Sisters, Iana's Story #30

I try to keep these posts short, under 1000 words; I aim for around 600-800, although sometimes they come out longer. I make all these plans about what will happen next and then the story expands all of a sudden. Gah. My general rule is, whatever the story wants, the story gets. That's why I had to split Roderick's latest adventure into Part1 and Part 2. Chapter 4 of Iana's story ended with a startling declaration by Joli, and now chapter 5 begins right where we left off.  

Sisters

I looked at my sister, noticing her hands clenched tighter than before. "I will go. Iana can stay," she said as if that decided the matter.

"You can't mean that," I declared.

Decisions, Decisions - Iana's Story #27

The previously entry had King Rilan of Winding's Story, and here's the last of chapter 4, just in time for the beginning of spring!

Decisions, Decisions
"But Father," I suddenly cried out. "Now you've spoken to us about the golden flower. You promised that man you wouldn't. You've broken your promise to him."

"It doesn't matter," Father shook his head. He reached down behind his desk and brought forth a plain wooden box. The inside was unlined, and the top compartment held a dried up brown petals, the broken husk from a once beautiful flower. Below it was another compartment, a red glow pushed at the edges as if eager to escape. Father lifted the wooden shelf out, placing the  dried up rose on the desk top and exposed what lay below. It was like the one I'd seen in my dreaming, a beautiful red rose bud. The petals closed up so tightly it made it look more like a seed than a flower, and its red glow pulsed like a small flame on a candle, ready to burst into larger flames at any moment.

"The fire rose," I whispered.

How the Rose Blooms - Iana's story # 26

Iana's father began his tale last time, and now continues.

How the Rose Blooms

"It was like a dream," Father said earnestly, as if begging me and Joli to understand.

My breath froze in me as I heard this, I knew exactly what father spoke about since I'd experienced the same strange dreaming. I looked at Joli to see her reaction. Her face had turned white as ash. She clenched her hands in front. It seemed my sister had experienced it as well. I glanced toward Mother, but she shook her head.

Father was not as lucky as I was, he soon found he was trapped in this new garden. How he got there he didn't know and try as he might he could not return home. He wandered there a time, a pleasure long denied him. He came to a large standing of trees and there he met a man seated beneath it. 

Resolve - Iana's story #23

I just recently realized the Iana's story is only about one third of the way, maybe a little more than that, but not halfway done yet. It's about time for things to move a little faster, I hope they will now that the two strangers have arrived, the lion and the wolf.

So, let's see where this will lead Iana as the fourth chapter of her story continues.

Resolve

Of course, Mother was already with Father, standing outside the door of his study ready to greet the debt collectors in that precise, perfect way of hers. One of the winterguards or my Aunties must have informed her. Of course, she led them straight inside, treating them like important noble dignitaries. And then, of course, she stopped me and Joli from entering, telling us to return to our duties.

Well, if she expected me to obediently leave, she was in for a surprise.

Sun and Moon, Lion and Wolf. Iana's story #22

The fourth chapter of Iana's story. It began here, and now continues.
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Sun and Moon, Lion and Wolf. Iana's story #22

Olwen escorted the two men into the entrance hall where I waited. It was a draft place. I could hear the wind whistling above me in the rafters. The elegantly carved wood usually gave the wind a sweet musical sound, but today it sounded dry and hollow.

I didn't see any other winterguards inside the hall, not surprising as there were only three old men serving in the castle guard, and Olwen their captain. No other attendants stood beside me, and none of my Aunts hobbled out from the servants quarters to gawk as they usually did when anyone arrived at the castle. Winding didn't receive guests very often anymore. I didn't know where my Mother was, or Joli, for that matter. I was alone to greet these men, the horrible debt collectors who held the fate of our poor kingdom. I straightened my shoulders, raised my chin and prepared to be, at least a little civil.

A bright burning red, Iana's Story #19

From last time, and now we shall see what Iana discovered in the garden.
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A bright burning red, Iana's story #19

"It must be the first blossom from the orchards," Aunt Rosemary said. "I'll take whatever I can get this year. It has been the slowest spring coming. It's usually not this late, and this is much later than I've ever seen it. You can put the apple blossom on the table for now."

I looked down at my hand. I still carried the apple blossom I intended to bring her. I'd forgotten about it completely. I stumbled over to her work table. Flopping down on a stool I dropped the branch on the tabletop and stared at it, trying to sort out my wild thoughts and the uneasiness swirling around me. The dreaming had left me, or rather I'd finally left it behind, but the memory of it, the strangeness of it was beginning to shake me. It felt like I'd woken up, only I knew I had not ever fallen asleep.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Iana's Story #18

(From before, read how Iana stumbled into a dreaming, and now to see what she does next.)

Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Iana's Story #18

There was only one flower on the rose bush, a red bud so tightly coiled it looked more like a seed. There were too many thorns near it, so I didn't dare reach out and touch it. But I have to admit I was tempted. Some part of me wanted to feel how soft the petals must be. Without the thorns I would have easily plucked it right off the bush, like a sweet fruit.

I couldn't though. Fears of catching myself on the thorns kept my hands close to my body. Even in this dreaming it seems I was afraid of pricking myself. Finally I stepped away, dragging my feet. I couldn't stay there, kneeling as if in worship to a flower. I had to keep on. I thought about how Aunt Rosemary would know about the flower. I could ask her about it. She kept thick gloves and shears, perhaps I could borrow them and come back here. With thick gloves I could risk the deadliest thorns.

Across the border I will be waiting (Iana # 11)

The previous events can be found here.
And now the final chapter of Joli's story from within Princess Ianthea's journals.

We have crossed the border into Winding, Sister. It is hard to believe we are almost home. I am one step closer to seeing him again. It has been much too long. It was harder than I realized for him to come see me in the Circle Kingdom, and rather than risk it, he told me he would wait for my return. "I will be waiting," he said, and I have waited too, soon it will be over.

I'm glad Olwen finally managed to get us a carriage, I don't even mind that it is an open one, since the air is so sunny and fresh. I am so joyful right now, You could push me into the Trade River right now and I'd come up smiling. Only a few more days. At least be glad you don't have to walk all the way home. Of course I'd be willing to do even that. Forgive my teasing dear Sister. I know you are unhappy with our situation, and you think the comforts of Winding do not compare to the Circle Kingdom. I have no such complaints. I would take Winding over Catha any day. Not just because he is in Winding. Each day we come closer and closer. It is so hard to wait quietly. When we reached the border, I could hardly contain myself.

Farewell, but not Forever (Iana #10)

Previously in Joli's story...

From the chime tower I could see everything. A bright orange bloom, not unlike the setting sun, except it was much too low and black smoke rose above it into the evening sky. From above I saw the castle's summer guards and stablemen scurrying out to the field like mice. Villagers poured out of their homes at the sound of the church bell. I heard shouts of "Fire! Fire in the fields!" And from behind me the chimes began to ring, the magic in them responding to the bell and the fearful shouting.

The noise startled me from my paralysis. Our grove was burning. If the trees were all lost I might not ever see him again. And what if he was there when the fire started!

I ran down the tower steps, the noise the chimes echoing all around me, heedless of the way I looked. My hair tore loose from its chignon and my dress flapping around my legs as I flew downward. I didn't care who saw me. I had to find him, nothing else mattered.

To Fall in love is like . . . (Iana #9)

Discovered previously in the journals of Iantheia, Princess of Winding: Joli's story continues . . .

Even though I didn't realize at the time how deeply I would fall in love with him, even at the beginning there was something about him that stuck with me and wouldn't let go. Perhaps it was his odd behavior when he learned my father was King, or how his touch changed the gelding I rode that day. Everyone at Ambress Manor noticed that, and thought I'd done something, but it wasn't me. After our brief encounter he didn't just fade from my mind, he grew larger and larger. I thought about him so often and wondered just just who he was.

Have you ever met anyone like that Iana? Someone who changed you just by appearing in your life. Perhaps you won't believe me, sister, I know I find it hard to believe myself, but this is how I fell in love with my Jack-of-the-Woods.

Jolianita - Beauty and Grace (Iana #8)

Previous Events in Iana's Journal

Jolianita's Story - discovered within the journals of Iantheia, Princess of Winding


It isn't what you think sister. I haven't forgotten myself, who I am, what I am. I know I am a Princess of Winding. I know my duties. But Iana . . . please try to understand. I know you won't want to listen, but please try. I know you will be so angry when you find out. That's why I've written this here to help you understand, because I can not speak the words. Here I will do my best to speak. Let me tell you about him.


Even though I know, sometimes I'm painfully aware that we can not be together, my heart still rejoices at the thought of seeing him again, after so many long months.


We first met last spring. Oh, has it been only a year. It feels like I have known him much longer, my whole life, or maybe I never lived before I met him.