✎ 1x1 ✐ discussion
1x1
>
The Unseen in Aurelia
Noel smiled at the princess and hugged Briella. "I just know. I was weally poow when I was youngew. My mommy, daddy, Malakai, and I lived outside. We didn't have a nice house like this. We just sat outside. Malakai said my mommy cleaned houses to make money and my daddy did some fix it jobs. It wasn't enough to get a house though. Mala also says that a lot of times Mommy had to give me hew food because thewe wasn't enough. Daddy was also a meanie. That's how I got this. He didn't want another baby, especially a giwl." The child knew too much, but Malakai had always wanted her to know her story. He wanted her to spread it around and inspire others. It was harsh for a little girl of her age to know that her father hated and wanted to kill her and her mother starved to death trying to feed her own children. Noel had been through a lot in her early years but here she was still smiling away up at Briella.
Briella gasped softly in shock and sadness. This little girl's own father had caused her pain like that?! The thought brought tears to her eyes. Bending down so that she could look Noel in the eyes, Briella brushed the little girl's hair out of her face. How could such a sweet child have pain inflicted on her so ruthlessly? How could this sweet girl not bat an eye at how horrible her life must have been before coming to this place? Though she knew Noel was quite filthy, Briella gently wrapped her arms around the girl and hugged her close, crying in sympathy. Starving, living outdoors, being abused simply for being a daughter; these were things that the princess couldn't even imagine, and it was heartbreaking. If this was why she'd been kidnapped, not for spite, but to help, then she would do anything she could.
Noel only giggled at Briella's tears and she hugged back tightly. "I'm okay Bwiella. I don't wemembew it. Mala had to tell me." She let her fingers tangle in the princess's hair. Suddenly there was a knock to the door of the girl's room. The tall, blonde pushed open the door and stared at his sister hugging their captive. "Alright you two. There is lunch downstairs. Potatoes and carrots." He stated noticing how Noel instantly jumped up. She loved potatoes and food in general. If they had food all day every day then Noel would be a very chunky baby. "Briella, will you join? This is the last meal until tomorrow at lunch. Unfortunately the crops weren't as successful this year." His shining green eyes hid his feelings and his face held very little emotion. Noticing the tear stains down her cheeks, Malakai moved to sit next to her. His hand held a handkerchief and he handed it to the princess. "Noel told you about her toddler years didn't she? Please don't take pity on us. Everyone hates that. Pity means you are merely going to sit back and watch. Sympathizing means you'll speak kind words but no actions will occur. Empathize with us, Briella, that means you'll do something about it." When she was done, Kai took his handkerchief back but not before running it against her jaw where she missed a spot.
Briella took the handkerchief and quickly, but carefully, dabbed her cheeks to clean up the tears as best she could. "I just....don't understand..... How could....things be so bad? And I....never knew?" she asked, pausing between words so that she could sniff. When he took the handkerchief back, she looked at him, her eyes meeting his. "I want to help," she said quietly. "Anything I can do, please." Knowing all of this, she couldn't just sit back and pretend she hadn't heard. Why had these things been hidden from her? She was taught hundreds of useless information, dates and names, proper tea protocols! But they couldn't tell her that her own people were suffering so? All she had heard was Noel's story, how much worse were things for others? She couldn't imagine more horrible things, but the little girl was only a young child. She feared what things might have been like for an older person. Chewing her lip, she pondered asking Malakai what his past would be like, though she doubted he would answer. Still, she dared to ask softly, because in this moment as she stared into his eyes, she felt somewhat bold. "Was it just as bad for you?" she softly asked.
"Your father doesn't want anyone to know. No one in your city knows except for the army." He stated in a very hard sounding voice which was full of thought. When the princess claimed she wanted to help Malakai merely nodded. "I'm glad but it's pretty bad. You'll have to go in disguise because everyone knows your face and they despise it." Kai was blunt in his words so after realizing how awful that probably sounded he apologized. Then she asked about his story and it hardened. It wasn't the worst story about there but it certainly wasn't the easiest to swallow. "Maybe another time Briella. You've had a long past 24 hours so let's get some food for you. Wish we could offer a hot shower but it hasn't rained in a while. Tomorrow we'll show you what our world is like and then we can discuss the matter of changing it." Malakai stood from the bed and held his hand out to her, to help boost her from the bed. It was shocking to Kai to see her so easily accept but then his sister was quite the influential little girl.
