Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .
~C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
"From now on you will not wear your hair down in such…state". Aleria said picking up strands of Canary's hair like it was trash or something dead. "You are not in Lyikar anymore you're in Grania such behavior is not right". Aleria sighed looking at the clothes in Canary's closet.
"Such plain clothes". "Why because they do not have jewels on them". Canary said sharply. "It is Lyikarian fashion. It will not have many jewels on it; they are more centered in embroidery and rubies than the jewels here". "That is exactly why it is so plain-". Aleria snapped, taking a step forward to Canary.
She was so close to Canary she could kiss her. So Canary took a step backwards to get space. But Aleria did not let up and pulled Canary closer. Staring and examining her like she was some model or experiment. "You look and sound just like them". Aleria said staring down at Canary.
Her eyes were sharp and cold. But Canary's were strong and bold, reminding her of her mothers eyes. Staring straight at Aleria judging her, admiring, sometimes of love. Aleria looked away sighing.
"I wish to go back to Lyikar with uncle lumus". Canary's voice cracked a little the first time Canary's strong demeanor had fallen. "You are at home, you won't be going back to Grania". Aleria said heading for the door. "Why not"?! Canary said, chasing after her.
"It's not like you and father wanted me here in the first place you gave me way to my grandparents"! "Eventually we would've come for you". Aleria said not sparing Canary a glance. "No you wouldn't". Canary said, stopping in her tracks.
"Even now you do not want me". Aleria stooped herself and took a deep breath in. Not comforting Canary of the thought that her own mother did not want her there. And what of her father she couldn't get a good sense of her father he hadn't talked to her that much since she had been there.
"Talk to father please I do not wish to be here". Canary begged. "I will-". "I will talk to him about it". Aleria said. She turned away from Canary, not giving her a glance. You would think that Aleria would be more welcoming to her child whom she had not seen in over sixteen years but everything was cold about their encounter.
One could not understand why. Maybe because Canary reminded her of her mother or perhaps something more. Whatever it was no one would know except her Aleria. But one thing Aleria did know is that she would heed to Canary's request that she would be sent back with her brother. She also felt that it wasn't right to uproot Canary from a place that she had always called home. She wasn't the only one with demands like this. As Aleria made her way down the hallway towards her husband's office she could hear shouting coming from within. "She is my daughter, I have the final say"! Thomas shouted. "She is no more your daughter than she is of mine"! Aleria began to realize that this was her brother Lumus that was arguing with Thomas. She rushed into Thomas's office with the sight of Lumus in Thomas's face, his finger stabbing his chest as he was yelling at him.
She had never seen Lumus this mad before. His veins were practically popping out of his neck."Why you think just because she's been with you and your parents all these years she's yours"?! Thomas roared pushing Lumus back. "She is neither mine nor yours but you two-". Lumus said suddenly looking at Aleria who froze on the spot. "Think you can suddenly uproot her from her home I think not"! "This is her home"! Thomas hissed.
"I think we should let her go back as well". Aleria interrupted. This caused the whole room to go quiet with Thomas looking at her like she had betrayed him. "I don't care what Aleria says". Thomas said walking around pretending as if he was putting things away. "Canary won't be going with you and why should I listen to the words of Aleria when she's the one who wanted to send her away in the first place". Aleria's eyes widened. It took her time to gather her words.
She was stunned that Thomas would call her out like this. Especially since she wasn't the only one to send Canary away. "Since when do you hold Canary so dear"?! "Huh?! I wasn't the only person to send Canary away that day"! Aleria shouted. "But you were the main person to send her away"! Thomas shouted away. "I didn't want to send her away but you and your mother insisted"!
"And why is it that you want Canary to stay"? Aleria said, taking a step to look at the things on Thomas's desk. "You've never shown this much interest in Eddy or Mara and yet with Canary you're so interested? Sending letters". She said picking up a letter that was supposed to be sent to Canary a long time ago. "Is it because she looks like a true Whitewood"? "How foolish"! Thomas said.
