[Arien]

After the party...

Alethea made her way up the marble steps towards her chamber. At last the night was over, not that it wasn’t enjoyable. It was just that now Alethea had met Findulas her anxieties ran a lot deeper then thay previously had. But her mother and sister seemed to be confident enough and looked as though they could handle her, and no doubt Dryea would be able to craft a lie about Findulas worthy of herself. No, now that Alethea thought about it there was really nothing to be worried about.

She left the stairs when she reached the first floor and the slowly walked down the wooden floor corridor towards her room. When she reached the fine cedar door, which into had crafted a wilting rose she reached into her purse that hung from her side and withdrew a small copper key. She slid the key delicately into the lock and twisted. The door opened with ease ad Alethea swept in and shut the door tightly behind her. The room was dim, lit only by the fading embers of the grand fire place.

Lazily she flung her purse down onto her bed and lit a few candles on her dressing table. She undressed from her tight corset and skirt and donned a plain white night gown. She washed and combed out her stiff hair. It now fell in slight waves down her back, she tilted her head to the side and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her blue hazy eyes stared back at her through the dimness of the room. She hadn’t seen much at all this night, nor heard anything of any importance.

Hopefully the maids had had more luck as they were able to move freely around the guest and collect more than she had the chance to. All that Althea had seen was Dryea dancing Rhir but she was hardly going to tell on her sister. Their mother believed that men would distract them, and maybe she was right. But Rhir was a gentleman and Alethea saw no wrong in their frienship. He was kind to her and would often question her mother on the subject, but alas to no avail her mother always appeared to win the case.

Now Alethea left her room and hurried across the hall towards her sisters rooms and knocked softly on the door. She was let into the room by Dryea who looked slightly taken aback to see her.

“You looked shocked,” smiled Alethea entering the room and closing the door behind her, Dryea walked over to a chair next to the fire place and sat down. “Were you expecting someone else? Maybe Rhir?”

Dryea shot a look of loathing towards her sister, “ No……I was expecting mother if you must know. How did you know I was with Rhir anyway?” she questioned her voice whispering.

“You were dancing with him, I saw you. Why sister you act like it was totally disgusting that I saw you with him. Remember, I am not mother. I have no objections to him.” said Alethea timidly sitting on the bed facing Dryea.

“No, I am sorry. It is just mother would think I am weak or something along the lines. She would think I was like…like..”

“Me?” Alethea laughed, brushing her hair out of her face. And quickly forgetting it she said, “ so how did it go for you?”

[ July 08, 2003: Message edited by: Arien ]