Briella took a deep breath, soaking all the information in. It had only been twenty-four hours? It felt like a lifetime. Just a day ago, she'd been on her terrace, trying to find sleep. Since then, she'd been kidnapped, partially released, and was told people hated her because everything she knew was a lie. She met people who were much stronger than she could ever imagine. People so strong that even a child had endured more than the princess had. Briella swallowed and took his hand, standing. "It's quite alright, I'm sure I can do without a hot shower for one day," she said quietly. As for the food, she knew she couldn't be too picky, but she truly did hope it wasn't stale or anything. Of course she would eat it if she had to, but it wasn't her wish. She didn't understand how people could live like this; it made her realize how truly pampered she was.
She was taking this a whole hell of a lot better then he imagined. He expected more of a bratty demeanor from Briella. Malakai would have muttered a thank you but that wasn't his thing. For a moment his hand was on her lower back pushing her to kitchen. Once they reached the kitchen he removed the contact. Everyone stared at Briella except for Cahira, Damien, and Noel. "Why is she out of the cells?" One girl muttered bitterly. Most were glaring and Malakai was quick to glare right back. "I'm surprised she'd even look at 'scum' like us." A man sneered as he ate his dinner. Kai pulled Briella to a seat between Cahira and Noel. "You all will turn your hateful glares at your food and I don't want to hear another word at this table. You were all debriefed on the plan so either you accept your own choices or leave, right now. We voted and majority one so shut up and have a little dignity unless you want to ask just like them." Malakai said in an emotionless tone and surprisingly everyone listened. He was respected and wise for a person his age. Finally, he took a seat between Damien and Noel. A plate was handed to Briella as well as a small helping of food which was equivalent to everyone else's.
Briella felt extremely uncomfortable when they entered the room. All the glares directed at her made her understand that they didn't think she belonged here either. If this was the hatred of people who didn't want her dead, then the princess further feared the anger of those who did. Briella dropped into her seat between the two girls she knew weren't hostile, grateful she'd been seated there. Even though the glares at her ceased, the princess couldnt feel more like unwanted company. She took a deep breath and quietly thanked the person who served her food. To her relief, the food didn't look too awful, and it actually looked much better than she'd expected. Refusing to look up, she began to eat.
It was dead silent until Noel finally spoke to Briella, "How does it taste? I got to make the gravy. I hope you like it!" She whispered quietly but once she spoke then others started to as well until the table was bustling with usual words. The little girl kicked her legs under the table and accidentally kicked Malakai. "Oopsie...sorry Mala." The man looked down at her and poked her side. "You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Malakai teased and poked her again making her giggle. "Eat your food, Noel." The little girl pushed the plate away about 1/4 of it still left. "I'm full." Usually if anyone had food left it was up for grabs but Mala was quick to pull it back and whispered for Noel to offer their guest some. "Would you like the rest of mine?" Noel asked Briella with a sweet smile on her face.
"It tastes very good," Briella assured her, smiling softly. When everyone at the table began speaking, the princess felt far more relaxed. The silent tension had been what had made her so uncomfortable, it seemed. She laughed quietly at when Noel and Malakai had their little moment. He hadn't seemed to her like the type to tease and joke, but with Noel he did. It was a whole different side of him, it seemed. But then again, maybe the little girl brought the best out of everyone. Regardless, it made the princess smile. When Noel offered her food to Briella, the princess paused her eating and looked down at it. Briella had almost finished her food and was still quite hungry, but if she were to take it, then these other people would think terribly of her once more. Though she hesitated for a moment, she shook her head. "No thank you. Someone else may have it," she replied.
With Briella not wanting the food, Malakai pushed the play, letting it slide across the table. The people closest to Mala had the greatest chance of taking it, but they all knew their limits and when they were satisfied. No one overindulged while others starved. So the plate made it to the end where and older man took it. He even shared the portion with the woman next to him. "If you are hungry just admit to it. It is fine Briella." The leader stated while finishing his own food. Noel smiled up at her brother, grabbing his hand and hugging it. "Yeah, we don't want you to go hungwy. Not a pwincess!" She stated still holding Kai's hand even if she wasn't talking to him. The emotionless man allowed her to do this with much surprise from the others. Noel would always be his one exception.
