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Letters
Dec 23, 2008 22:18:21 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 23, 2008 22:18:21 GMT -5
The bar was quiet, and work was slow. The rain outside was depressing to most, but to Adeola, it was calming. She gently cleaned the glasses until she could see her own reflection, but all she saw was plain Jane. Her mother saw something different. She had named her Adeola beacause it meant "the crown brings honor". She had no clue what that meant, but every time she aksed her mother a question she just said "the crown brings honor."
The old man at the end of the bar asked for another drink, causing her to regain focus. She filled the glass she had been holding with more beer, and handed it to him. He was in the bar most of the evenings, and she had come to know him as Sam. He usually kept her company on lonley nights like this one, but he was very quite today.
Her mother bustled out of the kitchen door. She was carrying a pan of crumb cake. "Good evening, Sam. Do you think you could try out this batch? I changed the recipe a bit."
"Well, I don't think I've ever disaproved of such a delightful offering, such as your cooking, my lady, but I guess I could give it a try............Good, as always Mrs. Amala!"
She smiled and placed it on the bar to cool. She wiped a bit of flour off her apron before turning back to the kitchen. "Mother?" Adeola called out to her mother before she fully entered the kitchen, "Why do you think buisiness is so slow today?"
Ms. Amala looked out the window into the pooring rain, "Well, I was wondering why the normal lot didn't come in to get out of the rain, but they might have business to attend to. After all, the crown brings honor."
Adeola rolled her eyes and busied herself with sorting the spirits, but one jar rolled off the counter and shattered on the floor. Some of the juice had splattered onto her skirt and apron. She bent down to pick up the remains of the jar and clean up the glass. 'What a fool I am", she laughed to herself,"I can't seem to go a day without breaking something."
She got back up to be face to face with a young man who wasn't there before.
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Letters
Dec 23, 2008 23:12:24 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 23, 2008 23:12:24 GMT -5
It began to rain harder than it had before, and Adeola could even hear thunder. A storm was on the way, but Adeola didn't care much about the storm. She was wondering who the man infront of her was, and why was he staring at her? Well, she couldn't really tell. He wore a cloak that kept his face hidden.
"Can I help you, sir?" Adeola had to remind herself that he was probably in here for a drink.
"Just a slice of that crumb cake, if it's not to much trouble." He sat down in front of her, and shook of some of the water from the rain.
Adeola fetched a plate and slice of cake as he sat there, staring at her. She wasn't the most beautiful girl in the world, so she was wondering about what he could possibly be staring at. "Here you are, sir." She placed his order infront of him and returned to the shattered glass and olives on the floor. There was also a bit of juice to clean up, as well.
Her mother wasn't going to be happy. She usually drops things like rags or food, things that can be easily replaced, but now she was breaking bottles and spilling wine. When did she become such a clutz?
She threw the remains of the jar into the waste bin and returned to the counter. A look of surprise came onto her face. The man had gone. His plate was perfectly clean, which was IMPOSSIBLE with crumb cake. It always left a mess, but some how, he didn't. He also left his pay and a genorous tip.
There was also a letter.
Adeola picked it up to examine it. It was very small and thin, but had golden embroidery along the edges. She almost didn't want to open it, but she reached for the butter knife under the counter and ran it along the top edge to peer inside. A small notecard was inside with a few simple words.
Thank you for the meal
"That's something you don't see everyday." Adeola slipped the card into her aprons pocket and went along with her business, not even giving the letter a second thought.
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Letters
Dec 24, 2008 0:27:22 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 24, 2008 0:27:22 GMT -5
Adeola combed her long brown hair as she sat infront of the mirror. She had a rather plain face, and a small figure. She still seemed puzzled as to why that man had been staring at her. He had sounded rather young, but a little older than her. The letter he had written layed on the table infront of her. It gave off a sweet scent of lavender. This was very different to the smell of beer and crumb cake she had grown accustomed to.
The bar she worked in was also her home. Her family has worked here for years. The Amala bar was it's name, but it was also called "The Hope". That was what her surname meant. She had a lot to live up to with a combination of hope and honor. "What honor could a bar maid bring to her family?"
