

"See how well this Edmund knows her? He doesn't even know the basic fact that she sleeps like a rock!" Anna said.
"Well, we should be grateful he doesn't." James murmured.
"James!" the girls half-shrieked.
"I'm just saying!"

"What do we do? Come on, boys. You're the Master Mind, right Adam? Think. Think!" Anna pestered, holding tightly on his arm.
Which, really, was no help at all. It was distracting him more than ever.

"Okay. Maybe James could do that walk of his just now & distract him. &, as you said, it takes a lot to wake our mistress up." Adam said.
"Oh, funny. Funny man. Or should I say 'meddling ass'?"

Everyone - except the butt of the joke, of course - laughed heartily before remembering their dilemma.

Abby cried, "We can't laugh! Our best friend is about to marry some- some-"
"Person?" James helped.
She ignored the jibe. "-who has a deal with most likely a murderer of some sort. A stalker!" she gasped.

Anna gasped too & felt her eyes stinging with tears.
She didn't want her best friend like this - treated like dirt by her first love & then about to be chained to a man with Lord knows what sins he has made for the rest of her life!

She felt Adam's arms around her shoulders, which helped (just a little).
"Don't worry about her. Keep in mind that this is the girl who had once held a ferocious fear of puppies because they looked demonic."
"I was five! & really, that puppy was about to bite me!"

Anna half-laughed & half-sobbed.

"Lets get him." James said.









But no such luck.
The four were not allowed to enter the green room (the waiting room for guests).

Master Zeddy had given strict orders that no one - no one- under any circumstances were to walk in there.
"Not even if you saw the Grim Reaper passing by." Master Zeddy said.

So the four friends had no choice but to wait for Amy & the courting 'gentleman'.
"What are they doing? Are they really courting?" Anna whispered.

James & Adam exchanged masculine glances but remained silent with a smile on their lips.

"Never mind. Forget I asked." Anna whispered, shaking her head.
"You boys! Such animal minds." Abby snorted.
James' grin grew even wider.

As the two quietly & slowly walked off to a corner, Adam & Anna were left alone.
The two were silent, standing next to each other closely - Adam with his crossed arms & Anna with her hands behind her back.

Adam couldn't help but notice the beguiling scent of lavender - it was Anna's trademark scent since way back when.
Anna, on the other hand, could not help but to notice how ruffled & thick Adam's hair was & how tall & broad his shoulders were.

(Not to mention the muscles bulging at the arms.)

Adam decided - it was now or never.
"Anna," he whispered.
She looked up. Adam felt dizzy as he noticed how quick her brown eyes were.
"Yes?"
"Things have been awkward since-"
"Yes."
"& I really value our friendship s-"

But before he could continue his sentence, Sir Edmund & Amy walked out quietly of the door.
Anna & Adam straightened & distanced themselves.

They both greeted Sir Edmund & Amy.
Anna could not help but notice the red in Amy's cheeks.

"We're getting married!" Amy said proudly.

chpter 10 : suspicions

"Those two are revolting," Anna said to Adam.
After forgiving one another, the two had been as close as pea pods.
Because it was an especially sunny day, Mrs. Geraldine thought best to have a rest till the weather changes.

The youths at Zeddy's Hut decided to spend their free time at the Lakeside.
Anna & Adam were sitting up on the grassy bank while James & Abby were playfully chasing each other around the Lake.
Meanwhile, Amy was walking with Edmund at the far end of the Lake.

"My sister or Amy?" Adam asked, perplexed.
Anna gave it a thought & said, "Both."

Lately, the only person Anna could talk to was Adam. It wasn't as if she had a choice, really - her friends had their own company.
But it wasn't to say that Anna disliked having an excuse to be with Adam nor was she unhappy for her dearest friends.

She was just a little, well, disappointed that Abby & Amy had already found their happiness whereas she was pinned with a case of unrequited love.

