"You'll be needing a teacher. Books cannot teach you everything." Gunter had been waiting outside the library door as Jakob carried out his second set of books on etiquette, cooking, baking, sewing, cleaning, and all sorts of other things that interested him.
"I wouldn't want to study under you, old man."
Gunter took the top book from the stack and walked beside Jakob down the hallway, reading the title aloud.
"Etiquette in the Nohrian Court. Goodness, you will certainly have trouble getting through the first page."
"Shut up." Jakob snatched the book back, putting it beneath all the other books in his grip, only to have Gunter pick up the next one.
"Recipes for You and Your Kids. Was this really in our library? I wonder who put this there?"
"If you're done judging my taste in literature, I have some studying to do." Jakob stopped outside his door, where he could clearly hear the maid's son already snoring.
"It's a very late hour."
"That doesn't matter to me." Jakob never needed that much sleep in the first place. He just hated waking up in the morning, so it was easier to get very little sleep and spend all that time dragging himself out of bed, since his associate never did anything to wake him up.
Guther closed the door behind Jakob, but not before noting the massive amount of novels and books around his bed. He gave a sigh, making a silent bet to himself that within the week, Jakob would be coming to him, begrudgingly, in search of a teacher.
It took five days and prompting from his newfound friend to get Jakob to stand before Gunter and admit that he needed someone to teach him.
"Books can teach me very much. But I only need an opinion on what I'm learning and you're the one old coot that I can trust with my mission."
"You haven't even told me your mission. You've simply just got a newfound fire in your soul that I can't seem to find a source for."
Jakob's hands behind his back clenched. He wasn't sure whether to tell Gunter his motives for wanting to become the very best servant that could ever be.
Ever since the princess had saved him from being sacked in the kitchens, he found that the debt he owed her was immeasurable. He owed her his life and respect, his complete devotion.
He wasn't just training to be a servant, he realized right then. He desired to be her personal retainer, a companion who would put their life on the line for their master or mistress.
Jakob told Gunter of his intentions, who nodded sagely in response before leading him down to the kitchens. Finding an empty section, he slammed the pot and tea leaves down before Jakob, who merely looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Make tea."
A silence passed over the kitchen, the couple of maids inside staring at Gunter and Jakob, who were glaring at each other over the pot.
"Leave us!" Gunter ordered the two women, who instantly obeyed and absconded from the room, while Jakob took up the tea leaves.
"I want you to make enough tea for the two of us, at least. And to make it a good cup. If you're serious about this, the first thing I have to teach you is how to make a good pot of tea."
The quiet came again while Jakob prepared the water, and began to bring it to a boil. The air was not tense, but Jakob was determined to make it so. This time, he was going to prove himself, and do it for her!
This proceeded to be followed by Gunter's strict disapproval of the tea, and he was then "properly" educated. Jakob found the entire process absolutely tedious, but each time he thought to snap at Gunter, he was reminded of his mission to serve the princess who had so kindly saved him, and didn't, instead taking his advice and improving his tea technique.
The second cup was already better than the last.
"You take the needle and the thread. Wet it in your mouth."
Gunter had suggested that the best way to understand what he was doing was to teach the princess new skills. It not only occupied time and gave her company in the lonely fortress. He also thought that Gunter was doing it so that it might control his temper, but Jakob at this point couldn't even imagine lashing out at this person to whom he owed his very life – so this time allowed him to get closer to her and see her preferences.
She enjoyed dresses, but simple colors. Her favorite tea was "anything he made", but he could tell her weakness was honey and sugar being added. She disliked wearing shoes, instead choosing to take them off as often as possible. There was always something new he was finding out about her.
And today, it was that she had trouble getting the thread through the eye of the needle.
"Here." Jakob reached out, briefly asking her permission to assist, and when granted, took her hands in his and helped guide the sopping wet thread through the eye of the needle; something he had been working on last night for an hour until he could do it perfectly.
"Now, you try it."
She got it right on the second try. He praised her abilities, and he found himself touched. She had praised him. He would never quite get used to hearing her kind compliments and sweet comments about his duties. He still had so much to learn, so far to go, before he could call himself a capable servant.
However, the time to prove himself would come sooner than he thought.
A few days after the princess' eleventh birthday, the castle unexpectedly received two new servants. Two young ladies showed up, one with pink hair, and the other with blue. The rumors spread quickly about the former's clumsiness and the latter's capable nature, and how they kept close to themselves. The princess was instantly curious and wanted to meet them, but Gunter told her that she had to stay back and wait a day, because he wanted to make sure that the King had indeed meant to assign them to the castle, because more and more of the staff were being steadily taken away as the princess grew older and the core staff were able to take on more tasks such as cooking and entertaining.
However, she insisted on meeting them to Jakob, who found himself unable to refuse the request. He took her down to meet them in the servant's dining room, where they were setting places for dinner.