Adeola climbed into bed and let the storm put her to sleep.
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Letters
Dec 24, 2008 0:46:22 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 24, 2008 0:46:22 GMT -5
The next night, it was still raining, but buisiness was a little better than yesterday. Adeola had many orders to tend to, but she still happened to catch the young man from the day before come in. She watched him come in and sit at a corner table. He didn't ask for an order, he only sat there and watched the others. She caught him several times watching her.
This made her uneasy.
She was carrying a plate of drinks for a table of four when she slipped and dropped the tray. Adeola readied herself for the earsplitting sound of shattering glass, but she heard none. She looked up to see the young man standing over her, holding the tray. "Are you alright, Ms. Amala?"
Adeola stared at the cloaked man over her. 'How does he know my name?' He extended his hand to her, and she took it. It felt smooth, and warm compared to her scratched, clumsy hands. He steadied her and handed her the tray. He then turned around and sat back down. After Adeola had given the table their order, she turned to the cloaked man's table. "Um, would you like to order anything, sir?"
She tried to keep her voice from cracking. She was still a little shaky from the tray incedent. "Just a slice of crumb cake, thank you."
It was the same as the night before. When she came to check on his table, all that was there was a clean plate, his oay and tip, and a letter.
She recieved many letters over the next month, but instead of saying "Thanks for the meal", they all said one sentance.
Thank you for being a beautiful hostess.
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Letters
Dec 24, 2008 11:55:11 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 24, 2008 11:55:11 GMT -5
Adoela looked over the letters she had recieved over the past month. She had never been called beautiful before. Her mother would call her "My pretty little thing", but never beautiful. The cards all smelled of lavender and were all embroidered with gold patterns. She had not told a single soul about them, not even her mother. She wanted to keep them a secret.
Though the young man came in often, she never spoke to him, and she never learned his name. He would always wear his cloak, so she never saw his face, but he sounded young. Perhaps, he wasn't as old as she was. Adeola was only 19, and she was already a bar maid, but she had started this job when she was 16. She was forced into this job, though. Her mother was starting to feel the presense of old age. Her back would ache, and she couldn't keep up with the bar. Adeola had taken over to help her mother.
Adeola slipped the letters under the floor boards before taking her cloak and steping out into the sun. She had errands to run at the market. They needed more spirits, since she was always breaking the jars. She had began to become clumsier every day.
The market was full of life. Many people were bustling about from one cart to the next. Horses could be seen every once in a while when someone of higher status came along, but mostly, they were used for the carts and wagons. Adeola could smell the bread from the bakery, and fish from the fish market. There was also a hint of sweets from the old lady's sweet shoppe.
Adeola took her time, surveying all the carts for bargains. She was just about to buy some bread, when she caught the scent of lavender. She turned around to survey the streets, but she only saw a young women pushing her flower cart. It was filled with lavender. Adeola turned back to the baker and purchased the sourdough, taking her time to walking back to the bar. It was only a block away from the market, but she wanted to stay here for some reason. She got a feeling that something would happen if she did.
She shrugged this feeling off and went back to bar to discover the cloaked man sitting at the corner table.
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Letters
Dec 24, 2008 14:57:43 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 24, 2008 14:57:43 GMT -5
The bar was empty, since it was sunday. Most of the customers had families to tedn to, but this man, apparently, did not. "May I help you, sir? Would you like the usual?" Adeola offered a bright smile. She had grown used to the mysterious man.
"No, thank you. I came here to talk to you. Please, have a seat." He smiled (his mouth was the only thing she could see, along with the tip of his nose) and offered her a chair.
Adeola was surprised. He usually didn't talk to her, and she was wondering why he did so today. "What is your name, miss?" He leaned over the table to get a good look at her face.
Adeola backed up a bit, nervous about the close proximity between them. "My name is Adeola."
"Adeola......what a beautiful name." He smiled at her and cocked his head to the side. Adeola could feel her blood rushing to her cheeks, they felt warm and red.