"Looking rather serious for a day off," Adam commented.
Anna blushed but hesitatingly looked up from the flower petals she had been playing with. The minute she did so, however, she felt even more flustered as her eyes met Adam's intense grey ones.

She could hear the loud laughter of Abby & James' from afar. The sound echoed inside Anna's mind.

"N-nothing's the matter, Adam," she stuttered & flashed him a nervous smile.
He returned the smile.

She felt herself melting but she refused to let Adam see her in such a pitiful state.
Instead, she decided to close her eyes & bask in everything - the happy sunshine, the gentle breeze. Everything seemed perfect & so... Alive.

Anna blinked. The volume of the laughter increased.
Anna's eyes flew open & found a teenage couple at her feet - wet, flushed, giggling & rolling around the green grass like puppies.
"Hello, Anna! Hello, dear brother!" Abby giggled.
"Are you two not even tired running around the whole Lake?" Anna asked.

Although Anna's job was to perform such exhausting activities, she was not precisely the picture of fitness. Truth be told, she would rather be at Master Zeddy's disposal than do such tiring exercises.
"Of course not, Anna! We are no fools," James said.
"Except fools in love?" Adam muttered.

Abby & James turned into a deeper shade of red - a feat Anna did not think was possible - but Abby quickly changed the topic.
"I'm deliriously happy for Amy! She's finally moved on - & snagged herself a handsome catch."
"Bah." Anna said aloud.
"Why are you so against Edmund?" Adam asked. "He is rich & I suppose quite attractive," he hastily added, "- if you fancy those blonde locks of his."
"I suppose..." Anna said after a pause of hesitation. "But do you not feel something wrong? Something about that man strikes me odd. & I intend to find what th-"

She abruptly left her sentence hanging when Adam (harshly) nudged her in the ribs.
"Ow!" Anna half-yelled. "What in Lord's name was th- Oh, good morning, Mistress & Sir Edmund."

She got up & curtsied to the pair - it was compulsory for herself & the others to be polite to Edmund.
Amy had explained it all the minute he left the Hut. She told her friends that it would take time for Edmund to befriend them so in the meantime, Adam, Anna, James & Abby were nothing but the helping hand.

It stung as Amy made clear of their behavior towards her new friend.
As she did so, Anna could not help but to think they did make a rather attractive couple. Amy's light brown eyes a contrast with Edmund's marine blue.
Their difference in height was nothing if not amusing.

'But she'd look even better with the Pharaoh,' Anna thought stubbornly.









"Oh, would you give it a rest, Anna? Good Lord, I never knew you were so... Tenacious!" Abby exclaimed.
"Or more suitable the word, stubborn." Adam murmured.

Anna shot him a deathly glare but Adam was all innocence as he nibbled on an oatmeal biscuit.

"But it's true, isn't it? She would be a better match with," Anna paused as the nosy Madame Zeddy casually passed by. ""***you-know-who than that stuck-up, pretty boy!"

Anna wasn't certain but she could have sworn she heard Adam choking on his biscuit. "Honestly." she continued, pretending as if nothing has happened. "Has it ever occurred to you that he is of no substance?"
"He most certainly is of substance! Does his wealth not show, let alone his title? And his looks, for sure," Abby said.
"Excuse me?" James politely inquired.
"Nothing, dear," Abby sighed & he smiled back.

Adam & Anna exchanged glances. They were most certain that at any minute, their breakfast would be coming out.
Anna thought wryly, 'Well, unrequited love does have its perks - we don't revolt our friends.'






Later in the evening, Anna visited Adam at the stables.
"Good eve," Adam said loudly as he groomed a handsome horse's mane.
"Good eve, indeed," Anna spat as the stable door swung close.

Adam turned around with a smile spread across his face. Anna couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the sight of him - he looked rather disheveled than usual. His uniform of a white cotton shirt had dirt smeared all over & the bottom of his trousers tattered. His hair, even, was messier than its usual limits.
It was not to say that Anna was a sight, either. She was positive that her hair had a mind of its own.