"No really, I'm fine," Briella assured them. "But thank you nonetheless." She had never eaten as much as the others in her home, but it was still far more than this. She finished off the last of her portion and lightly dabbed at her mouth to clean up. She smiled at the two siblings, thinking it adorable how Noel could just do something so simple and make Malakai seem so much different, and that Noel didn't care in the least that the sentiments weren't as obviously returned. It always made her wish that she had someone who could just care about her like that. Her parents cared for her, of course, but it wasn't the same as the care from a friend, sibling or even lover. She had never had that at all, but she wasn't really jealous of the relationship she saw before her, just wishful for herself. The princess cast her gaze down to her empty plate and took a deep breath. "I think it's finally time for me to change clothes," she said, realizing that she was still in her nightgown.
Malakai and Noel gazed at her. The leader nodded and looked at the rest of his group while Noel grabbed onto the princess's hand. "I'll show you the changing room. We have a dirty clothes basket and then we'll do laundry the day after tomorrow. We get to go play in the creek and clean our clothes!" With that she got up and dragged Briella to the room where they change. "Right here. You'll see the basket once you walk in." The little girl smiled and ran back to the kitchen.Malakai looked at everyone when Briella left. "Who is upset?" At the question about half raised their hands. "What is the problem with it? One at a time." A single man raised his hand before speaking, "She's a royal! What if the King has a tracking device implanted in her?! I wouldn't be surprised!" With that he slumped back in his seat and Damien stood up. "Like Malakai and I would let that happen! We've watched the princess for a couple years! We knew her routine and we pounced! That girl is our chance at freedom! Whether it's through ransom or she helps guide the rebellion. It's our time!" He stated and Malakai nodded.
Briella smiled at Noel and took the clothes that Cahira had left for her. She went into the changing room and stripped off her nightgown. There was no mirror inside the room, which was strange to the princess, since she always had a mirror when she changed. She ran her hands down her arms, feeling her own smooth skin and took a deep breath. She was so scared, so confused by everything that had happened in just a day. How much she wanted time to reflect and take it all in. She redressed slowly, taking her time as she thought through it all.Cahira frowned and tapped her fingers on the table. "I think everyone just needs to calm down. It was this or nothing," she said. "We took every precaution possible, and if we waited much longer, than something could have gone wrong. And if we'd done nothing, what are we even here for?" She believed that this plan had been worth a try. The fact that people didn't trust their decisions and planning just because it incorporated an extra variable annoyed Cahira greatly.
Entering the kitchen, she could hear their yelling and debating. Noel never liked yelling because it reminded her of bad times. So the child ran to Malakai who normally held her ears when there was yelling. A sigh left his lips as he picked her up and covered her ears. He wasn't sure why she wanted him to do that because she could still hear them. "Cahira is right. This was the best and this is what has been decided. You will respect the decisions made and if you don't like them then speak up at the next official meeting. Now, we are heading into the village tomorrow, who will be staying here?" A few hands went up and Malakai nodded. They needed someone to stay at headquarters. "I'm going too right Mala?" Noel yelled loudly seeing as she was holding his hands over her ears. Everyone chuckled at the child and Malakai smiled. He nodded and the child started to bounce and kick.
When Briella finished dressing she slowly found her way back to the kitchen, but stopped so she could hear what they were discussing. It sounded like business, and so it was best if she didn't interfere. She came just in time to hear Noel yell and the princess laughed quietly. Even if she didn't know what they were discussing, she still thought it was rather cute. It made Briella wonder though, why was the little girl in the meeting? Not that she would complain, since she knew none of them trusted her yet. She wondered what they would think if they found her listening in....they probably would trust her less.
It wasn't an official meeting between the table just a quick and serious discussion. Typically, Noel was not allowed in the meetings though she always tried to make excuses like she had a nightmare during their evening meetings and she wanted Malakai or her tummy didn't feel good that afternoon and she just wanted her brother to hold her and make it feel better. The man hugged her tightly then gazed toward the doorway. "Come on in Briella. We were just having an open discussion. Nothing to hide from." Kai let the child go and she ran to grab the princess's hand. "Want to play with me. I have paper dolls to play with. They're brand new! Mala brought them back with him when he went to Kyom.
"Oh, alright," Briella said softly and stepping into the room sheepishly. She smiled down at Noel when the little girl ran over. The princess wondered why this little girl liked her so much, when she had never done anything for her. Was it only because she was an interesting person, a princess? Briella hoped that wasn't the case. "Sure, I would love to play with you. But I haven't played in a very long time, so you'll have to forgive me if I'm rusty," she said sweetly.