"Thank you, sir....might I know yours?" Adeola tryed to smile sweetly at him.
He frowned and sat back again. "I'm afraid I can not. Things would turn out badly if I did. I shouldn't even be talking to you."
Adeola's eyed widened, her once warm cheeks went cold. 'Is there something wrong with me?', she thought to herself, 'Perhaps he was just joking.' "May I ask why, sir?"
"If I told you that, you wouldn't be here tomorrow."
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Letters
Dec 26, 2008 0:23:15 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 26, 2008 0:23:15 GMT -5
Adeola had been silent for about half an hour now. The young man infront of her hadn't said anything either, not since he told her that he shouldn't even be talking to her, or that if he told her anything personal, he would have to kill her. He shifted in his chair a bit. "Adeola? I hope I didn't scare you. I don't know how things would turn out if I told you anything, but I'd like it better if I didn't take any chances, okay?"
The man leaned over the table again, looking more closely at her face. Adeola didn't know what to say, think, or do. She didn't even know whether she should believe him or not. "Adeola?", he called to her again, "Don't worry, I'm just teasing you a bit. I wouldn't let anything hurt you."
"If all this is true, sir, then why are you talking to me?"
"For my amusement."
'For your amusement!?' Adeola felt a little degraded being told that the only reason this man had for talking to her was for his own amusement.
"I'm only kidding, Adeola. I'm really very curious. I've been watching this town for a while, and I've noticed that your not like everyone else. Most people would think highly of themselves or think that they have to fulfill some kind of prophecy with a name that meant hope and honor, but you treat your name differently. Instead of being big headed, you think of yourself as petty and of no purpose. It's as if your name meant useless. This is a bad thing ofcourse, I mean, no one should think that little of themselves, but it has arrosed my attention.
I wish to know you a little more, I wish to understand you, to understand your actions and feelings. I have never met a being quite like you. That is why I think that I can trust you with this task."
He pulled out a small envelope and placed it on the table. It looked exactly like the letters she had received from him earlier that month. "Please don't open it until midnight, when you are alone in bed, don't even peek at it."
Adeola took it and placed it on her lap. She caught the familiar scent of lavender coming from the small envelope. "If you choose to partake in this task, then I shall know when I you have participatde in the actions in that envelope. If not, then I will leave this town and will never bother you again. You make the choice, my dear."
Adeola looked towards her lap, tracing the lines of gold on the little envelope. She had so many questions to ask him. 'Why me? Why are you doing this, and what is it for? How will I know if I've done the tasks right? Why will you leave if I don't partake in these tasks? Couldn't you stay?'
"Mister----".............
He was gone. He snuck out when she had studied the outside of the envelope. Adeola slipped the envelope into her pocket and waited for night to fall. She intended on opening the envelope as the man had said. As for the tasks, they would wait until midnight...
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Letters
Dec 26, 2008 0:25:01 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 26, 2008 0:25:01 GMT -5
(p.s.......words in "..." mean they are said outloud.....words in '...' mean they are thoughts in Adeola's head)
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Letters
Dec 26, 2008 23:04:17 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 26, 2008 23:04:17 GMT -5
Adeola lit the candle next to her bed, and took out the letter the strange man had given her. It seemed a little heavier then the previous letters she had received. She began to open it, but hesitated. What could be inside this little package? Whatever it was, it would change her life, but would it be for better or for worse?
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Letters
Dec 27, 2008 21:53:37 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 27, 2008 21:53:37 GMT -5
To Miss Adeola Amala
I have entrusted you with this letter in hopes that you will accept my requests. This letter describes your first task. I have high hopes that you will complete it.
First, I want you to step outside and go to the edge of the woods. Close your eyes and see which way the wind is blowing. If it is blowing towards you, then follow your instincts. They will tell you the way to go. If it is not, then find the river that runs through it and walk upstream.
You will know when you have reached your destination.
I have great faith in you, Miss Amala. Don't let me down.