"What is it this time?" he asked.
"I passed by a dark corner & what do I hear but giggles & soft whispers?"
"It could be the servants... Er... frolicking around?"

Anna raised an eyebrow.

"Well, it could," Adam muttered.
"No, to my everlasting dismay, it was not the servants who were doing the frolicking but Amy & Sir Blonde Locks!" she cried, her arms flailing about.

Silence filled the air until Adam laughed, "Sir Blonde Locks? That's rather funny."
"Adam! This is serious. How could Amy be... Frolicking with ***him? She belongs with you-know-who & she knows it!"
"Well, you really can't blame her, Anna. He left Amy - no, he left everyone. You should be happy that Amy is finally letting it go."

Anna sulked, "Well, I don't like it one bit. He is as suspicious as Mr. Browner, the butcher."
A moment passed as she sat on a pile of hay & watched Adam shining the horse's coat. They stayed like that for a while, with Adam stealing glances over his shoulder.

Finally, he turned around & looked at Anna.
"Anna," she heard him say in his deep voice, "Are you really that upset?"
"Are you really that short?" Anna replied.

Adam smiled & quickly wiped the smile off of his face (but Anna could still see the tinged humor in his eyes).
"I will not rest until he does something to gain my approval," Anna said, folding her arms across her chest.

White lines appeared at the sides of Adam's mouth. She knew he was trying not to smile, let alone laugh.
He sighed & runs his hand through his hair. "If it makes you happy, I will keep an eye on Sir Blonde Locks."
"Really?" Anna brightened, standing up.
"But only for one day," Adam quickly say as he caught a gleam in her eye.
"Oh, thank you, Adam! Thank you!" she said, jumping up & down.

At that moment, she completely forgotten about the awkward past & her unrequited love for him.
At that moment, she ran to him & hugged him.

"Adam?"
Adam could barely hear her. The roaring in his ears were too loud. "Hm?"
"I need to tell you something."
The roaring grew increasingly louder. "What is it?"
She tore herself away from him & said with a serious face, "You need a shower."











The following evening, Abby caught sight of a girl hiding around a corner.
Curious, Abby crept behind the girl & said, "Lord, Anna. What are you doing, skulking?"
Anna jumped a mile. She put her fingers to her lips.
"Are you playing go hide & seek with my brother? What a coincidence! James & I did the exact thing a few hours ago! Why, I have to let you in on a little cheat I discovered-"
Anna put her finger to Abby's lips.
"Are you going to tell me what exactly you are doing, Anna?"
She sighed resolutely. She knew that, at this rate, she'd be caught because of Abby's notoriously loud voice.
"Yes, I'm precisely playing hide & seek with your brother," Anna said with a sweet smile.
"Oh. I was teasing, to be honest. Have fun!" & with the basket of woven silk in one arm, she was off.

Anna felt the guilt climbing again. Not just because she defied Adam's main condition - not to follow him under any circumstances.
But because she just lied to Abby. & really, her experience of lying had gone moot.
Until now.

Anna looked around the corner again. She could still see the incredibly tall figure standing at a distance, hiding behind a potted palm.
Beyond that, she could see two silhouettes standing closely. The taller of the two leaned down towards the other.
Anna shut her eyes fiercely - really. There are some things that one should not learn about their dearest friends.

When Anna thought the coast was clear, she opened her eyes & noticed that Adam was already running towards Sir Blonde Locks (SBL, for short). She followed his lead.







Anna was right.
That was what Adam thought as he followed Edmund's every move.
He really was as disreputable as Anna made him out to be.

The minute Amy left Edmund's side, Edmund's (supposedly) 'charming' smile vanished & he seemed to favor walking in shady areas.
Also, Adam noted as he sprinted after the boy, Edmund's walking pace gradually increased in urgency.

