Noelle could be seen running amidst the passageway towards the living room with a small scroll in her firm grasp, she was wearing a gorgeous blue gown matching the colors of the calm sea.
"Westley! Don't go yet, wait for me!" she exclaimed, trying to catch up with Westley who had already opened the door and was about to go out, but instantly stopped his movement upon hearing Noelle call him.
Almost reaching Westley's side, Noelle's legs malfunctioned as it was still aching even after resting properly, causing her to almost fall down, but soon hastily get herself back together with the help of the black walking stick Madam Danielle gave to her yesterday to support her malfunctioning legs.
Westley shooked his head disappointedly, "Slowdown Noelle. It's only just yesterday that you've complained of a severe leg pain. And now you're running carelessly again this morning. It seems you don't even pity yourself, do you?" the young man complained.
"Relax Westley, it's just a minimal leg pain. It would go away soon," Noelle ignored, paying less attention to it as she promptly supported herself upwards with the help of the black staff. "Anyways, that aside. Westley I wanted to ask you if you knew anywhere I could go in order to deliver a letter through the carrier pigeon."
"Noelle, no one hardly uses carrier pigeon this days. But there's a mail office near that local market we went the previous day. I can take you there, since that road also leads to where I'm presently going," Westley offered.
"Okay sure," Noelle nodded. Besides, she had been living in the sea for so long that she hadn't the slightest idea about most of the things going on in the world they were in now.
"Let's go then," Noelle hasted.
Westley went forward, and Noelle hastily shut the door behind her and dashed towards Westley as they walked away from the house.
"You want to deliver a letter? To whom?" Westley asked curiously, noticing how Noelle kept staring down at the scroll in her hands lovingly.
"I want to give this letter to the family that took me in and take care of me whilst the war was going on back then. I had promised them that I would write to them when I arrive here safely. So I have to do that before I leave for the castle."
"Alright. They must be nice people?" Westley stated.
"Of course they are," Noelle smiled slightly, clinging tighter onto the letter and her black staff. As she watched Westley moving out his bicycle slowly. Noelle guessed that they were going to ride the bicycle. Although it wasn't comfortable but at least it was better than walking.
Westley sat on it, indicating for Noelle to join him. "Come on," he prompted, and Noelle hastily did as she was told. Besides she needn't stress her aching legs too much as it would only make it deteriorate. So riding the bicycle was a good choice.
"Sit tight, okay? And don't fall," Westley instructed as he held the steering handles firmly, ready to start riding.
"I'm not that clumsy, Westley," Noelle tackled. Folding her arms as she stared to the side.
Westley started riding the bicycle, "I wish I could also believe you. But it's simply not the truth. And look now you would have to start making use of a staff like an old woman just to walk. People would start thinking that such a beautiful lady like you has a disability. Tch, tch…!"
"I told you, this happens to me a lot. And just as always it would also stop aching soon," Noelle defended herself, causing Westley to roll his eyes rampaciosly.
"Now suitors wouldn't want to come to you if they see that at such a young age you're already needing a staff to walk. Doesn't that bother you Noelle?"
"Since I don't intend on getting married anytime soon. It doesn't matter if suitors come to me or not!" she said curtly.
Even Noelle didn't know why her legs wasn't healing yet. Could something have gone wrong whilst transforming? She didn't really know!
Even Noelle herself couldn't believe that she would need to start making use of a staff just to walk. And this made her worried, but she had to hide her worries.
Besides, would they want to employ her in the castle seeing that she was making use of a staff to walk? Perhaps she would need to hide her staff when she starts working in the castle. Hopefully that wouldn't be needed if her legs managed to heal by the time she goes to work at the castle.
Sometime later…
Westley and Noelle arrived at the local market. To think they had once actually came here to beg for money before. So to Noelle coming back here felt awkward.
Getting up from the bicycle. Noelle glanced upwards at the sky, the blue in it was starting to be towered by dark clouds. Therefore, from what she was seeing, it would snow soon, and if she wasn't mistaken it would probably be a snowstorm.
Most people don't know this. But merpeople are able to foretell the weather, and this was the case with Noelle also. She had always been able to foretell weather since the time she use to dwell in the vast blue sea alone.
Meanwhile, Westley didn't get up from the bicycle. Looking towards the mermaid lady, Westley spoke; "As I've said earlier. I need to go somewhere else. Look over there," Westley pointed towards a place, causing Noelle to also glance there. "Yes, that's the mail office over there. You will just have to go in, and they would tell you all you need to do. Noelle, and those people occasionally demands too much coins this days. So are you with enough coins?" He asked.
"Yes… I think so," Noelle said the yes part loudly, while mumbling the rest of her sentence.
