MARIL FILE 5

Disclaimers: Fireworks owns the copyrights, and I don't know who owns the Queen's sword. Not me <sigh>
Rating: PG - some violence
Feedback/Beta: yes, please

Note: I didn't think there would be time this week for a challenge but... <g>

QUOTE 1: "Anyone can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error." -- Cicero
QUOTE 2: ""When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite. " - Sir Winston Churchill

~~~~~

Tessa drew up the wagon and gaped in astonishment at the town square. It was filled with peasants, angrily clamouring and shaking their fists at Colonel Montoya who was watching nonchalantly from his balcony. She spied Doctor Helm standing back on the periphery of the crowd. She could see he was also upset by something. Handing the reins to Marta, Tessa climbed down and made her way to the doctor. She touched his shoulder and he jumped. The face he turned to her was not smiling or welcoming.

"What's going on here, Doctor?" she asked, making her voice loud enough to be heard over the din in the square. Helm took her arm and led her a distance away.

"Damned aristos!" he said vehemently. "They think they can run roughshod over anybody and get away with it." Helm's face was flushed and his green eyes sparkled with rage. His hands were balled into fists as if he wanted to hit something or someone.

"Perhaps, Doctor, you could be a bit more specific than just vilifying a whole class of people. What are the peasants so angry about?"

"Yesterday, Don Hernandez was moving his herd to a new pasture and they stampeded. Ran across a couple of small farms, trampling everything to dust. All their crops were destroyed and some small buildings knocked down. The don refuses to pay anything to the farmers for the damages. He says it wasn't his fault that the herd stampeded. An act of God." Helm's voice was harsh, and Tessa could see his blood was up. He seemed ready to fight against this injustice.

"Did the farmers not bring their case to Montoya?" Tessa asked.

Helm snorted. "He sided with Hernandez of course. The best justice money could buy."

The din was getting louder as the peasants urged each other on. Tessa took a quick glance at Marta who was still holding the reins of the team. 'Just in case we need to make a quick exit,' Tessa mused. 'This could get ugly if Montoya doesn't do something'. Almost as if on cue, a squad of soldiers marched from between some buildings, their faces grimly determined and their bayonets fixed and pointed at the crowd. Grisham swaggered at their head.

"Clear the square!" he barked and the soldiers moved as a unit toward the knot of peasants. Jeers and curses met the soldiers, then some stones and dung from the street followed. A melee ensued as the soldiers waded into the crowd, using their guns as clubs, striking without mercy. Many fell, bloodied, onto the ground, and the battle swirled around them.

Tessa heard Helm mutter in horror, "Good God, not again." His eyes seemed to see not just the scene before him but as if he was focussed another landscape. He started forward but Tessa restrained him.

"They don't need your fists in the fray, Doctor, but they will need your skills after." She kept a firm hold on his sleeve while he battled with his instinct to join the fight. If she had a sword in her own hand, what would she do? Tessa wondered. It was hard to stand back and watch the soldiers battering the unarmed peasants. The screams and jeers began to abate as the crowd dispersed, running off into the side alleys of the pueblo. The wounded writhed on the ground, or tried to stagger to their feet only to receive another blow which felled them once more.

Helm shook off her grip and rushed to the victims. He thrust a soldier aside who was kicking one of the men of the ground and knelt to attend his wounds. Other soldiers continued to drag peasants out of their hiding places and beat them severely.

"Haven't you proved your point already?" Tessa shouted as she grabbed one of the soldiers' tunics. "There's no need for further violence. Let them go!" The soldiers, seeing her, backed off suddenly shamefaced.

Colonel Montoya stepped down from his aerie above the skirmish, and wandered through the dozen men, bloodied and beaten, who sat or lay upon the dusty pueblo street. He seemed satisfied, and Tessa felt her own blood beginning to boil. Montoya had won this battle but the war was not over. Not by a long mark. The colonel strolled toward her with an amused expression on his face.

"My, my," he said with a wry smile, "Such mettle, Maria Theresa. Who would have expected it from you?"

"I don't know what came over me, Colonel. The horror of this scene must have made me lose my wits for a few minutes." Tessa held her hand to her head, seeming flustered. "I think I should go home now. I feel rather faint." She turned toward the wagon only to feel the colonel's hand on her bare arm.

"When you take a side, my dear, be sure it is the one which is winning." His grey eyes seemed to bore into her as he added, "Or better yet, stay out of what does not concern you." He let her go and turned back to the square, ordering the soldiers, "Clean this up, and get those men out of here. No point in filling the cells with this rabble." The colonel strode back into his residence without a backward glance.

**********

Don Hernandez' florid face was greasy with sweat as he dismounted his horse. He winced as he walked awkwardly toward a small hut. All around the farm yard was evidence of destruction, overturned fences, trampled gardens. The earth was churned up and indented with the prints of hundreds of hoofs. He swallowed convulsively as a man stepped out of the hut and eyed him belligerently. The man's dark eyes narrowed suspiciously and he advanced warily upon the don.

Hernandez cast a worried look around, seeming to shrink into himself. "Señor," the don croaked out, "I have made a terrible mistake." He shrugged deprecatingly and continued, "Anyone can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error. I have come to pay for the damages to your property." He moved stiffly toward the farmer and pulled out a leather purse which clinked when it moved.

The don's gaze shifted to a hill above this poor farm where a masked woman, clad in black, sat impassively waiting on her dark horse. He shuddered, recalling the bite of her whip, and the warning which came wrapped in a warm smile. "When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite." Her lips smiled but her eyes burned with righteous anger. She would kill him if he resisted. He could see it in her eyes. His back burned with the salty sweat running into that single welt. It was all she had needed to convince him that he had been unjust to the farmers.

He glanced back at the peasant now counting the gold reales, and promised himself, 'She has made me pay today, but she will pay also. When Montoya finally catches her, I will be there to watch her die.' With this small consolation, Hernandez returned to his horse, groaning with pain as he mounted. He turned toward the next farm where he had an obligation to keep, noting the masked woman rode a discreet distance away, making sure he kept his word. 'Yes', he thought, 'Someday she will pay for this.'

END, for now <g>

By Maril

DISCLAIMERS: Fireworks owns the copyrights, we're just nurturing the characters
RATING: G
FEEDBACK/BETA: yes, please

TRIO CHALLENGE: cheese, skull, clock

~~~~~

He bent over the worktable, apparently unaware of her as she crept near. Only the clock ticking on the shelf punctuated the silence. Suddenly, he turned and grabbed both her hands, twisting one arm behind her back. With his face only inches away, he grinned cheekily without relaxing his hold. "Don't you know it's dangerous to sneak up on a man? You never know how they might react." He planted a quick kiss on her lips then released her.

