As always the night before the start of a dastard and intimidating journey would always be extremely long, even longer and anxious than expected.
As for Noelle she couldn't catch a wink of sleep through out the entire night, simply because her mind was occupied with anxieties. She had too much to think about.
Early yesterday morning, she had opened the letter which was sent by Lord Abraham, and as always it didn't contain anything interesting, rather it just contained all the simple formalities that every invitation letter would always contain.
Even, Noelle would rather deem it as a gate pass instead of an invitation letter. Just that it looked rather too fancy to be called a mere gate pass. So yes an invitation letter was a more appropriate name for it.
As expected Noelle had already got up early and done all the needful—collecting some more fresh mermaid tears—double-checking her luggage and repacking them and so on.
It was now morning already, after a long and distressful sleepless night filled with nothing but extreme anxiety.
Presently she was fully dressed and well prepared to face whatever was coming her way at the castle with firm force. She was wearing a long black gown and a curly rubber sandals, she looked extremely beautiful as always, especially with her silky long black hairs packed up in a ponytail style and weaved intricately by Madam Danielle who had spent almost all afternoon doing it for her yesterday.
Fortunately and as always the hair eventually came out nice, and wasn't a waste of effort. Carrying her bag of luggage upon her back, Noelle stared at herself in the mirror for a while.
Before mumbling the words, "I'm ready." Then a determined smile appeared on her voluptuous tender lips. And her confidence rose up to a hundred percent.
And immediately after saying that, her eyes fell upon the shabby old-fashioned black staff in her hand. Then her hundred percent courage instantly dropped down by twenty percent as she continuously stared at the shabby staff in a complicated manner.
Noelle sighed sorrowfully. As she wiggled her head trivially in shame.
But she knew better than to not bring it along with her. It wouldn't do her any good if she unexpectedly experience a leg malfunction at the castle. So carrying it along with her was a must.
To top it all, Noelle's legs pain had even worsen. Simply because she had been transforming into a mermaid and vice versa way too much this days, on an attempt to catch some few drops of poisonous tears. Which had further deteriorated the leg.
But she knew that it was no problem as long as she has her shabby black staff with her. Although embarrassing but helpful.
Because of Noelle's departure from the house today, everyone in the house was already awake as early as four in the morning. Madam Danielle had already helped her pack also before dawn.
Trying to lighten up her sombre mood. Noelle forced a smile on her face to boost her self confidence.
"It's going to be fine Noelle. Just calm down everything's going to go as I've plan…" she mumbled to herself in assurance but soon stopped talking when she heard loud neighing of horses coming from the front door.
'They're here! Thank goodness I'm all set. I guess it's a good thing that I woke up early.' Said Noelle inwardly. Although she knew that the carriage was going to arrive early, however she wasn't expecting it to be this early. Lucky for her she had already packed up.
Dabbing her shabby black staff upon the ground, she opened the door and made her way out of the room with an accelerating heart.
Alongst the passageway, Noelle met Madam Danielle.
Staring at Noelle few feets away, "I was just about to come and tell you that the carriage that is supposed to pick you up have arrived already and is presently waiting for you outside," Madam Danielle spoke first as they both began walking towards the living room.
"Yes. I also heard it from my room when the carriage pulled over," Noelle admitted, clenching her staff more nervously.
'Am I even ready for this?' Noelle couldn't help but ask herself this awkward question.
"Did you pack everything you'll need?" Madam Danielle asked as she stared sideways at Noelle.
"Yes… I did…" Noelle said with a heavy voice. Which made Madam Danielle realized that her sweet Noelle was having some anxieties.
"Noelle dear, Is this you first time working?"
"Yes it is," Noelle's enchanting voice sweetly admitted reluctant. She guessed that Madam Danielle could see right through her. At least the woman couldn't read minds.
Madam Danielle smiled, "No need to be nervous my dear. You've got this. I also remember when it was my first time working as a Maidservant in the castle. I was extremely anxious. But thanks to your mother's kindness to me. I eventually got used to the place and loved it," Madam Danielle narrated casually, not knowing that it was exactly the same situation Noelle was presently in.
"Well then… I sure do hope I meet a boss as nice as my mother was, there," Noelle said warily.
Causing Madam Danielle to chuckle, "By the way, Noelle dear, I have something for you," said Madam Danielle as she brought out a long holster, a knitted one to be precised. Perhaps she must've knitted it herself.
Before Noelle could speak Madam Danielle handed her the holster, "Have this my dear. I knitted it specifically for you. You can put your staff inside it if you ever feel tired about carrying it around. In that way you would still be carrying it along with you, and also still be hiding it away from others."
"You know me so well," Noelle smiled and gave Madam Danielle a very big hug. Ending the hug, "Thank you," she appreciated the woman.
