Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ The Glaciers' Widow ❯ Imus a fontem, domina mea ( Chapter 3 )

~*Imus a fontem, domina mea*~

*Go to the spring, my lady*

Seven suns after the incident in the clearing, Fuu was again able to get up and Presea convinced her to go to a spring with the other ladies.

" My lady, thou spend all day long in the tent: they have told me that there will be many young women of thy age, and have friends doesn't do anything else than help you."

The Baroness sighed and closing the book, she told to prepare her things. Presea smiled and prepared a basket with their lunch. So, around the third, Fuu and Presea went to the spring where had gotten together all the dames.

Fuu squeezed herself in the shawl and tightened to her chest Mokona, her pet, and Presea walked at her side singing and carrying the heavy basket. The spring was not very distant from the camp and the path crossed the forest and coasted along the river. The young girl felt uneasy in that place: she feared that that Knight appears among the trees.

' Holy Gods, what could happen if we meet him? Presea would become greatly angry if she knows that... No! I don't want and must not think about it: I have healed few suns ago and this walk will do me very well!'

Presea examined the Baroness a little bit worried: since the incident's day Fuu was weird, as if she has a fixed thought in her mind. The nurse knew for experience that the adolescents often were a bit dreamers, but she knew her lady too: the young Baroness had her head well screwed on and her behavior was always impeccable. Presea sighed and looked askance Mokona: why did Fuu have brought that plague with her? If only she has gripped it... that kind of fat rabbit would have ended in pot to become a very tasty broth.

Ferio, stretched on his bed, watching the mysterious young girl's bonnet: since seven suns her face, her pale skin's softness, the feeling of her body pressed against his, her hair's scent and the sweet taste of her lips chased his thoughts. Since seven suns, the Prince ate strawberries to make more alive the memories of that stolen kiss; and always since seven suns, Ferio hoped to meet her again. Since seven suns the jade-eyed lady had disappeared. The sad Prince searched her absence's reasons: she probably had left; to reach Pharen it needed cross the Mounts of Llaya, so high to touch the sky. Or the wound was more serious than what it looked and at that time she lay in bed, without be able to move, far from him.

This thought aroused him: have her beside and cover with kisses and caresses her young body, be wrapped by her warm moisture...

" That's enough!" Ferio exclaim sitting " Ferio, don't I recognize thou: from when do thou have become such a maniac? About that girl thou are becoming a bit morbid."

The Prince got up and went toward the desk; he opened a drawer and there threw the bonnet. Ferio looked the bonnet for a long time while his fingers grasped the knob. With a determined gesture, he took back the bonnet and hides it under his jacket and got out of the tent.

The spring gushed out from a rock and the water formed a cascade and plunged in a pond. Some women, wearing only the underwear, played in the water; other spoke in groups under the trees or played ball.

" My lady, don't move away from me and not give much confidence to the other women if thou are not sure of their social class."

" But weren't thou to tell that I must have friends?"

" Friends of thy age. You must be suspicious of the women holder than thee: in Sephiro has allowed things that in Acquaviva are forbidden."

Fuu nodded sighing. Mokona, seeing that confusion, fled from the arms of its owner and bounced puuh-ing toward the pond; Fuu grabbed her skirt and chased it. Mokona jumped between the women and reached the pond shore; it stayed and turned around the head twice and it jumped on a child pushing her in water. Fuu reached her and asked worried:

" Are thou well? Thou are hurt, aren't thou?"

The redhead coughed and sat breathing deeply. Mokona looked the little girl and its owner jumping in the water, it then jumped on the girl's lap.

" Mokona! Get down now, or I will allow to Presea to give thou the punishment that she promises thou from so much time!"

" Aww... what a nice! Thy name is Mokona, isn't it? Hi, I am Hikaru Shidou!"

Hikaru got up and looked Fuu smiling, then she stretched her hand and said:

" Hi, are thou the owner of this ball of hair? I am Hikaru Lucy Shidou from Perosha, but thou could call me Hikaru-chan!"

" Ahem... I-I am Fuu Marguerite Gabrielle Houojii-Van de Graaff."

Fuu stammered taking the girl's hand. Hikaru shook it vigorously and then hand out Mokona to Fuu.

" Thou know, Fuu-chan -could I call thee Fuu-chan? - this is the first time that I see thou: do thou have come from few in Sephiro?"