'If that Blonde Locks' urgent matter happened to involve the chamberpot, I ***shall murder him. Or Anna. No, both,' Adam thought grimly.

The sky was turning darker & darker still until it reached a beautiful deep shade of indigo.
There were no stars tonight but ironically, it was a full moon - perfect for a mystery story such as this.
Edmund looked around to check whether anyone was following him (in vain, Adam thought smugly). After deciding that the coast was clear, Edmund quietly walked into the Sacred Garden.

'Aha! A secret lover!' Adam thought triumphantly & ran full-speed to hide behind a curious shaped hedge.
He peered behind & saw Edmund having a conversation with a figure.

Damned. Adam couldn't see the figure's face. The only queer thing he could see was that the mysterious figure was extremely tall.
Or probably an inch - or, Adam fancied, half an inch - taller than Adam.

The mysterious figure handed Edmund a bulky-looking sack, no bigger than a fist. In response, Edmund's grin grew impeccably wider.
Clearly, the sack held something valuable.

Was it a Mafia mob? Was Edmund in the actual Italian Mafia mob?
Adam shook his head. He ought not get carried away.
He supposed it was getting rather late. Imagination could get the best of him at these times.

Adam wanted to hear what the two were saying. He moved forward - by just a step.
Crack!

The two suspects instantly looked at Adam's direction.
Adam looked down. He cursed at the branch under his foot.

Before he could say anything to his defense, he heard a deep voice say - with alarming venom, "You."
& right after that, a blow was given to him squarely on the jaw.

The indigo sky suddenly enveloped him in darkness.
The last thing he heard were a scurry of footsteps & a familiar feminine voice crying, "Adam!"











"I told you not to follow me, Anna! You could have ri-"
"Shh... You are supposed to rest. You can nag at me all you want when you get better." Anna said as she handed him a cool pack of water.

The black eye was getting worser by the minute. At first it was a light indigo but now it turned into an ugly blue-ish purple around the eye.
To top it off, Adam's eye was a little swollen.
The stranger must have been stronger than expected.

Anna shivered at the thought if she hadn't followed Adam - he could have been alone there for days - no, she was getting a little carried away - a day outside the Sacred Gardens.
Tongues would instantly start wagging at the scandalous scene - what would a sixteen year old boy be doing outside the Sacred Gardens with a black eye, sprawled on the ground?
A lover's quarrel? A hit and run theft attempt?

"I'm getting better, Anna. Don't look at me as if I might di-"
"Don't say it! Adam! Just don't."

She was getting ridiculous. Adam was made of tougher things. If she thought that he could get killed by that one instant blow, then she had another think coming.
But that punch did hurt as badly as it looked. He felt like hell.
& he wanted to relish in that feeling by yelling & drowning himself in brandy, if only Anna would just go away.

Adam sighed. "Alright, Anna. You have nursed me back even though I must add that it was completely unnecessary. & I thank you. So can you please leave? It's getting quite late. I'll deal with you tomorrow."
"Excuse me?" He made her sound as if she was the plague or some financial news that he doesn't want to hear.
'Deal with you tomorrow'? Who does he think he is? The Pharaoh? Even he couldn't dismiss Anna with a wave of his hand.

But looking at Adam, she decided better than to argue with him.
It wasn't that he was just.... Well, Adam, but because he looked so tired & drained, not to mention pained by the look of the shiner.

"Okay, Adam. Goodnight." Anna said. She got up, pushed her hair aside & walked quietly to the door.
As the stable door swung back & forth, Adam tried to ignore the sadness & the pain in her voice, in those mere three words.
He wondered why just hearing that made him feel the sadness & the pain?