They soon arrived at the living room.
They both stood at the living room, "You're welcome, my dear. I know it must probably make you feel embarrassed carrying it around. Not to talk of how Westley occasionally bully you about it. So that's why I knitted it for you," Madam Danielle chortled.
"Westley is always like that. Anyways I love that you made it especially for me and so beautifully too, thank you so much," Noelle beamed mildly. Already tying the knitted holster around her waist briefly.
When she was done, "How does it look?" Noelle asked Madam Danielle enthusiastically. Blessing her tender lips with a blissful smile.
"Looks good on you," Madam Danielle remarked. Rapidly remembering something, "Oh… and also Noelle…" Madam Danielle said halfways and hastily went towards the dining and brought a box of cookies for her from the dining table which she had packed earlier. "…have this. You'll probably get hungry alongst the way."
Accepting the box of cookies, "Alright, thank you," Noelle appreciated and smiled brightly.
With that said, they both made their way towards the door. Upon getting out of the door. Casting her glance outside, Noelle could already see Westley outside talking to the coachman who was sitted on the horseback.
Upon realizing that Noelle was finally here, Westley promptly ended his conversation with the coachman. He then looked towards Noelle back, "Took you long enough!" He remarked, and moved closer towards the carriage. Moving the curtains aside so Noelle could pass.
Noelle and Madam Danielle hastily made their way towards the coach.
Westley extended his hand, and offered it to Noelle like a gentleman should. Which Noelle took, and with this she entered into the carriage and sat down as she balanced herself properly.
She smiled as she stared at Westley. Reminding him, "Westley it's not too late to admit that you would miss me, you know," she teased as she pulled Westley's nose playfully, but Westley hastily moved backwards before Noelle could pull his nose.
"Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't. I won't know that until you're gone. So don't keep the coachman waiting. Should I inform him that you're ready to go?" Westley grunted, still not budging.
"No not yet, Westley. Madam Danielle, I have something for you also," Noelle stated, causing Madam Danielle to move towards her as she wondered what her sweet little Noelle wanted to give to her.
"Close your eyes Madam Danielle," Noelle said, and Madam Danielle did as she was told.
Noelle hastily dropped to large sized gold coins on Madam Danielle's palm. Knowing fully that if Madam Danielle saw it, she would refuse. And Noelle didn't want that to happen. So she had to result into this.
Noelle hastily closed Madam Danielle's palm together so that she wouldn't see it yet.
"You can open your eyes. However, you can't check what I've placed there until I'm away, okay?"
Opening her eyes, Madam Danielle agreed, "Okay. I won't," she smiled.
"Take care my dear. Eat on time, and also sleep on time too. And don't forget to visit us as you've promised. I'm going to miss you very much," Madam Danielle said with a slightly trembling voice as tears were already starting to form in her eyes. She took Noelle's hands and kissed it gently.
Noelle grinned, "Don't cry Madam Danielle. I'll come back and visit soon as I've promised." She stated with a reassuring smile, as Madam Danielle patted her head and smiled back at her.
Interrupting them was Westley, "All I have to say to you Noelle, is that keep away from trouble. Don't endanger yourself. And also stay safe," Westley stated firmly. Maintaining his composure.
"Okay brother Westley," Noelle turned to him and smiled sheepishly at him.
"Are you ready to start going?" Asked Westley again.
"Westley, why are you so in such a hurry to send me away uh?" Noelle frowned frivolously, causing Westley to grunt and roll his eyes exasperatedly. "Anyways, yes I'm ready to start. I hope you're happy now?" Noelle informed.
"You silly brat," Westley mumbled, and ignored Noelle's silly claims. With that Westley informed the coachman to begin moving the carriage.
As the carriage began moving, Noelle poke her head out of the carriage, then waved at both Westley and Madam Danielle.
"Bye!" She said happily, as she blew them a kiss, and they both waved back at her too.
Afterwards Noelle sat back on the seat.
Meanwhile, Westley's active face dropped the moment Noelle's carriage was out of sight. Welcoming a profound sensation of sadness as he still stared in the direction of the carriage eventhough the carriage was already out of sight.
"I'm going to miss you Noelle, very much…" he muttered woefully to himself, which was heard by Madam Danielle.
"Well I think you should've told her that, shouldn't you?" Madam Danielle said as she wiped the tears away from her saturated eyes. Replacing it with a cunning smile to tease Westley.
"I guess I should have, but I didn't."
Staring down at his mother's closed palm which Noelle had placed the coins earlier, "Why don't you check your palm, mother," Westley stated casually, and walked towards the direction of the door, leaving his mother on the spot.
"Oh right. My palm," Madam Danielle remembered, and hastily glanced at her palm and opened it up, and her lips parted in awe to what she saw.