"Is it because of the ruby mine and the business in Lyikar"? Aleria said. Thomas had went quiet with confusion and so did Lumus who was already quiet. The men both looked at each other confused on why and how Aleria knew this. It had only been discussed between Aleria's parents and the two of them. "Shocked on how I know huh"? "No shocked on how pathetic and stupid you must truly be to think I would use my daughter to gain a ruby mine and business that's all the way in Lyikar"! Thomas shouted.
"You wanna know why I seemingly favor Canary over the other two". "Is because unlike our other daughter whom you have raised to be dull headed and spoiled Canary and Eddison aren't". "While you we're busy trying to spoil our son Eddison unlike you I was watching our daughter". "Hah! Is that so then how is it that she still didn't have a name after a year"?
"I gave her the name everleigh". "But everleigh is her middle name". Lumus said. "Everleigh was going to be her first name but I was waiting for your sister to come up with one. I thought she might be excited to name our daughter seeing it took her two months to name our son". "Canary Everleigh Whitewood". Thomas said. "This is her full name. Your mother gave her the first name and the name I intended to give her went to her middle name".
"So now I am the bad one"? Aleria sobbed. "We are all the bad ones. Canary might have gone away before but she is not going away now"."I shall talk to her". Lumus said. "No". "I shall be the one to talk to her since it is my decision". Thomas said.
That was then when Canary was seventeen. When her grandparents died, she came to live with her parents. Due to his work Thomas had often neglected the children only making time here and there. Leaving Canary to be neglected even more by Aleria who seemed to not like her. So Canary spent her days often alone. Eddison sometimes being away due to his lessons to become heir. Amara and Canary didn't get along that much because of their mother. Amara was spoiled and trained to become this high society woman like her mother.
Leaving Canary alone to get lessons from another. Canary was now twentythree and still did not have a suitor. The ones she liked? Rejected her. And her friend if she could really call them that. Married and all talked to each other except her. Amara was now twenty and this would be the year she debuted into society and married. She was guaranteed to get married because of her looks and attributes. Canary could not wear her hair down except when she was at home. Her mother had forbidden her clothing and hair styles. So she truly was only in this foreign land that she had known.
Wishing and hoping one day she could return back to Lyikar. Thankfully she wasn't from speaking and singing in Lyikarian. Which her mother had tried to but her father stopped her from doing so. She had grown into a beautiful woman. Her looks were gentle and she still had her curves and meaty arms and legs. It suited her gentle face. Her eyes were huge and her lips full. Her chocolate skin seemed to shine whenever she was in the sun, stopping some servants to look at her whenever she was in the garden reading a book.
But still somehow whenever people would use these words to describe her she couldn't compare to Amara. If she wasn't so big. Is what they would say. A slimmer figure is what society cherished in Grania. A curvy figure and what Canary was born with was more cherished in Lyikar.
"Carrie"! A voice yelled from behind as Canary sat and read a book her uncle had sent to her from Lyikar. Only a few people would call Canary Carrie and right away she knew it was her brother Eddison. She turned around to him waving with a huge grin on his face. Next to him was Realina, his wife who was heavily with child and due at any moment. "Eddy". She hurriedly got up and ran to him, both of them embracing each other. "When did you get back"? Canary asked.
"I got back last night but I needed rest before I came". Eddison said. "I have someone here for you all to meet". Eddison said "You might remember him. He was at our grandparents' funeral". "I barely remember anything from our grandparents' funeral". Canary said, letting out a slight chuckle. "If it makes you feel any better I don't either". All three of them laughed and made their way into the castle continuing to chatter even among the people who were huddled up in a circle around someone.
Canary couldn't quite make out who everyone was chattering about until she got closer. It was two men. One had blonde hair and gray eyes and the other black hair and dark brown eyes. They both were tall. Though the Blonde haired man had this pale peach like skin and the other his skin was tan sort of like the color of wood. "The crown prince".Realina gasped. "The crown prince-".? Canary said gasping and looking bewildered herself.
