ch3

Ch 3 

 A knocking woke me from my dreamless slumber.  Opening my eyes I jumped up from the couch I had fallen asleep on.  A sudden wave of memories hit me, and my surroundings began to look familiar. The knocking sounded again.

“Come in!”  I shouted.  Was that even things that people said?  I swear if I screwed this up . . . 

“Undress.”  A deep accented voice said.  

I spun and was greeted by the sight of a short plump woman.  Her raven black hair rolled tightly at the nape of her neck.  Brown, wrinkled skin blended in with her chocolate eyes.  She wore a simple green gown along with an apron tied around her wide hips.  In her hand she held a velvet bag. 

“Undress.” She commanded again. 

“Why?”  I asked, for such an old thing she was quite intimidating.  

“So I can measure you for a gown.”  

Of course. The queen had mentioned she would send a seamstress.  I began to unwrap myself from the gown and soon realized I would need help. 

“I can’t, will you help me out of it?” 

She huffed. “Girl do you not have maids to do that for you? I am not a maid. I am a seamstress, don’t forget that.”  

“I don’t have maids.”  I stated plainly.  

The seamstress shot me a glare.  “A lady without maids.  That is humorous little girl.  I am no maid and so I will claim no job required of one.  Get out of the dress with or without a maid for I do not care which, but you better do it quickly there are other ladies who have gowns I must work on.” 

I gritted my teeth. B***h.  Spoiled little castle b***h.  Sending my own glare back at her I fumbled with the ribbon in the back, a tug here, a yank there. 

Rrrriippp.

Well, now I really hoped Lady Isobel wouldn’t want it back. After what felt like hours I finally climbed out of the dress and tossed what was left of it on a chair.  The woman dug out a measuring  tape and began measuring everything whether it be my arms, neck, torso or chest it was measured and then scribbled down on a scrap of parchment paper.  

A soft knock made its way into the room.  I looked up to see the queen standing in the doorway.  My eyes widened and I dropped into a curtsy all a little too quickly, I ended up losing my balance and tumbling to the ground.  Her laugh filled the room and I blushed terribly, I was utterly humiliated. 

“Oh, it’s okay.”  The queen said smiling as I got back on my feet. “It wasn’t fair of me to sneak up so quickly on you.” 

“You are perfectly fine your majesty.”  I responded.  The seamstress began where she left off and the queen moved to the couch to watch.  Her gaze found the dress I had successfully ruined. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t have help with undressing and you know how hard it is to do alone.”  I apologized hoping what I said was true and that there wasn’t some trick to get out of the gown I didn’t know.  

She straightened as I said this, her eyes moving to the seamstress who had gone rigid behind me.  

“You had no help?”  The queen asked. “No help what’s so ever?”  

I shook my head.  My hands fidgeting at my sides.  “I have no maids to help me.”  

Her cool gaze stared at me, her mouth a thin, tight line.  What had I done wrong?  

“Alecta.”  She said, her voice stern. Her eyes moving from mine to hers. 

The seamstress was looking at the carpet. Her measuring stopped.  “Yes your majesty?”  

“Did you not help Lady Odessa out of the gown?”  

An audible pause before she responded. “No.”  Her head came up, and her measuring continued. “She did not ask.”  

I gaped at her.  “I most certainly did!”  I snapped.  “You refused if I remember correctly.  Claiming that it was a maid’s work and you were no maid.”  

“Lies your majesty.”  Hissed Alecta.  

“Quiet!” Commanded the queen.  The room went silent, even the dust stilled from its swirling.  “I will deal with you later, for now you will finish with her measurements and choose colors and fabrics that suit her.  You are not permitted to talk the rest of the time.”  

The seamstress nodded and went back to work.  

***

 Long after the fitting I sat in front of a roaring fire in one of my sitting rooms.  The snow drifting down slowly from the sky, sticking to the windows of the room.  In my hands rested a mug of melted chocolate, one of the most delicious things I had ever drank.  The drink thick as it slipped past my lips and into my mouth where the rich taste exploded on my tongue.    Minutes after my fitting a group of maids arrived at my door, along with a new gown for me to wear.  This gown much less tight than the last, but just as elaborate.  They helped me into the dress and I’ve been lounging in front the fire since.  If I were supposed to be elsewhere I had no knowledge of it nor did I want to.  The fire was warm, its flames flickering wildly in its containment.  As the sun set, the fire created shadows along the bright gold wallpaper with black swirls twisting along it.  

“My lady,” A soft voice said behind me.  “It is dinner hour.”  

Dinner hour already?  Had I really been sitting here that long?  My thoughts were suddenly filled with my sister, and an ache began in my heart.  She was out there, in the snowy village probably worried sick to where I was.  Her stomach would be rumbling soon, for I would not be there to bring her food.  A thought peaked.  Night had fallen, I would sneak out tonight.  I would steal food off their table and flee the castle grounds as I always had.  