The Queen laughed, rubbing her wrists. "You don't know your own strength, Doctor." She took a step back and said, "I just wanted you to know that justice has been done."

"What does that mean?"

"Señor Hernandez has paid for the damages his cattle did to the farmers' properties." Helm could see her watching his face closely, looking for something from him. What was it - his approval or his respect?

"I see," he said and turned back to his worktable where he pushed aside the remains of his meagre supper - a roll and a piece of cheese. "I've had a busy few days here. Yesterday, I spent most of the day patching up peasants and today, Señor Hernandez called me out to his hacienda to attend to a most unusual injury."

Helm thought back to that afternoon. He had been shown into the don's bedroom and was greeted brusquely. As he helped Señor Hernandez remove his shirt, the doctor gasped silently at the angry red welt on his back. He had seen far too many of these in the army to mistake what it was. Wisely, he decided not to ask about it. He had just coated the wound with salve and given instructions on how to keep it from getting infected.

He returned his attention to the Queen who seemed to be making herself quite at home in his small office. She studied the books on his shelf then peered closely at the row of surgical instruments laid out on a clean cloth. With a slight grimace, she picked up a skull and laughed. "Not one of your greater successes, Doctor? Where is the rest of him?" Her dark eyes twinkled with merriment behind the lace mask. She seemed quite pleased with herself, in high spirits.

Her good humour was wearing on his nerves. "In a trunk. Now, will you please put it down. And stop handling my things."

With a defiant lift of chin and a pretty pout, she set the skull down and wandered across the room. Her presence was disturbing him. He was angry at the world right now and she was part of the problem. If only she wasn't so infuriatingly lovely and attractive, he might have a chance to keep her at a distance. From her position near the door, she watched him, her very stillness unnerving.

Helm's temper was short though he struggled to keep it in check. Finally, his patience gone, he said tersely, "So, you persuaded Hernandez to pay for the damages. How could you do that to him?" He compressed his thin lips in disapproval.

"I tried to talk to him, to make him see how unjust he was being to the farmers. He pulled a gun on me. I guess I used the whip as a reflex." She shrugged, seeming a bit chagrined.

"Remind me to always keep my hands where you can see them," Helm said irascibly. Seeing the hurt look in her eyes, he relented. He stepped toward her and took her gloved hand, pressing it warmly. "Your way of doing things isn't mine but at least someone did something to right the scales of justice. However," he continued, staring earnestly into her eyes, "You've made a powerful enemy. Hernandez has a small army of rancheros and I doubt if he'll take this insult from a woman without seeking vengeance. I'm afraid he'll join forces with Montoya against you."

The warning seemed to find its mark and he saw her take a deep, steadying breath. "I know," she said softly. "Señor Hernandez is not liked by most of the other dons. For years, he has been embroiled in water rights disputes with many of them. He has also ranged his cattle on other dons' lands without permission. I am afraid it may end up in open conflict at some point. At least I can count on the fact that other dons will not ally with him against me."

For a moment, Helm saw the vulnerability beneath the armour that she seemed to keep around her. The proud mask slipped a bit and he knew she was scared. He held her closely, protectively though he knew he couldn't shield her from her enemies. She was a lone vigilante whom few would help if she needed them. She must know that. He felt her loneliness and fear. The thought saddened him that he could do nothing for her. Only love her.

END

Disclaimers: Fireworks owns them, but they are really ours.
Rating: G
Feedback: yes, please
Trio: a linen towel, a bear, red ribbon

~~~~~

May 3, 1803
Today I am eight. I had such a nice birthday. All my cousins were there. Ricardo and Sandro gave me a pretty doll and Elena made a satin pillow for the doll. If only Mama could have been here too.

May 16, 1803
Today Papa left for California. Uncle Alejandro took him to Cadiz where the ship will sail from. I am left here in Madrid with the Gypsy woman, Marta. Though I liked her, now she suddenly seems like a stranger. I am a little afraid of her. Before he left, Papa said I was to mind her and do what she says. The house feels so empty without Papa, and I am already missing him.

May 24, 1803
My new mathematics tutor came today. He is old and smells funny. Marta said I must learn about numbers but I see no reason for it.

May 26, 1803
Marta won't let me go out into the courtyard to play with my dolls until I have finished my mathematics exercises. She corrected my work and made me do it again. I think she is mean.

May 30, 1803
Today I went to a party at a villa a few streets away from ours. I met a new friend named Luisa. She has a brother named Antonio. Marta was pleased that I made a friend. I think Luisa's mother didn't like Marta. She gave her strange looks all afternoon.

June 4, 1803
Papa has been gone for a whole month. I miss him so much. I wish he had taken me with him to California. I hate Spain and this city. There is no place to ride a horse, even if I had one. I miss my horse, Chiquita. She was a lovely pony. I hope she won't forget me.

June 5, 1803
Today I went to visit Luisa. We had a good time. Except for Antonio, Luisa's brother. He is a pest. We both hate him.

June 6, 1803
I am not speaking to Marta ever again. Today I tore my dress climbing a tree in the courtyard. She tried to make me sew it but I will not. She has refused to give me any food until I do. But I won't. That is what servants are for.

Tonight I am so hungry. But I will starve myself to death before I give in. Then she will be sorry.

After I sewed the tear in my dress, Marta gave me a lovely dinner and a special treat. But she made me pull out the stitches and do it again. She said I must learn to do things for myself and not depend on others. Why do we have servants then?

June 26, 1803
Today I received a letter from Papa. It was posted from Santo Domingo. I looked it up on the atlas. So far away. His letter made me cry and Marta gave me a hug and we went out for a walk on the Puerto del Sol. We looked at the shops and vendors, and laughed a lot.

July 3, 1803
I am writing to Papa to tell him how Marta mistreats me. She will be sorry. Today I said a bad word to her. I was angry with her. She took the soap and washed my mouth with it. I can still taste the soap. I hate Marta.

July 5, 1803
Today when I came down to breakfast, there was a strange man in the kitchen with Marta. She said her was her brother, Rafael. Same name as my father. He gave me a carved bear made of wood. Rafael said he carved it for a special señorita. Then he picked me up and swung me around and made me laugh. I like Rafael. It is too bad Marta is not as nice as her brother.

July 8, 1803
My music tutor is a nasty old woman. Today I told her that Marta plays the violin and she did not believe me. She said Gypsies were savages and couldn't learn anything. I will write to Papa and ask if he could find me another music tutor. Señora Rodriquez will not allow Marta in the room while I learn to play the pianoforte. She says she is afraid of the evil eye. I don't know what that is, but I don't think Marta has it.

July 15, 1803
Today I fell and hurt my knee while running away from Antonio. He was trying to pull my hair. Marta cleaned the sore with a linen towel and put something on the hurt that took out the sting. She was almost as nice as Mama was when I hurt myself in California. I miss my Mama so much.

August 2, 1803
Today when I was at Luisa's, Antonio came into her room and pushed over her little table, spilling Luisa's toy teacups. He pushed me down and I got back up and hit him. Luisa's mother was angry at us, but mostly at me. I had made his nose bleed. She told Marta to take me home. Marta scolded me and said some problems could not be solved with fists. But once we were outside and some distance from the house, she started to laugh. She wouldn't say why, but she gave me a big hug, and said I was a brave girl. We took the long way home and she bought me a red ribbon for my hair.

Tonight I will remember Marta in my prayers. I hope my Mama in heaven will forgive me, but I love Marta now too.

END

Disclaimers: Fireworks still owns the copyrights, and we own their stories.
Rating: G
"Regret and misery are like ashes in the mouth" -Mia Vendaval
a coin, a pearl necklace, an apple tart

