Hmmm, how many dresses should I bring with me? Julieanna of Methraina wondered to herself. "Mother, how many gowns should I pack?" Julieanna asked Lady Kathrin. "Well, dear how about all of your favorite ones and then I can send you some if you need any more. Also I can get Lucy to send up some fabric so you can sew some things. How does that sound?"
"You are the best, Mom. Thank you, it means a lot to me that you support me." Lady Kathrin pulled a long cord and a few minutes later a plump elderly woman came up the stairs. "You rang, Lady Kathrin?"
"Yes, I am dreadfully sorry that I brought you all these ways. I'll have to remember to give you a bonus. Do you think that you can find some fabrics that Julieanna would like?"
"Oh, you are too kind, Lady Kathrin. I'll go to the sewing room and see what's there." With that Lucy was gone.
There are a few things about the Lady and Lord of Mithrainia, the servants were their friends and Kathrin and Lord Jaren taught their seven children useful things like how to cook and sew. Julieanna's parents never treat any badly, and always listen to explanations. They were very understandable, that was one of the reasons the Julieanna was aloud to go and be a page. Julieanna's six brothers were all either pages, squires, or knights and one was a mage. "Julieanna, darling, I must tell you something. Come sit by your mother."
Julieanna sat down and Kathrin told her daughter that she had two other brothers. "WHAT?" Julieanna screamed, "Sorry, mother. This is quite a shock. I thought I was the youngest?"
"You are my dear Julieanna, your brother, David was born five minutes before you and William, your other brother was born ten minutes before you." "That means we're, we're triplets. Oh this is so exciting. Wait, where are they and when am I going to be able to see them?" Julieanna questioned. "Well, dear, you will see them for the first time tonight. How does that sound? They are going to become pages with you, so you don't have to be alone. Would you like to know why you weren't kept together?" "Oh yes, tell me mother, please?"
"Well, when you three were born, you were all healthy, it was a gift from the gods. Three healthy children, the healing woman told us that it was a gift from the gods. All of you were brimming with magic. The magic was like nothing she had every seen. So your father and I took you to the most powerful mage, Hillikan, Numair was either still in hiding or on an expedition, I don't remember. Hillikan died two weeks after we took you three to him. He told us that we must keep all three of you separated otherwise your magic would go haywire and would mess up everything in Methraina and beyond. He told us that it would only be safe for you three to be together when you were eleven. But we didn't want to take any chances, so we slowing introduced William and David together and when nothing happened; it made us happy. We waited a while longer, just in case something would happen, but nothing did. We had to choose which one of you three that we wanted to stay with us at the castle with us, well, we decided to take the only girl, we thought the boys would warm us to being royalty easier than you. Your magic is so powerful that only the gods could have done this. And to have it so all three of you have the same magic, is unbelievable. David and William had their hair and eyes dyed; Hillikan made it so the dye would last 12 years. Today, 12 years ago this all happened, tonight you will see your brothers looking like they should look. Your brothers, David and William, have the same color hair and eyes as you. If you cut your hair it would be as if you were all boys." Lady Kathrin told her now speechless daughter.
"Oh, mother, what will I wear tonight? I want to make a good impression. What if they don't like me?" Julieanna asked her mother.
"Oh, well don't worry about that. They will think that it is an honor to dine with us."
Knock, Knock. Lucy came in and set down five large rolls of beautiful fabric. Julieanna's mother thanked Lucy and helped the girl pack the rest of her clothes along with the fabric and a sewing kit. That night at dinner two boys came in, both with eyes the color of rose quartz and hair the color of sunshine. Their hair was large ringlets, like Julieanna's. Their skin was reddened from the sun and they both had large muscle from working. "Good evening, Lord Jaren and Lady Kathrin and Lady Julieanna. My name is David." The boy's voice was well educated and it didn't hint that he had been a peasant for 12 years.
"Hello, Lord and Lady, my name is William."
"Boys, come into my study, we must discuss some important matters. Kathrin and Julieanna you may want to join us." Lord Jaren said.
All five f them walked into his study and it was there that the two boys learned their back round. They were both amazed and not at all upset. David had been living in the village orphanage, and was so excited that he finally had a family. He had heard a lot about all of the other men that were squires, pages, and knights at the castle. William had been living on a farm as a hired hand with no parents, he too was very excited to go to Corus. Oh, this is so grand. All three of them thought. I wonder when we are to leave for the place? David thought. I think that Daddy said we would leave on Friday. All three of them were startled that they could communicate by mind.
"Well, boys, come a long with me. I am going to take you to the seamstress. After that we can go to the stables and you can pick out a horse. Then your mother and sister will show you how to pack your own bags. Julieanna will show you around here, is that ok with you?"
"Oh, yes, Father." All three children chorused.
Jaren and the two boys' left while Kathrin and her daughter readied up a room for the boys. Then Julieanna got out two large bags for the boys. When David and William came back they asked, "Julieanna, can we call you Julie, I mean, it is getting very annoying to have to call you Julieanna, what if we need to call you in a hurry? And you don't respond because no one every calls you Julie."
"Sure, that would be fun to have a different name." Julie responded.
The next few days went by in a blur, packing showing around Will and David. When Friday came there was a lot of sobbing and saying good byes. Lord Jaren and Lady Kathrin decided to accompany their children to the King's home. It would take them a week to get there. The boys didn't really have to worry about being attached to anyone since they were only at the house for less than a week, but Julie had to say good bye to everyone. "Good Bye, Lucy, I will miss you."
"Bye Ethel I loved your cooking. Please send me some tarts when I get settled."
Oh, Jake, I will miss you. You were Rosie's favorite."
"Oh, Lady Julieanna, your horse was a gem to care for." Jake, the man that takes care of the horses told her.
There were more weepy good-byes and then Julieanna and her family were off. The whole place came to see them off.
"Good Bye, I'll miss you all. Please write!" With that they were gone.
