Post by Genevie nó Orchis(I) on Sept 9, 2006 18:52:00 GMT -5
I ran through the gardens of Orchis House, laughing as I chased my friends through the grounds, playing tag.
“You can’t run forever!” I called after them, speeding up to try and catch one of them. They turned a corner just ahead of me and I made the turn shortly behind them.
I was eleven at the time, older than some of them but not all. We delighted in our free time, time away from studies and boring classes, and we always managed to make the most of it.
They were laughing as they turned around another bend, following after I didn’t quite look where I was going and rounded the corer right into the Dowayne.
“Oops, I’m sorry,” I said huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breath.
Alexanderine just smiled at me, “No worries, Genevie, go have fun with your friends.”
“Thank you, Dowayne.” I said, bowing slightly, more concerned with my friends getting ahead of me than making the right gesture.
“Summer is so short, and yet the young always make the most of it, no matter how long it lasts.” He mused, smiling as he watched us run around the gardens. Shaking his head in amusement he returned to the building.
I had been able to tag someone else and was no longer ‘it’ so I raced around with my friends, trying to stay out of reach of grasping hands. I practically screeched when the boy who was chasing us suddenly picked up speed and came barreling after us, scattering us from our group, the other girls in the group laughing and screaming just as loud.
I managed to stay out of reach for the next few tags, and by then it was clear that we were all getting winded, so we called a time out. And thank goodness, I didn’t think I could manage another round.
“Let’s go inside and see if there is anything we can con out of the cooks for us to snack on.” I suggested, thirsty after all that running. They agreed instantly and we all made our way to the kitchens.
We made out with some summer melon, a block of cheese, some bread and chilled apple juice, and made our way back outside to enjoy our handiwork. The seven of us sat in the shade of a large tree, near the rose bushes.
“When are you going to go visit your parents, Gen?” one of the girls asked, knowing I usually brought back lots of neat stuff to share with them. They loved my mother’s soaps and fragrances and I was glad to get extras to hand out.
“Um, mother said next week. The Dowayne told me yesterday that she had sent a letter and was requesting next week for my visit.” I smiled, happy for the attention. “She said she’s been working on a new fragrance.” I told them, laughing when they hit me with a dozen questions all at once. They boys just rolled their eyes and went back to their conversation; we had split up into guys and girls once we got back to the garden.
The rest of the afternoon went rather quickly, we played several more games before dinner came around and we had to help with serving. We raced each other inside, laughing all the way.
~~~
The day I received my summons from the Dowayne to start my life as an adept I was so nervous, I spent two hours that night before my appointment deciding what to wear. Just before the strike of nine I made my way to his chambers, my stomach full of butterflies and my knees weak with excitement. I reached the door to his chambers and knocked.
“Come in, Genevie.” He said, and I stepped in quietly. I folded my hands in front of me and came into the room.
“You look lovely, dear girl, let me see all of your dress, twirl for me,” He said with a smile, motioning for me to turn. I did as he asked, smiling and enjoying his complement.
“Ah, very nice, the color suits you.”
“Thank you,” My dress was a beautiful shade of sapphire blue, like my eyes and complimented my skin beautifully. I was a woman now and at sixteen I was already quite tall and my figure was beginning to fill out nicely.
“Your training is well enough along that we can set a date for your début, I believe you are ready and I hear you are very excited,” He smiled, walking over to the fireplace and motioning for me to sit, I took a seat in a very plush armchair, and he sat across from me.
“Wonderful,” He said, continuing, “It is very exciting and I am glad you are ready to take the next step.” He offered me a drink and I accepted, sipping the sweet chilled juice, thankful for something to occupy my hands.
“I believe we can set your debut for next month, would that please you?”
“Yes it would, sir.” I said smiling broadly, I was thrilled.
He laughed, “I see that it does, well then, we can make it official.” Slapping his knees with both hands he rose and walked to his desk, picking up a few parchments and returning.
“These are for you to sign, dear.” He said, handing them to me along with a writing quill.
I smiled, setting my signature to each of them. Pleased, I handed them back to him.
“Congratulations, Genevie, and welcome to the service of our house,” He picked up his glass and made a toast, “Genevie nó Orchis, may your smile always shine and may your laughter forever dazzle your patrons with its beauty.”
I laughed with him as we toasted our glasses and drank to my future success.
~~~
Three years later I was envisioning the completion of my mark; I had become quite admired and was quite enjoying the limelight. Entertaining at fetes was my greatest delight and laughing with guests reminded me of the times I would laugh with my friends as a kid. Some of whom, being older than me, had already completed their marks.