"It's okay if you awe wusty." The little girl started to pull the princess away into the girl's room. Why did she like the princess so much? Maybe it was because she admired her beauty. She longed to be a princess herself. Or maybe she like Briella because she was lost and Noel helped her find her way. "Hewe, this is youw doll. And this is my doll. We awe going to have them go shopping. The shop is by Cahiwa's bed. She's the one to nowmally play with me." Noel handed her a paper doll and had her own start talking and moving toward the shop. Apparently they were in for a spa day.
"Why thank you," Briella said, taking the doll. "She's very pretty." She listened as Noel explained what they were going to do. The princess wondered if the little girl knew anything about what they were playing. Did Noel know what a spa day was like? Did she know what shopping was like? The thought that maybe she didn't made Briella a little sad. Even if Noel had never experienced it, did she ever heard what it was like, what happened? That was what Briella wondered. Maybe one day the princess could take Noel with her for a real spa day, or on a shopping trip. Somehow. Some way. She hoped it was possible.
Noel knew none of what a spa day was and only a little about shopping. She knew the basics. Cahira had told her girls shop for clothes, shoes, things for their hair and face, and more accessory type items. The little girl was taught by her brother that shopping meant food, water, and sometimes used clothes and shoes for warmth, and not for fashion. Yet the was Noel spoke, it was if she knew a lot about shopping like a normal girl should. When it came to the spa though, she let Briella narrate most of that. Noel was told of what it was, but not of what they had in their. They owned a dictionary which sat in Kai's office. Cahira showed and read her the definition but it wasn't the same as experiencing it.
Briella smiled and kindly narrated the part that Noel wasn't sure of. The little girl knew a lot, it seemed. Briella wondered how she knew so many things when she was so young. The princess was sure she hadn't been nearly so smart when she was Noel's age. Her playing with dolls only consisted of dressing them up to the best of their wardrobe. She never actually did anything with them because she never had anyone to play with. So that this little girl was able to figure out how to play like this, talking about things Briella was almost positive she'd never experienced, made the princess quite impressed. She wondered, but doubted, that all commoner children were like this. Noel was probably a special little girl, as Briella already regarded her as.
Noel listened closely as she narrated what happened in a spa. That was how she learned and understood, by listening and observing. She knew things she wasn't supposed to know. "That's what happens at a spa? I didn't know." Her little voice help narrate again until Malakai walked into the room. There was her other source of information. A smart man who knew about the world. He'd been on the inside and the outside. "What would you girls be doing?" He walked over and sat on Noel's bed. "We awe playing dolls. They have a spa day." The little girl explained, showing him the doll. Kai just stared down at her and envied/appreciated how innocent she was. He was pretty sure she didn't know much about the world before her. "Well, it is warm outside and we are going to build a fire and relax for today. If you two wish to join, you may." With that he ruffled the little girl's head and winked at Briella before walking away.
"Yes, that is what happens," Briella smiled. "Maybe one day you and I can have spa day for real." She didn't see the issue in telling that to the little girl. If things went well, just maybe they could. When Malakai entered, Briella looked up to listen while he spoke. A fire on a warm day sounded relaxing, and the way he said it made her believe that they didn't do it often, which only intrigued her more. When he winked at her, she was a little surprised, but it made her smile a bit. As soon as he was gone, she looked back to Noel. "Do you want to go join them?" she asked. "It sounds like fun. And I've never been part of a bonfire before, if that's what it's even called." She laughed softly because she actually had no idea, but she was sure Noel did.
Malakai didn't like the way she brought the child's hopes up, but he wouldn't say a single thing. Instead he stood in the doorway and waited. "Yeah let's go. We have bonfiwes two times a month. Outside is woods and Mala has some flint to make a spawk." She held onto Briella's hand then stomped to grab Malakai's. "Swing me! Swing me!" The child jumped and Malakai supported her weight. "Noel, no. Unless Briella is okay with playing that game." She looked up at him and then nodded. "Playing outside is fun. We play tag sometimes all the way until night!" The little girl was getting super excited that the princess could experience this with them.
