When Stefan and Emily learned of the storm that had happened during Kathryn and Portia's riding trip, they didn't say anything, much to Portia's dismay (who had been looking forward to seeing Kathryn being punished), and to Kathryn's annoyance (who had expected the to say *something* at least).
But Kathryn did notice that Stephan did look sort of annoyed and angry, and that it was probably over her. Emily just looked troubled, and Portia had decided to make Kathryn's life even more miserable, to make up for the punishment she had never got. Kathryn was convinced Portia was slightly mad.
Her life did not improve over the years she spent with them. Two more times she went riding, storms came up, and immediately died again moments after they had began. Portia was becoming more and more convinced that it was Kathryn's fault the storms came, much to Kathryn's amusement.
After all, how could she cause storms to appear? That was impossible, you'd need magic to do that. But according to Portia, it was perfectly clear: the storms had come up only when Kathryn was there. So it had to have been her. It was that simple.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two years after she had first come to them, now fourteen, Kathryn and her relations had been in one of the living rooms, sitting in front of the fire. Stephan had been quietly brooding, while Emily and Portia had been doing (or in Portia's case, attempting) needlework. Kathryn had been sitting a little way apart from them, reading.
Portia had looked up from pricking her finger for the fourth time, and had decided to take out her anger, pain and frustration out on Kathryn. Her cousin had been sitting in a chair quietly, biting her bottom lip, obviously getting well into the book. Turning to her mother, she had said loudly, "I think girls really shouldn't read, do you?" Unlike Kathryn, Portia never touched a book unless their tutor made her.
Kathryn had clenched her jaw hard, her eyes narrowing slightly, but had ignored the comment, and had kept to her book.
Emily had looked at her daughter, confused, then had looked at her niece and back again, realizing who the comment had been for. She glared at her daughter, telling her sharply to return to her needlework. But the damage had been done.
Possibly the most startling reaction had been Stephan's. He had looked up at Portia, then at Kathryn and a smile had spread across his face. "Yes Portia, right you are dear," he had replied.
Kathryn had put down her book and gazed at her uncle with stricken eyes.
Stephan hadn't exactly given her many compliments in the two years she had
been here (he'd given her none in fact), but he hadn't insulted her either.
Until now.
Portia had looked delighted with the result, and gave Kathryn a triumphant
sneer, when her mother hadn't been looking. Emily, meanwhile, had looked
shocked and had given her husband a look which had said plainly, *Why did
you say that?* A tense smile twisted her lips, and she said tightly,
"Girls, please leave us alone. Thank you."
Portia pouted, saying, "But Mother..."
"Leave Portia!" her mother had snarled. Portia had gaped, and had flounced out, followed by Kathryn, who walked out more slowly. But Kathryn hadn't gone to her room, instead pausing outside the door, crouched down, listening.
"Why did you say that?" Emily had asked, sounding very much bewildered.
"It was the truth. Kathryn is no ordinary girl," Stephan had replied.
"She's taking straight after her mother."
"Your sister hadn't been *that* strange, really dear," Emily had said, her voice hesitant. Kathryn had frowned, leaning closer into the door.
"'Wasn't that strange'!" Stephan had scoffed. "Honestly! Of *course* she was strange, she wasn't natural! Causing gales and storms, even lightning! You've heard Portia, what she's said about her! She's doing the same thing!"
"But it isn't her fault!" Emily had protested. "She can't *help* having magic, and the way you and Portia are treating her isn't going to help! You've heard Portia as well, she doesn't know what's happeneing to her! Kathryn doesn't know she has magic!"
"And you believe her? Dear me, Emily, I thought you had more sense! If she knows what's good for her, she won't cause any more occurances to happen!"
Kathryn hadn't stayed around to listen to anymore. Tears streaming down her face, she had fled to her room, faling face down onto it and buried her face in the pillow. Even her aunt and uncle believed she was strange! What was the point of wanting a new life, when she was treated exactly the same as she had been in her old one? She felt wetness trickle down her cheeks, and realized she was crying. Why was she here, were the Gods determined to make her life a misery? It wasn't fair!
It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair! What was the point of this life, when all it did was make her miserable? It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair! All she wanted to be was accepted and liked. To be normal, to have friends. Not avoided, ignored and feared. She just wanted to be like everyone else. Was that too much to ask for? Obviously so.
Outside, the wind howled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Six months later, Kathryn was facing her uncle, her face impassive and her hands clasped neatly in front of her, looking down at the ground. She had a soft cream gown on, which suited her colouring perfectly. Her wavy hair was pulled back with combs and there was make-up on her face. Today w as an important occasion for her uncle. And a death day for Kathryn. She was only fifteen, and someone wanted to marry her.
She had to admit, the guy wasn't all that bad. Eighteen, with soft black hair and warm, brown eyes. He was tall, she was only head smaller than him and still growing. But there was something.. not right about him. Something she couldn't put her finger on, but which made her very nervous.
Portia, being Portia, was completely jealous. It was a blow to her pride that Kathryn had a suitor before her, and had only scorned when Kathryn had told her she wouldn't mind trading places with her. Portia had said that Kathryn was only trying to rub it in. Anyway, even if she had agreed, it wouldn't have been possible. It was Kathryn he had decided on, and Kathryn he was going to marry. She had no say in it at all.
