Back to Samantha

I am so back right now.
This weekend, getting out of town and forgetting to obsess about my friends broke the habit a little bit. When I did get back to Chicago, I just went and watched the game with a new friend. It was great. Then I watched an experiment with a dead man. I can't wait to die for Sabrina soon.
Anyway, there is a fairy tale that must be written...

When Aurelia walked into Hardenstall the next day, bags of finished clothes on her donkey's back. With representatives from Shorin arriving today, she had decided on some strange whim to dress for the occasion. Though still very modest, she wore a light purple dress that seemed to dance even when there was no wind. Her face looked less concentrated than normal, and she walked with a half-smile, singing not just to herself along the lonely road, but to any living creature that could hear.
Upon arriving in town, she saw that there was already a line outside the florists where she rented. As soon as everyone saw her with her bags and bags of clothes they made way. She tied the donkey and went inside. Ten minutes later, the shop was organized enough to begin letting the line file in. Each customer seemed more pleased than usual with her output, and many even looked to notice her own change in appearance. She received a myriad of compliments, and with each, her smile grew a little brighter. By the time the last customer filed through, she looked as though she had had the best day of her life. It was only 10 in the morning. The representatives from Shorin were arriving at 11. No one knew exactly which dignitaries were supposed to come, but everyone expected a small parade and a bit of pomp.
Aurelia opened up her portion of the shop and placed some fresh flowers in the windows. With the mass of colorful fabrics in the back, billowing in the slight breeze, her own magical appearance, and the flowers, it looked as though she had created a fairy world within her room.
She stood in the doorway like a guardian angel, ready to usher anyone willing into her realm.
Earlier than expected, the town crier announced the arrivals of the representatives.
"Make way, one and all for our great and noble lawmen from Shorin!"
As he spoke, three men on horses rode into town in a straight line.
"Please make way for Lord Urbond, Minister of Foreign Relations."
The streets became lined with people who did not care so much about the titles, but about what these dignitaries looked like. Aurelia was the only one who seemed shocked that someone dealing with foreign relations would come visit a town in which the closest foreign neighbor lived miles across water.
"And now, give your respects to Duke Rendenmort, Advisor to the King."
As the first two men passed her shop, they actually seemed to notice Aurelia's slice of heaven amidst the small-town reveling. Each paused a moment and regarded her. She took in each of their faces, trying to figure out what their intentions could be in Hardenstall.
"And last, please bow before your Prince Reginald."
The whole town paused a moment, then immediately took to their knees. Aurelia was last to do so, because at that moment she realized why they were there--the green lights across the lake, these men in charge of all of Evars, the Prince himself--Evars was going to war."
As the prince passed, she was still standing. Immediately, she fell, not just because of him, but because she realized what this would mean for her quiet life outside this quiet town. She could not be noticed. Wishing she had dressed less fine that day, she made a move to enter her stop, thinking the Prince had passed. What she had not noticed was that all of them had stopped just 30 feet beyond her window, and as she rushed inside, they all watched, then spoke.
"You, mademoiselle--wait."
Embarassed and still lost in frantic though, Aurelia paused. As she turned, a gust of wind blew through the main street, and she looked so wild an angelic that everyone stared. Her hair blowing around her face never covered her expression of indignation at being told she could not hide. That lavender dress actually moved like the ocean or like clouds roaming across the sky, and for that moment, she looked superhuman. However, the gust of wind stopped, and instead of indignation, she showed confusion and perhaps a little fear. The Prince Reginald was lost in the previous image, so it was Duke Rendenmort who spoke first.
"My dear, please, are you from this town?"
"Of course. I live next to the great lake, on the cliff, outside the town, but I do business here, and these people are my neighbors and friends."
"And you are a seamstress?"
"Yes."
He paused for a moment, then asked the woman next to Aurelia, a woman named Tania wearing a skirt and blouse from Aurelia, to stand.
"Ma'am, have you used this woman's services before?"
"You mean Aurelia's? Yes, this skirt and this blouse are her work, actually. She did the blouse just last night."
Aurelia looked nervously at each man's face. As she looked at the Prince, he caught her eye and gave a slight half smile. She attempted to smile back, but her nervousness would not let her.
Duke Rendenmort turned back to her.
"Aurelia--that is your name, yes?"
She nodded.
"Well, Aurelia, your skills are impressive. Where did you learn?"
"Finishing school. I went to a lovely finishing school in Shorin, sir."
This was a blatant lie, but it was the first thing she could think. She knew it would be easy to catch, and she wasn't sure what the punishment would be for lying to the king's own advisor. However, she could not answer his questions. She did not sew, and she certainly did not remember where she received her abilities to create clothing and manipulate fabric. In fact, she was not even from Hardenstall, but she had been there for so long, she hoped none of the townspeople would blow her cover.
However, before he could speak again, Duke Rendenmort was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder from the Prince. He whispered something in the Duke's ear, and then spoke.
"Aurelia, we are sorry to trouble you. We were merely struck by the beauty of your store window, and, to be embarassingly frank, your lovely appearance. Please join us for dinner tonight--where-ever we may be feasting. As for now, let us get back to business, gentlemen. Again, madam, my sincerest apologies at bothering you. Good day."
Aurelia was finally able to return a smile. However, as the procession ended and she walked back into her store, she realized that her way of life was in great danger.