Briella got up and let Noel pull to the door, a smile on her face. "I don't mind playing a game, but what game?" She wasn't entirely sure what Noel was asking to do, but she was sure it wasn't anything bad, so she didn't feel any need to refuse her. The princess smiled as Noel explained how they played outside, and all she could think was how she'd never done something like that. She'd heard of people playing tag, but never participated because her parents believed that it was too dirty a game for a princess to play. Briella didn't see how it could be dirty in the least, other than possibly falling, and she was a lot less clumsy than she used to be. Now that she was away from them, she wished to try playing. She was positive she wouldn't get dirty. And whatever other games that were proposed to play, she wanted to try those too.
Noel looked up at Briella and smile, "You and Mala hold me up and swing me. It's easy." The male looked at the princess then held her up by her arms so her feet were off the ground. Her butt almost skinned it though. Once Briella lifted up Noel from her side, the man started to swing her back and forth. The child giggled as she was swung. It wasn't until her butt landed on the grass from Malakai letting go did she stopped giggling. "Ow! Mala, that is not funny!" The little girl stared and he smiled. "I thought it was." Noel got up and hit his leg as hard as she could. The man just smiled down at her and took it. "Go child. I want to talk to Briella." The little girl whined but took off and Malakai looked at the princess. "Want to walk with me? I know you probably didn't get any of this but it will last all night so you'll be good." There was something he wished to show her.
Briella laughed softly at the antics of the two siblings, thinking it quite sweet. When Malakai said he wished to talk to her, the princess sobered slightly, not sure what to make of it. What did he wish to speak to her about, she wondered. "Sure, I'll walk with you," she replied. She wasn't sure she wanted to though, since she did want to get to the bonfire as soon as possible and since she wasn't sure she wanted to know what this was about. After all, everything she'd learned from him since she arrived has shattered her world. But perhaps this wouldn't be so shocking as the other things she'd learned. So she had agreed to walk with him, because she wanted to know, and because she knew refusing would do no good.
As Briella started to follow him, he started to walk around their little shack of a home. "Briella...are you starting to see why we brought you here? I never meant any harm. We are a group who tries to bring justice without being violent. There are many out there who think violence is the answer. I brought you here because I want your help and your influence on the people. You could be the generation that turns it around or you can be the generation to leave everything the same. That is your choice. I would never blame you for wanting your family to live in luxury but I don't think you are that kind of woman. I don't see it." Malakai stopped at a shallow creek, he turned and accidentally bumped right into the princess. Instantly his arms went to her sides in case she needed steadying. "Sorry, wasn't ready for you to be right there."
Briella walked right behind him, listening as he spoke and considering all of it. She was pleasantly surprised that he believed her to be that way, but she wasn't sure she could live up to his expectations. How disappointing would she be if she couldn't do anything. Her father was bent on not having her rule anyway. If he got his way, then her husband would be king and she would do nothing. But the princess was sure that Malakai didn't know or understand that. She was so preoccupied with what she was thinking that she didn't even notice him stop until she was shaken out of her thoughts by him bumping into her and then....catching her. She blinked and looked up at him, a blush rising to her cheeks when she realized how close he was. "Uh....it's alright, I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking," she mumbled quietly.
(Ah! Im so sorry!)Malakai was quick to let go once she was steadied. "That was my fault." He stated while scratching the back of his neck. With a slight cough he moved the subject, "Look I just want you to think about it after tomorrow. We are heading to the village and I believe you will realize what a good path for you is after that. It is heavy stuff. What Noel went through, is little compared to others." Kai himself had been in more trouble than the little girl. They needed the princess in order to get somewhere in their plan. He turned back toward the little creek and peered into it. "We can go back. I only wanted you to consider such a thing." Malakai leaned down and grabbed a shell from the water. Noel she collected then so he wanted to give it to her.
Briella fidgeted after he let go, no longer sure what to do with herself. She listened to him, frowning when he told her that Noel's pain was only a fraction of what others had suffered. The princess had assumed as such, but it still saddened her greatly to hear that was true. She looked at him, wondering what it had been that he went through, but she knew he wouldn't tell her. He hadn't told her the first time and not much had changed since then. It was alright though, she knew he would tell her eventually...when the time was right. "I will consider this, yes," she said softly, watching him as he picked up a shell. "Um...thank you," she continued quietly. "For um....for sort of easing me into this information instead of throwing it all at me at once." She knew that though it had all been given to her quickly, it still had been somewhat gradual, just long enough for her to understand every new thing she learned.
