Chapter 1
"He them raised his sword to strike, with hate in his eyes. 'Your time has come to an end.' He said. His sword came down-" A maid interrupted The owner of the orphanage before she could finish. The maid stood at the doorway, out of breath.
"Miss, we have a visitor! It's the Princess!" The maid said.
All at once everyone began talking franticly. Girls squealed with delight. The owner tried to quiet all of the girls down, but it was useless. She had all of the girls line up behind her in an orderly fashion. As soon as they exited the fairy-tale room, they ran to the tall windows that stood on either side of the front doors. All but two. Their names were Christina and Anna Elise. Anna Elise was the most beautiful girl in England. Her hair was like silk. It was blond and had a whisper of a curl at the end. Her eyes were bright blue, so blue that if you looked in to them, you could see the waters of paradise. No one else seemed to have those eyes. If there was one thing that both girls had, it was exceptional eyes. Christina was different when it came to looks though. She had dark brown curly hair, and eyes that changed depending on her mood. If she was angry, they turned bright blue. If she was happy they turned green and when she was sad they turned dark blue. She was an orphan, but there was something different about her. Not that she was strange or anything but she seemed to have a certain grace hang around her all the time as if it liked her. The day the Princess came was the day most memorable to her. The Princess was very beautiful with black-brown hair. A tall manservant accompanied her. He was very old and had a sour expression on his face as if he disapproved. He had blue eyes and had long white hair that was tied up in a ponytail. As the Princess looked through the groups of girls, Christina sat on her bed and looked at the wall. Anna Elise came up to Christina with a flourish.
" Can you believe that the Princess came to this orphanage? Of all the orphanages in England, she picked ours! Oh, I hopes she picks one of us to be her servant. I want to find my brother." Then she frowned. "Do princesses go to orphanages for servants? " Anna Elise asked in a voice that sounded like an angel.
Christina frowned too. "I don't think so, but I once heard that the Princess's mother, the Queen was from a different country, somewhere in the south. It must be a tradition where they come from." The Princess made a small gesture to her manservant and he looked towards her. Wouldn't that be funny if she picked me. She thought as she giggled to herself. The manservant then escorted the Princess towards her. When the Princess saw that Christina was looking at her, she gave a small smile. Christina was taken aback. Is it just me or is she looking at me. She thought as she stood to greet her.
"Girl, may I ask you your name?" The Princess asked with a singsong voice.
Christina curtsied and said, "My name is Christina, Your Highness." Her voice that quivered as she talked. She cursed herself for her cowered ness .
"Yes. I like that. I think you should be my new servant."
"Why thank you your Highness. But I can't leave Anna Elise, my very best friend." The whole orphanage started talking. She blushed as she continued. "It's not that I don't want to come, but she has been my best friend ever since I can remember. Unless…. Maybe, do you think she could come too?"
The Princess's manservant was furious and said, " No one bargains with the Princess! How dare you!" Then in a sweet, sticky voice he asked, "Your Highness, would you like to pick another girl, one that has been taught respect?" He spat out the last word with such dislike that you would have thought that he ate the gruel they serve the prisoners.
The Princess gave him the coldest look then said, " No Covington, I like her, she shows loyalty, her friend can work in the kitchen for now."
Covington's mouth opened then closed as if he was going to argue then thought better of it.
" You should gather your things girls, we leave soon." The Princess said as she put her gloves back on.
Anna Elise looked at Christina with amazement, she didn't say a word, she didn't have to. A single tear formed in the corner of her eye as she embraced Christina. Christina knew that Anna Elise wanted to find her brother, and she couldn't because the orphanage wouldn't let her leave. Anna Elise went over to her bed and pulled out an old grubby sock that was her father's and a dirty ribbon that was her mother's. Those were her only possessions. Christina went over to her bed and pulled out a crinkled letter from her mother. She just stared at it. It simply said :
Dear Christina,
I had to leave you at the orphanage for your protection from your father. It's not that he is abusive, it's that he doesn't know I had you. He doesn't like children. I had to hide you. Please understand that I love you and I shall come back for you in less than a year. I promise.
Your loving mother.
That's all it said. Nothing more, nothing less. It had been two years since that letter. Even though that Christina disliked her mother for leaving her, she kept the letter any way. It was the only thing that belonged to her, and not the orphanage. When I get to the palace, maybe I can find her. She thought. Covington interrupted her thoughts with a slight cough. She already didn't like him.
He then said in a threatening tone, " If you don't hurry up then we will leave without you."
She just gave a deep curtsy and said, " It will be a pleasure to work with you sir."
He stared down at her with a look that would make any normal person shiver, but she returned it with a warm smile. That's when it hit her, He thinks I'm a threat. She did a brief curtsy and quickly walked away. That can't be good.
