The Lesser Daughter

Ariel stood behind her sister brushing out her hair. Natasha sat very properly and had that very snobbish air about her. Ariel just kept her eyes on her sister's golden hair and the brush that she used. She was far different in looks than Natasha. Her hair was dark like her mother's. A rich brown with a healthy shine and spiraled around her head and down to the middle of her back.

Her eyes were a sharp green like her father's, but there was no confidence in her gaze nor her stance. She wished that she could be like her sister. Strong and confident and get whatever she wanted because she was who she was. But that wasn't Ariel's part, she was her sister's servant for lack of a better word. Natasha took advantage of it, and her parents didn't care.

Her parents told her what a disappointment they found her. That they hated how meek she was. They liked to remind her of the accident that she was to them. Which was okay, because Natasha needed a playmate and someone who was there at her sister's beck and call. Which at the moment Ariel believed and bought into. After all it was rather hard to understand completely why her family disliked her so.

"Did it go well?" Ariel asked in her soft voice. It would have been musical if it didn't tremble as she spoke. She was terrified when she chose to speak. That it was the wrong time and she would be struck for it. She had plenty of scars, most in places that couldn't be seen for her transgressions and failures as a daughter.

"Oh very well. He's a bit cold, but that is expected he's a powerful man. Malachi was the same way, but he's very good looking. I'm so happy, I was afraid he'd be a troll." Natasha laughed and Ariel frowned a bit. Natasha sure was concerned with looks.

"I'm sure that he was very happy with you. Any would be more than pleased to marry you." Ariel wished she could be a person that someone would be proud of. That someone would like to marry.

"They would." Natasha said with a satisfied smile. Her eyes drifting off a bit seeing only what she could. "But I have a few years before then, and you… well I'm sure mother and father will find someone if you can't. They wouldn't want you around for the rest of their lives living off of them." Ariel felt a burn to her face.

"For them it would be but a short bit." Ariel commented.

"If all else fails I could always use an attendant. You are so very good at remembering my routine." If anyone heard the two of them, you'd have really thought Ariel a servant girl. Not Natasha's sister or a Standish at all.

"Doesn't that scare you? Marrying someone that you don't know. What if he's mean or hateful? What if he ended up not wanting you? You'd be alone." Natasha laughed and Ariel put down the brush. Natasha rose and moved over to change for bed.

"You stupid little girl." Natasha said and Ariel's face turned a bright red. Natasha clearly copying what her parents said. How they spoke to Ariel. She looked at the floor, she'd already changed for bed. Her sister was only a year older than she was, but it seemed she knew more than Ariel did.

"That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Only if you did something stupid."

"I'm sorry. The thought of being alone forever was very sad. I didn't think about it like that." Natasha smiled touching her sister's arm in a very consoling manner. Looking at her like she was rather simple.

"This is why you should leave decisions to others. It's to much for you." Natasha slipped off her clothes and changed. She put on a tank top and pajama pants. "I love dresses, but this is much more comfortable to sleep in. Now where is your bed?" Natasha asked looking around the decent sized room. Normally when they went somewhere Ariel slept on a cot or something of the like in the room with her sister. Natasha absolutely refused to share a bed with her.

The room had a medium sized bed, a dresser, closet and a couple night stands. But nothing else that would say another girl was staying in here.

"Oh, Jeremiah said that I was to take the room across the hall. He insisted and I didn't see a reason to argue. I told him that I needed to be here to help you. He said that Lord Vento would not allow any guest to lay on the floor."

"Well you would hardly have been on the floor." Natasha said with a laugh.

"He said it was the equivalent of. Did I do wrong?" Ariel didn't understand, why was it that she had to be uncomfortable all the time? Jeremiah had been so nice to her when he'd come upon her shortly after she came in the back door. Her father didn't want her coming in with them less she make a fool of them. She'd been taken up to their rooms to wait while the rest of their family spoke with the Ventos.

"No, if that is how Lord Vento is, and what he wants. Well off with you then. I'm tired of looking at you." Ariel felt a horrible sadness constrict her throat. Was she that horrible to look at? Why didn't her family love her? Ariel felt a bit of tears.

"Natasha, can I ask you one more thing?" She gave an irritated sound as she plopped down on the bed.

"Fine."

"Aren't you upset that you don't get to find someone of your own? That he might not love you?" Ariel would be bothered by that.

"Please Ariel, they should be happy to have me. I know how to be the right proper lady. Now off with you. Do try to do something with your hair. So plain, I'd like my sister presentable. Could you try harder?" Natasha said. Natasha felt better putting Ariel down and pulled the covers to her. Ariel gave a nod and moved from the room closing the door and hurried across the hall.

