"Can you please run into town and get me some fabric ma fille? I need just another few yards to finish this coat for your father" "Of course Maman!". I was used to being asked these things by my mother, at least once a week, maybe twice if she needed more than she originally thought she did. Of course I did not mind getting her whatever it is she asked for though, because she always made me and my father the most wonderful things. In fact, most of my dresses are made by maman, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Taking the coins and her written request, I open the front door and step outside, taking a deep breath. The sun has hardly gotten over the mountains, so the air is still a little chilly, but I don't mind at all. I'd like to think I'm rather carefree for the most part, because in all honesty, there is nothing to complain about! I have a nice home, with loving parents, and people in my little town are all kind. We never go hungry, and outside problems rarely even make it to our town, because we're so small and in a large valley. I don't think anyone feels like hiking the mountains to bring us news, and I don't blame them, by the time they get here the outside problem would probably be solved.
Walking into town, I'm greeted by the same faces I see almost every morning. The baker, the milkmaid, the crazy young man who is always trying to sell me a hat, I see them all every day. And though some people might get tired of seeing them, I suppose I don't, I feel safe when they're around, them being the same everyday, means everything is normal, everything being normal means there's no problems what so ever.
The fabric shop doesn't open for another few minutes, but that's alright, I'm in no rush. As I pass by two old ladies one of them calls my name, I spin around, smiling and greeting them "Veronique, can you believe what that wretched egg seller is charging for a half dozen eggs? Outrageous! Simply incredible! I don't understand why things are so expensive these days" one of them snaps angrily. Alright, so maybe things weren't always perfect, especially with these two old hags, but still, it was not necessarily a 'problem'. "I'm sure Monsieur Depaul charges reasonably. After all, he only has 3 hens" I tell them, the other one begins screeching "I told you so!" and as they begin bickering I use the opportunity to make my way to the fabric shop.
The owner greets me as I enter "Good morning Mademoiselle Lefevre!" "Good Morning" "And what might your mother have requested this time?" I hand him the paper my maman had sent me with and he glances at it "Ah, of course, I'll be right back". He disappears for a moment, leaving me in a sea of colored fabrics. Each fabric so different than the one next to it, I almost feel uneasy standing there, and yet, somehow I feel at home here. I shrug, maybe it's just because I've been here so many times!
Finally he returns, and I pay for everything before leaving the shop. Walking home, I hear someone calling me "Veronique!" I spin around and nearly drop everything on the spot "Oncle!" I say giddily. He trots up to me on his speckle grey gelding, hopping off and taking me into his arms "How is my favorite mademoiselle?" he asks. I laugh and he twirls me around "Très bon" I reply. He sets me down and I go to his horse, "Bonjour Pierre. What part of the world have you traveled back from?" I ask. My uncle laughs "Let's go see your maman first, and then I'll tell you all about where I've been!".
Then he would tell me, of far off places. He's been to all corners of the globe, South America, China, India, Russia, as many as my young mind could remember. I remember those days fondly, the village, and all the people living there. But things changed after a few years of this, it was a very slow, quiet change. I certainly didn't notice it at the time, but things changed for sure, after my 15th birthday.
I think those stories made me think about things, a little differently. When I was younger, those stories were fairy tales! Stories of far off places, daring sword fights, princes in disguise. But as I grew older, I began to realize, those far off places, they were really out there somewhere. I wasn't sure where exactly, but they were places I could find! That I could get to! There were things out there bigger than my little town, I wanted to see them!
I left home almost 4 months ago. And these memories are the only company I keep as I walk this road. I haven't seen anything I thought grand, or amazing. The only things I've come across on my journey so far are people, and little towns just like mine. In fact, just yesterday I was in a town that reminded me a lot of my own! Small, provincial, some of the people there even reminded me of people in my old town!
Being so similar to my own town, I didn't even want to stay the night! So I've kept going and now I believe I'm a little lost. The woods I'm walking through are dark, and a little frightening. But it's something new isn't it? Maybe this is my first new adventure, my first something bigger than home! As I dwell on these thoughts I come to a fork in the road, one path appears to lead out of the forest, one appears to lead deeper.
This is a hard decision, if I go out of the forest, wouldn't it be like ending my adventure? But if I went deeper in the woods, who knows what I'd encounter there! And I am so tired, walking for 2 days straight takes it's toll on a 16 year old girl. But what did it matter, I shouldn't act like a little girl! I'm not a little girl anymore! I came out this far looking for adventure, I need to stick to it! Picking up my small sack of things, I begin walking down the path deeper into the woods.
