by Morgana Shee
Part 7
Morgana stepped back a few inches, out of Celeste's reach, "How do you do?" she said politely. That's all she was going to give this bit of fluff, politeness. No more than she could afford.
Celeste's eyes brightened, "Oh, I'm splendid! I'm just so glad we have guests in the house finally. It's very boring with father working all day. And Suzette isn't much fun since she doesn't even speak Italian, let alone English!" She laughed jovially. Morgana wanted to smack her.
"I don't think you should put down someone just because they cannot speak your language. This is how prejudice begins," Morgana said in a matter-of-fact voice.
Celeste only laughed more, the opposite of the affect Morgana had hoped for, "Oh, Morgana, I'm sure we'll be wonderful friends. You have a wit about you. I'm sure you will find a wonderful man in Florence on your visit. Florentine men like their women with bite."
Morgana looked at Celeste. She had a spark in her eyes. The girl knew what she was talking about. Morgana sighed, "I didn't come to Florence to meet men. I came to see Cadal Forge. He does reside here, does he not?"
Celeste giggled, "Yes, Cadal is staying here. Father loves him dearly. He is quite a chemist I must say. Not that I understand any of that, mind you. I just choose not to. I'll leave that to the men."
Morgana turned so Celeste wouldn't see her rolling her eyes, "Celeste, I appreciate the welcome, but I am rather tired. I would like to go to bed."
"Of course," Celeste said quietly, "I too need my beauty sleep. Boua notte, Morgana. I'll see you in the morning." "Good night," said Morgana. Celeste skipped toward the door followed by Suzette.
"Oh, Morgana," said Celeste at the door, "I left a few night clothes on your bed. You must have brought some with you, but I thought these would be more luxurious. Buoa notte!" With that she flitted out the door. Suzette gave Morgana a glance and shut the door behind her.
Morgana sighed heavily and walked over to the bed. Celeste had indeed brought Morgana nightclothes. Velvet gowns, velvet robes, velvet slippers, silk, satin, every kind of soft fabric imaginable. Morgana glanced at her nightstand and found a bouquet of red roses sitting on it.
Those are nothing like Findahl roses, thought Morgana. Why was she so determined to hate Celeste? She had just met the girl. Because I know she loves Cadal, thought Morgana, I just know.
Morgana quietly slipped on one of the velvet gowns Celeste had brought and climbed into bed. She looked down at her cloak lying on the floor and saw a flash of gold shining out of one of the pockets. Morgana quickly got out of bed and pulled her Gold Staff out of the pocket. She returned to her bed and put the Staff on her nightstand. She then rolled over onto her side waving her hand as she did it. With that motion, the candle was put out and darkness enveloped her.
Morgana swung her legs over the side of the bed and found the velvet slippers on the floor. She plunged her feet into then feeling the soft fabric on her toes. She picked up a velvet robe and wrapped it around herself. Florence was very cold in the spring Morgana found. Either that or the room had an awful draft.
Morgana made her way to a wardrobe in the corner of the room and opened the doors. Inside were dozens and dozens or exquisite frocks. Green, gold, rich purple, enough for everyday of the month. Morgana chose a beautiful green dress. It wasn't heavily decorated, but it was at least acceptable for Morgana.
Morgana heard a knock at her door. She made her way over to the door with the dress in her hands. She found Suzette standing there. Suzette eyed the dress in Morgana's hands and then looked at her.
"Oh," Morgana said, "You've come to help me dress. Is it that hard to fit into one of these?" Suzette didn't answer but took the dress from her anyway.
As Suzette dressed her, Morgana made idle conversation, knowing perfectly well that Suzette couldn't understand her, "I understand you are from France. I think I will learn to speak French. It sounds very pretty. Maybe I should look into Italian as well as long as Cadal is living here. He must know Italian also. He is a very quick learner by the way. He always has been. I remember the day he won the Red Sta-" Morgana shut herself up quickly. Of course Suzette didn't know English, but Morgana never knew who could be listening at the door. No talk of Findahl, Morgana, she told herself, who knows who might hear me.
