Iridescent

Chapter 1

Meredith

My hands push down the wall of the barrel and the water beats, sloshing into the walls as the cloth is submerged. Whipped upwards and spun, dunked and scrubbed once more, it is passed and slung onto the wooden table where it is to be wrung of its worrisome weight of water.

This song of the morning is repeated until the sun breaks the crest of trees.

Lyall is by my side,reading a list of names on a stool, thudding his fingers against his tea cup inthought. Irina was folding the clothes and drapes we put out to air-dry the daybefore. June and Maurice worked, yelling at each other across the kitchen, the splatteringof meat echoing in grease and the cutting of herbs in between. Sunlight was justpeeking through the bottom of the window, spilling into the room and we started to blow out the candles gradually. 

As the sun continued to rise, the brisk air would slowly melt away—allowing us to shed some of our knitted shawls, but also a reminder that the rest of our world was about to rise. Usually, this was the quiet part of the day—before breakfast would happen. The cooks would be pulling the bread from the stone oven and we would ravage the last of the fruit in the Fall, preparing the food and pastry platters for the dining hall.

But, this was the calm before the storm.

Today, there was to be a ball that I was going to miss.

I started upstairs, ridding myself of my apron and drying my pruned hands. A cough punched me in the chest and I paused for a moment before continuing on.

There is still much to be done.

"It's my first ball!" She bounced on her bed and I reached for her, watching her rosy curls swirl in the air. Her smile beamed across her cheeks and her eyes were bright with mischief—something that never seemed to be absent from her face.

I nodded, not able to contain my laughter, "Yes, Stasia, but we must get you dressed."

"Oh yes," She fell onto her knees and crawled over to me, wrapping her tiny arms around my neck. It brought her face so close to mine—I pecked a gentle kiss on her cheek, her laugh like bells to my ears.

She swung her legs in the chair that was before her vanity—looking like a doll amidst the rich furniture around her. Her reflection barely caught her face in the mirror, since she was hardly tall enough to see. I pinned back her curls, showing that freckly face I adored to wake every morning. Another maid poked her face with a gentle brush, and Stasia sat so proud, feeling grown up with the makeup and the gown.

"Oh, look at you," A voice came into the room and I watched as Regina put her hands to her lips in awe. "So beautiful," She commented and Stasia sprung from her seat, running over to clasp onto her mother's legs through her skirt.

Regina looked up at me, and I smiled at her as she dashed a wink in my direction, "Stasia, why don't you go find yourself some shoes to go with that beautiful gown." She gestured for help from another hand and asked them to escort her towards her chest. When Stasia started digging through the chest, Regina looped her arm through mine and took me towards the balcony with a sigh, "It's her first ball today, Mer."

"I know," I rested my cheek on my hand for a moment, bewildered, "I was justtaking her out of the crib yesterday, I swear." We both laughed, and she gripped my hand for a moment. I looked over at her seeing some tears swim in her eyes and I squeezed her hand to draw her gaze to me. "She's going to grow up whether you like it or not."

She shook her head, a sad smile tugging at her lips, "I know, it's just—"

"Mommy! Meredith!" Stasia hugged at our waists and we pulled from each other enough to let her come between us. Regina smoothed a hand over her head and smiled down at her and Stasia beamed up at the two of us, "What are you talking about?"

Regina wiped her tears quickly, and I frowned towards her as she whipped up a smile out of nowhere, "Just a beautiful little princess we know."

"Growing up on us," I added, pulling my lips up. Stasia reached for us, and we both raised her, letting her hug us both close around the necks. Her little cheek pressed against mine and we all looked towards the beautiful view of the garden.

Stasia gave us both a squeeze, making us laugh, and then with her little sweet voice, she spoke, "I love our family so much."

I barely caught Regina's gaze, but I didn't have to look to know that she was smiling, and I said, "I love it too, Stasia."

     I opened the doors to her room, seeing that the only sliver of light came from a slip of the curtains—all of them were still closed. She never raised before the sun did anymore, so it wasn't a surprise. The doors opening left her body unmoved, and figure was curled up to the side of the bed, a book left open at her finger tips.

The stream of long rosy curls lay sprawled over the pillows behind her and the daintiest freckles sprinkled over her nose. Her eyes moved, though they were closed—dreaming of anything and everything, I suppose. She was peaceful for the time being.

But, I was here to pull her from her little cocoon of silk and feathered pillows.

"Stasia," I shook her shoulder, gently. "It's time to get up," I whispered.

Her long eye lashes fluttered for a moment and then lifted to reveal the same green eyes that have warmed my heart and given me hell at the same time all of these years. Every time I came to wake her, she had the same innocent, tired look she has had since she was a little girl.

"But, can't I just stay here all day?" She uttered, whining into her pillow. I removed the book from her bed and closed it on her nightstand before turning to face her now closed eyes.

     Pulling the blanket from her body, I shook my head and said, "There's a ball today, Stasia."

"Even more the reason to stay right where I'm at," she yawned, looking at me tiredly.

I laughed a little at her, shaking my head, "The little girl I once knew used to be the first one up on the day of the ball."

"What can I say," She stretched a little and reached for the blankets again, "The magic wears off."

I pulled the blankets from her again, lifting her, "Stasia, let's go. Get up. I brought you breakfast and tea."

"Now that is music to my ears," She slipped from the bed and started over to the lounge area, hugging a tea cup to her chest as she sat cross-legged on the couch.

I started opening the curtains, spreading the light into the room and then walked over to fit myself in a chair and poured some tea. Irina started putting a plate together for her and I watched Stasia's somber green eyes start to wake with each sip of tea she took.

"It's one night of your life," I tried toencourage her—knowing that she was not looking forward to it. She lookedtowards the window, squinting at the light a little and then took another gulp of tea, sighing.

When she looked at me again, thoughts were pulling at her face as she said, "It's every day of my life, Mer."