fandomania | The Adventure continues... (Reply)

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The next few days afterwards, I spent in bed at Donal’s insistence. I didn’t mind being lazy for the first day. I was able to catch up on my sleep and heal up from the bruising that I got during the abduction attempt. But after that I got restless and bored.

Uncle Haral came to visit on the third day and, despite Donal’s orders to the contrary, I got up, got dressed and joined everyone in the family room. Donal started to protest, but then thought better of it and just gave me a stern look. I was sure that he would lecture me about my disobedience when we were alone. But in the mean time, I planned to enjoy the family time.

I sat next to Haral at dinner and asked him about the happenings at the royal court the past few days.

Haral smiled. “His Majesty broke off any negotiations with the Rajfaharans and deported them yesterday. The bodies of the two men who died during the abduction were sent to the royal morgue and people were found who could identify the men. They had come to Alfaria with the Rajfaharan delegation. When I had Captain Quinton testify as to the abduction and Florazelle’s use of magic during the audience, it decidedly biased King Torval against the Rajfaharans. In case you aren’t aware of this, his Majesty has a very great fear of assassins, especially hidden ones. He couldn’t stand the thought of having someone in the palace, let alone the city, who could turn him or herself invisible. So he gave them the option of either leaving the country immediately and never returning or facing criminal charges of accessory to murder and attempted abduction. The delegation chose to leave and they were escorted to their ship and watched until it sailed out of Alfarian waters.

“Of course, this doesn’t mean that they won’t come back, but any Rajfaharans who arrive from now on are going to be watched. Those who are already living here, and there are a surprising amount of them here, are also being investigated and watched.”

“Thank you, Uncle Haral. For all that you have done for me. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”

“Nonsense, child!” he replied. “You are family. It is what family does for each other.”

The next weeks were very busy ones for everyone in the compound.

Captain Quinton was in his best form. Pahpey had authorized him to hire more guards. So therefore some of his best men were promoted to lieutenants to help control all the new people and help him keep command of everything. New schedules and new methods of operation went into effect to help keep everyone safe.

True to his word, Pahpey brought in his favorite builders and after much discussion and planning, approved the remodeling of the guest wing. Donal and I were finally moved out of our old rooms and temporarily placed in Rosa’s old suite.

I felt uncomfortable about doing so, even though I knew that Rosa was never going to return. It felt like I was desecrating her memory by making any changes to her room. But it was Ellyn who proved so helpful in this. Before we moved in, she and I went over everything, removing items of Rosa’s that would be too precious to having lying around and potentially become ruined. In doing this, both Ellyn and I had many good crying sessions and also shared many memories of her. I learned a lot about Rosa from Ellyn and that made me respect her and miss her all the more.

Halfway through the sorting, Pahpey came in to see what we had accomplished. He approved of most of what we had done. Amongst the precious items we had set aside, Pahpey picked a few items for himself to keep, saying that they had been things from their childhood and their parents. He told Ellyn to pick several items also. Of there rest of the items, he asked to me to box them up carefully and said that he would distribute them amongst the rest of the family.

Before Pahpey left us, I asked him if Ellyn could be re-assigned to me as one of my personal maids. Since she and Mahli got along so well, I thought it would be nice to have more than one. Especially one with such experience who could help Mahli with the areas that she was least experienced in. Pahpey looked at me with a peculiar expression on his face, but said, “Of course, my dear! Anything that will make you happy is fine with me.” He then left the room.

I was perplexed by his reaction. I didn’t know what to make of it.

Ellyn, on the other hand, was so happy that she started to cry. “Oh, thank you, your Ladyship, that is so sweet and kind of you! When Madam disappeared, I was sent to help with the regular maids until she returned. It was work, but not the kind I liked and wanted to do. Master Piatrus was very kind to me and offered to pension me off, if I wanted to, but I am an orphan and have no family, and all my friends are here. What would I do with myself all alone? I will do my best for you, just as I did for Madam Rosa and Madam Anya. Thank you so much!”

“You were the maid for Piatrus’ wife, Anya?” I inquired.

“Oh, yes, your Ladyship, I was just a young girl of eighteen when I started being her maid. When she died and Rosa came here to live, I then became Rosa’s maid. I have been a maid for this family for over forty years now.”

