The Ring Master's Fair - Part 7

The rain poured, soaking Atticus to the bone. He ignored the shivers the scuttled up and down his spine like mice. He sat there on the slippery ivory bench, head tilted back, eyes closed. The rain drops dripped down his face as if they were his own tears.

While some people found the rain gloomy and the sun cheerful; Atticus saw the opposite. The rain calmed him, showed him that there is a dark side to every bright side. He found peace in the dark side of things, tried to make it lighter, if possible.

When they were sitting out there, in the garden on the bench, Atticus wanted to show Lark the bright side of the rain. He wanted to help her get over her fear. But the only thing he helped with was scaring her off.

He stood up and strode through the garden and up to the patio where afternoon tea originally was to be held. He strode with a confidence that only some people could hold in situations like this.

Atticus was confident in thinking that Lark would easily forget and forgive the incident that happened in the rain. He needed her to stop resisting, to obey him.

But little did he know; the way Lark had been raised caused her to not trust easily and to not go down without a good fight.

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"King Alkis has requested to see you before supper, Miss Lark," a young woman exclaimed as she burst through the wooden doors. She was dressed in a maid outfit with an excited look on her face.

"Nadine! How rude of you. You must knock first, then only enter once they say you may," an older woman who came from behind Nadine chided. "I am sorry Misses and Mister, Nadine is new here," she explained apologetically.

"It's okay, Riva," Chrys soothed the older maid. "No harm has been done."

"What might father want with Lark?" Rylan asked no one in particular.

"I don't know. King Alkis only told me to tell Lark that she must go to the drawing room right before supper. Which is going to be served at 8:00, your Majesty," Riva answered to Rylan.

"Lark?" Rylan asked, "Do you think you are well enough to meet with him? Or to even attend supper?"

Lark's muscles were still cold and sore from the rain seeping into her bones; and all she wanted to do is crawl under the cover and cry. But her curiosity as to why the King of Olilith might want to see her win by a long shot. So, she responded Rylan with a weak "Yes."

"No offense to you, but you cannot see the King dressed in a wet dress like that," Chrys frowned.

Lark blushed and looked down. Her hair had come out of the braided bun and now lay in an awkward mess along her shoulders. The once beautiful baby blue dress was now a soggy, ruined mess. The cinched waist was now hanging loosely. The water had caused the dress to become heavier, making the already low neck line even lower, traveling more of her chest than should have been revealed.

Lark squeaked in surprise and hurried to cover herself with the fluffy gray blanket that Chrys had provided her with.

Rylan looked away to save her from further embarrassment. "I-I'll go n-ow," he stuttered as he shuffled out of bedroom.

Chrys giggled at her cousin as Riva shook her head at the lad. "You too, Nadine," Riva said, shooing the younger maid away.

Nadine frowned at the thought of being excluded, but made her way out of the room anyway.

Once there was only the three of them left in the room, Chrys and Riva set to work. They fussed over Lark; what to do with her hair and the ruined dress.

Chrys ended up scurrying out of the room in search of another dress that might fit Lark.

Riva worked on Lark's hair. Running a brush and fingers through the thick hair in attempts to get the many knots out.

Lark enjoyed the feeling of Riva's fingers running through her hair. It reminded her of how her father did it when she was quite young. During the storms and after she had nightmares, she would crawl under his covers and cuddle into his body for warmth and comfort; and he would run his fingers through her hair to calm her.

Chrys soon rushed in with another dress as Riva finished detangling Lark's hair. This one pooled down to her ankles and once again had sweetheart neckline, which worried Lark a bit. It was a plump peach color that went well with the chocolate color of her hair.

"It's beautiful!" Lark exclaimed softly.

"And will look even more beautiful on you," Riva smiled.

The two women helped Lark dress and finished doing her hair into a simple, but gorgeous, half up half down hairstyle.

Chrys had this time managed to find Lark some comfortable silver sandals to wear.

After slipping the shoes on, Lark was finally ready to meet the King of Olilith.

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Lark eased the drawing room door open. "King Alkis?" she called out, her small voice echoing through the large room.

"You could have at least knocked first," a high pitched voice scolded harshly.

Lark immediately knew that the scolding was directed to her. She had to hold back an annoyed groan when she realized who it was.

Lucinda was perched at the very edge of a stiff armchair. Her back was as straight as a ruler and her hands hovered above her lap. She gave Lark a disgusted glare before returning to pout unattractively.

"Ah, there you are. I was getting worried," the King's welcoming voice rang throughout the room. He sent his sister-in-law and warning look before greeting Lark.

"Please, sit." He motioned for Lark to sit in an overstuffed, burgundy chair that was near a thriving fireplace and far from the evil hag.

Lark settled down comfortably and looked upon the King with a questioning gaze. "Why did you want to see me, Your Highness?" she said in a small voice.

He laughed. "First off, you shall call me Alkis. There's no need to be formal. You are welcome here as a guest of me, Rylan, Chryste, and of course, Atticus."

"Oh," she said looking down at her lap. "But I cannot possibly stay here without working." She was a slave, not a guest. She didn't even deserve to be treated with the especially she had been given so far.

Alkis looked at the girl in surprise. Any other girl would be happy to take the opportunity of luxury without payment. But apparently not this girl. "No-" he started to protest.

But Lucinda decided to speak her own horrible opinions. "Let the girl work. Perhaps from dawn until dusk? Maybe even make her sleep out in the barn with her family, the pigs."

Lark bowed her head in embarrassment. But Alkis's angered voice rang out, "I have had enough of this disrespect from you Lucida. Pack your bags at once and get out of my Palace by the end of dinner."

Lark's eyes opened wide in surprise.

The woman whimpered, most likely hoping for some sympathy. "Pl-please, don't. I cannot leave my l-little g-girl behind."

Lark had to admit, her pathetic attempts for acting were actually pretty good; but Alkis easily saw right through them. "Out. Now!" he shouted.

Lucinda bowed her head in shame a shuffled out of the room without arguing.

Alkis huffed angrily and settled down on the armchair opposite of Lark.

"I am terribly sorry about her. I only sheltered her due to the fact that she is The mother of the next in line heir for the crown," he explained.

"Chrys is to be queen?" Lark asked surprised once she came to the conclusion. "I thought that it might have been Atticus next in line."

Alkis shook his head. "How it works here is different than other kingdoms. It goes from oldest to youngest, even if the oldest is not a direct descendant of the current ruler."

"Ah," she said thoughtfully.

"Now. Shall we get down to business?"

Business? Lark thought.

"What kind of business?" she spoke out loud.

"You said you wanted to work, right?"

Lark nodded.

"Then you shall be Chrys's personal companion. Get her where she needs to be when she needs to be, and help her out in general. Give her company. She often gets lonely around the castle. As good of company my boys are, sometimes you ladies need each other."

Lark grinned at the thought. "I can surely do that!"

Alkis mirrored her excited grin with a cheerful on of his own. "Now, shall we go to dinner?"