Ariel breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped into the room, her room this time. She was thrilled by it! She ran over and jumped onto the bed landing on her stomach. She gave a smile at the soft feel of it, softer than her bed at home.

The room was made of purple and browns. Which made a warm feel to the room. She got up on her knees on the bed, before looking around. She was happy for once to be out of her sister's presence. She'd never had her own room when they went out.

Ariel stood up on the bed, and knowing full well that if caught she'd probably get a sound beating she started to jump up and down on it spinning in circles. She laughed and came down on the bed after a bit landing on her butt. She was just slightly flushed and her breath a little heavier. She wasn't worried about breaking the bed, she didn't weight much. She was small for her age and slender. It was just so nice to act a kid for once. Her happiness didn't last long though.

Frowning she got up and moved over to the full length mirror and stared at herself. She rubbed her left arm examining herself. She met her vivid green gaze and then lowered it. She wore a plain blue shirt with stripped blue and white pajama pants. She turned sideways and looked at herself. Natasha told her that she should lose weight, she was fat. Ariel didn't think so, she thought it mean of her sister.

Ariel stood and looked at her hair. Which had grown quite a bit. It fell beautifully down her back and around her face in perfect spirals like her sister's did. Well actually Ariel had to coax her sister's hair to spiral a bit when doing her hair. It seemed to like to do more of a wave. Perhaps Ariel's hair was a bit more plain, but what should she do about it?

She sighed and felt like crying, she'd never be beautiful like Natasha was. She'd never find someone that would look at her like they did her sister. Her sister always had admirers, Ariel just stood in the background doing what she was told. Trying to be a good daughter, trying to do what they asked of her. Trying to win their approval.

After wiping a bit of tears from her face she decided that she would go down and see Jeremiah. He was so nice to her. Even gave her some sweets that she'd never been allowed to have before. She had declined them at first, but he insisted and she didn't want to be rude. So she was kind of hoping that she could have more.

Ariel had been up here most of the time while the rest of her family talked with Lord Aaryn Vento. That had been when she'd spoken with Jeremiah who'd been on his way back to his set of rooms that were upstairs on the top floor.

He lived there with his family, well his wife really. He said that his kids were grown now. Living lives of their own in the city not to far away but they came often. His eldest son would come and take over for him once he passed on. But he assured her that wasn't for a while.

Still she knew that he was sick. His breathing had sounded labored. She'd offered to help him, but he seemed like a proud old man. Had been rather sharp with her that he was fine and didn't need any help. He'd also commented that he was well enough to do his job. Was angry at having being sent back to his rooms like a child.

"But if you are sick, you should rest." She'd said quietly not really meeting his gaze. He hadn't commented, but now she wanted to go and see how he was doing. Such a nice person shouldn't suffer even if they had a large amount of pride. So she was wanting to help him since he was nice, and maybe get some more food too.

Ariel snuck out of her room and gently closed the door. Took quick strides down the hall. Her footfalls couldn't be heard in the thick carpet. She went up the stairs there. She felt a bit free moving about without someone watching her. She smiled and came to the top of the stairs and glanced down the hallway . It didn't look like there were a lot of doors. One was open halfway down the hall and she could hear soft talking.

She slipped around the corner and went up the next flight. She glanced down the hall, she could hear talking up here too. It was from the door on the right side of the hall nearest her. She heard someone laugh, a woman. But then there was coughing as well. It sounded like the woman had rushed forward and was scolding someone.

Ariel moved down the hall and to the door. Feeling a bit bolder than normal she gave a soft knock. She noticed that this door looked more like a swinging door. It didn't have a handle. The talking died and she felt suddenly like bolting. Oh no, what if she interrupted something important. Were they going to yell at her?

She didn't get the chance to leave though, a woman opened the door and looked down at her. She was an older woman, with grey hair but a warm face. Her eyes had a light and she seemed at a loss until she looked down at Ariel standing there.

"Is there something you need my dear? You just have to call from your room you know."

"Oh no." Ariel said, wringing her hands for a second. She didn't meet the woman's eyes now. "I wanted to see how Jeremiah was doing. He was so very nice to me, and I felt bad that he was sick." Ariel wanted to help him. She could too, because Ariel was unique.

"Is that Miss Ariel I hear?" Came Jeremiah's solid voice. "I told you not to worry young lady. You should be in bed."

"Oh nonsense, now that she is here we can at least feed the poor thing. Goodness child a strong wind would blow you over." Ariel was happy to hear that. The woman beckoned her in. Ariel smiled and came in the room. She stopped just inside the door, the woman moving into what was a kitchen.

Jeremiah was sitting at the table that was in here. The floor was a stucco tile and the appliances rather modern looking.