Maybe I made the wrong choice, this path seems to be leading out of the forest. Well, maybe not out of it exactly, but it is, for sure, leading towards something. As I get closer and closer to the edge of the trees, something begins to come into view. I stop dead in my tracks as I get to the edge of a bridge, for there in front of me, is something larger than life.
What is it? A castle? Like in a story book? I begin timidly going across the bridge, wondering what could possibly be inside such a grand looking place. I've never seen something so big in my life. Wait a minute! Maybe this was it! The place, the THING I've been looking for! The thing that was bigger than my little town, bigger than anything I'd ever known!
Even the door to this place is bigger than anything I've ever seen. I bet the door is taller than my little cottage back at home! So what should I do now? Knock on the door? I raise my small hand and knock on the door, which hardly makes a noise. Even so, the door opens and I am greeted by a small, portly man with an almost annoyed expression on his face "Can I help you miss?".
He must be mad I'm not royalty, and I almost apologize for not being as such. After all, I must look very homely in my dirty skirts and messy hair. I swallow back any nerves caused by his coldness and answer "Um, I was wondering if I could speak with um, whoever is in charge?" I ask timidly. He raises an eyebrow before opening the door and ushering me in quickly. As he closes the door behind us, I am left to stare in shock and awe at the foyer of this castle.
It's like nothing I've ever seen before! Only one glance at just the entrance of this place, and I know, I know deep in my heart of hearts, this must be the place I've been looking for! The man turns to me, checking his pocket watch as if he's timing me "I am head of household, what is it you would like to speak about?". Oh joy, this little uptight man is in charge? I'll never be able to stay here. What to say, what could I even do to stay here?
A maid passing one of the doorways catches my eye. Of course! I could work here! "Well I'd like a job please monsieur..." I trail off, what was this little man's name anyway? He clears his throat and answers my silent question "Cogsworth. And, what are your qualifications? Can you..." What? I had to be qualified to clean things? I had to come up with something, did cleaning at home count? Did cooking? As I scramble to think of something a little boy comes bursting into the foyer.
The kid is very nicely dressed, and he is actually quite charming. Blonde hair, wide blue eyes, he goes up to Cogsworth and pulls his jacket "Cogsworth!" he says in his little voice. He couldn't have been older than 10 years old "Father wants to see you right now!" he tells him. This causes Cogsworth to almost jump as he straightens out his jacket and turns to the boy. He was about to answer when his eyes narrow and he huffs "Prince Adam your crown is crooked again!". He makes quick work of straightening the little crown on his head. So this boy is the prince?
Prince Adam begins tugging Cogsworth's sleeve and pulling him towards one of the doors. He looks back at me, exasperated "You're hired! Go find..." he glances around frantically "Ah ha! LUMIERE!" he calls. A tall, slender young man who'd been walking past looks up immediately as his name is called and comes to Cogsworth's side "Yes Mon Ami?" he asks, in a rather strong french accent. Cogsworth has almost been dragged out of the foyer now "Take miss... um, whatever her name is, to the maid's quarters to get settled in and" he sighs heavily "Don't try anything".
With that, they were gone, and Lumiere strolls up to me, flashing a debonair smile. I can't help myself as I blush and look down, he's kinda handsome actually. He takes my hand and bows slightly, kissing the top of it "Ah! A new face! Might I inquire your name mademoiselle?" he asks. I giggle and blush an even brighter shade of pink "Veronique" I manage to tell him.
Quickly he picks up my bag "Ah, what a beautifully fitting name to an angel like yourself" he tells me, winking. With that he begins leading me up the grand staircase and towards what he called the 'east wing'. Apparently there are two wings, the east wing and the west wing, the servants stay in the east wing, royalty in the west. Throughout his whole tour, I can't take my eyes off him, which might be a bad thing seeing as this castle is enormous, but right now, I can't help it.
Finally we make it to the servants quarters, and he opens one of the rooms for me "This is your room" he says, placing my bag on the bed. He turns to me, still wearing that dashing smile "If you need anything at all, I will be of course glad to help the lovely mademoiselle". Suddenly a maid enters the room, going up to Lumiere, with her hands on her hips. "Lumiere, who is this?" she asks. He smiles "Ah, Babette, this is the new maid, Veronique! Mademoiselle, this is ma petite amie, Babette. She will help you as well won't you?" he asks, pecking her on the cheek.