" Well.... no, I have come half moon ago, but in those days wasn't well and I have stayed in my parents' tent."

" Oh, so thou too stay in the camp! I hope that after the hunt thou come to the castle: thou will enjoy so much with me and Umi-chan!"

" U-Umi-chan?"

" Ah-a! Umi-chan is my cousin, our mothers were sisters: she lives with uncle Kleph in the castle and my brothers have sent me here to learn how to be a true lady."

Fuu smiled: Hikaru was a very nice and lively girl and her company was very lovely. Once dry, Hikaru took Fuu's hand and told her to search her cousin. They found her among the dames that played tennis.

" Ehiii! Umi-chaan! Come here, I want introduce thou somebody!!"

Hikaru screamed shaking a hand. A gorgeous, sapphire haired girl turned and smiled; the young woman apologized with her game mates and joined her cousin. She wore a simple blue dust dress, which touched just her knee and comfortable sandals; she tightened her racket in the right hand and with the other wiped away her forehead. Umi took breath.

" What do thou want, Hikaru? Thou know that it isn't very polite break off the others: I was about to beat the Princess Emeraude! Thou show me up!"

Umi scolded her cousin bitterly. Hikaru made a desolate face; her lower lip began to tremble.

" Hikaru, please, don't cry...." Umi said patting her shoulder gently " thou know that it isn't elegant. Thou have told me that thou wanted to introduce me somebody: is this thy friend?"

The girl said pointing out Fuu. Hikaru nodded and took Mokona in her arms. Umi smiled and said with a bow:

" Umi Marina Ryuzaki from Trullia, it is a pleasure meet you."

" Fuu Marguerite Gabrielle Houojii-Van de Graaff from Acquaviva, nice to..."

" Do thou have said Acquaviva? Thou... thou are Baroness Klelia's daughter! Thy mother is remembered with much affection in court: women as her are very rare."

" Maybe they are rare in Sephiro: my dear mother had all the characteristics of us Jucher."

" In fact: we Miargios are too accustomed to the luxury. They have told me that the life on Mounts of Llaya is very hard: it is a place that I would like visit, but I know that I would not hold out more than some sun."

Umi admitted with a sigh. Fuu laughed slightly: for a Miargios live on Mounts of Llaya must seem a sentence. Live in lowland was a thing, on the mountains an other: the more rarefied air was the first, important difference.

" So are you Countess Alcyone's stepdaughter!" did Hikaru whisper" is it true that in the full moon nights she changes in a horrendous monster and go around sucking the girls' blood?"

" Hikaru, are things to say? Besides a lycanthrope is different from a vampire."

Umi scolded, then added with low voice.

" Nevertheless Hikaru is right, in a way: the Countess of Panzatrippa is a dangerous woman, thou must be very careful. They said that she has been to make go mad Sarah."

" I-I spends few time with my father, my mother and Arosa; besides I don't understand: the Countess is a loving mother. But... who is Sarah?"

" Sarah is Count of Panzatrippa's legitimate daughter, she must be to marry Prince Ferio: but about three winters she mysteriously went mad and now nobody known if she is still alive. The last spring there was a fire and some rumors support that she has died burned."

" It is so" Hikaru said gloomily " and now her soul wanders the corridors of the castle claiming revenge."

" Thou read too much horror book. Forgive her: she's fourteen winters old and behaves like a child."

The three contemporary chatted joyfully, until a maid told Umi that was time to take back the match.

" Be my fan: Emeraude is a very good tennis player."

The game took back and Fuu admired the four young women play gracefully. Curious, she asked to Hikaru who was Princess.

" It's that girl."

Hikaru said pointing out. Emeraude wore a dress like Umi's one, peach hemmed with salmon. The long golden hair had held back by a ribbon and the green-blue eyes showed sweetness mixed with determination. To Fuu it seemed to see again her mother, also because Emeraude seemed a Yucher in the shine of her twenty-one winters. However the resemblance could be only physical. The Princess beat Umi after three sets.

" Majesty, thou have been too much hard with me," Umi laughed " I now must offer honeymilk to our play mates!"

" Thou give the guilt always to the others: thou doesn't apply thyself as thou should."

The two young women laughed happily and reached Hikaru and Fuu. Fuu observed the Princess without speak -the Yucher use imposed it- and she waited that she was the first to address her the word.