Two days later, Master Zeddy's Hut was filled with buzzing & excited whispers.
"Did you hear?" a merchant asked one of the salesperson.
"No. What?"
"Pharaoh Jeffer has returned to the throne!"
"Lord Above! Did he say why?"
"No. No one has a clue. You see, my cousin's wife's brother's nephew works at the palace as a guard at the door. Apparently, a man in tattered robes walked in casually, not even flinching as he passed them. The guards, see. So my cousin's wife's brother's nephew stopped him & the man asked whether he knew who he was. My-"
"Acquaintance, yes."
"Ah, yes, acquaintance said no & then the man claimed he was the Pharaoh. My, er, acquaintance was about to laugh but he said that there was no mistaking the arrogance in his voice."
"Could only mean our Pharaoh."
"No doubt."
"Your acquaintance didn't ask why?"
"Would you?"

The salesperson shrugged. "Maybe."
"If you're looking for a death wish, child."

They exchanged more pleasantries until the merchant chose one of the Japanese silks. As soon as the man left, the salesperson walked into Madame Geraldine.
"Oh! Watch where you're going, child." Madame Geraldine gently scolded.
The girl nodded her head & asked her, "Have you heard, Madame Geraldine?"
Madame Geraldine shook her head.
"Pharaoh Jeffer came back to claim his throne!"
"Heavens, what a miracle it is. I always knew that boy had a good head on his shoulders..."
"Yes, yes." the salesperson said impatiently. "& would you believe that the last merchant's brother's cousin's wife's nephew - or something of the sort..."
"Just say the Person, dear."
"Yes, well, the Person was a palace guard & he stopped this man in tattoos &-"
"Lord, the Pharaoh would not have images printed on himself."
"But it's true! I heard it with my own ears."

Madame Geraldine sighed.
"Little gossip ladies?" Madame Zeddy said from behind.
"Oh, Madame Zeddy! Have you heard?" the excited salesperson exclaimed.
"Well, I am about to, I presume," she said.
"Well, Pharaoh Jeffer," she paused dramatically. "Has claimed the throne!"
"No!"
"Yes!"

& it went on & on.
After the (rather useless) conversation ended, Madame Zeddy excitedly ran to Mr. Browner, the butcher, whose assistant had overheard the conversation.
The said assistant then discussed about this latest piece of gossip at a gathering of his friend's the night after in a drunken state. So it began, the wagging tongues.

The news spread all over the city in less than two days.
Finally, the last person had came to a conclusion that Pharaoh Jeffer drunkenly barged in the Palace, disgracing the palace guards & sold robes.

The said last person was Amy.

chpter 9 : forgiveness

It felt like a dream to Abby.
One minute she was having a chat with her dear mother Geraldine & the next, she was being dragged - rather roughly - into a dark corner by none other than James.
Mother didn't mind, of course. Everyone knew that Mrs. Geraldine loved all the children - from her bloodline or not - & she respected their affairs of the heart.
Which was how Abby found herself being stared down at by James in an isolated corner of... The stable? On top of it all she was missing her awaited & well-deserved dinner.

That bit didn't feel like a dream. It started off as a nightmare, really.

But after she & James had a hushed conversation - if the word was even in the right context.
Abby didn't manage to say a word (except for inquiring where her brother was to which James assured her that it was fine, Adam was seen going to the Hills). & even when she did, James did not allow it.

He just kept going & on as if the end of the world was coming tomorrow!
At first, Abby couldn't make out what he was saying - about opening someone's eyes by not telling lies ('Why do the words sound so familiar?' Abby wondered).

Then, it became clearer.
James then began talking about blooming flowers & hail storms...
It was as if he had rehearsed the speech.

But the look in his eyes - which, at the time, were a shade of the ocean during a thunderstorm, in Abby's opinion - was genuine.
It was real.
It was something she was confident that that was... Just for her.

"W-what are you trying to say, James?" Abby managed to stutter after he had come to a halt (or out of breath).
"I am saying that... I have made an ass of myself & I would wish for us to... Be friends," he said.

At that minute, Abby wished that the ground would open, giving her an option to go inside the hole.
She knew that it was a very noble thing for someone - a man, especially - to apologize. But those were not exactly the words she would want to hear after the graciously practiced speech.