~~~~~

The figure spun wildly as the sword flew across the room. Tessa, her chest heaving and her brow rimed with sweat, prepared to lunge and finish it. She checked her thrust as a voice wailed from the behind.

"What do you think you are doing?" Marta rushed in and placed herself protectively in front of the figure. "I waited months for that dressmaker's dummy and you will not puncture it with a sword." She planted her feet firmly with her hands on her hips and regarded Tessa with a determined look in her eye.

"Marta, I'm so bored I could scream with frustration. I'm afraid I'm losing my edge." Tessa set her sword on a nearby table in the hidden room and rubbed her arm across her moist brow. Abstractedly, she took a sip from the water glass. "It has been weeks since the Queen was needed and even then, I did not have to fence with anyone. I'm out of practice. I need to get back to where I was when we left Madrid. I need the thrill of competition."

"You don't find fighting with the soldiers to save your life thrilling enough?" Marta shook her head worriedly. When Tessa got into these moods, anything could happen. She decided to tread carefully.

"They don't fight by any rules, just slash and thrust. There's no grace or beauty in that," Tessa said disgustedly.

Moving across the room to a large trunk, Marta said, "I need to get some money for supplies. Are you coming into town with me?" She glanced at Tessa who seemed not to have heard. With a shrug, Marta bent to the trunk and lifting the lid, took out several gold coins. A long velvet box caught her eye and she picked it up. "Tessa, why do you never wear your mother's pearl necklace to any of Montoya's parties? I am sure she would have wanted you to use it." Marta opened the box and lifted the strand of pearls from its satin bed. As she tried to place the necklace on Tessa's neck, the younger woman moved to stop her.

"Papa never gave these to me. Perhaps he did not wish me to have the gift he gave Mama. She is wearing these in her portrait. It is practically the only memory I have of her." Tessa took the necklace and studied it wistfully. "Maybe it reminded him too much of all he lost when she died." She handed the pearls back to Marta and turned away.

"Regret and misery are like ashes in the mouth," Marta remarked. "You are not your mother. Pearls, they say, attain their best lustre when worn often, next to the skin. You should not leave them locked away in the dark." When Tessa did not reply, Marta replaced the necklace in its elegant box and put it back in the trunk. With a quiet sigh, she closed the lid. 'She has so much to try to live up to,' Marta thought. 'To be like her mother and to be as good as a son. It is too bad Don Rafael never saw her growing up. He would have been so proud.' A warmth of affection washed through her as she watched Tessa staring at the sword whose blade glowed like silver in the candlelight.

"Come, Tessa," she said. "Let us go into town and see what mischief you can get into. I have made an apple tart for Doctor Helm. Perhaps you would deliver it to him for me." Marta smiled at the arch look she received. As she took Tessa's arm to lead her from the room, Marta's eye lit upon a newspaper clipping lying near the sword. A quick perusal drew an alarmed exclamation from her. "You can't be thinking of..." she began.

Tessa grabbed her arms and stared into her eyes with an excited laugh. "But of course I am! Marta, it will be such fun. Just like old times. Please. Let's do it!"

"You want to go into a fencing competition in Monterrey? Are you crazy?" Marta pushed away, angrily shaking her head. "Why don't you just tell everyone in town that you are the Queen. It amounts to the same thing."

"I'll wear a disguise like before. No one needs to know who I am. Please, be with me in this. I need to do it." Tessa crossed to the Gypsy woman and embraced her fondly. "Please, Marta," she begged, then laughed lightly as she stepped away a few paces. "Remember the last competition I was in? I made it to the finals in the adult class when..." She began to laugh and Marta continued.

"When your false moustache fell off in the middle of the duel..." Marta laughed so hard her eyes streamed with tears.

Tessa was choking, trying to continue. "I thought the judge was going to have a stroke!" she giggled, holding onto a chair for support. "Poor Señor Torres. He never let me go into another competition," she added, wiping her eyes.

Marta said, "My heart was in my throat the whole time you were fencing. When you were discovered, I thought I would faint." She chuckled softly. More seriously she added, "It was lucky for your fencing master that the judges believed your story about lying about your age. If they had found out you were a woman, Señor Torres would have been struck from the Spanish Academy of Arms."

"Well, Marta, it was partly your fault. You said you wanted to see me fence."

"And you convinced Señor Torres to let you enter the competition. Poor man. You had him wrapped around your little finger. I think he was half in love with you." Marta regarded the other woman with pride. Tessa was tall and lithe, and moved with athletic grace. She had strength in her body and mind, not just the pretty object that others saw. Marta sighed as she looked at the resolute expression on Tessa's face and knew they were going to Monterrey.

