The rest of the ride was spent in subjective conversation as Moira tried to pick out an appropriate outfit, Vyvian and Jalla occasionally having a go at each other, then after hours of petty talk they started asking Moira who would be more qualified to do what; Vyvian is obviously the fastest and strongest and Jalla constantly brings up the fact that having a beating heart and being able to hold a tan makes her superior.
Staring longingly out the window, the carriage rocked down the path where thick cobblestone receded and dropped down to loose gravel. After finally choosing just to wear a traditional stola and sandal, she sat and witnessed the summer leaves turn from their vibrant green color, getting paler and darker as they rode past, transforming to the red and orange colors of Autumn.
The light faded quickly as they traveled, the colors harder and harder to see as the sun set until looking out the window was pointless, the world slowly setting into the cold of the night, the cold she never felt before from the protection of the Domes. Feeling the carriage slope downward into the stone canyon gulch before the valley, winter winds began to pick up and hit the carriage, there were plenty of times that Moira thought the carriage would tip, but the walls of the gulch were too close together, making loud scraping sounds of metal and stone.
Moira's stomach growled as she eventually got up from her spot near the window and looked around the well lit carriage; Jalla was writing on a long parchment that was labelled with her siblings names, the quill tip scratching the thick paper; Vyvian was standing near the door, looking unreadable as ever. Moira stretched and carefully walked to the tea table where a few lemon tarts and sour silverberry cakes were served hours previously.
"We'll be at the castle within a half hour, the cooks found it unnecessary to serve dinner when there will be a dinner upon arrival." Vyvian said, Jalla looked over at this and grimaced.
"Thank you Vyvian, I was worried they had forgotten." Moira said worriedly with a nervous laugh.
"Of course, people who don't even need to eat found it unnecessary." Jalla said darkly, looking up from her letter.
Vyvian exhales loudly and turns at Jalla with distaste. "Of course we need to eat-"
"Yeah- People." Jalla hissed, rustling the parchment to the side.
Vyvian sneered. "We do not eat people, Jalla."
"Oh really? You wouldn't consider feasting off the blood of living people eating them? Or would it be drinking them?"
Moira jerks toward Jalla, sucking air through her teeth sharply, eyes narrowed, face red from embarrassment. "Oh Gods' damn it, Jalla! Shut it! You're being a bigot."
Jalla scoffs, looking at Vyvian then Moira with doubt and gets up, throwing the parchment and quill down, the ink left on the tip splattering against the table.
"Yeah, well... You're being stupid. I am done looking at the both of you anyways." Then leaves to the cabin, a rush of wind sways the carriage accompanied by another loud scrap against the rock. The driver could faintly be heard yelling commands at the horses.
"I'm sorry Vyvian." Moira said, her eyes roaming Vyvian's dark face in the shadow.
"No need for apologies, many think the way she does because many are ruled by their fear. Fear of being around those who survive off of blood is a good fear to have. Human instinct."
"Don't validate her anger. She'll only get more of an attitude, she always had it out for Greyse and Tsina when they showed up. You're just new." Moira warned, smiling meekly.
Vyvian frowned. "You're telling me this is a subconscious hazing ritual?"
Moira laughed, a bit too heartily. "I suppose. It's more along the lines of who she knows I am: easy to impress, easy to forgive, easy to fall in love with my friends." She pauses, looking at Vyvian's blank face. "You're my friend, Vyvian. I would like to be friends with you. I would like Jalla to be friends with you, but I will not force you to take her disrespect."
Vyvian smiled, looking out the window then to Moira. "Thank you for saying that Moira, it brings me comfort that you care as such. I too wish to be your friend, not only your Second. It would make me uneasy to think we are on bad terms."
Looking back out the window, Moira realizes that they were no long surrounded by the wet, tar like, black walls of the gulch, but finally were in the open, where she could see thousands of tiny speckled lights were spread out down in the valley where the town under the castle resided. The snow flurried past the window as the carriages slowed, but Moira could see the outline of the town, it was massive. The horses began their final ascent up to the spiral road to the summit, where the silhouette of Castle Athaar stood. Moira stood with her cheek pressed hard against the window in alarm of how massive the castle was, the tallest tower must have reached past the clouds. A sliver of a waxing crescent moon, beaming bright as the moving clouds brought it into view.
Circling up, they passed under many gated, oval arches, all manned with men wearing the same armour as Hulmir, silvery and dazzling. Who, as Moira thought about it, she hasn't seen since yesterday. Perhaps since the caravan did not stop again he did not need to guard the carriage. Moira thought of Jalla's dreamy face as he entered the room, it can't be specifically the vampire aspect as to why Jalla seems to hate Vyvian. It must be a jealousy thing, Moira thought, the lanterns of the arches lighting up her face as they come and go.
Moira gets pulled out of her head as Vyvian opens the door to the front of the carriage, where she could see two men in grey clothing sitting on a bench, and disappears behind it. Stepping towards the door, it quickly shuts before she could make out what was being said. With a small disappointed stomp, Moira then marches to the cabin and closes it quietly, seeing Jalla in the corner desk sulking with her head in her arms.
"Stiffen your pride Jalla and get ready." Moira teases, playfully slapping Jalla's shoulder.
"We're not even here yet, and you need to apologize-." Jalla spits out, looking up, anger still all over her face.
"For what, Jalla? And anyways, yes we are here..." Moira said in a defensive tone. "...and when we get settled in, we need to have a long talk."
Jalla's face changed and sat up straight. "Wait, Moira I was-"
"Not now please, I am already stressed about meeting the family I have to marry into, let alone trying to control my handmaid, who happens to be my best friend-"
"-your only friend-" Jalla mumbled.
"-to keep her mouth shut about things she or I do not understand." Moira sighed and closed her eyes, kneeling down and opening the chest of clothing. "Now, please, do your job and dress me."
As Jalla dressed Moira in silence, Moira felt the carriage turn left many times, feeling something rise in her, like sadness and a worry. Would her future husband find her unattractive, her thick, soft, pear like body, small in some areas but larger in others. The dress gifted to Moira scared her, was every dress made with magical fabrics, or is that just for her? It was awkward to say the least, having to explain her size to foreign tailors and dress makers, after a while she stopped requesting new dresses.
Moira wore a thick deep green peplos, tied with a golden tasseled rope in a butterfly bow, draped with a golden embroidered himation, clipped together with many brass rings at the shoulder, and some at the hip, to keep everything tied together. Jalla stood, looking regretful, forcing a smile.
"Moira, you're really mad about that?"
"Yes." Moira said quickly. "You embarrass me."
Jalla looks down, her face screwed up, "I am sorry Moira, but you have to understand-"
"Please, Jalla, let it wait." Moira pleaded, looking up at Jalla. "I am sorry too."