She knew that remaining friends with James was just not enough for her.

All of her life Abby had never spoken up for herself. Her headmistress of the school would serve a whip every time a girl would even dare to contradict the higher authorities.
"Geishas were meant to please," the headmistress would say every time, drilling the very phrase into the minds.

But then, standing there with James by her side in a secluded corner, Abby could not remain silent.
"No," she said softly (although she may have taken a stand, she could not just yell the answer!)

James' heart stopped beating. "No?"
"No," Abby said once more. "I do not wish us to be friends."
A beat passed. "You do not?"

She took a step forward. "I want to be more than friends."
Whatever reaction Abby was hoping for, James' expression was not one of it.
A wide grin slowly spread across his (handsome) face & his eyes lit up.

"Well. That is a relief." he said, his voice seemingly deeper.
"Is it?" she said.

It was turning into a game, Abby thought excitedly.

He took a step forward & by then, the two were practically nose-to-nose... Or if the case may be, eyes-to-neck.

"It is," James said with a grim nod.
There were no words after that.





Meanwhile, Anna still had a burden weighing on her shoulders.
"Take in a deep breath, Anna. You can do this. May Lord be with you," she said to herself.

As she walked her way towards the stable, she recalled back the earlier hours she spent with one of her dearest friends, Amy.

"I am sure that Adam would accept you," Amy said as she made her bed.

By then, the two had made an armistice & accepted one another's apologies ("I am sorry for ignoring you, Amy." "I am sorry for having myself drunken, Anna.")

Anna shot her mistress a skeptical glance across the bed.
"Now you know what I have to endure, my friend," Amy muttered as she smoothen the crease at the bottom of her bed.
"But I speak the truth! Whereas your words are for my mere comfort," Anna said.
Amy let out a weary sigh & said, "Whatever you say, Anna. Only the Lord knows the truth."
"Thank you, miss." Anna gave a little curtsy & found a pillow thrown harshly onto her face.

She smiled to herself. Such memories really could be weighed in as gold.

As Anna reached the stable door, she heard ruffling noises & abnormally loud breathing.
The first thought that came to mind was that Adam had found another woman.

But after all those incidents she had had with Adam, Anna had learned not to jump to conclusions.
Instead, she took in a deep breath, knocked on the door & went into the stables.

Instantly, she regretted it.
There she saw her best friend, Abby next to James, her arms around his neck, his arms around her waist.
Anna felt odd - she felt happy for the new couple but she was also mentally disturbed from witnessing the after-scene of Abby & James doing...

Well. Doing something she really wished she did not see.

"Adam is at the Hills, Anna," Abby said as she recovered from her previous (ahem) engagement. Anna noticed that Abby's Japanese accent was heavily slurring her words.
"Oh. Well, thank you," Anna headed the door but before she went out, she quickly said to the flushed James, "Thank you."

As the stables door closed & the sound of Anna's footsteps were already harsh whispers, Abby faced James & demanded, "Why did Anna thank you twice?"
"Because... I've finally listened to her," he said rather sheepishly.
"Oh."





The mere scent of foals was overwhelming for Anna. The moment she entered the stables, tears were threatening to spill from her eyes (the smell was the cause, not the... 'Scene').
She could not remember the last time she had stopped by the stables to have a chat with Adam.
Anna could not even remember how they had met - which was troubling because before all those silly dramatics, Anna would repeat that moment a thousand times over in her head. Lord knows!

She was running towards the sacred Hills as fast as her legs could carry her.
Anna dared not yell out his name, in fear that he might run away.
When she (finally) reached the foot of the Hills, Anna thought that her breath might be taken away - she had caught sight of a dark silhouette standing alone, his back facing her.

Anna longed to run & cling to Adam's arm or maybe even play with his hair, which was badly in need of a trim.
She yearned for so much...