Suddenly, the pink-haired one caught herself on the leg of a chair, and nearly tipped over. Her sister was too far away and unable to stop her from falling. Realizing this, Jakob ran forward and caught the pink-haired maiden, while the couple plates she was holding fell onto the carpet with a bounce.
"Are you all right? You call yourself a maid with that sort of performance? Who even trained you?!" Jakob instantly reprimanded the girl, who looked as if she was about to cry.
"Hey!" The blue-haired one had reached them now, and was holding out a knife in her hand. The air in the room suddenly cooled down, and Jakob felt a chill run down his spine. When had it gotten so drafty in the room?
Then the answer was clear. The knife the girl was holding began to frost, and he remembered reading about a Nohrian Ice Tribe… people who lived far within the snow and had control over that element. How had they arrived here? These people always did their best to be as separated from Nohr as possible.
"Wait just a moment—" but Jakob found himself unable to finish while the pink-haired girl began to push him away, and her hands were cold to the touch, freezing his body—
"Stop!"
The small voice came again in the face of conflict, and she stood in the doorway, head bowed and eyes squeezed shut. The entire room stood still while she took a deep breath and composed herself, and began to talk.
"We don't need to fight. Here. We haven't even introduced ourselves!" She came over and plopped herself right down on the floor, smoothing her dress out. "What's your name?"
"F-Felicia." She knelt next to the princess, turning to the servant who had prevented her from falling to the ground. "What's your name?"
Jakob felt like the entire thing was a ridiculous notion, but because it was his mistress doing this, he chose to not vocalize his displeasure.
"Jakob. And yours, my lady?" He turned to the blue-haired girl, who was still clutching the knife, now coated in ice.
"Flora. And I know your name, little princess, so I would prefer to not hear it. I've heard enough of it from the soldiers." She stalked out, leaving the other three sitting on the floor to watch her leave.
"Here! We'll help you finish setting the table! Jakob, could you get the silverware we're missing?"
"Of course, milady." He bowed slightly and departed, silently congratulating himself on a bow that he was sure even the old man would have been proud of.
When he arrived at the store room, he found Flora standing still before the silver cabinet, drawer open.
"Flora, I might ask why you were so rude towards the princess. She has a kind heart, and bears you and your tribe no ill will—"
She shut the drawer with a violent slam, and Jakob was instantly moving to her side, but found himself stopped by a harsh wind.
"H-hey!" he yelled, while it whistled past him.
"You don't need to concern yourself with our affairs. Please excuse me."
She released the spell when she left again, and he found himself staring after her, wondering what could have happened to these two girls. They obviously hadn't come willingly.
The princess had more luck finding that out, staying in the other room with Felicia, who she was helping set the plates out with.
"See, my sister and I are able to use ice magic! It's just something we're both able to do… but Flora's far better at it than I am." She trailed off, before picking up the conversation again. "Thank you for helping me set the table! I would have hated to drop the plates again…"
"No problem! I like helping. Gunter doesn't let me do it, and Jakob's always a bit of a pushover when it comes to letting me do things on my own—"
"A pushover?" He loomed behind her, causing her to squeal and duck under the table, Jakob bending down to see her hiding underneath.
"Ahhhh! I didn't mean it that badly!"
Felicia started to laugh, while Jakob made the move to crawl under, but not before the princess bolted out and ran through the doorway, giggling the whole time.
"I want them to stay."
Those were the first words Gunter received when he arrived back at the castle, having confirmed that, indeed, Felicia and Flora were to stay.
"Ah, oh you've met with them already?" He gave a slight laugh, kneeling down to the princess' level. "Jakob, did you not keep her away?"
"I did my best, old man! Don't expect any thanks from you vanishing like that. She requested to see them, and who am I to refuse a request from her?"
Gunter shook his head, but was smiling, telling Jakob that he didn't think ill of the princess meeting the two new maids at all.
"Why don't you head upstairs and find the book you want Jakob to read tonight, and he will meet you up there?"
"Okay!" She turned and ran up the massive staircase, and Jakob turned to Gunter, knowing that he had something to day.
"What, is my bow upon your return not perfect? Was a bit of her hair out of place?"
"On the contrary, you seem to be holding things together. And your bow has improved. No, this is about the maids."
"Felicia and Flora? The former seems fine, the blue-haired one is the one I'm worried about. Neither of them quite have a grip on their powers."
"Yes, well, they're to stay here. Do what you can to make them feel welcome."
Jakob sighed. "Well, that's good to know, but a bit late. I can't say we got off to a very good start."
He recounted the events of that day to Gunter, who listened silently, nodding when appropriate.
"It seems we will have a long way to go."
"Indeed."
"I'm being replaced?!"
"Silence!" Gunter's tone instantly silenced the boy. Jakob fumed quietly, listening to the sound of the princess instantly bonding with this grey-haired child, who held himself like Gunter when speaking – or at least, attempted to.
