Voluntown, CT’s Young Writers Group

If you havent read the rest of the story, please go down to the first entry and read up. Thank you.

Emrea sighed “That’s all well and good but remember she is your grandmother and while she does have “grachorun” tendices, she just wants what’s best for you.”

It was Tayla’s turn to give an unladylike snort.

“I know it doesn’t always seem it but…” Emrea trailed off.

“While she thinks it’s the right thing for me, it isn’t.” Tayla said, sitting on the bed. She held up the remains of the ripped pillow. “I need another one. I’m tired. Don’t worry about the feathers. You can have one of the maids clean it up in the morning.

As Tayla grew older and more defiant, she had taken to destroying pillows whenever the Duchess had provoked her. After the fifth time, Tayla told Emrea to put extra pillows in the closet so that way she wouldn’t have to wait.

Emrea went to the closet and pulled out a pillow, thinking it useful, as he had countless of times before. Tayla took the pillow and laid down and Emera pulled the covers up to her chin.

After kissing her on the cheek, Emrea left, leaving Tayla to seethe for a few minutes before falling asleep.

~*~*~

“Tayla.” The Duchess waved a hand and the tea poured itself. “The Lord DeMeyer and the Lord Rickens both want your hand in marriage.”

Tayla placed her sugar and milk in her tea by hand. “Why? I haven’t even been to Court yet!” She set her teacup down and began to pace. “I don’t even know who they are! They’ve never even met me! They-“

“Actually, you have met Lord Rickens. Remember that ride when you were 12?”

Tayla started at her blankly. “I rode a lot when I was 12. How am I supposed to remember an exact one?”

The Duchess clucked her tongue. “You remember the time a bee stung your horse and
almost bucked you off?”

Now that Tayla thought about it she did rememeber. “Oh, yes. Some old gentleman grabbed his reins and- Oh no! Please tell me that wasnt Lord Rickens!”Tayla sat down.

“Yes. And he is very rich.” The Duchess took a sip of tea. “Plus he’s not that old. Only 53.”

“53? Hold old is Lord DeMeyer? Or do I even want to know?”

The Duchess smiled. “He is much younger. 31. But he’s not nearly as rich as Lord Rickens.

Here,” the Duchess placed two white slips of paper into an empty sugar bowl and held it
up. “Pick one of these.”

“What are they?” Tayla asked apprehensive.

“You’ll see.”

Tayla reached into the bowl and pulled out one of the slips. Opening she read, “Lord Rickens.”

“No!” Tayla sat up in bed, panting and sweating. In the early dawn light, Tayla could see Emrea as she ran in, wincing when she stepped on a feather quill.

“Tayla, are you alright?” Emrea asked, ignoring the pain in her heel.

“Yes,” Tayla said, still catching her breath. “I’m fine. Just a horrible, horrible dream. It seemed so real.” Tayla shook her head.

“Do you want to tell me?” Emrea sat on the edge of the bed.

“Grandmother got two offers of marriage to me. One was a 31 year old I had never met and the other that old man who grabbed Luka’s reins when he got stung by a bee. Remember Grandmother sold him because she said he “almost killed me”?

“I remember, Lord… what was his name?” Emrea thought for a minute before Tayla blurted it out.

“Lord Rickens.”

“Yes. That was him. Well, what happened after she told you of the offers?”

Tayla shuddered. “She put both names in a sugar bowl and had me pick one.” She shuddered again. “It was Rickens.”

“No wonder you yelled. Well, its over now. Will you be ok to go to sleep now or would you like a glass of water first?”

“Water please?”

Emrea nodded, patted Tayla’s cheek and left for the kitchen. Tayla grabbed a pillow and hugged it tight. Remembering the satisfaction on the Duchess’ face when she said “Lord Rickens” made Tayla shudder again.

A minute later Emrea came back, handed Tayla the glass and smoothed back her hair. “You’re sweating up a storm. You sure you’re ok?”

Tayla nodded, taking a sip. “It was her face. Right before I woke up I said the name and her face looked so pleased.” Tayla handed the empty glass to Emrea. “Is she really going to marry me off?”

“That is the point of going to Court but if you are asking if she would really put two names in a hat-“

“Sugar bowl”

“Whichever. A sugar bowl and have you pick one? No, I don’t believe even the Duchess is that insensitive.”

Tayla sighed and laid back down, still clutching the spare pillow. “I’m tired.”

Emrea kissed her forehead and fixed the blankets. “No more bad dreams. Think of lilies.”

“Tayla smiled weakly. “Yes, Emrea” and she fell back asleep before Emrea was even out the door.