As Anna walked towards the figure, Anna caught Adam's familiar scent - a faint whiff of foals mixed with a bar of clean soap.
"Not throwing pebbles?" Anna asked offhandedly as she reached his side.
Adam looked down in surprise. It felt as if it had been three whole seasons since Anna said a word to him, let alone give him her (wonderful) smile.

He did not know whether it was a game to test his patience (& temper) or perhaps she was about to tell him that she was about to marry her beloved James.
But Adam decided to play along with her... & he knew that he could never rudely brush Anna off.
"I couldn't find any," he said quietly, focusing his attention to the Lake.
"Would you like to know a secret?" Anna asked mischievously.

Adam groaned inwardly & began praying to his Lord. He knew that she was going to flaunt her engagement ring any moment...

But instead of staring at a rock on Anna's finger, he saw her pointing at a particular side of the Lake.
"There are many pebbles stored at the side there. It was said that the sphinx statue would come to life & quietly hide the pebbles for those who were in true need of wishes," Anna said.
"Is that so?" Adam asked & looked down at her.
She nodded her head solemnly & - Lord help him - a smile crept upon his face.

But as Adam realized that he was dangerously close to surrendering the silent war, he abruptly said, "What do you want, Anna?"
He felt Anna stiffened. She knew it would not be easy. She should know it would not be easy. "Regarding of what you said to me during our last encounter... I honestly had thought that James had given up on me." She paused when Adam stopped walking to give her a curious yet murderous glance. "His feelings were not real," she assured him. "He was merely confused."

Just like that, everything came pouring out - explanations of his (& her) behavior, their relationship, their history. Everything.
Or nearly everything. She did not dare inform him about her recent discovery in the stables.
After that, Anna was felt a strange ease when she heard Adam let out a muffled swear while running his hand through his scruffy hair.

"Lord... There is no wonder why you were in such distress," Adam finally said.
Anna felt uncomfortable. She decided to change the subject. "We're here."

The two looked around & saw an equally beautiful scenery at the south side of the Lake. As Anna said, there were more pebbles there.
Adam scooped a handful of the stones. Some were round, some square, some oval... Most of the pebbles had a sleek surface whereas the others had a slightly rough cover.

The stone he had was an oval pebble that fit nicely in his palm. He let out a sigh.
"& Adam?" Anna called out.
"Hm?"
"I'm just... I'm sorry for not listening to you. When you were trying to explain to me about the other night. I was just so..."

'So what?' Anna thought to herself. 'Hurt? Dejected? Betrayed?'
No. It was not the time to reveal those things. It was too intimate.
She'll tell him when the time is right.
Or maybe never.

"What I'm trying to say is that," she took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry. You would never lie."
Adam found himself grinning. It was not because of Anna's sincerity but because he found it amusing to find her in such discomfort.
Was it really that hard to apologize?

He decided that if Anna could accept the fact, then he should be man enough to do it too.
"Thank you, Anna."
"What ever for?" she asked, perplexed.
"For making the first move."

They stared at each other for a while. Anna shivered, which was rather odd because the weather was not the least cold.
Adam bent down & leaned in so closely that she could feel his breath on her lips.

"I think it's getting late. We better be going," Adam said & got up abruptly.
Anna nodded, her head feeling heavy with disappointment. "We should."








The following day, Amy called her friends up into her chamber for a celebration.
She was ecstatic after hearing the good news (about James finally coming to his senses & the 'silly' feud between Anna & Adam was over) & decided to commemorate the account.

Amy, Abby & Anna had a secret feast of bread & wine, which Anna snuck from the pantry. After cleaning up, Abby & Anna went off to finish their duties, leaving Amy behind.
She could not follow her two friends because of her uncle's new orders.
"You shouldn't join the servants crew, niece. It is unheard of! You would be the laughing stock of your generation! Imagine, being in the company of the lowlifes. I forbid you to be present in the same room of those good-for-nothings!" Master Zeddy boomed.

