A Forgotten Family Member

[YouKnowItsJuno 269]

 

A light snow was falling today in Herendul, the lack of a breeze making the snowflakes drift lazily from the sky. A lone figure - a young woman - walked through the snow, her cloak drawn close around her body. She probably should not have been out there in the cold, but it helped her think. She needed time to process everything after she had learned so much about what had happened in her absence.

 

Penelope Winter was the youngest of Frederick Winter's children. She could still remember playing with her siblings David, Andrew, and Annabelle. They'd climb trees and have snowball fights, they'd play pretend and get into trouble. It was good fun, all of them together. Penelope was closest to her brother David, however. She always felt safe with him around, and he often covered up for her if she got into trouble for tracking too much snow in the hall or bringing in strays. One time, he even feigned being sick after Penelope ate all the sweets, just so she wouldn't get in trouble. She loved him and her other siblings very much.

 

When she was eight, she and the other Winter children started their studies. The others did as they were told and worked hard to learn as best as they could. Penelope, however, could not sit still. She often skipped lessons and played in her room. She hated sitting down and learning because she thought it was boring and too hard. Her manners were horrible as well. She was often very rude to the servants and to guests, and her father would often get very mad at her and yelled. Just thinking about it now made her wince.

 

Finally, Frederick had had enough, and he sent Penelope away to study with a tutor. He thought, with no distractions, she would learn to behave. She was sent far south to live with an elderly lady named Veriswen Hawkwood. She was a wrinkled, short woman, but she was very hard. She would demand nothing less than the best from Penelope, and if she did anything short of that, she was punished. Veriswen had a willow tree behind her cottage, and if the princess did anything out of line, she was commanded to cut a switch from the tree and to stand still while the calves of her legs were whipped. It only took a few beatings for her to learn that it was less painful to follow the rules rather than to disobey.

 

For ten years, Penelope studied hard. Veriswen had books sent from all over Anthos for the young princess to read from. After a while, Penelope learned that studies weren't so bad, and she found herself eager to learn. She found herself drawn most, however, to books of poetry and tales of tradgedy, romance, and mystery. Veriswen loved to show her these, and after a while, she became the closest thing Penelope had ever had to a mother. Despite her tutor's company Penelope missed her family back in Herendul.

 

In her eighteenth year, Penelope finished her studies, was taught how to properly behave, and how to act like a respectable young lady. It wasn't soon after her studies, unfortunately, before Veriswen passed away. The princess mourned her friend and had her buried under the willow tree before she started the long journey home.

 

It had only been about a week when she had met David in Malinor. They greeted each other warmly, and he told her many things she had missed in her absence. Penelope's brother Andrew had died honorably in battle, her Uncle Robert died from sickness, Annabelle had been banished, her father was missing, and David was betrothed. It was all so much to process, it made her head hurt.

 

Now, as she walked, she wondered why she was never spoken of in her absence. Maybe she was forgotten, or maybe her family was ashamed of how bratty she was as a child. She didn't know, and she wasn't about to dwell on it. She often had many who knew her family say they had never heard of her. It didn't surprise her now.

 

She drew the cloak closer around her as a breeze whipped at her face and hair. It felt so lonely out here by herself. Since being back in Herendul, David was often busy with military matters regarding the beasts from the north always attacking their walls. Penelope often found herself alone to wander about the halls or Abresi. She had only made one acquaintance since she got here, a Lady Amber de Stolistes. She also had shared her love of poetry, and had graciously given her a poem she had written herself. Penelope hoped that they would end up good friends. But Amber could not be with her all the time, so Penelope found herself studying again what she could. Books could block out the loneliness she felt, even for only a moment. She also took to daydreaming, and in her head she could see Herendul - a beautiful, snow-clad country filled with hundreds of residents, all happy and safe from the threat from the north. She saw grand parties and tournaments hosted on the Crownlands. She saw herself becoming a great diplomat and friend to all. She had big dreams for her home, and she hoped she could take part in making them come true one day.

 

For now, she walked. The snow crunched under her feet as she went, and her breath came out as a white vapor, the tendrils disappearing after only a few seconds. Her black hair flowed freely down her back and shoulders, and her bright blue eyes scanned the white landscape. She stopped and turned, hesitating before walking back the way she came from Castle Wintermont.

 

Princess Penelope Winter was home. And although things looked dreary now, she was ready to do anything to see smiles on the faces of those who lived in Herendul.

[TheBareSheet 194]

((Hehe glad to be in this post. Though a curious question, whom is David betrothed to?))

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

Time for another to commit sodomy and get banished like the last one

[YouKnowItsJuno 269]

((Hehe glad to be in this post. Though a curious question, whom is David betrothed to?))

((Lucia di Silvari))

[Eddywilson2 2117]

((Hehe glad to be in this post. Though a curious question, whom is David betrothed to?))

((I'm still single ;)))

[Kralek 519]

Alester Herenden approves from wherever he may be.

[Lathros 377]

Kaptein Crimson sighs at yet another girl, whom won't love him. . .

[Jachnun 566]

Time for another to commit sodomy and get banished like the last one

עוד ישראלי!! 

[Silent™ 552]

Sylen doesn't really pay attention to these sorts of things...

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.