Suzette finished tightening Morgana's corset and slipped the dress over her head. I can't *breathe*!, thought Morgana. This is the price they pay for fashion? Still Morgana thought she looked quite fetching in the emerald green dress, "Maybe Cadal will see me as I really am now," said Morgana aloud. Suzette looked at her sharply.
Morgana smiled, "Merci, Suzette." Suzette smiled slightly. Morgana had hit a soft spot in Suzette. She just needs praise and acknowledgment, though Morgana.
Suzette went over to the door, motioning for Morgana to follow her. Morgana quickly brushed her long black hair and then followed Suzette. Suzette led them through the long hallway and down the great staircase. She then took Morgana to another set of double doors. Suzette opened the doors wide and Morgana was led into a large dining room. The smell of eggs and sausage greeted her as she was ushered through. Three smiling faces looked up as she entered also.
Signor Gallura patted his mouth with his napkin and stood up, "Ah, Morgana, how pleasant to see you this morning. I trust you slept well?"
"Oh, yes, signor," Morgana said, "Celeste was gracious enough to supply me with night clothes." She smiled quickly at Celeste who was seated at the table also.
Gallura walked around the table and pulled out a chair for her. Suzette had disappeared from behind her. She sat in the chair provided my Gallura. To her right, Aurin Silvereye, dress in a lovely Florentine suit, leaned over to her.
"You look absolutely exquisite, Morgana," he whispered, "Cadal will come back to Findahl in an instant." Aurin swept his silver eyes over Morgana again. She flushed.
"That reminds me," Morgana said to the table, "Where is Cadal this morning?"
"In the work room, no doubt," said Celeste cheerily, "He spends hours and hours in that little room. Father you should really pry him from his work once in a while."
Gallura smiled at his daughter. Morgana knew that Celeste was Gallura's most prized possession from the look on his face. Daddy's girl, thought Morgana bitterly.
"Yes, I know, my dear. I will have Suzette fetch him every morning after she dresses you two girls," said Gallura laughing, "He really needs to-"
Gallura was cut off by an explosion from somewhere in the house. Morgana's eyes widened, "Cadal," she said frightened. The whole table ran for the work room, Gallura in the lead.
The work room was all the way on the other side of the great mansion. When they got to the door, Gallura quickly pulled it open. Smoke greeted them as all four stumbled into the room. Morgana waved her hand in front of her and coughed. Soon the smoke cleared enough for the four of them to see a figure seated at a work bench with a smoking tube in it's hand.
"Boy, are you all right?" asked Gallura.
The figure rose from the bench and came through the smoke. It had only been a month since Morgana had last seen Cadal, but in that month he had changed drastically. He had grown a few inches at least. His body was even more muscular than before and his features where more defined. The only things that were the same were the color of his wine-dark hair and his fathomless grey eyes. Other than that, he had grown into a very handsome man. Maybe it's just Irenahl that made Cadal change so much, thought Morgana. But the change had been very *very* good to say the least.
"I'm fine, master," said Cadal, coughing a little, "I think I added too much acid. I'm very sorry."
"Well at least you're not hurt," said Gallura, "But be very careful next time."
"I will, master," said Cadal, he finally turned to face the others. A look of surprise passed over his face as he saw Morgana and Aurin, "Morgana! Aurin! What are you doing here?!"
Morgana was speechless so Aurin answered, "We thought we would come and visit you. Morgana wanted to see how you were doing." Morgana wanted to kick him.
"Well, it's wonderful to see you," a flash went off in Cadal's eyes. Morgana knew what he was thinking. Three Finderlais in one place? And a Quislai one of them no less? There was going to be trouble.
"Well, I'm sure you three would like to catch up on things, so we'll just return to breakfast," said Gallura, graciously, "Well have Suzette keep your breakfasts warm."
Gallura and Celeste turned to leave. Celeste did not want to leave and Morgana could see why, but Gallura herded her out of the room anyway.
"I'll starved if you two don't mind," said Aurin, eyeing Morgana, "I'll talk to you later, Cadal." With that he left, leaving Cadal and Morgana alone.
Cadal turned to Morgana, eyes glowing, "How are you, Morgana?"
Morgana swept past him and sat down on the work bench, "I'm well, Cadal. And yourself?"