I do feel rather jealous, but should I really be surprised that a charming man like Monsieur Lumiere has a girlfriend? I smile "Bonjour Babette. C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer" I say. She chuckles "Likewise! I can see we will be good friends!" she says, her voice is a little squeaky, I don't mind. Lumiere bids us farewell and leaves, at this time I would expect Babette to turn to me ferociously and tell me to stay away from him, but instead she smiles and takes my hand "Come on, I'll introduce you to the others! And we'll find out what your jobs will be!".
She takes me to the head maid first. It only takes a look to know this woman is all business, and gets the job done when it needs to be done. I rather like that! She quickly throws a uniform at me, telling me to change and be ready for the servant's dinner in half an hour, tomorrow morning I'll be given my instructions. Babette and I quickly scoot out of there and she then turns to me, chuckling.
"You have just passed your first test!" she says, almost excitedly. I raise an eyebrow "Test?" I ask, she nods "The maids have a bit of a, hierarchy. You have to prove yourself to them. I don't participate in their horrid tests, but I feel responsible for the new maids coming in all the same. You are a good target, coming here so young!" she explains to me. I swallow nervously, horrid tests? What kinds of things were going to happen to me?
Finally we make it to my room and Babette smiles "As Lumiere said, if you need anything, I will be very happy to help you. I will come fetch you for dinner soon". With that she turns and walks down the hall, disappearing around a corner. I close my bedroom door and decide to look around. There's an empty dresser, a modest vanity with a mirror, a rather large window, and of course my bed, which is small and looks extraordinarily plain.
The maid uniform I've been given, throws me for a loop almost as soon as I look at myself in the mirror. There is a lot of skin exposed! And that wasn't my only uniform given to me! There's a purple one here too, which I am horrified to even look at. It's purple, and the skirt is far above my knee! And with it, something I've never even seen before, until now. Stockings, but they have holes in them, as if they've been made with fish netting.
Sighing, I plop my white maid's cap and look at myself one more time in the mirror. I suppose I don't look too bad, the maid skirts are modest enough. As I tuck a few stray hairs up into my cap, Babette knocks on my door before entering, has it been half an hour already? She looks me over before nodding her approval "I'm supposed to explain your duties to you tonight at dinner, but I think socializing with the others is way more important than that" she tells me.
Babette leads me down to the servants dining room. During Lumiere's tour I'd caught a glimpse of the master's dining room, it was grand. I was caught off guard when I entered the servants dining room, which had 4 long tables, in a room that was hardly half the size of the master's, but with twice as many people. There were so many people I didn't even know where to look.
There are two familiar faces, I can spot Lumiere at the head of one of the tables, Cogsworth not far from him. The irritated man actually looks relaxed for the time, contently eating his meal. Many of the other servants turn and look at me and Babette as she leads me to an empty spot near Lumiere. Cogsworth looks up at me briefly before looking back down at his food. Lumiere on the other hand smiles brightly "Ah! Veronique!" he says, I blush and he stands, holding up his glass and tapping it with his fork "Attention everyone!" he announces "We have a new maid in the castle! This is Veronique!" he calls.
Everyone who hadn't already been looking at me looks at me now, some of the girls dressed in the same uniform as me, narrow their eyes as though to warn me. Some of the men begin whispering to each other, the girls do the same, and eventually the dining room has broken back into animated chatter. Lumiere sits back down and Cogsworth glares at him "Do you have to make a scene about everything?" he asks. Lumiere nods before finishing his dinner and standing "I best tell Mrs. Potts to start preparing the master's dinner. Au Revior Mademoiselles!" he says. As he passes by Babette, he leans down and whispers something into her ear, causing her to blush and nod. He smiles and with that takes his leave.
Cogsworth looks up at me, seeming sympathetic "There's no need to be nervous. The other servants in time will get used to you, and you to them. How are you liking the castle?" he asked. I smiled politely and began picking at my food "It's beautiful, I've never seen anything like it before!". As the night went on, I began socializing with some of the others, and I thought over everything that had happened today as I changed into my nightgown and put my few things into my dresser.
The people at this castle, they seemed like ordinary people to me. Like the people in the towns I've lived and passed through. Even in a place so grand, could I not find the one thing I was looking for? But I am so sure it is here! I will find it! I glance at the paper Babette gave me before bidding me goodnight, that has a list of all my duties. She went over every single one with me after dinner, as she said she would. I swallowed nervously, tomorrow I would have to serve the master dinner, as was one of my new duties.
Blowing out the candle, I lie in m bed and stare at my window. Drifting to sleep, I realize that the fork in the road, had in fact been the start of my adventure.