"Okay then. Noelle, wait for me outside the mail office when you're done. I'll be back in a short while. I just need to check on someone who is owing me and had refused to pay up." Westley stated aggravatedly, clenching his fists. Calming himself down, "Anyways, Noelle if it happens that I take longer than expected then you can start going home by yourself, okay? Besides I think a rainstorm is coming soon."
"A snowstorm you mean!" Noelle corrected, knowing her capabilities to foretell the weather. "By the way, I've heard you, I'll start going home if I don't see you soon," she nodded in agreement.
"Who knows if it's a rainstorm, snowstorm or even a blizzard. All I just know is that it's going to be quite a tough one, from the look of things. Noelle, I'll get going now," Westley informed, and Noelle moved aside so that he could pass.
"Make sure you don't get into a fight, or steal anything alongst the way!" Noelle teased.
"Keep you voice down! You idiot!" Westley grunted turning his head backwards to see Noelle. "You're so unprincipled!"
Noelle chuckled seeing Westley go. Afterwards she decided to focus back on business. She looked forward at where Westley was pointing at earlier as the mail office.
Noelle moved her petite frame towards the place. Trying her best to not put too much attention on herself, as she gently supported herself with the black staff she was clenching. She had to admit it, of course it was quite annoying and extremely embarrassing having to walk around holding a staff.
Be it as it may, she had to use it, incase of any legs malfunctioning alongst the way.
Noelle glanced at the mail office carefully, before eventually stepping in. She was still quite bewildered that no one uses the carrier pigeon anymore, and now they're all making use of mailman.
Upon reaching inside.
She glance around the place. It didn't look too pleasing, neither did it look too displeasing either. In one word, it looked extremely average, but at least it appeared clean, although it wasn't luxurious.
A young man who was dressed decently was sitting behind a desk in the office, and the moment he noticed Noelle, the young man hastily got up to attend to her. Then the young man's eyes fell upon Noelle's shabby black staff.
He found it awkward that Noelle was actually walking fine, but was still holding onto a staff. But hastily covered his displeasure with a smile.
"Welcome to the mail office, Young Lady. We're always at your service. How may we help you today?" The young man asked. Which felt quite awkward, besides, what else would anyone come and do here anyways than drop letters?
Either ways, Noelle replied, returning the gentle smile. "I want to send this letter to someone, somewhere near Culunean sea."
"That's easy. All you just have to do is drop the letter you want to deliver. Write down your address and also the address of whom you want the letter to be delivered to. And also the time you want it to be delivered," the young man informed Noelle, saying it as though it was a nursery rhymes.
"And how much would that cost me?" Noelle went straight to the amount part. Knowing that her purse only contained ten silver coins. She hoped inwardly that the mail man wouldn't demand more than seven silver coins from her.
"That would be twelve silver coins, Young Lady," the young man said.
"That much? It's just one letter, you see…" Noelle's eyes widened.
"Yes Young Lady. That's the amount we've fixed for anyone hoping to deliver their letters towards anywhere near Culunean sea. I didn't fix the price, Young Lady, my boss did. So even if I want to cut the price low for you, I can't," the young man said, noticing Noelle's looks of displeasure. And Noelle could sense honesty in his words.
"Oh… uh… I only have ten silver coins with me right now. It's my first time visiting here. Don't you people give new customers a discount?" Noelle asked, trying her best to get her way.
"No, Young Lady. We don't. But we do accept payment in items. For example, if you don't have any money and you need to deliver a letter, you can pay with the bracelet on your wrists, if you want," the man suggested. And the hard glare Noelle gave him afterwards was completely unexpected from someone as sweet, gentle and delicate looking as her.
Noelle knew that there was no way that would ever happen. Not her pearl bracelet of all things! Over her dead body!
"Uh… it's just a suggestion…" the young man hesitated, noticing how Noelle mood suddenly change and also the hard glare he received from her.
"It doesn't matter, I know it's just a suggestion. But I'm afraid that wouldn't be necessary, I'll come back with the rest of the silver coins," Noelle assured and turned to leave immediately.
She walked furiously out of the mail office. Clenching tightly onto her staff, as she banged it on the floor aggressively. Raging out of the mail office. Which further frightened the mailman.
'If I could just wait for Westley, then perhaps he would be able to lend me some few silver coins,' Noelle thought opening up the door and then closing it back.
She stood outside of the building.
A cold wind accelerated by, and immediately after that, Noelle knew that she would have to leave soon due to the snowstorm that was fast approaching, perhaps she would have to come back later.
Noelle sighed, when suddenly another gust of wind blew by again, it was even mightier than the last, and before Noelle knew it, the wind already blew the letter away from her hand. Carrying it up in the air.
"What…?! Damnit!" Noelle exclaimed. Instantly she began dashing towards the area the letter she was holding flew towards. Hoping to catch it.