Amy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kitchen_maid) wrote2006-05-28 11:36 pm
kitchen_maid) wrote2006-05-28 11:36 pm
October 3, Ambergeldar, Forest of Faraway, Phatasmorania
Very early in the morning, Perry comes to fetch Amy. "It's a dreadfully cold morning, so I've brought a warm cloak for you," he says.
"Thank you," she says, snuggling gratefully into the cozy folds of the fur-lined velvet coat.
"What's that?" he asks, of the bundle she's carrying under her arm.
"It's my old cloak and a drawing of the squirrels and a seashell and the cardboard box with my wages in it. I couldn't bear to part with them," she explains, as he helps her up into the saddle.
She settles Simon Perryvall in her apron pocket, and Peter Aurelious perches on her shoulder, but Mr. Pemberthy insists on riding with Perry.
There is a shortcut through the Forest of Faraway from the city of Amber in Ambergeldar to the city of Phanff in Phatasmorania, and though travelers by the high roads take at least three days to get from one kingdom to another, by riding hard all day through the Forest, Amy and Perry come to the palace of Phanff by moonrise.
They halt their horses at the edge of the trees, and Perry helps Amy dismount. She stands very still for a long time, looking up at the castle. It's the first time she's seen home in over a year.
And then she turns to Perry. "I wish I were going back with you," she says, holding very tightly to his hand.
"So do I," says Perry. "But don't let's think of that. Let's think of what fun it's going to be when I come and fetch you."
He goes with her to the foot of the turret wall, where the old twisty stem of the wisteria is just as twisty and knobbly as ever.
"You'll have to throw me my bundle when I'm up," says Amy.
"Good-bye, my kitchen maid," says Perry, catching her in his arms and kissing her. "Good-bye, my darling Amy. The months will simply fly past, and when spring comes I will fetch you away."
"Good-bye, my man-of-all-work," says Amy. "Oh, Perry darling, you will take care of yourself, won't you, and don't let your Aunt Hedwid be horrid to you, and don't let them make you marry any tiresome Persephones instead of me, and promise you won't forget me, and I hope spring comes quickly, and I do hope I can remember how to climb this thing," says Amy, all in one breath. Then she and the squirrels climb up the wisteria to her turret room, and Peter Aurelious flies up after them.
"Catch," calls Perry, and he throws her bundle up to her. "Spring will be here in no time." And he blows her a kiss.
Then he mounts his horse and, leading the one Amy rode, turns away in the moonlight and sets off into the Forest.
"Thank you," she says, snuggling gratefully into the cozy folds of the fur-lined velvet coat.
"What's that?" he asks, of the bundle she's carrying under her arm.
"It's my old cloak and a drawing of the squirrels and a seashell and the cardboard box with my wages in it. I couldn't bear to part with them," she explains, as he helps her up into the saddle.
She settles Simon Perryvall in her apron pocket, and Peter Aurelious perches on her shoulder, but Mr. Pemberthy insists on riding with Perry.
There is a shortcut through the Forest of Faraway from the city of Amber in Ambergeldar to the city of Phanff in Phatasmorania, and though travelers by the high roads take at least three days to get from one kingdom to another, by riding hard all day through the Forest, Amy and Perry come to the palace of Phanff by moonrise.
They halt their horses at the edge of the trees, and Perry helps Amy dismount. She stands very still for a long time, looking up at the castle. It's the first time she's seen home in over a year.
And then she turns to Perry. "I wish I were going back with you," she says, holding very tightly to his hand.
"So do I," says Perry. "But don't let's think of that. Let's think of what fun it's going to be when I come and fetch you."
He goes with her to the foot of the turret wall, where the old twisty stem of the wisteria is just as twisty and knobbly as ever.
"You'll have to throw me my bundle when I'm up," says Amy.
"Good-bye, my kitchen maid," says Perry, catching her in his arms and kissing her. "Good-bye, my darling Amy. The months will simply fly past, and when spring comes I will fetch you away."
"Good-bye, my man-of-all-work," says Amy. "Oh, Perry darling, you will take care of yourself, won't you, and don't let your Aunt Hedwid be horrid to you, and don't let them make you marry any tiresome Persephones instead of me, and promise you won't forget me, and I hope spring comes quickly, and I do hope I can remember how to climb this thing," says Amy, all in one breath. Then she and the squirrels climb up the wisteria to her turret room, and Peter Aurelious flies up after them.
"Catch," calls Perry, and he throws her bundle up to her. "Spring will be here in no time." And he blows her a kiss.
Then he mounts his horse and, leading the one Amy rode, turns away in the moonlight and sets off into the Forest.