“That is wonderful! You may remain my maid for as long as you want. I am happy to have you.” I gave her a reassuring hug to show her my sincerity.

We spent the rest of the afternoon going through Rosa’s wardrobe. Ellyn suggested that because I had so few clothes, I should try on Rosa’s clothes so that I could fill out my wardrobe. I tried on many dresses and gowns, which Ellyn volunteered to alter, so that they would fit me better. I also told her about my pregnancy and she got very excited and said that she would help me choose and make new dresses when I began to expand.

I was exhausted when evening came, but felt more comfortable when Mahli, Ellyn and Donal’s manservant, Nichol moved all of our things into the suite.

Donal was happy wherever he was. Although I could tell that he really loved his great-aunt, he didn’t have the same sentimental feelings that Pahpey and I seemed to share. “I am happy wherever we can be together. Be it in a luxurious suite like this or in a peasant hovel. Wherever you are, I will be happy.”

“I just wish that Pahpey didn’t have to go to all this expense and bother just to keep me safe. Not that I am not grateful for him doing so. But I feel really guilty to have caused all of this upheaval. I am sure that the family was happier before I arrived and brought about so many problems.”

“Nonsense, child!” declared Pahpey from the door. “What you aren’t aware of is that all of my sons have over the years been asking me for such changes. Beefing up security. Rebuilding the main house to make it more secure. Hiring guards. Things like that. My children and grandchildren are very amused how their grumpy old curmudgeon has been changed into a pussy-cat by a beautiful woman.” He laughed. “But all of us are very grateful to you for waking me up. So let us not hear any more of this talk. I can well afford this expenditure. The cost is but a drop in the bucket compared to my wealth.”

Pahpey looked around at what Ellyn and I had worked so hard to achieve. He looked very approving and also said so.

“I just hope,” I said in reply, “that you don’t regret moving us and the children into your side of the house. The children and the babies can be very noisy.”

Pahpey replied, “I haven’t yet. And if I do, I have only to tell myself that this is just temporary. I am beginning to adjust and even enjoy the noise. The sounds of happy children playing, no matter how loudly, are something that I had forgotten and is so evocative of the family life I had with my Anya when we were young. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”

While all the changes and building was going on, the day of the weddings was fast approaching. The logistics of handling nine pregnant, moody brides and all of their desires and demands was almost more than Suthi and I could handle. Fortunately, Uncle Haral took some time, sat the girls down and laid down the law to them. When they all left that meeting, they became more amenable to what Suthi and I planned.

The day of the weddings proved a mad house with all the families and friends of the brides and grooms arriving almost all at once, Captain Quinton was going through hell trying to keep security tight. The servants had worked overtime to turn the garden into a huge wedding bower. Chef Ifon was in his element and turning out a huge, gorgeous wedding cake and an elaborate wedding banquet. Everyone had jobs to do and worked their hardest to make this day as special as they could for all of the couples.

When the magic hour arrived in the afternoon, I made sure all of the brides were properly dressed and then brought then out in order, as they and their soon-to-be-husbands processed down the aisle to the altar where Uncle Haral was standing. All of them stood as couples in a crescent shape before Haral as he went through the ceremony and heard the vows of each. An hour later, when all of them were legally wed, the celebration moved to the banquet hall and the loud, happy celebration that our family loved so much continued on into the evening.

When the banquet finally ended and the partying began, I slipped into the kitchen to congratulate Chef Ifon on the wonderful feast that he and his crew had provided. He seemed very touched and pleased that I took the time to do this, but I felt that such praise was needed to let them know how much their efforts were appreciated. In the morning, I planned to do the same for the rest of the staff.

Before I went back into the hall, I decided to take a breath of cool, fresh air. I went out into the garden and memories of my own wedding to Donal happily came forth. I hoped and prayed that each of the marriages performed that day would prosper and bring each couple a lifetime of happiness.

As I was about to return to the party, I heard a familiar, deep voice say to me, “Good evening, Mara! Or should I call you Patra? You are looking particularly beautiful in the evening twilight.”

I turned and found Shah Armand standing next to me, dressed in mufti.