Serena and the Nobles at Court: Chapter 3 by Keely Thomson Keely's Note: hey every one!!!! well here is chapter three! sorry to keep you in suspense! but ya know ^_^!! well hope you like this story!!!! now on with the show!!! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Serena! She has been shot!" said Jane as a sob ran through her. "What?" exclaimed Darien. "Y-yes I-I was walking to give her Terra a-a-and this group of guys came up to her and she said something and then they s-she-shot her." By now Jane and Terra were wailing in the same key. Just then they heard a gasp from the doorway. Everyone looked to see Serena standing in the doorway with a worried look on her face. "Serena! You-your not hurt?!" yelped Jane as she glopped onto Serena. "Of course I'm not hurt but this poor girl is." Serena lifted a girl that looked a lot like her except her hair was paler and she was a little smaller than Serena. "She got shot with an arrow. Now generals and your majesties, please excuse me but I think it is best if you wait on the porch. Jane and Linds you come help me." The royals had no room to argue and they left the house for the porch. "Serena do you know her?" asked Lindsey. "No, but she sure looks like me doesn't she. She could almost be my sister!" The two girls laughed despite their position. Soon they got down to business. Serena broke the arrow that was in her arm and then Lindsey cleaned the wound with some herbs and hot water with a washcloth. Serena stitched it and wrapped it up with gauze. Serena stood up after she and Lindsey had set the girl on Serena's bed. "Um Linds? Could I ask you to do a major favor for me?" Lindsey smiled and hugged her friend. "Of course! What?" "Could you live with me? The taxes are really coming up high and I can't take care of this house by myself. We can share my room and everything! Oh please!" Lindsey nodded her head. "Of course! I would love to! Mother wanted to marry me off anyways so of course I'll stay with you. We'll divide the chores okay?" They hugged again. Serena invited the royal family and the generals in again. "Will she be all right?" asked the queen. Serena smiled and patted her hand reassuringly, as if to comfort both of them. "She'll be fine. Me and Lindsey cleaned her up. She just needs to rest. Well it looks about lunch. I'll go make you some and you can rest." The group smiled and sat around the living room. "Wow! With most of our healers it would take at least 7 or 8 hours and she did it in only five minutes!" said Jedit in surprise. "I know, but sometimes when things are done fast they are not done right," said Zoisite. Lindsey then came to the table and sat down. She put her head in her hands. "Is anything wrong dear?" asked the king. "W ell while I was in there my mind was raising and I could barely think. If it weren't for Serena telling me what to do I would have messed up. I just don't see how she could be so calm while both of her sisters were crying, which by the way gave me a terrible head ache, and take care of some one who's wounded? I just don't see how she can stay so calm?" Suddenly they heard a wail. Serena rushed out of the kitchen and picked up the now hysterically crying baby. "Hey honey it's okay. Go to sleep, nothing has happened." The baby looked into Serena's trusting eyes, stretched, and then went to sleep. Everyone in the room stared in utter amazement. Serena walked back to the kitchen. "See what I mean? How can she stand it?! To think I'm going to live with her! Well at least she'll get some quiet when I move in." "You're moving in?" asked Darien. "Yes, she said she needed help." Suddenly they heard a bang. "Um Linds I need some help in here!" Linds ran into the kicthen. "I hope she's okay," said the king. In the kitchen Lindsey found Serena trying to juggle a bowl of salad, a glass of wine, and a sandwich. A dish was already on the floor, shattered into a million pieces. She dropped the sandwich and was on the floor, crying. Lindsey ran to her. "Serena, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Lindsey pulled Serena into her lap and brushed her hair. "I-I just can't take it anymore! I have to take care of the royal family and their guards, and I have to take care of Jane, Peter *and* Terra! I just can't do this at the same time!" Lindsey stroked her hair. "It's all right Serena. I'm here for you. We'll work this out together okay? We'll make it." Serena looked up and she smiled a watery smile at Lindsey. "Thank you ever so much Lindsey. I don't know what I would do without you or my brother or sister." Lindsey hugged her, dried her tears, and they served lunch together. After they were done the king, queen, prince and his court left, but not before the queen gave her a huge hug. "Come to the palace anytime dear." Serena smiled, and the royal family left. Suddenly she heard a scream. Serena and Lindsey ran to their room to see the wounded girl up and looking around. "Where am I?! Who are you!?" Serena walked up to her but the girl backed away. "Don't worry, you're okay. You're in me and Lindsey's house. You were shot by a group of men but we patched you up. I'm Serena and this is Lindsey, but you can call her Linds." The girl looked at Serena's kind eyes and calmed down. "Thank you Serena. My name is Mina. I really don't have a home. I grew up doing odd jobs. Those men were these people I used to work for. They got mad at me for not making enough money." Serena stood there in thought. She and Lindsey talked and then faced the girl. "How would you like to stay with us? I think we really should add a room anyways. You can help cook and take care of Terra and such." Mina's eyes lit up. "Really?! You'll let me!?" exclaimed Mina. Serena smiled and nodded her head. Mina jumped out of bed and hugged Serena. "Mina, how old are you?' asked Serena. "I'm 17. How about you and Linds?" Mina asked. "We are both 17. Hey Mina you know that fair coming up?" asked serena. Mina nodded. "Well my little sister is making quilts and other blankets for the fair. How about you help her. She could really use it. "Sure I'll get at it right away!" Suddenly her stomach growled. "I think after you eat." The girls laughed. Soon every one ate, got closer and by the end of the night the three girls were actually able to get into Serena's room! The next moring Serena and Lindsey woke. They decided to let Mina sleep in since she still had to heal her shoulder. Mina woke up a few minutes after they got up because she smelled the food. "Mmm, smells nice in here. Can I help?" asked Mina as she started to eat a bread roll but Serena took it away. "No. You need your arm to heal. Don't eat yet! Just go and wake up the kids they're pretty late." Mina smiled and woke up Jane and Peter. "Say Serena, you said that there were three. Where's the other one?" "Oh she'll be up soon." Serena replied. Suddenly a wail could be heard for miles around. She smiled. Serena went and picked up Terra. "Hello honey! Did you sleep well?" Serena dressed her up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. The baby giggled as she played with Serena's hair. Serena finally got her to let go by showing her a new toy. The baby plopped onto the floor and started to play with it. Soon everyone finished their porridge, rolls, and bacon. Serena was going to have Lindsey take care of Terra while she was at work. Suddenly she heard a small cry. Serena turned in the doorway to see little Terra starting to walk towards her, with a little pout on her face. The baby finally reached her leg and held onto it. "Mommy," Terra said. Serena stared at her for a long time. She picked the baby up. "But you're only a year old! You're not supposed to walk or talk till you're two!" "Mommy!" Terra said again with a giggle. "Well, I guess I'll just have to take you to work with me won't I?" the baby started to play with Serena's hair. *I guess that's a yes* thought Serena. As Serena headed into the temple she bumped into..... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Don't worry it's not who you think it is! so just wait till the next chapter is out k^_^!!!!! well hope you liked it!!!!! by!