Malakai chuckled gently at her words, "I wouldn't be thanking me Princess. This was a lot and I can understand as much. So please take your time." It was a little odd to have a heavy atmosphere around them. "What about your childhood? Surely it was lighthearted." Kai asked, starting to walk with her back to the fire. He knew the girl didn't want to spend long away from the fire. It was probably her first outside fire. Unfortunately they couldn't afford marshmallows, chocolate, and Graham Crackers for s'mores. Malakai wasn't one to get bitter over what others had. He just longed for everyone, at least in his area to have such a life.
"My childhood? I'm sure it was nothing compared to yours," Briella assured him. She didn't wish to whine over how no one had ever paid attention to her, or show any care for her past the fact that she was a princess. Oh no, she didn't want to do that when his past was surely much more burdensome to him. Just because she had always longed for a genuine friend made her childhood almost completely irrelevant. It didn't compare, it wasn't worth saying anything of it.
Malakai had appeared back with her at the bonfire and he noticed Noel placing a stick in and trying to start her own fire off to the side. "Noel! Don't, you'll burn yourself." He stated in a sharp voice but it held concern in it. He loved his sister too much to let her get seriously hurt. "Well I hope it was nothing like mine. Don't you have one funny memory or a favorite moment? Even I have a few. Whenever my mother sang to me at night was always one of my favorites. She tried to take good care of us." Kai gave her one of his rare smiles. It felt natural with the princess and he wasn't sure why.
Briella rapped her fingers on her side as she considered it. Her life was so one note; no highs, no lows, nothing. She couldn't say she had a favorite memory really. When he smiled it her, it made her smile. It seemed so rare and genuine, one of the first times she ever saw emotion from him. "Well, um....there was one time that I think was my favorite. I was out in the garden and there was a person there. Obviously he wasn't meant to be there, but I was too young to think about that. He was nice, and we had fun. He was the most genuine person I'd ever met. I had never really had a friend before then." Of course, he had soon been caught and to this day, she'd never seen him again, but it was a good memory. It reminded her that she was more than a showpiece.
Malakai gave a small at her memory. It was simple and yet she treasured it. Those were the best kind. "Bwiella! You'we back!" Noel ran to grab her hand and pull her toward the fire. Everyone was either sitting in the dirt or on the fallen tree trunk which they had made into a bench. "Come sit with me. The oldew people awe telling stowies." Malakai watched his sister start running but he was quick to place his hand on her head. "Slow Noel. You don't want to fall in the fire." He said before letting her go again. She pouted at her brother but she walked as she pulled Briella close, only to have Damien pull her back a foot. It was obvious everyone cared for the child as if she was their own little sister.
"You really must be careful," Briella said to Noel gently. "I'm sure you don't want anything to happen to you, do you?" She was rather worried that the little girl would fall into the fire, and she had every reason to worry. Noel was young, and the princess knew that it meant she didn't know limitations and when to stop walking closer to the fire. Briella just didn't want Noel to learn from a mistake, since it would be a very painful lesson. She looked up at the person who had most recently stopped Noel, thinking he looked familiar, but she couldn't quite think of his name....had she ever known it?
(You wanting Damien to be the boy that played with her?)
((Sure! I think that would be interesting!))
Damien smiled at Noel then gazed up at the Princess. She was looking at him. The man looked away and sat on a log next to another man from their group. Malakai watched as Damien and Briella had some weird eye contact. He sat next to Cahira and watched Noel. "Look Bwiella. You stick a stick in the fiwe and it has a little fiwe on it when you pull it out. I twy making a side fiwe but it always goes out." She smiled up at the princess before laying her head on her arm. Kai watched the two while he spoke with others. They didn't bring up Briella but tomorrow's activities instead. They'd all be going into town to help others out and get supplies. All of them did jobs on and off to make money. About 10% went into a group jar in order to pay for food among them all. Tomorrow some would look for work but Kai was just going to show Briella around.
Briella looked at him curiously, some strange familiarity attached to his face. When he walked away, a confused frown tugged at her mouth, but it disappeared when Noel addressed her. She laughed softly at the little girl's innocence at how fire worked. "Yes, fire really is fascinating isn't it?" she said, not going to bring up that she did know how fire worked because she wanted Noel to discover for herself. "What else do you think would have fire on it if you put it in and then pulled it out?" She was hesitant to go sit down because there really wasn't anyone for her to sit with where she wouldn't feel uncomfortable, so she was fine with staying with Noel. The princess felt most comfortable with the little girl anyway. And on top of that, she loved to talk with Noel, so really it was a good idea, she thought.