"... Hikaru, thou have fallen still in water! If thou still act like a child, nobody will marry you!"

Said Emeraude joking, she then noticed Fuu behind the redhead.

" Who are thou? A Marquise of Perosha's new friend?"

Fuu blushed and answered with a polite bow:

" I Am Fuu Marguerite Gabrielle Houojii-Van de Graaff, Baroness of Acquaviva Highness."

Emeraude she looked amazed.

" So thou are the Baroness' daughter! I would have felt it: thou look like much thy mother. I have known thy mother, she was a wonderful woman: for my age's girls she has been an example to follow, somebody to point out with admiration and respect. When they have communicated me her death it has been like if I have lost a sister."

Fuu blushed hearing her mother's praises, as if they have addressed to her: she was happy to meet somebody that had known her mother, after all Fuu has only eight winters when Klelia died.

" Thy mother not only was a very beautiful woman, but also gentle, good and intelligent: my father too has undergone her charm, he said that she was the woman that each king should have had near."

" My mother had practical sense: on Mounts of Llaya it is essential. I hope I could become as her, a day."

Emeraude nodded.

" Everybody wants it: everybody wish to be better. Thy mother has been to teach me to sing: thy land's songs are so beautiful. Do thou too know how to sing?"

" A bit: my music teacher says that I have a good voice, but I won't ever reach my mother's levels."

Hikaru grabbed Fuu's sleeve and said:

" Please Fuu-chan, sing us a song! Please Please Please!"

" Don't be afraid," a lady said, "we will be good judging thy voice!"

Fuu shy looked the women, and then nodded. She took a deep breath and tuned up.

Maybe I don't be able

to give thou the best

more times thou've found my efforts useless

maybe I don't be able

to give thou the best

more times thou've found my gestures ridicule

as if it isn't enough

to give up myself

as if it isn't enough all the strength

of my love...

and I have done nothing else

than feel me wrong

and I have changed all of me

because I wasn't enough

and I have understood only now

that thou were afraid

Maybe I don't be able

to give you the best

but I have weight my pros and cons and I have discovered

that I don't have more

as if it isn't enough

to give up myself

as if it isn't enough all the strength

of my love...

and I have done nothing else

than feel me wrong

and I have changed all of me

because I wasn't enough

and I have understood only now...

that I have done nothing else

than feel me wrong

and I have changed all of me

because I wasn't enough

and I have understood only now

and I have understood only now that thou were afraid

The women lingered to listen the young Baroness' song: the melodies of Acquaviva had a charm all their. Emeraude smiled and took Fuu's hands.

" It has been magnificent: I would be cheerful to spend other time with thou, Baroness."

" I am sorry Majesty, but I won't stay too along: not more than some sun. My grandfather wishes me back as soon as possible in Acquaviva."

" What? We have seen thou so few, rather, we don't have see thou before today. Thou couldn't postpone the departure, you stay at least until the next moon."

" I don't know..."

Umi laid a hand on the shoulder of Fuu and said:

" Well, we could chat this evening: today is the Prince's birthday and the engagement's official announcement. I and Hikaru will come to thou around the twelfth."

" But I..." Fuu stammered, " I don't know if I will come! I haven't ever go to a party and I don't know how I must behave and I haven't the proper dress. I am sorry, but I won't come."

" Why? " Emeraude asked " Please, promise me that thou will come: if this is thy problem, Lady Umi will help thou. Will thou do it, Umi?"

Umi nodded smiling and watched Fuu. The young Baroness hesitated: don't accept the Princess' request could be offensive, but at the party she could have met that knight. She was silent for a long time, then sighed:

" I will come, if thou desire it so so much: but I won't stay too long."

Hikaru embraced the girl.

" Why don't we have fun? Fuu-chan, do thou have never played tennis?"

================================== TO BE CONTINUED =================================

Note of the author: MKR belongs to Clamp, "Blu notte" belongs to Carmen Consoli, and I have only translated this beautiful song. Many of the nouns of place used in this story are city and districts of the southeast Bari's territory.

I thank who has reviewed this story: I foresee that it will be a very long fanfic, also because the chapters don't overcome the four pages and therefore yours opinion and support are essential to feed my creative genius ^ _~

And I read /each/ review.

To the next.

Pat-chan