--Maril

Disclaimers: Fireworks has the copyrights
Rating: G
Feedback: yes, please
Satrap, finial and gnomon

~~~~~

The striped canvas canopy snapped and ballooned against the ropes as the workers hammered the wooden pegs into the ground. They strained to tighten the guy ropes to hold the canopy's supporting poles firmly upright. Marta watched apprehensively for a moment, then turned to Tessa.

"Do you think it was a good idea to have your party so near the ocean? That breeze is beginning to get stronger."

Tessa glanced at the tent with a slight frown then smiled. "This is the prettiest spot on the hacienda, Marta. Everyone remarks on the view from this cliff overlooking the ocean, ...and everything is already set up here. Look at the tables and chairs under the canopy, and the streamers and bunting..." Just then, a piece of the bunting tore loose from the tent and floated out over the cliff to finally snag on a scrubby bush on the rock face. Tessa shrugged and called loudly over the wind to the workers, "Tie the bunting on more securely."

"Now, what time is it, Marta? The party starts at one o'clock."

Marta peered at a tree whose shadow was like the gnomon of a sundial. "It is just past eleven. Shouldn't the musicians be here by now? Where are they?"

"I asked Rosa to give them a lunch in the kitchen before they came out."

A worried frown crossed Marta's brow. "Where is the wine for the party?"

"In the kitchen. Why?" Tessa's mouth dropped and she exclaimed, "Oh no."

Almost as one the two women raced to the wagon, and Marta grabbed the reins and whipped the team into a gallop as they sped back to the villa.

Rushing into the kitchen such a spectacle met their eyes, they were speechless. The musicians were hammering away on their guitars in a wild rendition of flamenco while Rosa, her bulky form jiggling and her skirts flying, danced in gay abandon. Many wine bottles lay empty on the floor and more were open as the men swigged down the wine while hardly missing a beat of the music.

When they saw Tessa and Marta in the doorway, the music stopped abruptly. Rosa flopped into a chair, huffing, her large bosom heaving, her moist round face crimson from the dancing.

One of the musicians stood up, wavering drunkenly, and with an exaggerated flourish of his sombrero, said, "Shenorita Alva ...Alverosa ...Eldorado, permit me to introduce myshelf. I am Miguel Mendoza, and this is my little band. We are honoured to play for you today. We thank you for your gracious hospitality." He stepped back to sit on his chair, missed and fell onto the floor. His companions laughed uproariously as their leader struggled to get back on his feet.

The kitchen was a shambles. All the hors d'oeuvres were either eaten or mashed beyond recognition. Much of the wine was gone. Of the desserts, Tessa could see nothing. Rosa was supposed to be working on them. Tessa glared at her.

Rosa seemed to be having difficulty focussing on her mistress. "I am sorry, patrona. I will finish the meal..." She yawned and leaned back in the chair. "As soon as I have a little siesta." With that, she abruptly fell asleep and began to snore.

Tessa looked around in panic. Nothing was ready for the party and the musicians were too drunk to play. She sent an imploring look at Marta, but her companion's face was a stormcloud of anger.

Marta marched over the leader. "I am going to make some coffee for you, and you had better get your band sobered up, pronto! I don't care how you do it." She grabbed his collar and gave him a shove toward the rest of the musicians, two of whom were snoozing with their heads resting on the kitchen table. "You don't want to know what kind of Gypsy curse I am planning for you if you fail to appear for the party."

The leader's eyes widened in fear. Quickly, he shook his men and they staggered out of the kitchen. Marta heaved a deep sigh and began to clean up the mess. "We still have a few hours. We can make everything again."

Tessa was shaking her head. "It's too late. We'll never make it. All those people coming here for my first party. It's a disaster." She gripped the finial on a chair, sunk in gloom as she gazed around the kitchen.

Marta chucked her under the chin. "I have an idea. Everything will be fine, chica. Go back and finish with the decorations. I will take care of the rest." Marta gave her a slight push toward the door and Tessa left after casting one last rueful glance at the mess.

~~~~~

Soft music rose above the crackling of the tent flaps as the guests milled around under the canopy or strolled near the cliff to enjoy the view. The four musicians sat with their sombreros pulled low over their bloodshot eyes, and if their playing was less enthusiastic than previously, no one seemed to notice.

Tessa smiled and greeted her guests, stopping here and there to chat. Now and then, she cast an anxious glance at the road that led to her villa, then at the nearly empty tables inside the tent. Only the wine had arrived so far. 'Perhaps,' Tessa thought hopefully, 'if the guests drink a lot of wine, they won't notice there is no food.' That vain hope sank when Colonel Montoya strolled over after dismounting from his horse. He looked regal, like a satrap, in his gold-braided uniform and impeccably white shirt.

Taking her hand and kissing it briefly, he said, "Señorita Alvarado, what a charming place for a fiesta. My poor Rose Courtyard pales in comparison with the beauty of these natural wonders." Montoya gestured broadly to the rugged cliffs and the crashing surf on the beach below. "You are to be congratulated on your hospitality. It is such a pleasure to be a guest for a change at one of these fiestas. Alas, I see I have arrived too late for the meal."

"Actually, Colonel, I must confess ..." Tessa stopped as a general murmur arose from her guests and she followed the direction of their gaze to the road. A line of wagons could be seen coming over a slight rise, heading toward the fiesta site.

A half dozen wagons and carts drew up near the tent and immediately the workers began unloading baskets and bowls, carrying them inside the tent. Marta dismounted one of the carts and went into the tent, directing the placement of the food.

Tessa excused herself from the colonel and hurried to Marta's side. "Marta, how did you do it? All this food in such a short time."

Marta took her arm and led her a short distance away. In a lowered voice, she said, "These are the workers' lunches. There is quite a variety of foods here, though not the fare the guests may be used to. Do not tell them what the meats are, they may not eat it." Marta chuckled at the shocked look on Tessa's face. "Now let us feed the guests. By now, they must be ready to eat just about anything."

Tessa could only mumble, "Thank you, Marta." Her radiant smile said the rest as she went back into the tent to invite her elegant guests to partake of the peasant meal.

