Enchanting Winter

W

illow doesn’t see anyone else but Annabelle for two days. Food and water ‘magically’ appear in the suite whilst all of Willow’s items from the ‘natural realm’ disappear without a trace. Her phone, which she is playing Candy Crush on evaporates from her fingers.

“What the hell?” Willow groans. Annabelle avoids her gaze as an embroidery stand appears at the foot of her bed. “What is god’s name is that?”

“Oh! An embroidery stand! Your grandmother must have had it delivered. It is a respected past time for a lady.”

“Sure in the 1800’s. Where I’m from no one wastes their time with that shit.”

Annabelle gasps and Willow rolls her eyes.

“Am I allowed to shower? Is that a task deemed suitable for a lady?” Willow asks hypothetically and not quite understanding Annabelle jumps to her feet.

“Oh of course m’lady. I could run you a bath, it would be my honour m’lady.”

“Alone, Anna. Where I come from people bathe alone.”

“But I am your lady’s maid.”

Willow ignores her as she walks through into the suite’s bathroom. Willow takes solace under the hot water of the shower thinking back over the events that got her here. She has at least ten minutes of solitude before Annabelle is knocking on the door.

“Lady Willow! M’lady! You must come and see. Your grandmother has picked out a whole new wardrobe to celebrate you starting school.”

When Willow wraps herself in a towel and opens the door to reveal a grinning Annabelle.

“Wardrobe?”

“Look m’lady! Everything is so beautiful. You will be the envy of every other girl at the Academy.”

Three-hundred and sixty five days. Willow reminds herself. Some grandparents, they don’t even know what today is.

“Won’t you try one on Lady Willow?”

Willow looks back at the Victorian Style dress in Annabelle’s hands. She can’t deny it is beautiful, the dress is stunning, princess like but…

Not what I want.

“Lady Willow? For dinner tonight, won’t it make the most beautiful statement?”

“Dinner? I’m not allowed out Anna.”

“Of course you are!” Annabelle giggles. “The Duke and Duchess wouldn’t let their own granddaughter miss the farewell dinner.”

“Farewell dinner?”

“Yes m’lady. You leave tomorrow for Imperium Academy.”

Willow stands unmoving giving into the inevitable and letting Annabelle dress her. From now the only thing that matters is making it through the next year.

No magic.

There is knock at Willow’s bedroom door which Annabelle answers with her permanent smile.

“Lady Willow, Mr Clark has come to escort us to dinner.”

Annabelle is practically giddy with excitement as Jonathan leads the two girls to the dining room. Annabelle takes her place along the wall with the other lady’s maids and footmen as the Duke steps forward to pull out a seat for Willow.

“My darling you look wonderful.” The Duke smiles at his granddaughter before pressing a a kiss to her forehead. The Duchess is smiling happily at the situation clearly just as pleased with Willow’s outfit as Annabelle and the Duke.

Willow doesn’t comment instead just taking her seat. Blair walks in moments later with a flourish before taking her seat opposite Willow.

“Where is Lord Black?”

“Nicholas and Cassius have begun their journey to Imperium. They left yesterday evening.”

Well that explains why my head has been awfully quiet.

“Oh.” Blair looks down fiddling with her napkin.

“When will your sister return Blair? We do so miss Quinn.” The Duchess asks whilst breaking her bread roll.

“She is due to return in time for Christmas break Your Grace. She was saddened to miss Thanksgiving.”

“I’m sure Lord Black will love to have her home.” The Duchess says thoughtfully.

“Why?” Willow asks before she can stop herself. Blair’s eyes meet Willow’s and her lip tug up into a smirk.

“My sister is betrothed to Lord Cassius. The two had their engagement arranged by the Duke himself.”

Willow takes in the information stunned. The first course is brought out and Willow is too consumed with her thoughts to even notice.

“Excuse me.” She stands from her chair the hoop skirt catching as she does. She pulls her dress free as her grandfather stands on ceremony.

“Lady Willow, what ever is the matter?”

“I’m not feeling well.” Willow manages before rushing up the stairs with Annabelle following close behind.

You are letting him get to you. Willow thinks to herself as she reaches her room.

You have known the guy not even a week and you are letting him get to you.

