I'm linking up with Miss Melody's Quote Quest, where we write scenes based on quotes. This scene is one that may or not make it into Lady Dragon, Tela Du. In any case, it's a good introduction to the softer side of Petra, and a glimpse into her relationship with Laura, which is a bit of a big sisterly one at the moment due to the fact that Petra used to babysit her (during which time she went by "Alyce" for reasons I will not yet disclose), and the Laura in this portion of the book is pretty close to the beginning of her life, and isn't very sure of herself yet. And yes, they're in the Kastle at the moment, which would set this seen somewhere in part three, so, enjoy!
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Petra stepped into the Heartroom to find Laura sitting on
one of the stairs, legs hugged to her chest. The poor girl looked so forlorn,
reminding Petra of a little, lost puppy.
Smiling slightly, Petra approached the girl and sat down
next to her, wrapping an arm around her. "You okay, Alyce?"
Laura uncurled enough to lean into Petra. "Yeah, I
think so."
"I'd suggest ice cream, but I'm not sure they have that
here," Petra continued.
Laura shook her head. "No, they don't. But I wish they
did. Ice cream sounds really good right now." She sighed. "That's one
of the bad things about being the Doorkeeper. Every world is so very
different."
Petra stood and tugged Laura up with her. "Come on,
kid, you can't mope all day. Let's go to the kitchens and see if my title can
conjure up any proper comfort foods."
Laura gripped Petra's hand tightly as they navigated the
halls of the Kastle. The kitchens were found and soon the two secured some
puddings that would have to do in lieu of ice cream, and they retreated to the
empty ball room to enjoy the dessert.
"Better?" asked Petra, after Laura had consumed
most of her bowl.
The girl nodded slightly. "As better as food can make
it. Thank you, Petra." Then she let
out a huge sigh.
"So, what's on your mind?" Petra prompted.
"Talking makes it better, you know."
Laura shook her head. "I can't tell you. Maybe if you
were older, but you're too young to understand. I wish you were older. I
wish..." she trailed off with another huge sigh. "I've never met you
so young before - and all the Lauras you've met - including the Alyce you used
to babysit, were much older. We're like two strangers and yet ... best friends
at the same time, and it hurts."
Petra swallowed. "Well ... every friendship has to start
somewhere, you know."
"Yeah, I guess so. Still, I wish I could have normal
friendships, where I get to know people in the normal way, where I don't have
to worry about saying the wrong thing and messing everything up. As it is ... I
have so many friends, in so many worlds - and she told me that I'd only make
more - but I still feel so lonely at times."
"She?"
"Well, myself. My older self, and I suppose she would
know. I'm the Doorkeeper, destined to be known by everyone, yet no one."
"Alyce ... you don't mind if I still call you that?
Laura just doesn't feel right, too old, and you're too young."
"I don't mind," said Laura with a shake of her
head. "It's ... what I introduced myself to you as, I guess. And you
always have called me by that
name."
"Well, Alyce, I think everyone feels that way sometimes,"
Petra continued. "Especially people who are important. It's so easy to
feel like no one knows you. I can't begin to count the times..."
"But you have Reuben," Laura pointed out.
"Reuben does not know me," said Petra, firmly.
"He thinks he does, but he's just fooling himself."
"But someday..."
"Someday may come, but we're not talking about him
right now," said Petra firmly. "Everyone, especially people who are
in any way important, feels lonely from time to time. And the more important
you are, the more people expect of you without actually getting to know you,
the lonelier you feel. Perhaps I have Reuben, and I do appreciate him, but that
doesn't negate the fact that everyone - including you and Reuben - expect me to
fight the Lady Dragon. No one consulted me on the issue, no one took into
consideration what I would like to
do, they just took one look at my face and decided that I'm the one to toss
into the fire."
"But you..." Laura didn't finish the thought,
instead glancing away self-consciously.
"Will win?" prompted Petra. "Come now, you're
not supposed to be giving away the future, now aren't you."
"Yeah."
"And I know you feel the same way," Petra
continued. "You're still at the start of your life, and you're still not
sure you actually want the role of Doorkeeper, and yet everyone you know - and
people you barely know, but claim to know you - expect you to fill it. So, I
guess it boils down to: are you going to fulfill the task set before you? Or
are you going to run away at the first opportunity?"
"I don't think I can run - I tried. I ended up
here." Laura stared thoughtfully at her bowl, then glanced back up at
Petra. "What about you? Are you going to run?"
"I'd like to," said Petra. "But I suppose,
like you, it won't matter what I do. If I'm destined to fight the Lady Dragon,
then it's what I'm going to do, whether I run towards her or against her. And,
just so you know - I'll always be your friend, or try to be."
Awww. Little Laura is cute. I want to hug her.
ReplyDeleteAww, Laura and Petra. That's adorable. I hope it makes it into the book, though I totally get it if it doesn't. How old are they here?
ReplyDeletePetra is sixteen. Laura ... has seen somewhere between twenty and forty years. However, she's was set back to toddlerhood at least three times, and babyhood twice during that time, so she hasn't exactly had a chance to grow up. Twelve is the oldest she's been at this point, though, physically, she's closer to seven at the moment.
DeleteThis is a great scene! You've done a wonderful job portraying a Laura who is both old AND young. And I really like Petra. She's sweet.
ReplyDeleteLaura does bring out the best side of Petra. And this young Laura is such fun to work with.
DeleteWow. I like this scene quite a bit. It has that universal truth that rings true.
ReplyDeleteCute. I'll have to read this bit to my brothers sometime.
ReplyDelete