As they got into the automobile, they both looked back at all their friends, the cook and the owner of the orphanage, Wendy. I'm really going to miss her. Christina thought as the automobile lurched forward. What Christina did not know though was Wendy was thinking the same thing.
It was dusk when they arrived at the castle. Neither girl had seen anything so big before. The Princess huffed as she got out of the automobile then said, "Welcome to your new home girls." When they entered the palace, there was a giant banister and marble floors. There were statues of the kings of the past and giant pillars of stone. The Princess was welcomed by a tall, fat, bald man that smelled of cheese. He had a thick mustache that twitched when he talked. Christina and Anna Elise did all they could not to laugh at the man for he looked like a rabbit with his two huge front teeth.
" Good evening Your Highness. Your Majesty is waiting for you in the throne room." He said in a voice that sounded like someone was pinching him.
The Princess gave him a quick nod then turned to the girls.
" Covington will see you off to your room. Now when I-" Her voice was drowned out by the sound of screams of joy and laughter.
Three small children slid down the banister with a woosh. Servants rushed to pluck the children off the banister, but the children were too fast. All of them amazingly landed on their feet, as if they have done it before. Christina and Anna Elise giggled, wich earned them a stern look from Covington.
"Mommy, look I caught a frogs!" the littlest cried. He was a little boy around the age of three. He had brown curly locks and bright green eyes. All the servants went scrambling as the little boy let go of the frog. They were slipping all over the slick floor as they tried to catch the frog. The frog hopped right over to the Princess, Anna Elise, Christina, and Covigton. Anna Elise quietly walked over to the frog and gently picked it up. E
veryone was still slipping all over the place when she walked over to the boy and said, " I belive this is your frog. Might I ask what his name is?"
"No you may not." said a voice from behind her. She slowly turned around to stand face to face to Covington.
"I'm sor-" she started to say when he interrupted her.
" You are not allowed to talk to Prince or Princesses in such a manner as if you were friends."
"But I said I'm-"
" That is no excuse for such insibordanation. Your Highness, what will be her punishment be? Maybe the dongeon ?" He said with a little too much enthuseasm.
"No. You just take them to their room. Now as for you…" The Princess then turned to the boy. " I love you Phillip, but please don't bring frogs into the palace allright?"
"Allright mother." Phillip said, but as he turned to leave the Princess said,
"Or snakes." The boy just turned back and smiled a mischievous smile.
"Enough of this." Covington said as he turned twards the girls. "If you will follow me I will show you to your quarters."
With that he turned down a long dark hall. The girls hesitated at first, not wanting to go in there, then followed. Covington lead them up these stairs and down thoes, then two lefts and the a right, or was it two rights and then a left? Neither one of the girls knew. Then all of a sudden he stopped in front of a wooden door. "I hope you remembered the way because I will not show you the way again. I am not your servant, and I will not be talked to in a manner as if we are at the same station."
That's all he said before he turned and left them standing in the dark.
The next day, Christina woke up early. She got dressed, washed her face, and made her bed. Anna Elise was still asleep when she slipped out of their room. She decided that since they were both going to be living there a while, she should at least find her way around. Before she knew it, she was lost. When she was about to give up, she saw a door open and close further on down the hall. She rushed down there quickly to ask whoever opened the door for directions. When she got there, she slowed down and tried to compose herself. She then knocked gently, like a lady.
"Enter." A mysterious voice said from the other side.
She opened the door slowly, wondering if this was a good idea. What she saw was an old woman lying in an elegant bed. The woman's hair was white, but her eyes sparkled.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to be a bother or any thing, but it seems I have lost my way. Would you by any chance know how to get to the main hall?"
The old woman gave a light chuckle before answering. "Yes, I do happen to know how to get to the main hall. It seems confusing, the halls, I mean."
"If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been here."
"Oh, quite a while now. A few years I'd have to say. Though I have been it this prison room the most of the time"
The woman's hands gestured to the elegant room. Christina gave a sad smile as she looked around the enormous room.
"As for your first question, you turn right and keep going down the hall until you come to a small corridor. That will lead you straight to the main hall."
"Thank you. I will remember that." Christina said while giving a deep curtsy.
She turned around to leave, but a maid with a tray of food was blocking the way.
As Christina made her way around the maid, she herd her say, " Would you like you food now Your Majesty?"
Christina stopped in her tracks. Your Majesty? She turned back around to see the old woman pointing at her with one hand and her other hand making a shushing sign in front of her mouth. As soon as she saw Christina looking at her, her hands dropped into her lap. The maid looked between her Queen and the girl and decided to put the tray on the nightstand. She gave a curtsy, and left.
"You… your, um… I-I'm sorry, I-"
"You did nothing wrong. As a matter of fact, you were quite polite. I enjoyed you company. Please come and visit me again." The Queen said.