END

Disclaimer: Fireworks still owns the copyrights, and this is not a Zorro product.
Rating: G
Feedback: yes, please
Author's Note: For Eliza, whose 'pearls of wisdom' have helped me over some rough spots in my writing. ;)
TRIO CHALLENGE: chopsticks, ink, bullfighting
QUOTE 3: "I want to live bravely and love without fear." - Jewel

~~~~~

Marta watched with growing impatience as Tessa picked up the rice a few grains at a time and abstractedly put them into her mouth. Finally, Marta took the chopsticks out of her hand and gave her a fork. "Use this," Marta said tartly. "I do not want to spend my whole evening at the dinner table while you try to learn to use these strange things." The red lacquered chopsticks had been a parting gift from Kami, and Tessa had never tried to use them until tonight.

She expected some resistence but Tessa merely took the fork and continued to eat in silence. The younger woman's eyes held a far-away look. It was a look that Marta knew too well. Her ward was in an introspective mood, probably coming to some decision. Usually, Tessa would ask her advice, but sometimes she made her decisions alone.

Tessa set her fork down suddenly and said, "I'm not going back to Spain, Marta."

Marta started, then frowned slightly. "You have been thinking of returning to Spain? Since when?"

"For months, I have thought of little else. All this turmoil in my life, all these problems, all this guilt on my conscience." Tessa paused, taking a deep breath. "I have finally resolved to stay here where my parents are buried." She regarded Marta seriously and continued, "My life in Spain was so easy and carefree ...but it had no purpose. Just galas, parties, the excitement of the corrida and the bullfights, all those lavish diversions that I spent my days and nights pursuing. Being part of the Court was glorious but even it palled after a while."

"I was longing for it though, Marta." A wistful smile played over her lips as she seemed to be remembering those halcyon days. "Now I see I could never fit in there again. I could not go back to being that silly girl who lived for pleasure and the flattery of men. Here my life has meaning and I have a destiny to fulfill. I want to live bravely and love without fear."

The dark eyes seemed to search Marta's face looking for something, some reaction. Seconds ticked by as Tessa waited for her to speak.

Marta's throat constricted as she gazed on this child she had raised to become a woman. She had grown so much since returning to California. "I am so proud of you, Tessa," Marta whispered finally as she reached for her hand.

~~~~~

Hours later, Marta entered Tessa's room to say goodnight. She found her seated at her writing table. Tessa set down the quill pen and blotted the ink on the letter she was writing. Around her neck was a strand of matched pearls. In the flickering candlelight, they gleamed warmly against her skin.

Tessa turned and smiled self-consciously. "I feel my mother's presence in these pearls. She wore them for her portrait." She touched the pearls reverently. "I am writing to Uncle Alejandro to ask him to send Mama's portrait here. Papa left it with me in Spain so I would remember what she looked like, but now that I have decided to stay, I want to put the painting with Papa's over the mantle. They belong together." She smiled softly. "As I now think these pearls belong to me. I know my mother would have given them to me if she had been able. They will never be shut away in the dark again."

END

Disclaimers: Fireworks owns the copyright and Sony does not own the image.
Rating: G
Feedback/Beta: yes, please
Quote Challenge #32 QUOTE 3: "Fortune sides with him who dares". -Virgil
While working on "The Duellist" I got to wondering about the Queen's disguise. How did they put it together so quickly? I mean, one minute (in "Destiny") she's just thinking about doing something to avenge her father, and the next we see her in town wearing the costume. How did this transition come about so quickly?
From "Destiny" the missing scene before Tessa goes to Santa Helena dressed as the Queen:

~~~~~

"Marta, the vision I saw showed a woman dressed in black, and Papa said in my dream, 'There is my avenging angel. She will see justice is done.' I think I am meant to be that avenger."

"Tessa, this is not Madrid. You could get away with more in a big city. Here, everything you do will be noticed. Be sure this is a step you want to take. Once you set your feet on this path, there will be no turning back."

"Fortune sides with him who dares," Tessa said airily as she drew the black lace mantilla across her eyes and viewed herself in the mirror. "Besides, in my dream, Papa assured me I would never be alone and not to be afraid." She searched Marta's face for some reassurance that her friend was with her in this.

"What are you going to do?" Marta's eyes seemed dark, anxious as she studied Tessa's reflection.

"Follow my destiny." Tessa draped the lace over the mirror and returned to the trunk to rummage through it.

"What are you looking for, Tessa? We have already found the gold."

"I'll need a disguise. Something that will keep my identity a secret. Help me find something to wear. I'm going into town tonight to free Carlos' son from the prison. I couldn't save Carlos. At least I can try to save his son from an unjust punishment." Tessa bent and continued to pull items of clothing from the trunk while Marta watched, a worried frown on her face.

Finally, Marta said, "You saw a woman dressed in black. That is the disguise you must wear. Is there anything black in the trunk?"

Tessa straightened and shook her head. "No, nothing that I could wear as a costume. Wait!" she exclaimed. In a flash she was gone from the hidden room and Marta could hear her pounding up the stairs to the main floor. Tessa returned with an armful of black clothes. "Look, Marta. I have my black silk blouse and the men's trousers I wore to my fencing lessons." Quickly, Tessa took off her nightgown and put on the garments. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror. "What do you think, Marta? All I need now is a mask." She pulled the lace mantilla off the mirror and held it before her face.

Marta eyed the costume sceptically. "It looks a little ...um...dull." Marta lifted a red silk scarf from the trunk and tied it around Tessa's waist. She cocked her head and smiled approvingly. "Much better. Now all you need is your black corset to put under your clothes."

"Corset? I never wore a corset to my fencing lessons, Marta. I won't wear one with this costume. It's too restricting," Tessa said adamantly.

"I have an idea. I will be right back." Marta hurried from the room. In a few minutes, she was back with a black corset in her hands. "Turn around." Tessa obeyed and felt the corset being fastened around her abdomen.

"I'm not wearing this thing over my clothes, Marta!" she said indignantly as she tried to stop Marta from continuing to lace the tight garment. "It will look scandalous!"

Marta chuckled and pulled harder on the lacings. "What you are planning to do is not scandalous? Besides, the whalebone in this thing might offer some protection from swords and daggers. In your fencing lessons, you wore a leather plastron and the blades were blunted. The soldiers have real blades." Satisfied, Marta turned Tessa to face her. "You need something to cover your face, something more substantial than black lace. A mask like a bandit would wear."

"No, Marta. I'm not a bandit. I want to use this." She held up the black mantilla.

Marta pursed her lips, her expression grim. "That will not fool anyone, Tessa. You can see right through it." Marta took the lace and examined it for several seconds. "Still," she mused, "it might just do the trick." She gave Tessa a secretive smile and left the room. When she returned, she had a pair of scissors, a needle and black thread with her.

Quickly, Marta fashioned a mask from the lace. Then she murmured some Rom words over it as she pulled it across Tessa's face and tied it behind her head.

Tessa felt strange suddenly. Her scalp prickled and she experienced a surge of energy that made her nearly breathless. She felt ...strong, invincible. An awed expression lit up her eyes as she glanced at Marta.

"What did you say over this mask, Marta? It seems to have some power in it."

"I cast a spell on it. While you wear this mask, no one will know who you are. Even your voice sounds different. It is the best I could do to protect you. The rest is up to you." The dark Gypsy eyes regarded Tessa with love and with distress. She would never interfere with Tessa's destiny, her fate, but she could try to tip the odds in her favour a bit. Surely, that was not interference.

She observed Tessa walk over to a table and pick up a sword. The long blade gleamed in the candlelight and flashed as Tessa swung it with confidence.

"This is the sword my father planned to give to the son he never had. I will be his avenger and take up his sword." A black-clad stranger faced Marta, a roguish smile on her lips and a determined look in her eyes. "I will see that justice is done."

END

Disclaimers: Fireworks still owns 'em.
Rating: S for Silly
Feedback: yes, please
Trio Challenge: bar of soap, wine bottle, latch-key