Cadal put down the smoking tube, "I am also well. This past month has been wonderful for me. I'm going to be a chemist, Morgana, a dream of mine. It's all so amazing."
Morgana looked away. So he had a wonderful month, Morgana should have been happy. But she wasn't. Cadal noticed this right away, "I'm so sorry, Morgana. I know my being away has been hard on you."
Morgana laughed bitterly, "Hard, hmpf, *hard* isn't the word. First your mother dies and then *you" leave me. Cadal, that's not *hard*, it's like dying." She began to cry then even though she was determined not to.
Cadal stood where he was for a second and then moved to take Morgana in his arms, "I'm so sorry," he whispered into her hair. He still smelled of sandalwood, Morgana found, and she hated him for it. She hated him for being handsome. She hated him for being so ambitious. And most of all she hated him for being the man she would always love, but could never have.
Morgana straightened and dried her tears with her sleeve, "It's of no matter," she lied. Cadal didn't say anything. He rose and made his way over to a book case.
"I see you're still wearing the pendant my mother gave you," he said quietly, "It's suits you."
Morgana clasped the quartz in her hand and thought of Talia. Talia wouldn't have wanted Morgana to behave like this. She was being selfish and uncaring. Talia was never like that and didn't commend people who were. Morgana turned back to Cadal, "I'm sorry, dear friend. I'm putting myself before your future. Oh, Cadal, I want you to be happy with all my heart. But I wish you could be happy in Findahl, not in Italy!" She laughed lightly.
Cadal turned back to her, "It's strange isn't it, Morgana, to be in Irenahl. After spending so much time in Findahl, it's strange to be around humans. I'm used to Quislais."
"Well, there's a Quislai here right now, so you should feel right at home!" Morgana laughed along with Cadal. Morgana sobered quickly though, "So how is Florence in the springtime?"
"Quite lovely," said Cadal, glancing at her.
"And the women?"asked Morgana innocently.
Cadal looked at her sideways, "They're all beautiful. Very proud and somewhat arrogant. Sure of themselves. Much like Finderlais women."
Morgana looked away. Cadal continued, "I see you've met Celeste."
"Yes," said Morgana quietly, "Do you find her attractive?" She was being outwardly mean again. But she had to know. Cadal shifted uncomfortably.
"She is very beautiful, I must say," Cadal said truthfully, "She is a sight to behold in her ball gowns."
"I'd bet," Morgana said under her breath. It was a very uncomfortable moment.
"Morgana," Cadal began slowly, "I'm aware that you have certain...feelings for me. And I'm very flattered, but I cannot feel the same way towards you. You are like a sister to me, my best friend."
Morgana was the one to shift uncomfortably now, "Do siblings kiss each other with such passion? Or is that just a Florentine custom?"
Cadal turned away, "It was a moment of madness, Morgana."
Then can we please have another, Morgana thought desperately. She did not say it aloud though. The conversation was already uncomfortable, "I'm famished," she said quickly and strode out of the room cursing at herself all the way down back to the dining room.
Aurin seemed to be enjoying himself. He got a lot of sideways glances though and a few bold stares from some Florentine women. He flashed each a smile. Morgana wondered how many of *them* would be at this ball the Gallura's were going to hold.
Dinner was also uneventful. Morgana avoided Cadal by sitting on the opposite side of him. She chose to sit by Aurin. Aurin could tell she was trying to make Cadal jealous, but didn't say a word. Cadal laughed and joked with the Gallura's all through dinner. Signor Gallura seemed to like Cadal and his eyes twinkled when Cadal looked at Celeste.
Celeste herself was all over Cadal, giggling and touching his arm now and again. At some points she would even glance over at Morgana to see if she was watching. Morgana in turn said she was getting warm and excused herself to the courtyard.
The night was very brisk. The wind blew every so often, ruffling Morgana's hair. The moon was full and the stars were achingly beautiful. The only sounds Morgana could hear were the rustling of trees and the chirping of crickets.
Morgana wandered around the courtyard aimlessly. It's was absolutely huge. Morgana found nooks and crannies every so often in the bushes where a bench was blanked. She resolved that she would bring a book out someday and hide herself where no one could find her.
