Everything about my life now was different. I was reminded of this when I ate dinner that night. Soon after I came to England, my grandparents hired tutors to teach me the ways of a royal. One of the things they taught me was how to eat properly. Back then, I thought of it ridiculous, but now, it was an every day routine like bathing every night. I sat upright, chewed slowly, and waited a few seconds after swallowing before I took another bite of my meal.
My grandparents were oddly quiet. I could sense something was going on - they always got quiet whenever something happened or was about to - but I didn't ask. I stayed silent myself and tried to enjoy my dinner, but I couldn't.
"Grandmother, the new cheif is horrible. He makes the steaks dry and I doubt he washes the vegetables - They still smell like garden soil!" I exclaimed.
My grandmother stabbed a tomato with her fork and sniffed it. "Indeed." She said in a rather sarcastic tone. "I shall make sure he never cooks in this house again."
If there was one thing that angered my grandmother, it was bad service. Sometimes, I thought of her over-obssessive. One time, a few months after I came to live with them, she shut down a restuarant because part of her lobster had not been cooked right and she accused them of trying to food poisin her.
She put back down the tomato. Nothing else was said.
"Well, I guess if dinner is too spoiled to eat, I will leave now. Pardon me, Grandfather, Grandmother - I must look at those papers for my new property." Said I, getting up.
"Actually, dear, we wanted to talk to you something." My grandmother said, reaching her hand across the table to me.
I sat back down. "Yes?"
My grandparents glanced at each other, which usually wasn't a good sign.
Grandmother gave me a huge smile. "How did you enjoy last winter's ball?"
"It was grand." I told her. "I enjoyed it very much."
She folded her hands and rested her chin upon them. "What did you like about it?" Her eyes sparkled.
"Oh, well the food was quite delicious! Much better than the food that was just served to us." I rolled my eyes. "The orchestra was simply amazing, and I was so flattered when they allowed me to play with them-"
"What about any of the foreign leaders?"
I gazed into her eyes. Behind those shinning brown eyes, something evil was lurking. A feeling grew in my stomach. I knew what it was.
"Grandfather, how is the music school doing? When will it be running?" I asked him.
"Leann Cheryl Gilbert!" My grandmother snapped. "You know better than to avoid a question from me."
Silently, Grandfather got up from his chair. He looked me in the eyes and gave a reassuring nod. Then, he left.
"They were nice." I told her, looking at the table. "Please, Grandmother, use 'Rain' in my name if you are going to adress my full name."
"I certainly will not!" She retorted. "You are a Gilbert."
I glared at her.
"Leann, you are of age now - An eighteen year old woman. Why, you are an adult now. I remember when you came to use two years ago. How different you were."
I bit my tongue, fighting the urge to say something back.
"Yes, you will be moving to your own property soon, but do not count on it, dear. Things do happen."
With that, she swiftly arose from her chair and left the room. Servants came in and removed the dishes from infront of me. I saw some of them cast sympathetic looks at me.
[Later that night]
In the middle of the night, I had a dream. A violin sounded. The rhthym was fast paced. There was a fire in an open area. Everyone I knew from Germany was there: Riza, Mustang, Armstrong, Sceizka, Havoc, the people I had met on my journeys, and even Ed and Al were there.
Ed approached me, smiling. He held out his hand and I took it. We danced around the fire, as did everyone else, as if we were a tribe of Africans celebrating.
The fire exploded. Trees burned. I heard screams. All my friends were burning alive. I tried desperatly to beat them off of everyone. I stumbled and fell over at one point. I had tripped over Mustang. He was dead. Others were falling, too. How I hated death!
My arm caught fire. I screamed, jumping up. Suddenly, everything was under water. When the water seeped into the ground, I looked around me.
"He never learned to swim." Al told me. He was standing next to me, looking down upon me.
He retained his body now. I know how he looked because I had seen his picture soon after he got his body back. Mustang showed it to me.
In front of me laid Ed. His back was to me. I gasped, crouching over him.
"The water killed him. If only it wasn't for the water." Whispered an unfamilar voice.
"No!" I screamed, choking on my tears.
Heavy knocks rattled my door. I gasped, bolting upright in my bed. It was hot. I was sweating. How I wished my nightgowns were made somewhat lighter. They were all long-sleeved and made of wool.
"Just go in." I heard one of the maid's voice say from behind my door.
Lorretta entered.
"Lady Leann," She curtsied to me. "Lorretta is very sorry to wake Lady Leann from her sleep, but hurry!" She waved her hand backwards, beckoning me out the door. "Lady Leann must come! General Halen and Fuhrer Sanford are down in the main den. They have a very important message to tell you." She rushed to my dresser with my casual clothes. "Duke Cleave and Duchess Maddy are already getting ready. Lorretta will help Lady Leann dress and make herself presentable."
Lorretta dressed me in a plain, blue dress, and began quickly brushing through my hair.
I yawned. "Lorretta, do you know why Halen and Sanford are here? What is it that's so urgent that they need to come wake us up in the middle of the night?"
"Lorretta does not know." She replied. "Lorretta was only told to make Lady Leann presentable and to bring her to the main den by one of the guards."
As soon as Lorretta was done with me, she led me down the hallway to the main den near the foyer. My grandparents were already down there - they both had serious looks on their faces - and so was the Fuhrer and the general. They all turned to look at me when we arrived.
Lorretta bowed to them all, and to me last, then hurried out of the room.
"Make sure none of the servants are around to hear this." Halen ordered one of the guards that was standing in the room.
He nodded his head once and left.
She and her brother both smiled at me, saluting. "Baroness Leann Gilbert, it's always a pleasure to see you." She said.
"We have some very important news to tell you, my lady, so if you would please sit down." Sanford said, waving his hand towards an empty chair next to my grandparents.
I sat down, looking into my grandparent's eyes for some sort of clue. They stared back at me, but their eyes betrayed nothing.
"We have received a phone call from the Fuhrer Roy Mustang of Germany." Stated Halen.
"Lady Xadrian's - may she rest in peace - other daughter has just been found." Said Sanford. "Your grandaughter," He nodded towards my grandparents as my grandmother gasped. My grandfather held her hand tight in response. "And your older sister." He said, nodding towards me this time.
Oooh! The sister has been found!
What will happen next?
Elements [FMA] Episode 2 - Sister
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