The guy, whose name she had eventually learned was Garek fer Guijun, was standing beside Stephan, looking at her curiously. Kathryn shifted slightly, trying to hide her awkwardness. She didn't like this kind of attention, after fifteen years of being ignored. And besides, she didn't know how to deal with boys, they had kept away from her anyway, as she was a girl, and more so, she was a noble.
"Kathryn," Stephan said, beaming at her. *You're only happy and talking to me because if this goes through, I'll be out of your home forever. You still don't like me,* Kathryn thought spitefully. "Kathryn, this is Garek fer Guijun. He is distantly related to the royalty in Anderran." *In other words, I'd be a fool to refuse him,* Kathryn silently translated.
But she kept her thoughts to herself and looked up at him briefly. She felt sick at the thought of marrying him. Was that all she had been put on this earth for? To marry him? She'd rather die! But she curtsied and looked down at the floor meekly, as she was supposed to. "It is an honour to meet you."
He nodded. "As it is to meet you." He glanced at Stephan. "When is the marraige to be made offical?" he enquired.
Kathryn's mind began to spin painfully. It was already to be made offcial? What about her? Did she not have a say in these matters? After all, it was *her* life that was about to be altered! She frowned. That was enough! Sh e had had it with her uncle, and the misery he daily put her through! She had had *enough!* She raised her head. "I am not marrying him."
Thise simple words had more effect than she had thought they would. Both men froze, and as one, turned to look at her. Stephan's face was wary, and worried, while Garek's was incredulous. Kessie swallowed, but met their gazes fully.
"What did you say?" Stephan asked, fighting to keep his face and voice calm and not really succeeding. He knew what the expression on Kathryn's face meant, she was in her stubborn mood, and she very rarely changed her opinions for anything. It had been the one thing he had been praying wouldn't happen. This was going to be difficult.
"I am not marrying him," Kathryn repeated calmly, a steely glint in her golden eyes.
Stepahn turned to Garek, who looked astonished. "She is just joking Garek. Of course she is going to marry you!" To his chagrin, he could clearly hear the false, bright tone in his voice, an obvious sign to his nervousness and desperation.
"I said I am not," Kathryn growled, beginning to look angry.
"Dear, enough of the joke," Stepahn said patiently. At once, he regretted his words.
"*I said I am not marrying him!*" Kathryn roared, and everything errupted. A wind began howling and the windows, unable to take the strain, burst open and the wind came in. Papers went swirling around them, objects not tied down, flew off into the air, and crashed against furniture, walls or in a few cases, people. Books were scattered everywhere, paes ripped out and whirling frantically around. And in the center of it all, was Kathryn.
Stephan and Garek flung themselves onto the ground and covered their heads with their arms. They were frightened, shivering, eager for this devestating act of nature to stop. It didn't occur to them it might be because of Kathryn, until it stopped.
Just stopped, all at once. Objects still in the air, immediately fell to the ground. Stepahn looked hesitantly around, then slowly got up, Garek beside him. Both men were in complete disarray, their hair messed up and their clothes ruffled. But both stared openly at Kathryn, when they saw her.
Kathryn looked like nothing had happened to her. Like no wind had just come and messed up everything. Her hair was still in place, her dress hadn't one ruffle or crease in it and she was gazing serenely at them. Surrounding her was debris of all sorts. It was a disturbing picture.
Garek turned sickly white and backed away. His eyes were rolling in her head and he looked fit to pass out. "I - I think Lady Kathryn is right, the marraige is a mistake... I - I.. Witch!" he suddenly burst out, looking at Kathryn fearfully. "Unnatural creature!" Turning, he fled, as Kathryn and Stepahn watched, both stunned.
A few moments later, when Garek's footsteps had faded, Stephan looked at Kathryn. At the sight of his niece, he choked and shaking his head, turned and walked from the room. She was left alone.
And then, very slowly, she sank to the floor and the tears began to fall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Unlike the first time something to this sort had happened, when a storm came up when Kathryn had been twelve, this time she was punished. It wasn't for the wind (which as of yet, no one had offered a logical explanation), but rather for the fact Kathryn had refused the offer of the marraige and had let down her uncle considerably. Personally, Kathryn wasn't sorry at all, but she couldn't say *that* to them and get her punishment lengthened (although she wouldn't have minded that part)!
It was a week, confined to her chambers (which were a large room and a smaller room), with her meals delivered and no contact with her relations. Kathryn was delighted with this, as it meant she didn't have to face any of them, but what she didn't like was that Portia was acting so high and mighty about it. Kathryn entertained herself by thinking of the expressions on her cousin's face, if she knew Kathryn *liked* this punishment.
Stepahn never forgot what had happened and what she had done, and to Kathryn, it seemed his hatred of her grew, although he did it in subtle ways and remarks, but the more subtle they were, the larger they hurt. If Portia had been bad, Stepahn was worse.
She didn't know how she survived the six months after that. It was simply maddening, being in the same house as them, even in a house as big as the one her relations had. She just couldn't bear them anymore, and she was beginning to wish she *had* taken up Garek's marraige offer. At least then, she would have been far away from her unbearable relations!
But somehow, something kept her from going mad, something kept her from doing an action she would have regretted, no matter how much she wished to do it. But when the push came to shove, nothing could have stopped Kathryn from doing what she did...