~~~~~

"Get her, you idiots!" Montoya shouted out his office window as he watched the black-clad figure disappear into the night. She galloped away on her dark horse, leaving just a cloud of dust. Ruefully, he picked up the latch-key to his vault and stared at it. I might as well put a swinging door on that room for all the good a lock does to keep her out. I'm almost getting used to this.

Montoya, breaking into a fine tenor:

"I've grown accustomed to her ways,
She almost makes the day begin.
I've grown accustomed her guise
Which scarcely hides her eyes...
Her mask, her lips, her swords, her whips,
Are a pain in the arse to me now
While she's breathing out and breathing in.

I could get away with murder
Until the day we met
Surely, I could always do that again, and yet...

I've grown accustomed to her mask,
Accustomed to her laugh
Accustomed to her thefts."

I'm very grateful she's a woman
She should be so easy to get;
Rather like a rabbit
One can always catch and yet,

I've grown accustomed to the trace
Of bullets in the air;
Accustomed to the chase."

He dropped the key into his pocket and walked down into the pueblo street where he noticed Doctor Helm standing aloofly with a smug expression on his face. "I see your lady love has managed to thwart the legal authorities once again, Doctor. I don't see how you could possibly admire her."

Helm whirled at the sound of Montoya's voice, a crooked smile already spreading over his features. Helm, launching into a warm baritone:

"I have often walked down this street before;
But I've never felt so much heat before.
All at once am I
Just a regular guy
Who's in love with a bandit queen.

Are there yucca trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a gunshot in any other part of town?
Does excitement pour
Out of ev'ry door?
No, it's just in the town where you thieve!

And oh! my senses are reeling
Every time you give me a kiss.
The overpowering feeling
That one of these times a soldier might not miss!

Soldiers stop and shoot. They don't bother you.
For there's nothing else on earth that you would rather do.
Let the time go by,
I won't care if I
Can be here in the town where you thieve."

Montoya grimaced and strolled away, convinced that the doctor had become mentally unhinged.

~~~~~

Tessa rushed into the secret room, her face flushed with excitement, eyes dancing with delight. Marta regarded her in annoyance and said, "It is very late. Where have you been?"

Tessa, beginning to sing in a lovely sound-alike Julie Andrews voice:

"I had to ride all night
I had to ride all night
And could have rode some more.

When I stole that gold
From Montoya's hold,
I should have grabbed some more.

Marta, it was so exciting
All at once, my horse took flight
And then I had to flee
When the soldiers fired at me
I had to ride, ride, ride
All night."

"Well, you're home safe now. I have drawn a bath for you in your room."

Tessa followed dutifully. She disrobed then slid gratefully into the warm suds. Marta handed her a cloth and a bar of soap.

"By the way, Tessa, you have a letter from your friend, Luisa." Marta picked up a sealed bundle from the dresser and showed it to the younger woman.

"Read it to me, Marta," Tessa said as she plunged under the foamy water of the tub. Emerging with water streaming off her face, she beamed a warm smile at the Gypsy woman.

Marta read the contents and then stopped. "It seems they are having bad weather in Madrid."

"What do you mean, Marta?" Tessa leaned on the edge of the tub, looking up expectantly.

Marta, whipping out her castanets and a fan, begins to do a slow flamenco. She sings while dancing: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."

Tessa: "Now once again, where does it rain?"

Marta, with fervour: "On the plain! On the plain!"

Tessa: "And where's that soggy plain?"

Marta: "In Spain, in Spain."

Duet: ""The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."

Stronger: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain!"

~~~~~

The soldiers slouched over their weary horses as they trooped along the trail back to the pueblo. At their head, Capitan Grisham sighed several times as he glanced at the lightening of the dawn sky.

Next to him, his sergeant asked, "What is wrong, Capitan? We did our best."

Grisham, glaring at the sergeant, breaks into a deep baritone:

"There'll be a court-martial in the morning
Boom, bang, the guns are going to blast
'Cause I couldn't stop her,
I'll have to tell a whopper
Or Montoya will kick my ass.

So I've got to be there in the morning
Spruced up and looking mighty fine
Vera come and kiss me
Show how you'll miss
Cause now my life ain't worth a dime."

The sergeant leaned back and pulled a wine bottle out of his saddlebag. "Here, Capitan. You look like you need this more than I do."