Yours Truly, The Man in the Corner Seat
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Letters
Dec 28, 2008 15:25:02 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Dec 28, 2008 15:25:02 GMT -5
Adeola read the letter over and over again. 'What is this? Why me?'
She looked out her bedroom window at the woods. They weren't so far away, but you could barely see your own hand infront of you at night in those woods. Moonlight rarely shown down through the trees in there. She glanced the letter over again. 'Do I really want to do this? I don't even know his name.'
She grabbed her cloak, put it on over her nightgown, and stepped quitely out of her room. The walls were very thin. Her mother would be able to hear her easily if she made a wrong step. She tip toed past her mother's room and down the stairs. She carefully opened the bar's front door, releasing her breath. She needn't worry about her mother now.
She checked her mother's window to make sure that she hadn't heard her, then gracefully walked towards the woods.
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Letters
Jan 1, 2009 23:36:28 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Jan 1, 2009 23:36:28 GMT -5
The wind rustled through the leaves in the trees and softly brisked across Adeola's cheek. She stood just outside the woods, listening to the wind. The letter said to feel which way the wind was blowing. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She heard the wind blowing through the trees, its path going towards her. The letter told her to follow her instincts from this point, but how was she supposed to do that? Her instincts told her to turn around and go home.
She stepped into the thick wood, and began to make her way through the trees. There was a full moon, so moonlight trickled down through the tree branches. She tried to make sense of which way to go, but she couldn't keep track of where she was going, so she eventually started to go in random directions until she found a small river. She stopped to soak her feet in the cool water. They were a little soar from walking so much.
The wind began to pick up again, and she closed her eyes. The sound of trees swaying in the wind and trickling water calmed her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh river water, maple trees, and....lavender.
She stood up and took another deep breath. She definitely smelt lavender, but that type of flower didn't grow in these woods. She started walking up river, trying to follow the scent. It was getting stronger and stronger. She knew that she was getting closer.
She came to a point where almost no moonlight broke through. She was sure that she was close. Her eyes were suddenly blinded when a cloth was pulled across her face. She screamed, but a hand was put over her mouth. "Hush, Adeola!"
It was the young man's voice. He really was dangerous afterall. She knew that someone like him could only be a rapist or a murderer. She started to panic. "Don't worry, Adeola. I would never hurt you. I must only take precautions. I can't let anyone know of the place where I am taking you. If you'll just carefully step with me, you'll be fine. I give you my word."
Adeola calmed down a bit. She allowed him to lead her through the woods, listening to his footsteps. She somehow felt safe now, even though he could be leading her to her death. She trusted him for reasons she didn't understand. "Alright, Adeola. We've arrived."
He removed the cloth from her face to reveal the location that he had brought her to.
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Post by Razgat on Jan 2, 2009 0:40:28 GMT -5
Adeola opened her eyes to see a small clearing. It was an area shaded by trees, but moonlight broke through over a large boulder. The river was calmer here, and there were bushles of flowers growing here and there. "This is where I go to think. It's so peaceful and quiet here."
The young man climbed on top of the boulder and sat on the edge. He motioned for her to sit next to him, but she was mesmerized. The moonlight shown brilliantly off of him. She blinked, then realized that he had adressed her. She walked over to the boulder, but had a hard time trying to climb it. He chuckled and grabbed her hand, pulling her up beside him. They sat there in silence for a while.
About ten minutes passed before the man noticed how akwards Adeola was feeling. "I'm making you nervous aren't I?" Adeola looked at her hands and played with the letter they contained. "Oh, that's right, the letter. I appologize. I should have remembered the reasons for your coming. That letter was merely a test. I wanted to see if you had the knowledge to figure out its meaning. I wanted to see if you had the courage to complete this task. You proved my assumptions right. I knew from the first time I saw you that you were different. I knew that you and I would get along cordially."
Adeola felt a tingle go down her spine. She hadn't expected anything like this.
"This task, however, only makes me a bit more......curious. I can't help but wonder about your possibilities.......but that can wait. You look like you've seen a ghost, Miss Amala. Perhaps you should be getting to bed."