Morgana found another one of these secluded spots and decided to dit down and watch the sky. The stars were even more brilliant in Irenahl than they were in Findahl. Or maybe that was because she was used to Findahl and she hadn't been in Irenahl since her father....
Morgana was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the rustling of grass behind her. Morgana felt a presence behind her and whirled around quickly. She thought for one fleeting moment that it was Cadal. But then she saw the way the moon played on the figures light hair and silver eyes and she knew who it was.
"Morgana, what's wrong?" Aurin asked, concern in his silver eyes.
She looked up at him slowly. Now why can't I be in love with Aurin?, she thought. He's everything a woman could ever want in a man. Handsome, caring.
But he's not Cadal, said another part of her mind.
"Nothing is wrong," said Morgana, quickly. Too quickly.
Aurin sat down on the bench beside her. She could feel his eyes on her even when she was staring at the stars, "Morgana," he began, but quite.
Morgana turned back to him, "Maybe you shouldn't have brought me here at all. I can't stand seeing Celeste fawning over Cadal. It's disgusting."
"But Cadal seems to happy around her," said Aurin truthfully.
Morgana rose from the bench and walked away from him a little. He followed her, "Morgana, you can't deny it. She loves him and maybe he even loves her. I know how you feel, I really do, but you need to move on."
Morgana began to weep silently, "But it's so hard."
"I know," said Aurin softly, "Oh, Morgana, I know."
Morgana wept openly now. Aurin ushered her into his arms. She cried against his shoulder. His velvet cloak was soft against her cheek. She wrung her hands in it. She wasn't even aware that he had begun to stroke her hair. He did it so lightly.
Morgana detached her hand from his cloak and lifted her head to look at him. His eyes were sparking madly. They looked like the sky did in a meteor shower, bolts of light zooming ever which way. Ever so slowly he brought his lips down to hers.
Morgana's mind was screaming at her, but it was too late, he kissed her. Morgana melted into his arms. She had never kissed a Quislai before. Aurin had wanted to kiss her numerous times before this, but Morgana had never let him. Now she wondered why she hadn't all those years.
Aurin's lips were so soft, even softer than Cadal's had been. Cadal had kissed her deeply like there would be no tomorrow. Aurin savored every moment of the kiss, kissing her lightly and then deeply. Her legs felt like jelly.
It was said that if a Quislai kissed you, the Wild Hunt would never harm you. It also meant you were protected against many other things. Morgana now had the Mark of the Quislai and she felt no different than before. But somewhere else in her mind it felt like something was wrong.
How could this be wrong?, Morgana thought.
Because you don't love him, said another part of her mind. She wished that part of her mind would leave. Maybe she did love Aurin....
Aurin pulled away reluctantly. He still held her in his arms tightly. She buried her face in his cloak again.
"I love you, Morgana," whispered Aurin softly.
Morgana pulled away gently. Aurin laughed slightly, "I know you don't, Morgana. I'm well aware of it." he laughed again, "So here we are. Two people who love someone who doesn't love them back. We're a sorry lot."
"Aurin," Morgana said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't deceive you. I'm so pathetic." She sat down on the bench again, "Maybe I need to get away from everything. Maybe move away from Fell Andred for a while, take Vulpecula with me. But where could I go?"
"England," Aurin suggested, "It would be perfect. The Avalon Pass is very close to a large city there."
"Yes," said Morgana, "That's it. England."
Aurin sighed and turned to leave, "At least stay in Florence for a little while. It would be a shame to miss such a wonderful spring." With that he walked away.
Morgana sat contemplating her decision for a little while. England would make a great new start. Vulpecula would love going there. It was where Vulpecula came from anyway.
It's where my father's from, thought Morgana before she could stop herself.
She brushed that thought aside and continued to think everything over. Morgana only hoped that she could stand being in Florence until the spring was over. It would take all her nerves.
She started back to the mansion just as it started to rain. Morgana looked at the sky when she reached the patio. Cloudy. Maybe England was a bad idea, but Morgana refused to think unhappy thoughts right now. She pushed the door open and went into the warmth of the Gallura mansion.
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