END

DISCLAIMERS: Fireworks still owns the copyrights, but we are telling their real stories
RATING: G
FEEDBACK/BETA: yes, please
NOTE: the inspiration for this vignette comes from a conversation with Eliza who has inspired me many times over the past months. Thanks, Eliza.
QUOTE 1: "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill
QUOTE 3: "Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers." - Tennyson

~~~~~

1813 - MADRID

"Marta, I"m scared. I don't want to go." Tessa sat on the edge of her bed as Marta looked critically over the gowns in the wardrobe. Squaring her shoulders and drawing in a deep breath, Marta turned to face the young girl.

"You do not have any choice, Tessa. You have been summoned to the Royal Court. You cannot refuse." Trying to put a brave face on it, she continued, "It will be so glamourous ...all those nobles, all those parties, and being so close to the King and Queen. I am sure you will enjoy your time at Court."

Tessa's dark eyes narrowed as she gazed fixedly at Marta. "You've never lied to me before, Marta. Don't start now. You know I'll hate it, every minute of it," she said harshly. Tessa arose from her bed and began to pace in agitation. "Maybe we could say I have something contagious, or that I left the country. Why don't we just run away and stay with your people?" She searched Marta's face as if looking for some elusive chance of escaping this fate which the letter from the Royal Court had thrust upon her.

The forlorn hope in her voice stabbed Marta to the heart. She did not want her Tessa, only eighteen years old, among those decadent and immoral people that she had heard the servants whisper about. Tessa was strong-willed, but impetuous and impressionable. How long until she succumbed to the influences that would surround her daily? Was she strong enough to resist the pleasures and temptations that could so easily seduce the innocent? Marta had instilled in Tessa many lessons on morals and ethics during their time together. Now that knowledge would be put to the test. 'Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers,' she thought hopefully.

"I will be with you, Tessa," Marta added at last. "And it may not be for long. The King and Queen may decide to spend their summer near Barcelona, and then you will be free to leave. Or so I have heard."

"What do you know about it, Marta? The gossip of servants? What do they know? Have they ever been to the Escorial?" Tessa demanded indignantly. A long-suffering sigh escaped her as she dropped once more onto her bed and held her head in her hands. "If only Papa had taken me back to California, I wouldn't have to do this."

Marta turned away to hide her expression. She did not blame Don Rafael for this turn of events; she blamed his brother, Don Alejandro. A favourite of the King of Spain, it seemed only natural that the young don would want his niece to be introduced at Court. Such splendid connections for her, such an opportunity to mix with the right sort of people. Marta shook her head sombrely. Such an opportunity to become like them and lose her innocence. Her stomach clenched at the thought that they must present themselves in three days with all their baggage, prepared for as long a stay as the royal couple demanded.

~~~~~

The reception line seemed endless as Tessa moved forward gradually toward the King and Queen of Spain. The air in the colourful salon was filled with chatter and noise. The excitement was almost palpable as the new season at Court got underway with an influx of debutantes like Tessa filling the long queue, waiting to be presented to their monarchs. Her uncle stood beside her, occasionally beaming a fond smile at her as she quaked with nervousness. Now and then, he pressed her arm for reassurance.

Tessa searched the crowd at the end of the hall for Marta. She saw her in the midst of the servants and smiled half-heartedly then turned as the line inched forward.

Finally, they were next to be presented. Tessa's mouth was dry from trepidation. She was wearing the pink organza dress that Marta had picked out for her. Tessa suspected it was to make her look younger and more ingenuous. She nearly smiled at this thought as she swallowed and tried to moisten her parched throat.

The King sat on his ancient throne, resplendent in his royal robes. Through bored heavy-lidded eyes he watched the procession of young men and women parade past, no doubt forgetting their names immediately. Next to him, the Queen posed, equally elegant in her royal finery, regarding everything with a keen eye as each person was introduced. Tessa had a feeling she forgot nothing.

Her uncle said, "May I present to Your Majesties, my niece, Doña Maria Teresa Alvarado of Alta California." He gave her a subtle nudge to move in front of the royal couple. Tessa curtseyed, lowering her eyes.

"Such a lovely dress, and such a fair señorita wearing it. If I had known they grew such beauty in California, I would have gone there myself" King Ferdinand said. He guffawed loudly like the neighing of a horse and his courtiers laughed with him. The Queen's face stiffened and she gave Tessa a haughty look.

"Tell me, Doña Maria Teresa, are you betrothed? I have no doubt, there are many young admirers here already who love to snap you up." He gestured broadly around the salon.

Tessa lifted her chin and replied pertly, "Perhaps I have no wish to be snapped up, Your Majesty." She closed her mouth quickly, her cheeks heating as she watched the King's eyebrows shoot up.

For a long moment there was silence, then the King laughed again. "Such impudence they learn in the colonies. We will make it our business to see that no one snaps you up, my dear." His gaze moved past her to the next in line and she felt dismissed. 'Maybe,' she hoped, 'I have displeased him and he will send me away.'

Beside her, Uncle Alejandro tightened his grip on her arm to lead her to a more private spot, away from the clamour near the King and Queen. His face was tight with anger, as he leaned down to whisper harshly in her ear, "What were you thinking, Tessa, to speak to the King that way? This is no way to begin at Court. You will have to try harder to make yourself agreeable to their Majesties."

"Uncle, I did not want to be here in the first place. I just want to go home."

The shock on his face caused Tessa to lower her gaze. He could not understand that she did not value making connections at Court, or being among the favourites of the King and Queen. She only wanted to go back to California. Why must he insist on this when she did not want it?

Alejandro suddenly glanced at the King, and he groaned quietly. The King was beckoning to him. Her uncle looked her sternly in the eyes, and said, "Remain here and stay out of trouble. I must see what His Majesty wants." With that he threaded his way through the elegant crowd to the King's side.

Tessa watched her uncle lean toward the King, then cringed inwardly as they both glanced directly at her. The urge to flee nearly overcame her as she looked around, but her escape would be noticed if she tried to make it to the exit at the far end of the long salon. How she wished she was anywhere but here.

"If you are going through Hell, keep on going," a voice behind her said.

Tessa turned to gaze into a grinning, handsome face. A tall young man clad in a military tunic smiled down at her, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"I heard what you said to the King," he laughed. "You were not being impudent, His Majesty was. Brava. You will do well here at Court as long as you remain yourself."

Alejandro returned and the young man bowed briefly to him and moved toward a large group of young people collected near the frescoed walls of the salon. Tessa watched him as he strode with athletic grace to greet his friends.

Her uncle took her arm to lead her down the salon to where Marta was waiting. Tessa felt butterflies in her stomach as she waited for him to tell her what the King had said.

Finally, he stopped and said, "The King was amused by your remark and your spirit. Her Majesty invites you to join her royal coterie as a lady-in-waiting." He grinned proudly as he conveyed this marvellous news.