Adeola looked down at her hands, fiddling with them nervously. "I.....I don't know the way...home....sir."
The man frowned, "Well that's a problem then, but perhaps I can provide the solution."
He smiled then wisked her up into his arms, leaping off the boulder and onto the wood floor. He began to carry her out of the woods towards home. Adeola fainted shortly after he began walking.
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Letters
Jan 2, 2009 23:36:24 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Jan 2, 2009 23:36:24 GMT -5
Sunlight drifted in through the bedroom window as Adeola layed in her bad asleep. Her eyes fluttered open as she heard birds chirping outside. She closed her eyes again, wondering why she felt so strange and why her feet were soar. She shot up into a sitting position, clutching her covers closely to her. 'Was last night real, or was it all a dream?'
The night before seemed so unrealistic, she didn't know how it could be real. She needed something to prove to herself that it had actually happened.
The letter.
Adeola looked to her hands, where the letter had been, but it was gone. She checked her bed, thinking that she may have dropped it in the covers, but found nothing. She leaned over the side of her bed to check underneath, but the letter could not be found. She groaned and fell back onto the bed. 'So it wasn't real...'
She looked to her night stand and saw a little envelope neatly placed on it. It was brand new. She grabbed it and jumped out of her bed, beginning to tear it open, but then she was writing on the other side. She read it over, then sighed. She placed it back onto the night stand and began to get ready for the day.
Before heading downstairs, she looked at the envelope one more time, reading it once more.
Do not open until the sun is down
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Post by Razgat on Jan 5, 2009 0:51:35 GMT -5
Adeola went downstairs to the kitchen to wish her mother a good morning, but she was not there. She saw that the stove was on, and pots and pans filled with food were still cooking, so she had to be in the bar somewhere. She gt her answer when she heard her mother laugh. It was coming from the bar. She stepped through the kitchhen door to see her mother talking with a customer. She stepped closer to the two and smelt a strong wiff of lavender. The customer was the young man from before.
"Goood morning!"
She took her post behind the counter, next to her mother. Her mother smiled down at her, "Good morning, dearie. This nice young man was just telling me about his travels. You two should talk to eachother. I think you'll get along well," she glanced at the two and began to step away, "I'll leave you two to chat. I'd best get to work. The crown brings honor after all."
Adeola rolled her eyes as she watched her mother exit into the kitchen. She let her eyes linger on the door way, afraid to turn to the man. She could feel his eyes boring into her back. "She's a wonderful women, your mother."
Adeola turned in surprise. She had heard compliments similar to his from old men who knew her from her golden days, but never from a young man. She smiled in answer and listened to him continue. "She's so cheerful and free spirited, but I don't see much of you in her. You must be more like your father. I don't believe I've met him thoug. What was Mr. Amala like?"
Adeola's smile soon turned into a frown. She hadn't heard her father's name in years. Most of the towns people had heard of what happened, and warned others not to speak of him. Her mother used to cry at the very sound of his name. She did as well, but she did very well at hiding it, but she had taught herself not to cry infront of others. It made her look weaker than she really was. "We don't talk about him anymore."
She bowed her head and turned away to foccus on her work, trying to clear her mind. She thought she heard him try to speak, but she heard him get up to leave. She was glad for that. If he hadn't, she was afraid that she would have started to cry. She quickly washed her face to try to get rid of the puffyness in her eyes, and turned to the new customers that she had heard come in.
"Good morning. Can I help you?"
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Post by Razgat on Jan 5, 2009 1:31:18 GMT -5
Later that evening, after a day of work at the bar, Adeola went up to her room to open the letter before going back down for her night shift. The man hadn't returned after what happened that morning. She hoped she didn't affend him in any way.
She grabbed the letter off her night stand and began to tear it open. The sun had gone down moments ago, and now was the time to finally read it.