The little girl smiled at the princess and handed her the safe end of the stick. "Dead leaves awe good too!" Noel ran back and grabbed some and she started running back. "Noel Isabella Suci! I told you not to run and what are you doing?" Malakai asked in a harsh tone and all the members quieted. Of course Noel shook her head, "I wasn't wunning." She walked the rest of the way to the fire. Kai gave her a hard look. "If I catch you again, you will go sit in the house until the sun goes down. Don't run." The girl nodded and everyone continued, "Dwy leaves awe good fow the fiwe, watch!" Noel threw them in and the fire burst into a brighter flame for a small second.
Briella put her arm in front of Noel when the fire flared up. The princess was already learning to be protective. "Yes, dry leaves work too. And what else, do you think?" she asked. She had a point to these questions, a point that would hopefully make Noel stay more careful around the fire. Briella hoped it would work, and she hoped above that that Malakai would see that she was good at helping out already and wasn't corrupting the child's mind. She didn't want him to think badly of her...
Noel looked around and blinked but shook her head, "I don't know what else." She walked behind the girl and played with the princess's hair. Malakai watched the two closely out of the corner of his eyes as he spoke with the other members. He didn't think badly of the princess, not yet. In fact, he was, in a way, proud of how well she was taking everything. Though tomorrow might be her breaking point. In the midst of him talking to another member he heard the nosy little girl's voice, "Bwiella, Damien says you and Mala went to kiss, is that twue?" Of course Kai's glare snapped to Damien quickly. He was up and making excuses as to why he had to head back in the house. It was comical to everyone but not to Malakai or Damien.
Briella's eyes widened and she blushed brightly at the suggestion. "No, it's not true!" she exclaimed, turning around to see Noel. Her face stayed red because she could see everyone was amused by the entire situation and so the princess was very embarrassed. She wasn't sure the little girl knew what kissing was, especially not enough to think that the two of them went away to do such a thing. Briella wouldn't glance over at Malakai to see his reaction, though she was sure that either way would seem to be an admission of guilt. Still she was curious as to what he thought of Noel's question.
Malakai wasn't amused in the slightest but as he looked at Noel, it was obvious she was honestly wondering. "No we didn't, Noel. I was speaking with her about tomorrow. Don't believe everything you are told." His eyes flicked toward Briella and noticed how red her face was which made his own darken a tint. Everyone calmed down their laughter and Noel took a seat in the princess's lap. "I won't listen to Damien anymowe." She pulled Briella's arm around her so that she hugged the little girl. "Good girl." Kai chuckled as Damien started to come back, watching his friend closely. Malakai would get him. His eyes followed Damien, who was hiding behind the princess and Noel. It was amazing how a community with so much poverty could have such a great time.
"Good girl," Briella mumbled, echoing Malakai. She was smiling though, in spite of her embarrassment. She was having a lot of fun, more than she had...well ever. She gave Noel a little, playful squeeze, for once glad she'd been kidnapped. These people had such rough lives, the princess knew, yet still they were more alive than those in the royal court. They had real fun. They were a family even though they weren't all related. Briella was relaxed here, now, and she couldn't help but be grateful that Noel had said something like that because the laughing showed that they didn't hate her. Leave it to such a joke to make the whole thing less stressful.
The day slowly progressed into night and Malakai watched as his little sister grow tired in the princess's arms. Everyone's talk had died down until it was quiet. They all sat staring into the fire. Some of their stomachs gurgled but no one paid much attention to it. Kai stood and stretched. "I suggest anyone going into the village tomorrow head to bed now. I am leaving at dawn tomorrow." He stared and with that half the people stood and went back to the shack of a home. "Briella, would you like me to take Noel? I can tuck her in for the night." The male's green eyes stared intensely into hers. It seemed Noel really loved the princess. Already the others were getting use to her and only a few were still weary. Malakai understood that they just didn't want to end up getting killed for treason.
Briella bent down to hear Noel better. She sniffed to contain her tears and looked at the little girl curiously. "What are you talking about? If this is true, how do you know?" The princess found it hard to believe that this little girl could know things that sounded to outrageous to her. Of course, she couldn't help but trust Noel, since she didn't consider children that young to be of the lying age.