Dong, Dong, Dong, Dong, Dong, Dong, Dong, went the bell. Jewls woke up and
got dressed. She was walking down the hall trying to remember where the
cafeteria was when the prince came up behind her. "Do you need any help?"
He asked. "Oh, yes, I forgot where the cafeteria was." Roald showed Jewls
where the cafeteria was and they got their food and sat down to eat. A group
of boys gathered around them. They told her that Jewls and Kel had extra
classes. "What?!? Why?" Jewls asked. "It's cause we are girls so we have
to learn proper court behavior. Like how to host parties and write
invitations. It's the stupidest thing in the world. I mean if we are gonna
knights why would we have to know these things?" Kel told and asked Jewls.
As the day went by Jewls found that her classes were extremely easy for her. When they had etiquette class Jewls did everything perfectly. The teacher told her she could go to the squire's level. After her classes Jewls went to the library to do some research for Worlds class. She had at least a half and hour of homework from every teacher, more in most classes. During dinner she did her algebra after dinner she did her reading and writing classes. Jewels didn't understand how they could finish all of their homework in such little time. She had to read a chapter about manners, Jewls also had to learn how to make her own sword (Jewls decided to put this off until later). It was half past eleven when she was finally done with everything. They had called lights out a while ago, but Jewls only pretended to go to bed, she put a rag by the crack of the door to block out the light, and did the rest of her work. The next morning in her algebra class The teacher asked for her homework, she gave it in all neat with no blotches. The teacher was a little surprised; rarely ever did a new page hand in their homework. It was the same with the rest of Jewls' classes. All of the teachers thought that their class was the only homework that she completed. Even though she gave all her work in on time Jewls had even more homework. Jewls did well in her morning 'classes', too. She wasn't that great of a rider, though. She could go straight, and everything, but turning wasn't that easy, she kept pushing too hard on Opal. Going in different directions was a joke, and when she found that she had to do all of this, while holding a lance she almost started to cry.
Jewls worked harder then any of the other pages, trying to hand in all of her work and being the top of her class. Jewls had a deadline to meet, she had to have her sword finished by Monday and it was Saturday. Well, I guess I will spend my whole day making a stupid sword! She thought.
The year went quickly, before she knew it, it was winter and the squires were becoming knights. Jewls saw the boy that had been checking her out the first day; he was going to become a squire. He looked at Jewls and winked. Jewls turned her head and went to sit somewhere else. The prince saw her and told her that the new squire's name was Harry of Lillinton, a small fief along the Great Inland Sea. Jewls wasn't surprised that he lived along the sea, because most of the boys that lived along the coast were rude.
One spring morning Jewls was walking back from the stables, and heard a
hiss. Oh, no, not now, not when everything is going so well, and everyone
thinks I am brave, please not now. Jewls prayed. When she opened her eyes,
she saw it; it was a snake, a small one, but a snake none the less. "Please
go away, she told the snake," The snake didn't budge, so Jewls did the only
thing she could think of, run. She ran all the way up to her room. What a
great way to have my special day start out as, I turn 12, and I see a snake,
maybe it's a warning.
Lord Wyldon summoned Jewls; he told her that, since she has been behaving and
doing very well in all her classes that she may go to the city, today. The
next time, she could go, too. As long as she had a companion she could go.
Jewls shouted with glee. "Oh, thank you, Lord Wyldon! Oh Thank You"
"Who will you pick to go with you?"
"What about Prince Roald? We are good friends."
"Ask him and make sure you both check out with me, if you ever
want to leave again."
"Yes Sir!"
Jewls hurried to ask Roald and then they both checked out with Wyldon.
When they reached the city Jewls gasped, again, for the second time. That
was the second time seeing the city. She was amazed. Walking to the Dancing
Dove, they saw a city boy, no more than 14. He was tall, well taller than
Jewls. He was roughly 5'10, he had sandy blonde hair that hung around his
eyes, his body was very well built, Jewls noticed, and his eyes were a
piercing emerald green. "Hullo, my name is Thomas, everyone calls me Tommy.
Would ye like to get a drink?"
"Why are you being so friendly to us?"
Questioned Roald, first because he didn't like the way the boy looked and he
didn't like the way he looked at Jewls.
"Well, George, is my uncle, and he
said that if I saw a beauty with rose eyes and raven hair to show her around.
George is never wrong, he has the best taste." The boy said with a smile.
