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Genevieve Ildaw · Visitor Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Dark brown hair, almost black, and cat-like yellow eyes, she was a lovely little thing. It was her fifth birthday, and she stood like a royal princess in her party frock. A crown of real silver and jewels on her head and she held a scepter in her hand. I want more cake, NOW! A servant scrambled from a dark corner bringing her more cake. Her mother frowned but her father patted the young girls head. That’s right my little Genevieve knows what she wants in life and she shall always get it…
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She was ten and she tossed the dress on the floor in disgust. I can’t wear this! I’ve worn it already! Her handmaid backing up noticing the telltale signs of a rage coming on. Mistress, I am sorry but your father said you should wear the dress he bought you last week… The ladies maid shrunk back in fear as the hand lashed out slapping her cheek.

I don’t care what he said! Don’t tell me no! No one EVER tells me no! One of her brothers stood idly at the door, the eldest, Adrian, staring at Genevieve with a bit of a distanced smile on his face. Genny leave the maid be, you’re a tyrant. Genny puckered up her lips looking terribly upset, she was quite the little actress. Large tears slid down her cheeks. Papa wont let me have a new dress, and I need a new one I can’t wear this one. She kicked the confection of soft silk and lace as it laid on the floor the maids eyes widening. That dress had cost the Master a fair amount. Adrian smiled, he saw right thru her but her brothers doted on the little imp, and he still believed she ached for their mother who had recently died. So he conceded, well I am going away for a bit but, as a gift I shall have the tailor see you Genny. She clasped her hands and ran and hugged him her little ringlets swaying perfectly around her face. Oooooh thank you! You’re the best…

He smiled, why don’t you give your maid that dress Genny at least it will get some good use. Genny’s joy sapped out of her face. Nay! For she will look very fine in it and no one shall look as wondrous as me in it…Adrian walked away shaking his head…what a terror she had become.
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She was fifteen now, and rain trickled down her bedraggled face now. Her last memory of Adrian, prickling with pain inside her heart. It had been so long and so much had happened. He and their other brother had gone missing, their father had died, and now it was just her and the third son Alasdair. Sadly she huddled against the stonewall praying for even a bit of warmth against the cold wind that whipped around her skirt. The eves cast a drizzle of rain and she held back tears pitying her wasted and foolish life.

A child of the streets now, she scrounged every day, for a place to sleep and a bit of food. She had grown thin; her hair was cut short, as she had sold it to the toy maker for money. Her dress, a tattered remnant of days gone by, was patched heavily but yet it was all she had. Her eyes closing against the painful memory of the dress she had thrown upon the floor that fateful day. A sound nearby caused her eyes to snap back open as she noticed the shopkeeper distracted with closing up shop. He had left a barrel of apples sitting in front and she darted up her hand snaking one as she ran by. Sadly he saw it, and shouted for the guards, as the little urchin dived down side streets her breath tight in her chest her body wracked with coughs. Inflammation of the lungs again, from the cold nights when they hadn’t enough to afford a room. Sometimes she could sneak a spot inside the stables and burrow under the warm hay on those occasions. Or go to the library and pretend to be reading a book and fall asleep. She had all sorts of tricks these days….

She arrived at the inn in Britain and stared at the blind man in front holding out a small cup that from time to time passersby would drop a copper in if luck was kind. She moved up next to him trying to look wholly unknown to him and whispered. I have a copper and an apple. I think we have enough for a room. Her brother who was decidedly not blind shooed her away, meet me behind the stables in five minutes. She scurried away.

Alasdair stared at her his hand snaking out to take the coin; he had 10 now, and could easily buy her some food and a room for the night. Come inside lets get you some soup. She was coughing horribly and he didn’t like the sound of it. Once she was settled with a meager bowl of soup and some bread he bought himself an ale and she looked at him with a slight frown. Alasdair why don’t we get that room… Its terrible cold tonight…

He just waved at her. I will I will, what sort of gratefulness is that. Give me that apple; see I am skipping my dinner. Yet Alasdair had a terrible problem and it all concerned gambling and drink. They both had their vices that had lead them down to such a path.

Their father now dead, and two brothers missing, Adrian in particular held the family fortune. Yet he had been away for some time and bills had had to be paid. Sadly they were bills of a wasteful nature and the house that had been titled to Alasdair had been taken. Genny and he had ended up penniless and homeless in a matter of months.

Surely enough one drink turned into another and Genny watched as their precious coppers floated away. Misery taking him he tucked her into a pile of hay. Sorry Genny I will get a room tomorrow….

The sound of coughing tearing up his heart as the cold wind whipped at his face, he didn’t want any of this, he wished for Genny's sake, they could find Adrian. He vowed that tomorrow she would have a nice warm bed…
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Alasdair loved his sister but this is the way of vices, they take hold and Genny found herself tucked into the hay more than once that week…

Genevieve Ildaw · Visitor Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

She snuggled into the warm sheets her body shivering madly. She had collapsed today in front of the inn her coughing causing a shortage of air and the world had gone blank.

Alasdair placed a worried hand on her brow, pulling it away as if he had been burnt. Surely enough a fever raged and she spoke delirious nonsense. She was happy at least a smile on her face. The innkeeper knocked lightly on the door.

Here there, sir you needs to pay for another night if you be wishing to stay. Alasdair stuck his hand in his pocket and came up short. He had been so busy attending to Genny he hadnt had time for the usual routine.
Give me half a day to get it? Shes ill...I hate to move her.

The Innkeeper shook his head, business is business milad, but my wife is a healer you can take her to them and she will look after the lass. Alasdair felt a shot of happiness take him, she would be okay he kept telling himself over and over. The innkeeper handed him a quickly scrolled letter for his wife and Alasdair picked up Genny. His heart ached at the lightness in his arms, she weighed far less than she should.

It was raining again on the streets of britain and he pulled off his cloack covering her tightly with it. She laughed and mumbled Adrians name. He shook his head, if only Adrian were here Genny... if only

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She felt the warm sheets, the cool hands on her head but still did not waken from her restless slumber. The innkeepers wife pulled Alasdair aside.

Sir your sister is very ill. I am uncertain if she will live out the week. There is a very good physician here in Brit that can help her, but you will need gold sir. Otherwise her chances of surviving are slim. Alasdairs face fell, his world spinning for a moment.

So this is what their foolishness had cost them, death...He thought back to days when he could easily throw a bag of gold at a homeless peasant, yet the money had gone to drink, and gambling and women. His eyes darkened.....

He would find a way, he nodded to her, send for him I will find the money. The woman smiled, aaah that is good news I will send for him at once, ussually takes him a day or two. He closed his eyes...Well the best place to start was at home..his family home and beg that wretch for gold even if it meant selling his soul into slavery...