Willow misses the reassurance his voice would give her. She finds herself wishing she could hear him just one more time. Annabelle tries to provide comfort for Willow not really understanding the problem. Willow doesn’t quite understand the problem herself.

Why does it matter if he is engaged to someone else?

Willow hasn’t ever felt romantically towards a guy, except Charlie.

Is that what I feel for Cassius?

Happy Birthday to me…

Willow’s sleep is restless but she does manage to find a few moments of solace before Annabelle wakes her at six the next morning. Ignoring Annabelle’s insistence on dressing appropriately for breakfast Willow wraps a dressing gown around her body and finds her way to the kitchen.

“Oh Lady Willow!” An older graying woman is startled at the sight of a half dressed Willow entering the kitchen. She quickly drops into a low bow. “M’lady, can I be of any assistance?”

“Can I cook?”

“Pardon me m’lady?”

“Can I cook my breakfast this morning?”

“Cook m’lady? You shouldn’t bother yourself with such tasks.”

Willow sighs her face turning crestfallen, the last connection she had with her mother slowly disappearing.

“Lady Willow there you are!” Annabelle hurries into the kitchen. “I must get you upstairs and dressed before the Duchess sees you. She will have my head if-”

“I want to cook.” Willow says firmly and all heads in the kitchen snap upwards. Without waiting for permission or assistance Willow moves towards the refrigerator.

They have a fridge yet no phones… Willow shakes her confusion about the magic realm out of her head.

Willow gathers the ingredients needed for her mum’s special bacon, mushroom and extra cheese omelette before moving back to the bench to prepare the ingredients. As though frozen in place not a single servant in the kitchen moves as Willow cooks. She heats the skillet, throwing a little fat in the pan to keep anything from sticking and smiles to herself as she imagines her mother beside her. When the omelette is cooked Willow turns it out onto a plate smiling at her job well done.

“Honestly Mrs Arnold! Breakfast should be promptly at-” The angry Duchess stops short at the sight of Willow half dressed, skillet in one hand, plate in the other. “What on earth is going on?”

“Oh Your Grace!” The lady, Willow now knows as Mrs Arnold, drops into yet another low bow, the other servants in the room following her lead. “Lady Willow wanted to cook breakfast for herself.”

“Cook?” The Duchess noses curls in disgust. “Willow, you aren’t even dressed!” Elizabeth scolds her granddaughter.

“At home this would classify as over dressed.” Willow jokes and the Duchess’s eyes narrow.

“This is your home young lady! Get dressed this instant! And throw that out. The only food prepared in this kitchen will be by those of whom it is their job!”

Willow places the skillet down on the bench before taking a fork from the drawer and her plate of omelette. Willow pauses at the kitchen door.

“I’m sorry about the mess.” Willow says over her shoulder. “I will be back to help later.”

“You will do no such thing!” The Duchess calls after her but Willow pretends not to hear. She simply strolls towards her bedroom with her plate and fork passing many blushing footman who look away afraid of what they might see.

“Would you like some?” Willow asks a trembling Annabelle once they are inside the suite.

“How did you…where did you learn…”

“Do you not know how to cook Anna?”

“Of course I do. My mother made sure of it but that is only because I was always going to end up a lady’s maid. I beg your pardon m’lady but you are already a lady. Why would you need to cook?”

“Things are different at home Anna. I have been cooking with my mother for as long as I can remember.”

“You must miss her.” Annabelle offers sadly and Willow looks away unshed tears tickle the backs of her eyes.

“I do.”

“M’lady, I know this is not what you were expecting but you must understand things are different. There is a protocol to follow. Once we get to Imperium you will not make any friends acting like you are from the natural realm. You will have a reputation, which will follow you there. You are a Winter after all. Greatness will be expected not only in the magic you practice but also in how you present yourself. You will need to be a proper lady.”

Willow digests Annabelle’s words along with her omelette.

“What time do we leave today?”

“Three hours roughly.”

“And what would you have me wear?”

Willow watches Annabelle sigh in relief before grinning at her. She quickly moves to the closet pulling out an almost silver gown with snowflake like lace around the neckline and matching gloves.

“I thought this would be appropriate for you arrival. With your ice magic and all.”

“It is beautiful Annabelle.”