Dear Miss Amala
Tonight's task is a simple one. Yesterday night turned out to have some difficulties on the way home, but it was your first time, so I wasn't to surprised, although I was not expecting you to faint, but that isn't important anymore. Tonight, all I want you to do is to have a nice evening with me in the bar. Just the two of us talking. It seems like it will rain today, and since this town usually stays away from the market during a storm, I figured that we should be alone. I look forward to seeing you tonight.
Yours Truly, The Man in the Corner Seat
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Post by Razgat on Jan 5, 2009 2:48:04 GMT -5
Adeola gulped after reading the letter. Just the two of them in the bar. She had been alone with him before, but she wasn't really expecting it. Now that she knew what was ahead of her, she was a little nervous. Would he even come after that morning? She didn't think she affended him in any way, so he should.
The sound of thunder could be heard outside her window. A huge storm was starting, just like he said. 'How did he know that?' She turned to go back down the stairs to see if he had arrived, after telling her mother that she would be working late that night and that she should go ahead and go to bed. She stopped outside of the kitchen door, opening it only slightly enough so that she could peek out. She saw him sitting at the bar, waiting for her.
She opened the door, and he smiled at her, causing her to blush. "Good evening, sir."
"Good evening, Miss Amala."
She stood infront of him, leaning on the counter and proping her head up with her hand. "What would you like to talk about?" She hoped that their earlier conversation didn't change anything that he had planned to tell her.
"Actually, Miss Amala, I was planning to ask you some questions." He leaned forward, proping his head up with his hand as well. "Do you mind?"
Adeola was surprised, "That depends on the questions."
"Oh, they shouldn't be too much trouble. Why don't we start with 'Why aren't you afraid of me?'"
Adeola's eyes opened wide. She didn't see anything danerous about him, but she didn't know much of him either. "Well, I don't see anything wrong about you, sir."
"You don't feel suspicious that I haven't told you my name, or that you haven't seen my face?"
"Many men come in here without telling me their names. I have grown used to it," but she was curious.
"What about my activities. You don't find them strange?"
"Well, they are a bit...different, but they seem harmless."
"Well, what about you, Miss Amala? Why do you work in this bar?"
"It's the family buisiness. This bar has been in the family for years."
"You don't wish that you could work elsewhere, or do other things?"
"That would be trying to do something I'm not fated to do."
"Ah, fate. It has so much to do with most, but doesn't effect others. I believe that if you believe you are fated to do so, then you are, but if you don't believe........."
"I believe, sir. I have for my whole life."
"Do you believe everyone's fate is just?"
"Fate is not fair, but that's the way it works."
"What about your mother? What do you think of her?"
"She's my mother, and I love her. She has managed to care for me on her own for six years, and I admire her for that. She had also managed to run this bar practically on her own. She's a wonderful mother."
"You must love your family. How did the bar used to be six years ago?"
"My mother worked in the kitchen while my father ran the bar. I usually helped out here and there. I was usually kept away from the bar, but after a while, my father let me come out to talk to the customers. They were all townsfolk and knew me well. They kept an eye on me whenever my parents couldn't. Everyday was like a family reunion!"
"What made that change?"
Adeola fell silent. She knew what he was going for. 'So he still wanted to know after this morning?'
"Gareth.......what was he like?"
She froze. She hadn't heard her father's name in years. It seemed so unreal and distant. She wanted it to stay that way. "I........I don't think I can........."
"If it's too much trouble, then you don't have to say anything. You could just turn away now, if you wanted to."
Adeola's thoughts drifted far back, many years ago. Images of her father came into her mind. They made her happy, but also sad, however, she thought that it would do her some good to talk about her father. She hadn't even thougt about him in such a long time. "He was a noble man. Always lebding a helping hand to anyone who needed it, even strangers. He always had a cheery feeling to him, but different from my mother's. He was always calm and kind. He was always able to make me laugh, even during times where it seemed impossible. I loved him very much."
"What happened.....six years ago?"
