Ultima, Octavia Of The Black Moon

Chapter Two- Daughters Again

“TAVY!” I hear Tessa's voice yelling at me and shaking me

“What?! Why are you waking me?” I groggily moan to her

“It tis you who has woken me!” she replies earnestly, “Was it that nightmare again?”

I keep my eyes closed but can feel the gentle morning light shining through the windows, “It has been a while since I've had it”

“You are all sweaty Octavia. I shall ring for the maids, I will inform them to have you a bath ready for after breakfast, its an important day, you shouldn't start it off in this state” She hoped up and went to pull the cords that rang the bells of our handmaids, alerting them we were awake. Tessa went back to her side of the room to change and lay out presumably my favorite silk robes. Most other belongings of mine were already packed and ready to be sent off with me this evening.

I stretch out in my bed before gripping my pillow tight against my face. The door eases open as three petite maids in matching uniforms entered, two carrying our breakfast trays while the other carried wood and began stoking the fire in this cold stony castle. Tessa always woke early and began dolling herself up, I however enjoyed being up all night watching the moon filled night starry skies.

Last night happened to be the first day of the month and with a full moon. There is to be this rare occurrence with a second full moon at the end of this month on the last day. I truly would love to see it but with no promise to that. Which is why I chose to spend my last free night in the hot spring. Just a few kilometers from this castle I savored basking in the moon light. Giving thanks to all that has led me here.

After the attack on the estate we use to live on, the land was bought by some other Lord who divided it and sold at higher prices. I always kept track of what happened to my childhood home but have yet to be brave enough to return there.

Too afraid to move even an inch after the Wolves ran past, I stayed there staring out into the woods in silence, with Tessa scrunched up in a ball and Riley laying at the base of the tree he hit. I was too afraid to check on him at first, but with the sunrise the next day I knew we had to get away from there. My body was sore from not moving for so long. It took me a moment to adjust and move with out any pain. Tessa's eyes met mine and I nodded to her. We allowed ourselves to take deeper breaths causing the cold air to fog in front of our faces. She too slowly adjusted to moving again.

We left through my tunnels and through the exit Riley had used. We walked over to Riley expecting him to be dead but we gasped as he thrust his head up to look at us. We ran up to him to pet and love on him. I couldn't believe he was alright. After all we had lost we still had him.

Thankfully he slowly helped lead us safely to the neighboring estate Papa had taken us to on occasion. I knew it was pointless to trudge through to our Lord Stormwall's castle, I suspected that with the amount of Wolves that ran passed us at our home, that it wasn't just our place that was attacked. The amount of Wolves attacking at the house was only a few compared to the thousands that ran past us in the woods.

We made it safely to Lord Harth's estate where we were brought before him. His wife took pity on us and took an interest in our well-being. Later comments were made of my sisters stunning beauty to be of possible use to them in marriage arrangements. Lord Harth was a smart business man who saw a grand opportunity in pleasing future associates and His Beloved Wife.

We were brought up as Ladies of their court. They formally adopted us and gave us their name. They were always sweet to us and spoiled us with fine clothes and trinkets. I however have proven to be a bit of an amusing handful to them, as I still enjoy riding horses to go on hunts with my bow or how I use to wrestle with their sons and win.

Having no daughters of their own I think really saved us. Our new matriarch insisted we call her mother which we obliged, she was in the years of not being able to have anymore children and her 6 sons were all rough rambunctious boys who she loved dearly but they were not the same companions as daughters.

Her youngest two were the ages of me and Tessa with the oldest being 13 years older than me. When we first met all those years ago it was surreal. Tessa and I just made it through each day until we learned to live and enjoy life again.

I finished my eggs and sausage before the maid removed my tray. I stood and stretched by the window looking out at all the servants being ordered around to make this day look elegant for me.

Honestly I could have ended up in a much worse position. Many girls my age were married off to men for some business agreement years ago. Mother wouldn't let that happen to us and she was so bold as to make that clear. I envied that about her. She was bold and stood her ground when she felt she was needed to. Having her only two daughters married off early is not what she wanted for her own self at any age nor did she want to have us married to men we didn't at least have an interest in. Father did try to argue once on the subject but she made it clear that as our mother she knew what was best for us. She always declared we were too young for those early marriages that did happen but were not as common.

When Lord Garret met me at father's spring ball he became infatuated. His piercing blue eyes always found me and stayed with me where ever I moved. I was dancing with the other party goers as the band played when he skillfully exchanged places with my dancing partner. The music changed to a slow song meant for a more intimate dance. He placed one hand on the small of my back and with his other hand he gestured for mine.

He made an unknown feeling arise from with in me, like I had no need for any other ever again. Realizing this I gracefully spun out of his embrace and well placed hands, while proceeding to walk away from him.