I could remember back when we were young and would laugh away the long winter nights and chase each other through the gardens on a summer’s day. I loved my life as an Adept and looking back I thanked Elua that I’d had such a wonderful childhood.
“You can’t run forever!” I called after them, speeding up to try and catch one of them. They turned a corner just ahead of me and I made the turn shortly behind them.
I was eleven at the time, older than some of them but not all. We delighted in our free time, time away from studies and boring classes, and we always managed to make the most of it.
They were laughing as they turned around another bend, following after I didn’t quite look where I was going and rounded the corer right into the Dowayne.
“Oops, I’m sorry,” I said huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breath.
Alexanderine just smiled at me, “No worries, Genevie, go have fun with your friends.”
“Thank you, Dowayne.” I said, bowing slightly, more concerned with my friends getting ahead of me than making the right gesture.
“Summer is so short, and yet the young always make the most of it, no matter how long it lasts.” He mused, smiling as he watched us run around the gardens. Shaking his head in amusement he returned to the building.
I had been able to tag someone else and was no longer ‘it’ so I raced around with my friends, trying to stay out of reach of grasping hands. I practically screeched when the boy who was chasing us suddenly picked up speed and came barreling after us, scattering us from our group, the other girls in the group laughing and screaming just as loud.
I managed to stay out of reach for the next few tags, and by then it was clear that we were all getting winded, so we called a time out. And thank goodness, I didn’t think I could manage another round.
“Let’s go inside and see if there is anything we can con out of the cooks for us to snack on.” I suggested, thirsty after all that running. They agreed instantly and we all made our way to the kitchens.
We made out with some summer melon, a block of cheese, some bread and chilled apple juice, and made our way back outside to enjoy our handiwork. The seven of us sat in the shade of a large tree, near the rose bushes.
“When are you going to go visit your parents, Gen?” one of the girls asked, knowing I usually brought back lots of neat stuff to share with them. They loved my mother’s soaps and fragrances and I was glad to get extras to hand out.
“Um, mother said next week. The Dowayne told me yesterday that she had sent a letter and was requesting next week for my visit.” I smiled, happy for the attention. “She said she’s been working on a new fragrance.” I told them, laughing when they hit me with a dozen questions all at once. They boys just rolled their eyes and went back to their conversation; we had split up into guys and girls once we got back to the garden.
The rest of the afternoon went rather quickly, we played several more games before dinner came around and we had to help with serving. We raced each other inside, laughing all the way.
~~~
The day I received my summons from the Dowayne to start my life as an adept I was so nervous, I spent two hours that night before my appointment deciding what to wear. Just before the strike of nine I made my way to his chambers, my stomach full of butterflies and my knees weak with excitement. I reached the door to his chambers and knocked.
“Come in, Genevie.” He said, and I stepped in quietly. I folded my hands in front of me and came into the room.
“You look lovely, dear girl, let me see all of your dress, twirl for me,” He said with a smile, motioning for me to turn. I did as he asked, smiling and enjoying his complement.
“Ah, very nice, the color suits you.”
“Thank you,” My dress was a beautiful shade of sapphire blue, like my eyes and complimented my skin beautifully. I was a woman now and at sixteen I was already quite tall and my figure was beginning to fill out nicely.
“Your training is well enough along that we can set a date for your début, I believe you are ready and I hear you are very excited,” He smiled, walking over to the fireplace and motioning for me to sit, I took a seat in a very plush armchair, and he sat across from me.
“Wonderful,” He said, continuing, “It is very exciting and I am glad you are ready to take the next step.” He offered me a drink and I accepted, sipping the sweet chilled juice, thankful for something to occupy my hands.
“I believe we can set your debut for next month, would that please you?”
“Yes it would, sir.” I said smiling broadly, I was thrilled.
He laughed, “I see that it does, well then, we can make it official.” Slapping his knees with both hands he rose and walked to his desk, picking up a few parchments and returning.
“These are for you to sign, dear.” He said, handing them to me along with a writing quill.
I smiled, setting my signature to each of them. Pleased, I handed them back to him.
“Congratulations, Genevie, and welcome to the service of our house,” He picked up his glass and made a toast, “Genevie nó Orchis, may your smile always shine and may your laughter forever dazzle your patrons with its beauty.”
I laughed with him as we toasted our glasses and drank to my future success.
~~~
Three years later I was envisioning the completion of my mark; I had become quite admired and was quite enjoying the limelight. Entertaining at fetes was my greatest delight and laughing with guests reminded me of the times I would laugh with my friends as a kid. Some of whom, being older than me, had already completed their marks.
I could remember back when we were young and would laugh away the long winter nights and chase each other through the gardens on a summer’s day. I loved my life as an Adept and looking back I thanked Elua that I’d had such a wonderful childhood.