Jewls was a fire red under her tan. "I don't bite, stop starring at me like
that!" Jewls smiled at that comment showing her pure white pearly teeth.
Walking in the bartender said to Tommy, "So, Tommy, how is yer horse, I heard
he was sick." "Oh he is fine Ron, but he still won't let anyone but me touch
him" "Oh that's too bad," said another. There was murmuring in agreement.
"It seems to me that you know a great deal of people, Tommy." Said Jewls.
"Who's this, the young sprout that was in here, oh, say in the late spring?"
"None other than, Ron is it?" Jewls said.
"Yes it is. How is Lord Wyldon treating you?" He asked.
"Oh, ok I guess, but the homework is killing me! I think that they just want
us to die of no sleep! I haven't gotten more than, seven hours of sleep a
night." Jewls said in a tired tone. "Just thinking about it makes me
tired."
"Well, let's change the subject, then." They talked about horses for a
while, and then Jewls and Roald said they wanted to look around some more.
"I didn't like the way that boy looked at you, Jewls. He is a city lad, you
can't trust any of them!"
"Are you sure you're just not jealous?" Jewls
asked in a playful tone. Walking down to the bookshop, Jewls needed more ink
and paper, he playfully pushed her. "No, I just umm, don't want my friend
taken advantage of," He stuttered.
"Unless its you taking the advantage of.
And you're supposed to be engaged!" Jewls said impishly. Roald just walked
faster, turning the color of a rose, just like Jewls had before.
Finishing the trip was boring compared to the beginning. Back at the castle
Jewls was put to work on cleaning her desk, which had much wax on it. Then
she went down to dinner and tonight was to be a ball. Jewls was so excited
that her birthday and a ball fell on the same day. She put on her favorite
dress, her magic dress. The one that her mother made for her when she was
but a young girl. She made it so it would grow with Jewls and so that when
ever she put it on it would protect her form any harm. The dress itself was
magnificent. It was strapless with a tight bodice in a silver, the bottom
was a very full silver 'skirt' over it in sheer material was layers of
colors: blue, pink, red, green, aqua, yellow, you name it, she had it. She
took out the silver cape incase she wanted to go outside later. Putting on
the matching tiara that had all the stones on it she walked down the stairs
to the dinning area. Jewls was descending when the boy that always looked at
her game at a jog toward her. Merric was quicker; he offered his arm and
took her to the table where the prince and his friends were seated. Kel was
there in a very becoming dress, it was royal blue with billowy sleeves and a
gold tie 'belt' around it. Min was wearing a dress of beauty; it was deep
green and had her shoulders bear, but her arms covered, then at the waist of
the dress it fanned out into gold underneath. All three girls received loads
of attention. After dinner Jewls ran up to get her cape and went outside for
a walk under the stars.
"Hello, Jewls I know that today is your birthday,
and I don't think I have ever done this before, but if you want, you may go
to the city." King Jonathan told her.
"Oh, I am sorry, I thought I was
alone. I already went to the city, today. Lord Wyldon would have my head,
anyway."
"I spoke to him; he said just this once. Anyway, you don't have
classes for the rest of the week, spring break; all the teachers are going to
the monastery for the spring workshop. Opal is saddled, you don't even have
to go with anyone."
"Thank you, King Jonathan, thank you." She hopped on
Opal, if that's what you call a hop, more like lifted her self. Riding into
the city was a thrill. She rode decently, since it was mostly straight and
there were only turns that had wide roads. She rode straight to the dancing
dove. Tommy was outside with what, to Jewls, looked like a friend.
"Hello, Tommy! Long time, no see." Jewls said with a laugh.
"Jewls is that you?"
"None other than. I mean it was me 20 minutes ago."
"Well, you just look so regal and, well pretty."
"Not to be snotty or anything, but I am a princess." She said.
"Introduce me, you fool," Jewls heard the other boy whisper.
"Kevin, this is Princess Jewls, the prettiest girl around!"
"Oh stop that! You're embarrassing me, Tommy." "So where is you little body
guard, the one that didn't like me?"
"Oh, don't talk about the prince that way, he is over protective."
"Of someone he can't have at that. I thought he was engaged." Tommy said.
"He is, but he can dream," Jewls said with a mysterious voice.
She stayed at the Dancing dove until dawn. "Oh, I better go, Good Bye! See you soon." She rode off into the rising sun. Wow, what a picture, Tommy thought.