I set my empty mug down and rose to my feet.  

“Thank you for notifying me.”  I said. “Will you guide me to the dining room?”  

She nodded and we traveled through the castle, finally arriving at the doors of the dining hall.  Two guard stood on either side.  Their medals polished, their swords seethed, but they held onto they held onto a gleaming gold spear.  Their shoes shined and hair cut short.  

“Do I just go in?”  I timidly asked the maid beside me.   Suddenly the guard slammed their left foot down, sharply turning inward and opened the doors.  Before me an opulent room was presented.  With high ceilings plated with gold and intricate paintings, to the polished dark wood floor.  Candles flickered from high above on the biggest chandelier I had ever seen.  Thousands of crystals covered and dangled from it.  Widows towered to my right, heavy red curtains framing them.  My breath caught in my throat.  Just when I thought the castle couldn’t become more beautiful, it would prove me wrong.     

“Lady Odessa!”  Exclaimed the queen. “Come and sit. We were wondering when you would join us.”  

Tearing my eyes away from the decor of the room, I was greeted by a long oak table.  At the head sat a large man a crown sitting on his greying black hair.  Beside him sat the queen who was smiling.  Among them sat various others whom I had never met, though I did spy Lady Isobel sitting near the king and queen. 

Suddenly remembering my manners, I dropped into a curtsy then made my way to an open seat at the table.  The room had fallen silent since I had entered, their eyes burrowing into me.  The urge to squirm came, but taking a deep breath, I ignored it.  Once I took my seat conversation started once more.  I let out a tight breath I hadn’t known I had been holding.  Various dishes of food sat atop the table.  People took a little this and a dash of that, the platters passed down then back up.  A dish was shoved into my hands.  I quickly served myself from it then passed it on as if it had burned me.  Many more plates made their way into my hands, each time I piled more food onto my plate, making sure none fell over the rim.  Once the passing of food halted they began to eat.  I glanced down at my own plate, it full of various meats, sauces, vegetables, and rolls.  On either side of the ceramic plate sat various eating utensils.  Never had I ever used a fork or knife, only eating from my bare hands.  Surveying others around me, I picked up the utensils and began to slowly eat.  Stabbing the meats with my fork and shredding it with the sharp knife.  I devoured the meal, my stomach so full I thought I would be sick.  

Making small talk with those around me, I learned their various titles of the court and who they were to the royal family.  While I was conversing with an earl the king and queen stood from their seats.  Hand in hand they dismissed us telling us dinner had ended.  In unison the table rose and bowed to them as thanks for allowing them to dine with them.  I quickly followed the others lead and headed out of the room.  Once I found my bed chambers again, I dismissed the maids.  I waited two more hours until I made my move.  The clock chimed two as I swung from my room.  Gripping onto the wall that was only a couple feet away from my room, much closer than Lady Isobel’s.  A fresh coat of snow crunched under my boots as I made my way back to my home.  

Maria was huddled under her blankets, mine still in the opposite corner even though she shivered.  Gently I pushed her awake, her eyes wide as she focused on me.  

“Where have you been?”  She exclaimed.  

“Shhh! Do you want to wake the whole street sister?”

“Where have you been?”  She said, making sure to use a whisper. 

I nodded. “That’s better.  I’ve made myself a bit of a mess.”  

“What did you do?”  She groaned, running her hands over her face.

“I snuck into the castle.”  

Maria sucked in a breath.  Silence fell over us, neither of us wanting to say a word. She decided to break it. “Were you caught?”  

Looking her in the eye I said, “Yes.”  

“Christina-“

“It’s not what you think.” 

Maria’s eyes were still full of anger, but she nodded at me to continue. “They think I’m a lady.  That I am trying to win over the prince.”  

“And are you?”  She snapped. “Is that why you decided to do something incredibly stupid? If you are found out they will kill you!”  

“I know the risks! I never planned on getting caught, nor do I want that mindless prince to be mine.”  

Maria stared at me, her jaw clenched.  “Then why?”  

“Where do you think I got the food all these years?” 

She turned away from me, moon light flashing off the tears on her cheeks. “How could you steal from them?”

“They ruined our lives.”  I growled.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right!”  Maria yelled. 

It was my turn to grind my teeth.  Yes I had gotten caught, but what about all those times I brought her fresh food?  Did she just forget that those warm blankets she was wrapped in was curtesy of the castle?  I stood. “I have to head back.”  

Maria didn’t look at me as I walked out of our alley.  I only stopped when she called out, “You’ll come back every night.  And if you don’t, I’ll assume you dead.” 

I didn’t say anything in return.  I just started my walk back, the skies clear despite the storm we just encountered.  In the midnight sky the stars sparkled.  Dry, frigid air entered my lungs.  It felt good.  A cleansing of sorts.  

I entered my chambers, still cautious if anyone had entered while I was gone, but a few beats went by and nothing stirred.  I climbed into the monstrous bed, dreams followed soon after.