She was afraid that he was going to ask that. She didn't know if she could go that far, not without crying. She looked at him. Even though she couldn't see his eyes, she saw his concerned smile. She knew that he wouldn't force her, but she had already gone this far, and the memories were already starting to come back. "Well, my father was out in the market, while my mother was running the bar, and he met some travelers. They were very kind, and he invited them to the bar. He let me sit with them, and they told me wonderful stories of their travels. After they had been there for a bit, they mentioned to my father that their carriage had broken down, and that they had no place to rest. He offered them the spare rooms upstairs. They thanked him and told him that his deeds would not go unrecognized.
Later that night, we heard some noises coming from downstairs, and my father went to go see what the comotion was about, but he ran back up stairs, grabbing my mother and I. We hid in their room, in the closet. We could here everything that was going on. Our home was being raided. The men that he had let in were part of a group of theives. It was all a trap.
The men eventually found us and demanded that he hand over my mother and I as slaves, but he wouldn't let them. They dragged him out and tried to take us by force, but he began to fight them off, but....there were too many. They told us that since we would not be their slaves, they would take a life instead, and they.............they took a sword and........held it up to his neck and........it was so fast.........."
She couldn't continue. She turned around, trying to hide her puffy eyes. She did not want to cry, but she could already feel her eyes tearing. She couldn't hold them back anymore. She began to cry silentlly to herself, gripping the folds of her dress, thinking only of her hatred of those men, and the love she had for her father.
She heard him get up, and she thought that he was leaving, but she didn't hear the door open or any foot steps. She only heard the storm raging outside. She heard footsteps that seemed to be coming towards her. "Adeola......I'm sorry."
He was right behind her, speaking quietly to her. She heard his cloak move, then a few moments later, his hand fell onto her shoulder. He pulled her to him, and wrapped her in his arms, comferting her. She couldn't stop crying, no matter how hard she wanted to, she couldn't stop.
They stood there together for what seemed like hours. Eventually, she was able to calm herself down enough so that she could breath evenly again. She took deep breaths and looked up at him. Even from the angle she was looking at him from, she still couldn't see his eyes. He looked down at her, smiling softly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone that far. My curiousity got the better of me. I hope I didn't affend you too much."
"No, not at all. Thank you. I haven't been able to talk about him for years, you've made me feel so much better. I've enjoyed this talk." She smiled up at him to show her thankfulness.
"I'm glad to hear that. Prehaps you should be off to bed. It has gotten late, and it is past the time I wished to stay."
His let go of her, stepping back. She had been in that position for so long that she felt stiff. She stretched out her arms and rubbed at her eyes. Her cheecks were still wet, and her eyes were all puffy. He seemed concerned. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Good night, sir."
He smiled at her, "Good night, Miss Amala," but before turning to leave, he grabbed her hand to pull her to him, and kissed her on the cheek. "Sweet dreams."
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Letters
Jan 5, 2009 18:38:13 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Jan 5, 2009 18:38:13 GMT -5
That morning, Adeola felt refreshed and had a sense of happiness to her. Last night's talk had let out all of her horrible feelings, and now she felt lighter than air. She hurriedly dressed and rushed down stairs to the kitchen to wish her mother a good morning.
"Well, you seem to be in a good mood today, dearie! What's the occasion?"
"Oh, there's no real occasion. I just feel happy!" Adeola smiled at her mother before taking her post at the bar.
She seemed to move as if she were lighter than air, and she even started whistling while serving customers. Most of them were townsfolk who were delighted to see Adeola in such a good mood. It wasn't often that she was like this. The travelers who stopped by seemed a bit puzzled at first, but they seemed at ease after being served by the cheerful bar maid. The young man arived later that afternoon, sitting at the bar instead of his corner seat.
"Good afternoon, Miss Amala. You seem very cheerful today."
"I am cheerful. Talking about my father turned out to be the best thing for me. I feel like no bad memories can haunt me now."
He smiled at her and watched her the whole day until there weren't anymore customers. She was always a little puzzled as to why he did this, but she didn't protest. She was polishing glasses when he finally adressed her. "Miss Amala, do you have Sundays off?"
"Yes, all of our customers usually spend time with their families during sunday."
"Well, then how would you like to spend the day with me?"
She opened her eyes wide, but smiled at him, "I would love to."