Realina started smacking Eddison on the arm in a fit of anger and annoyance. "When you mentioned someone to meet you never told us it was the crown prince". She sort of did this whisper like shout. "And the Duke". SHe said, staring at the black haired man and hitting Eddison again. "You've already met Agustin though what's the fit". Eddison said, flinching away from her soft hits.
"Though the duke might be your best friend he's still the duke". Realina replied. "And Shimon"? He asked. "And Shimon, how can you consider the crown prince your friend". She scolded. "Even the king has best friends, my dear wife". Eddison said, rubbing her hands. "Your highness". Thomas voice said from the stairs. Everyone looked up to the Marquis, Marchoness, and Amara coming down the stairs. The three of them cringing at Amara coming down the stairs like she was some princess. "Marquis". The crown prince said, greeting him. "Good to see you two again Abarca". The duke gave Thomas a smile and shook hands with him.
"Agustin". Aleria said so loudly and energetic like the duke was her son."Lady Whitewood". Agustin said. "Your highness". The women curtseyed. "You two haven't met my daughters yet, this is my oldest daughter Canary and my youngest Amara". Thomas said, introducing the two girls. "Hello". Shimon and Agustin said. "Well dinner is ready for us in the dining area, why don't we make our way over there". Everyone agreed and began making their way to the dining room.
This was the most chattering anyone had ever been at this table. The most Canary had ever seen her mother smile. But the only reason for Aleria's smiling is because she thought she found a match in duke Abarca for Amara. "I noticed that you have an accent duke abarca". Amara said. Everyone looked at Agustin waiting for him to speak so they could hear his accent also. He wiped his mouth and chuckled. "Ah yes the Abarca's are originally from Lyikar which was originally named Soqour not Lyikar". "Ah yes everyone knows how Lyikar was once Soquor that separated into two kingdoms Lyikar and Soquor but Soquor is no more". Agustin nodded.
"You know your history Marquis". Thomas grinned. "To be a marquis and do business you must know everything". "Abarca is a very and I mean very old noble family, one of the first noble families in Grania". "I do want to ask why do the Abarca's still speak the ancient Lyikarian"? Agustin shrugged. "Family tradition stands strong. I guess its one of the reasons people sometimes view the Abarca's as foreigners". "Do you also speak modern Lyikarian? My daughter Canary was raised in Lyikar and she speaks Lyikar". Thomas said, pointing to Canary. "Oh she does"? Agustin said, looking at Canary who was spooked to say the least that her father had showcased her off. Of everyone to showcase, she thought he would show Amara off, not her. "Ah yes". Canary answered with a nervous smile.
"How good is your Lyikarian? Is it rusty"? Agustin asked in Lyikarian. "Ah no I speak to my uncle alot and my maid". Canary replied back. Agustin smirked and sat back in his seat. "Refreashing to speak to someone other than my family in Lyikarian". "How long has it been since you've been away from Lyikar"? "Six years". Canary answered. "Wow six years me and Shimon here just got back".
"How was it? Was it beautiful as the rumors said? Did you see any rubies"? Amara said frantically. "Ah yes it was beautiful as they said". Agustin answered, trying not to laugh at Amara's quicken talking. They talked more and more. So Canary sat and removed herself from the conversation. Even though she out of everyone, even Agustin himself had more to say about Lyikar. Maybe it was better not to talk about Lyikar anyways. She thought. It would only make her sad as she truly missed Lyikar and her uncle.
She would see Lumus every year as he promised he would come and stay for the social season. And every year he kept his word. Only this year Canary promised herself when Lumus left that she would leave with him. As per her grandparents' will she would take over the business and the ruby mind they had left behind for her. Only her and her father knew this. Canary wasn't that close to Thomas but one thing she knew about Thomas is that she knew him to keep his word. What good would come from her fighting over Agustin whom her sister seemed interested in do her?
She had Lyikar waiting for her and she would be leaving this time.