Tessa's heart sank. She pasted a false smile on her face as she glanced toward the royal couple, and curtseyed politely. "How long am I to remain with the Queen?" she asked, forcing some heartiness into her voice. It seemed like a jail sentence to her, rather than a privilege.

"A year, more or less ...until the next crop of debutantes are presented. Tessa!" Alejandro said enthusiastically, "This is your best chance to meet someone suitable and make a good marriage. With your father away in California, it is my duty to see that his wishes are carried out. He wants you to marry before you return to California as he says there are few eligible men there and not much choice for you. We are only thinking of your future happiness, mi querida." He lifted her hand and kissed it fondly.

He pointed toward a group of young woman standing a short distance from the Queen's throne. "Those are her ladies-in-waiting. They will help you settle into your new surroundings. You must go and join them." He nodded to Marta, and gave Tessa a kiss on the cheek and a slight push toward the group.

Tessa clutched Marta's arm as they took their leave of her uncle and walked slowly together toward her new life at the Spanish Court.

PART 2
DRAMATIS PERSONNAE

NOTE: OK, here we go again. <g> What was intended as just a vignette has started to become a longer story. I don't know where it's going or how long it will take to get there, but if you stay aboard, I hope you enjoy the ride. <g>

~~~~~

The room was stifling, airless, and Tessa felt her eyelids drooping as one of the ladies-in-waiting droned on in a monotone, reading to the Queen from a novel. Tessa's head snapped up when she heard her name called.

"Maria Teresa," the Queen said sharply. "You will read us the next chapter."

The young woman who had been reading gave Tessa a look of relief as she handed over the large leather-bound book. It was written in French. The previous reader, Juliana, pointed to the paragraph where she had left off. Tessa felt a moment of panic. It had been years since her French tutor had drilled the pronunciations of that language into her head. He had fled back to France during the war leaving Tessa to struggle on her own. She had abandoned the difficult tongue, preferring to learn the Romani language of the gitano from Marta.

Tessa inhaled deeply to calm herself and began, haltingly at first, then with more confidence as the language came back to her. Her cheeks suddenly flushed as she realized she was starting to read a long narrative which described, in very graphic detail, a couple making love. She decided to skip over that section and moved on to the next page.

"You have missed a part, Maria Teresa," the Queen said, a smirk on her thin rouged lips. "If you leave parts out, you spoil the story." Several titters from the other young woman accompanied this remark causing Tessa to suspect she was being used for the Queen's amusement.

Her cheeks grew hotter as she went back to the descriptive sexual scene and tried to read without stumbling over the words. Never in her life had she read anything like this! She could not imagine anyone putting these words on paper for others to read. Tessa thought in relief it was lucky that Marta was not in the room. What would she say? A quick glance at the Queen and the others showed they were enjoying the vivid, sensual images. Or was it just her discomfort they were enjoying?

Anger overcame her sensibility and Tessa began to dramatize the scene with different voices and inflections, almost as if she was reading a play and taking the parts. Ignoring what she was reading, Tessa performed with exaggerated sighs and sounds. Finally, reaching the end of the scene, she put her hand to her forehead dramatically, and whispered, "Oh, Jean-Pierre, you have made a woman of me at last!"

When she looked up, she saw the other young women gaping at her in stunned silence. Risking a glance at the Queen, she met a pair of wide surprised eyes. Suddenly, the silence was broken by loud applause.

"Brava!" crowed Queen Isabella, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "You will do the reading from now on, Maria Teresa. The others put me to sleep." Isabella laughed as she gestured dismissively at the other ladies-in-waiting, several of whom lowered their eyes with a hurt look.

Tessa put a woven bookmark in the leaves and closed the heavy volume, placing it on a nearby table. "Gracias, Your Majesty," she said as she tried to put a smile on her face. "I am glad my efforts have pleased you."

"You would please me more if you got rid of that Gypsy woman and employed a good Spanish servant," Isabella said, her sharp dark eyes stabbing at Tessa with sudden ferocity.

Tessa opened her mouth to protest, then glanced around at the amused looks on the other girls' faces. Was the Queen baiting her into making an imprudent remark, something that would be gossiped about in the halls for days? Or was she serious about sending Marta away?

They had only been living at the palace for a few weeks. The novelty had not worn off as the two women roamed the halls of the great Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial. At every turning, there were paintings and frescoes to admire, life-sized statuary gracing every nook and cranny. Outside, the gardens were lush and green, offering long meandering walks and quiet places for reflection. Whenever Queen Isabella allowed her to leave, Tessa would seek out Marta and they would explore their new surroundings.

To Tessa, it was a wonderland of beauty. To Marta, it was evidence of the decadence and waste of the ruling class. Though Marta grudgingly admitted that the Escorial housed many priceless pieces of art. But as she said, "the people who worked to pay for it are not allowed to enjoy it. Only the rich and idle are invited here."

She had kept Marta apart as much as possible from the life of the palace, knowing her feelings on the indolent nobility. There were times when her duenna's presence was demanded and Marta was forced to watch as sumptuous meals were served to the elegantly-dressed guests seated at the long dining tables. Course after course of rich foods were offered to jaded palates, many times being taken and left untouched on the plates. Marta always raged at Tessa after these feasts about the waste of food that could have fed the hungry and starving people instead fattening the already over-indulged stomachs of these patricians.

Tessa wondered now as the Queen awaited her answer, if Marta had let slip to one of the servants her radical views on the great gap between the rich and poor of Spain. The Constitution of Cadiz had contained many liberal ideas of the type that Marta espoused. Would Marta have been so indiscreet as to have spoken freely to anyone about her beliefs?

"Your Majesty," Tessa said, arising and trying to keep her voice level. "Marta is not a servant; she is my guardian and duenna. I will see about getting a servant to take care of my personal needs while I am here."

Isabella smiled cunningly. She obviously sensed a little excitement, a break from the monotony of her daily routine. "Your guardian, Maria Teresa? What were your parents thinking of, having a heathen Gypsy as a guardian for you? What has she been teaching you - black magic, the casting of spells?" Isabella laughed, a harsh wheezing sound and the other young women joined her in a chorus of restrained laughter. She wagged her ring-encrusted finger at Tessa with a shrewd look. "It is lucky you came to us when you did, Maria Teresa. Here, you will learn to be a lady. We may make something of you yet."

Continued in Challenge 36