Amy's response was nothing but a bow of her head (only to hide her scowl, not to show her respect).

She kneeled at her bedside to open the box underneath her bed. Amy felt her eyes getting wet but she forced herself to hold back the tears.
'He does not deserve this,' she thought to herself as she eyed the moisture on her fingertips. 'How could he abandon me? How could he abandon his own village? What ruler would do such a thing?'

Amy coughed as the dust rose from the lid of the box. The letters were crisp & a little moist from the humid weather.
She wanted to burn them all but couldn't.

She just did not have the will to do so. All those letters... That was the only gifts she had received from him.
Those were the only memories she could get ahold of.
& now... Now he was engaged to be married to some blue-blooded woman & was missing!

Does he not care? she thought furiously. Does he not care how he worries other people? How could he be so selfish? Thinking only of himself.

An hour passed & a knock was heard on the door.
"Miss?" a lady said.
"Come in."
"Miss, your uncle requests for your presence."

Amy suppressed a curse in her mouth.

Before the maid closed the door, she hastily added, "Please do be quick. There is also a visitor waiting."
"A visitor?"

Her heart leaped. It couldn't be her friends from her former life. They would not even remember her by now...
So could it be...?

She decided not to risk herself hoping. She would certainly cry if she found herself disappointed.









"Ah! There's my beautiful young niece! Come in, come in!" her uncle Zeddy's voice thundered.
'Do not need to yell, Uncle. You may be deaf, but the rest of us aren't,' Amy thought bitterly.

But she was instantly suspicious. It was a rare occasion for her pompous uncle to think of anyone but himself (& his wife, if he remembered), let alone compliment.
What was he up to? she thought.

A young man stood up from the chair & bowed to Amy. He took her right hand & placed a gentle kiss upon it.
"My lady," he murmured.

Amy flustered. He was certainly good-looking with his clean blonde hair & sparkling blue eyes.
He was also quite tall - an inch taller than Jeffer, she assumed.
& he was certainly quite a gentleman.

The young man sat across Amy & beside Master Zeddy.
Master Zeddy was smiling from ear to ear. Amy was so distracted by the devastating good looks of the stranger that she completely forgotten her suspicions of her uncle's odd manners.

"Ah, yes. Shall I make the introductions? This is my niece, Amy Shari," her uncle said slowly & politely.
'Yes, yes. Get on with it. We all know my name,' Amy thought hotly. She was impatient to find out the charming young man's name.
"She was every bit as beautiful as you claimed her to be, sir," the stranger said.
Amy found her face heating up with pleasure. She supposed it would be alright if her uncle kept stalling with his snail-pace...

"& this is my colleague's son, Edmund Cadathy."
"Charmed," Edmund said with a bow of his head & a smile on his lips.
"I'm sure," Amy batted her eyelashes.






"Anna, Abby, Adam & James, this is Edmund," Amy said as she held onto Edmund's arm.
Edmund kissed the two girls' hands & gave a nod of acknowledgement to the two boys.

"So you'd be visiting Amy daily, you say?" Anna asked, curious.
"Yes, I am. Though the distance is more than three miles, it really is worth the journey," Edmund said as he looked down at Amy.
She blushed some more.

As the 'pair' walked away, Anna said, "I do not trust the man."
"But he is very good looking! How can one not approve? & this is probably the best for Amy. She could not just wait for the Pharaoh her whole life." Abby said as she clung onto James' arm.
"Although I have to say, Edmund does give an odd aura," Adam said & walked to Anna's side (whose face had a sudden faint red appearing on her cheeks).

The foursome decided to leave it at that. A few minutes later, Abby & James went to do a few chores, leaving Anna & Adam behind.
There was a barrier of silence between the two until Anna suddenly said, "I disapprove of this. We, Adam, are going to keep an eye on this Edmund."

With that, she excused herself to finish the sewing, leaving a very alarmed Adam behind.