"Well come in and sit down, we won't bite." Jeremiah joked.

He looked at the young girl that he'd met earlier. There were shadows in this girl's eyes. She looked almost unhealthy with how thin she was. But still seemed strong, she wasn't sickly looking but dangerously close. She wasn't meeting their eyes. She'd done that before with him when he'd taken her to the rooms that her family would be staying in for the night. Honestly Jeremiah was shocked they had sent their daughter to the servant entrance. It was bizarre in his opinion.

"Here we are. Just made it, we tend to eat later at night after all of our chores are done. I'm Darcy by the way." Ariel gave the woman a smile meeting Darvy's darker blue eyes for a moment. "Why what a pretty eye color, and such a pretty face! You shouldn't hide it with all that hair." Ariel turned red and looked down.

"That's very nice of you to say." Ariel said taking the food that was offered. She was very hungry, besides the sweets she hadn't eaten since this morning.

"Because it's true. Now what can we help you with?" Darcy asked the young girl. She could see that this girl was extremely shy and didn't know how to take compliments. She nibbled at the food seeming to gain her confidence.

"Well I came up here because I wanted to say thank you for being nice before and giving me my own room."

"And why shouldn't you have your own room?" Darcy asked. Jeremiah looked at his wife. He'd told her about this young girl and the state that he found her in. She was soaked when she'd come in. The fact that she was to share with her sister but stay on the floor. He warned his wife that something was up with the Standish.

"Oh well, you know deserving people get their own rooms." She said quietly pushing the stew around in her bowl and then taking a spoonful.

"And you're not?" Ariel shook her head.

"I'm not a very good daughter. I'm clumsy and say all the wrong things. I'm more of a burden on my parents. I will never be useful like Natasha or as beautiful and loved." Ariel said with a sigh. "But it's okay."

"It most certainly is not!" Darcy corrected and Jeremiah put a hand on his wife's arm. It wasn't their business. Their few words weren't going to change the girl's mind, nor take away all the things that had been done to her. She was little more than a child, clearly brainwashed in Jerimiah's opinion to her worth.

Darcy calmed and started to ask the girl what she liked, if she liked it here. She was hesitant to give her opinion but commented. Mostly in short phrases. She looked around the room, her bright gaze taking everything in.

"Thank you for the food." She said and got up taking her bowl over to the sink. Darcy stood.

"Oh you don't have to do that."

"But it's my mess." Ariel stated in her quiet voice. Darcy however took it from her. She lowered her head a bit and turned around to move over by Jeremiah.

"You two are very nice, and I wanted to give you a gift." Ariel spoke up. "If others are nice to you then you should do something for them." Ariel felt strongly on this.

"It's not necessary. Your room and the sweets were simply my gifts to you and they don't need to be repaid."

"My father says that nothing is free. I'm not deserving of such things. It would make me feel better to give you something." Jeremiah frowned and Darcy couldn't believe that a father would say such a thing to their child.

"Young lady, you have much to learn. Your father is wrong." Jeremiah had not liked the rest of her family the moment that he'd met them. It seemed that they were severely damaging this girl before him. Treating her like some kind of animal. Less than a servant, it disgusted him.

She gave a shrug and reached out with her hand and touched his chest. Her hand burned for a moment then it felt like ice. It felt like his lungs seized momentarily and then it stopped. She dropped her hand and the next breath he took didn't hurt. He didn't have to take a shallow breath so he didn't start coughing and not stop. He touched his chest shocked, had she just… Jeremiah was already aware of the secret that Lord Vento and his son held. What they could do, that there were others with gifts. Just that simple touch and he knew immediately that this girl was gifted in a very special way. Though unsure exactly how.

"Pneumonia is not good for someone your age." She said looking at the floor, her face hidden by the curtain of hair. Darcy smiled and laughed a bit, well this girl was something alright. Darcy didn't realize what the girl just did. Jeremiah was still rubbing his chest feeling all the tightness gone.

"See, I told you. to proud for you own good, thank you Ariel." Darcy said and Jeremiah looked angered but rubbed his chest. This felt much better. She had the touch of a healer, and it shocked him. He wasn't sure if he should speak up though. Most with gifts liked to keep that secret and this girl was strange.

"Yes well, I said not to. I would have been fine." Ariel shook her head.

"You will now though. I should go back now. Goodnight." Ariel hurried from the room having accomplished what she'd come to do. Nothing was free, they were just being nice and Ariel would feel horrible if Jeremiah had gotten extremely sick. He was letting that sickness go because of pride. She fled down the stairs ignoring Darcy calling after her and made her way back down to her room. Even if her family wanted her to be normal, it was nice to still help people with her oddity. Maybe someday, someone would like her for it.