"That's good to hear! I will leave you for tonight, but I look forward to tomorrow." He grabbed her hand, kissed it, and exited through the door.
She watched him go, then headed up stairs. She looked at her night stand and realized that she had not recieved a letter like she usually did. She thought this was strange, but ignored that fact and went to bed thinking of the day ahead of her.
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Letters
Jan 14, 2009 21:46:20 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Jan 14, 2009 21:46:20 GMT -5
Amala sat at her window, looking out into the town. It was Sunday morning and the streets were deserted except for a few people here and there. Some of the stalls in the market had closed, and everything seemed solem. A few drops of rain fell on her head when she leaned out to far, she quickly leaned back inside, where it was dry. It had started raining a few hours ago. It wasn't a storm, but it still ruined her day.
She sighed and turned to her mirror, gazing at herself in her sunday attire. Her hair was tied back with a clip that had sparkling stones on it, and she wore a light blue dress whith a mint green girdle (the decorative kind). She even had blue ribbons in her hair. She sighed and let herself fall back onto her bed, hearing the plop as she landed. 'Why did it have to rain today!'
"Amala?," her mother walked into her room with a hurried, excited look on her face, "There is a man waiting downstairs."
Amala jumped up, running her hands along her hair, and straightening her dress. She walked carefully down the stairs and through the kitchen, opening the door slowly, trying to be quiet, but the door was old, and squeeked loudly. A young man turned to her. "Good afternoon, Miss Amala. Are you still up for a day with me?"
Amala just nodded her head. "Well, come with me then. I have a way to keep you dry."
She walked over to him, and he led her out the door, into the pouring rain. He untied his cloak a bit and pulled her close to him, putting his arm around her, and holding part of his cloak over her head. They strolled together down the street in the pouring rain.
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Letters
Jan 19, 2009 21:22:39 GMT -5
Post by Razgat on Jan 19, 2009 21:22:39 GMT -5
The market was scattered with people here and there. Some were wearing cloaks while others were dressed in normal clothes, but they wore hats. As they past by the people, Amala looked at their faces. The rain didn't seem to bother them at all. They acted as if the rain wasn't there at all. They laughed and joked as if the sun was shining. They past by many people and many colorful stalls, but they never stopped. They just kept on strolling. Amala began to wonder if he had even ment to take her to the market at all. "Where are we going? Weren't we going to the market?"
He smiled, but kept walking. "I have somewhere else in mind. I think you'll like it there much more."
Amala turned her attention back to the direction they were walking and imagined where they could possibly be going. They seemed to be walking along the normal path through the streets paved with stone. It seemed like they were taking a normal stroll, but they weren't. There was some destination awaiting at the end, but what? The two walked through most of the market, then turned down an abandoned alleyway. Many windows and doorways were boarded up and the pathway rounded around many corners, but they hadn't hit any dead ends yet. Amala looked up at the man with concern. 'Where is he taking me? Is this all a trick?'
He glanced at her and saw her concern. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. I'm not that kind of man, trust me."
The alley suddenly ended and at the end was a door. It was old and seemed boarded shut. He reached over to the door knob and pulled it open with ease. Behind it was a tattered curtain that he pulled up for her to go through. It was pitch black on the other side and she could still hear rain. 'This door doesn't go inside?'
She stepped through and he followed, putting his arm around her again to sheild her from the rain. They walked in darkness together until there was a light up ahead. Their steps felt soft unlike the ones on stone, so they must be in the forest. They light revealed a small clearing that was covered in lavendar. The ground was covered with layes of it and it grew up the trees surrounding it as well.
The man pulled away and stood in the middle. "This is where I go to get away from it all!" A big smile stretched across his face as he let himself fall backwards onto the mounds of lavendar. They formed a soft bed underneath and a river could be heard trickling close by.
Amala stood there for a bit, wondering if she should turn back or not. This man had led her away to a place where no one would hear her or find her, but he had done that before and nothing had happened. She smiled, walked over to him, and let herself fall backwards onto the bed of flowers next to him.
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