He gently came up behind me to whisper in my ear “What are you doing my lady?”

“Well I am getting myself a drink dear Sir.” I state evenly, I do not want him to know of my interest with out my knowing more about him.

His words were smooth as he turned to a servant passing with drinks. “Here let me get you a drink” He grabs one for each of us but I do not take the one he has meant for me. “Your drink my Lady” He is holding it out to me but I do not take it even when he nudges it towards me. “My lady is there something wrong?”

My smirk stays internal as I speak “I did not ask you to get me a drink is all." My words smooth as well. Delicately I grab a drink from the same servant and sip it. Starring deep into his questioning eyes.

“You would leave me to stand here with two drinks instead of take one?”

“I know not of your life choices Sir and I do not know you to be taking dances or drinks from.” I reward him with a playful smile seeing if he still is interested in me.

“You will not take a drink from me nor will you take a dance with me, so my dear what will you take from me?” his inquiry is given with a sly smile that makes me return his arrogance with that of my own.

“Your pants” I simply replied.

I will never forget the way I made his cheeks blush like that for the first time. I sigh out loud and take a deep breath. Holding the balcony railing in front of me, I close my eyes to feel the gentle warmth of the morning sun kissing my skin and the last of the cool night breeze blowing the kisses away. Today we are getting married. Me and that pants less fool who fell in love with me dispite my challenging ways.

Tessa called out as she sat at her vanity with the tall well decorated mirrors “Where's your mind at Tavy?”

“Reminiscing about the first time Lord Garrett gambled with me” I smiled

“Oh my. I am just happy you found someone who matches you so well and can provide you with a good life. But I wont lie, I am not ready to live with out you just yet.”

An old crackly voice brought me back to the moment present. “Aye you fool get in ere bafore ya turn all red like a mato”

I loved my maid, she was old and reminded me of what a regular grandmother would feel like had I had one. Unfortunately the surviving grandparents of our adopted brothers did not have the same feelings about us being truly apart of the family.

Nanny made up for it with us, though Tessa thought she was a bit brash I enjoyed her directness. She pulled me to the tub filled with hot oily water and flower petals. I undressed from my night garments and entered abruptly, splashing Nanny and Gabriella getting them very wet. I laugh out loud to them causing Nanny to throw the sponge at me. I dodge it so she dunks me under the water.

“Ya know I could drown yer right here if yas don't be settlin down now” she threatened menacingly.

“Oh come on its my last day here with you Nanny so I gotta dish out enough to last you while I am gone. I don't want you to miss me so much” I winked at her.

“How could anyone miss ya yer wort”

She smiles at me as she begins to work her magik on my long curly hair. Gabriella begins to massage in oils to my skin with the sponge she retrieved. Tessa sits at the vanity while Tamaria paints and decorates her nails and face.

Tessa loves getting gussied up, not me. Not that I don't like it just not so often, I feel special occasions are meant for dressing up but to do this every day would be daunting. After the bath they all tackle me, as I sit there at the vanity the three maids apply various oils and lotions to me before beginning the real process.

They used hot rods of varying sizes to heat my hair into the controled curls. This style was a desired look of the upper classes on our continent. The process was time consuming, I nodded off slightly into my thoughts as they did the best they could do to make me as polished as possible. Once done I opened my eyes to the reflection of a Goddess. I looked so stunning with my curls all uniformly glistening and bouncy.

They put most of my hair in braids and twists pinned and gathered in the back with tiny beads of opal strung together flowing with it. My favorite part was the curls that hung down out of the pinned up part and around my face framing it in just the right way.

This was the most amount of make up I had ever worn but it was done so lovely it really showed off my eyes. The green and blue mixture of them always caught others' attention, causing them to gaze into them longer than they often realized. The maids brought the gown out from the wardrobe.

“Well deary whatcha think? Do you like the beads?” Nanny patiently waiting for acknowledgment for their hard work on the decorating of my hair and makeup.

“It's perfect Nanny” I say with tear filled eyes. It is all I can manage but must have been the response she wanted since the next thing I knew she was hugging me.

“Now don't ya start cryin yet bafore that Lord of yours sees ya, you'll be puttin all me hard work ta rubbish if ya do”

She releases me and the girls begin sliding on the slip first, then next the long form fitting dress tailored just for me. Mother wanted me to have exactly what I wanted and that made me so very happy, I would have been happy with anything simple for a dress and wedding but Mother wanted the best for all of her children. So I enjoyed myself and allowed the day to proceed with my little involvement, the only thing I needed to remember was when to repeat after the minister and to make sure Riley didn't get into any trouble.

“Riley?” I spin my head to Gabriella "Where's Riley?!" I demand.