“Thank you m’lady. I have packed several gorgeous gowns, as we will not return to Winter Grove until Christmas. Of course you will wear your uniform more often than not-”

“Uniform?”

“It is a similar gown to this but in a more professional style. Royal blue, the men’s suits are the same.”

Willow nods before letting Annabelle string her into her corset and dress. Willow wears her hair down over her shoulder and once her appearance has Anna’s tick of approval she collects her plate and fork and walks back towards the kitchen.

“Lady Willow would you like me to-”

“No need.” Willow cuts the shy looking footman off before he can even finish his sentence.

Willow returns the plate and fork to the now spotless kitchen. She washes and dries both as the servants stand gob smacked looking on. Willow smiles as she leaves and every servant in the kitchen area breathes a sigh of relief.

“I don’t know what we are going to do William. She is out of control. It is bad enough Nora never informed her of her heritage but she lacks any proper manners.” Willow stops when she over hears her grandparents talking in the parlour.

“Elizabeth, Willow will be fine.”

“That is what I’m worried about! She is upholding our family name. We need her to be more than fine!”

“Elizabeth, calm yourself my dear. Willow is a natural; you saw the magic flowing through her. Half Wiccan or not that girl is all Winter.”

“But what if they don’t see it? What if they place her with the squires? Maybe we should have trained her ourselves before sending her to Imperium. Henry could perform at least fifty spells before he started as a freshman and she is starting as a senior.”

“I have already asked Lord Cassius and Master Nicholas to look over her. Willow will be fine.”

“How is Lord Cassius? I have never seen him as affected as he was the other night. Do you believe he is losing control?”

“I believe he needs to take more care but has-”

“It is rude to eavesdrop.” Blair’s voice causes Willow to jump back from the door.

Willow rolls her eyes at Blair.

“What do you want?”

“I’m saying goodbye to my Aunt and Uncle.”

“Well, don’t let me stop you.” Willow rolls her eyes.

“You know Imperium is going to eat you alive. You can dress the part but you certainly can’t act it. The only reason you’ll even be in the Pure Craft is because of your name and inherited gift. If things were done properly you should be hanging out with the Squires.” Blair pushes passed Willow into the parlour with a grin plastered on her face.

The Duke catches sight of Willow whilst the door is open and he quickly stands walking towards the hallway.

“Willow.” William calls out.

“Wait, Your Grace I wanted to-” Blair tries and fails to gain his attention as he shuts the parlour door in her face.

“Willow, may I speak to you for a moment?”

“I can’t stop you.” Willow says with a shrug and Duke William leads Willow towards the garden.

“Have you seen much of the grounds?”

“Do you really need ask? You locked me in my room.”

“I’m sorry Willow. It has been a while since I have had to be a parent, I hoped you would not hold that against me or your grandmother.”

“I’m sure you were shocked.”

“Ecstatic is another word. Obviously under better circumstances your mother would have been here with you but we are overjoyed to have you back in our lives.”

“And yet you are sending me away.”

“Imperium Academy is the best education in the magic realm. You are getting the best Willow.”

“What if I don’t want to use magic?”

William studies his granddaughter for a moment before sighing.

“The Duchess informed me that you made your breakfast this morning.”

“Yes Your Grace.”

William smiles softly at the title Willow used so seamlessly.

“I can’t make your decision for you Willow. I know that our realm seems behind in the times but I would never dream of deciding your life for you. I can hold out hope that you would turn to magic but it needs to be your choice. You need to trust in the magic.”

“I can’t trust something I have never known.” Willow admits softly.

“I have something for you. To celebrate you starting at Imperium.”

“Oh!” Willow stares at her grandfather in shock. He slips his hand into the breast pocket of his coat only to pull out a ring.

“This was your mother’s. She left it here in anger and I believe she would want you to have it. It was her engagement ring but it resembled so much more. A Wiccan needs an object through which to channel their magic and this is what your mother used.”

William slips the ring into Willow’s hand letting her inspect it. A beautiful sapphire is nestled in the middle of a cluster of pearls. Willow fiddles with the rose gold setting between her fingers unable to stop staring.

“It is beautiful.”

William helps Willow put on the ring and she immediately feels her magic pulse. She doesn’t say anything but William smiles knowingly.

“You best prepare for your trip Lady Willow.”