Gunter swallowed, knowing that what he was about to tell Jakob might make him quietly furious, or go into the room and observe the boy until he unnerved him enough to leave.
"Silas was chosen to be a playmate for her. Lord Xander was concerned that his sister was not getting enough human interaction—" Jakob snorted. "—and therefore, assigned her a playmate named Silas. You will be respectful and kind towards him, for her sake and Lord Xander's."
"Of course, old man. I'll be just as respectful as I am towards you."
"Jakob…"
He turned and walked down the hall, deciding to just read in the library or find something to work on. He could read up on smiting work, or figure out how to settle his temper which always got to him. He wasn't being replaced. This boy just happened to be her age, and that was why they were selected to be playmates. Most likely the son of some ranking noble to be chosen for the task.
While reading up on different metals and their uses, he heard them approaching the library. The princess was obviously leading, and the boy protesting.
"No, come on, it's fine! We can go wherever we want! Uncle Gunter said that the old mean lady doesn't work here anymore, so come on! I want to introduce you to Jakob! He's gotta be here somewhere. Then he can tell us where Felicia and Flora are!"
Jakob slammed the book shut, prepared himself to bow for this new playmate. Respectful. Kind. Respectful and kind for Lady—
"Jakob!" Her voice pushed the thoughts away as she took his arm, ruining his posture. "This is Silas. He's going to come by at times to play with me."
Jakob bowed slightly, and the boy waved back. "Hello!"
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Jakob didn't like the vibe he got from the boy. He was giving off a happy-go-lucky vibe. A carefree nature.
The conversation suited her just fine, since she wanted to take him elsewhere.
"Have you seen Felicia and Flora?"
"I have seen neither of them, milady. I would gather that at this hour, they're downstairs setting the table."
"Okay! Let's go!" She took Silas's hand and pulled him out, Silas giving a quick good-bye wave that Jakob did not return.
Oh, yes. He did not like him.
Jakob's suspicions about him were later confirmed when he saw them looking out the kitchen door between breakfast and lunch.
"What are you doing?"
Silas jumped, and his lady just turned to see Jakob, also looking a little shocked.
"We're— we're just—!" Silas could not muster an excuse, and Jakob raised an eyebrow, placing the princess' breakfast tray on the table and crossing his arms.
"Well? Can you tell me what you're planning?"
"He won't tattle, Silas!"
Only if you request me not to, milady, Jakob thought to himself. Her orders overrode everything else in his mind, unless it came to her safety and she was making a rash choice.
"We're going out to a pond in the forest with fish in it!" she said simply, and Silas began to freak out, covering her mouth, but she pushed it off. "Don't tell Gunter!"
There it was. Her order. "Be back within a couple hours. You know that you are not meant to leave the castle, Lady—?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know! I'll be back in a couple hours! Before lunch! Promise!" With that, she took Silas's hand and pulled him out, and Jakob shut the door behind them… before opening it again and wondering if he should follow them.
He would give them two hours.
Luckily for Silas's head, they returned in an hour and a half, out of breath and a smile across her face. If she had been in any other state, he would have to answer to the new dagger techniques Jakob had been working on in his limited spare time.
"Well?" He held out the wash basin and cloth to the princess first. "How was it?"
"Amazing!" Her shoes, clutched in her hand, were placed onto the table while she washed her face and hands, finding that there was a new tear in her dress.
"Gods!" Jakob knelt down instantly, evaluating the rip and deciding how much would be needed to fix it so that you couldn't even tell it had happened. At all costs, he had to make sure that Gunter did not find out what had happened. She was in one piece, as requested, and he was on her orders to not tell. If he told, then she might not trust him, which would put him in a difficult position for later accomplishing his goal of earning her total trust and staying by her side forever.
"There were so many fish! You should have come with us, Jakob!"
He merely went, "Hm," before standing again. "Go change, milady, lest Gunter sees that tear and begins to put two and two together."
"Okay!" She grinned and ran out of the room, forgetting her shoes. Jakob made a mental note to return them later, and turned to Silas, who was looking at him.
"What do you want?"
The sudden change in tone sent a chill down Silas's spine, and he did his best to stand straight, like his father and mother did when they were being knights. "I want to know… know… that you're not going to tell."
Jakob smiled, shaking his head in a dismissive manner. "Don't you worry yourself. I am on strict orders from the princess herself. Your secret is safe until it puts her in danger."
"…Understood."
However, the secret didn't stay safe for long. Someone had somehow figured out that the princess had left the castle and interrogated the young boy to no end, and after they were caught trying to leave again by someone who was not Jakob or Gunter, Silas was dismissed. This caused the princess great distress, and Jakob found himself late one night in the library with her while she cried over the loss. Gunter had said that it might be best she spent the time with him alone to get over it, and that, she was twelve and lost a friend in her little world, it was only to be expected.
"We had a list going. He was going to write down all the places I wanted to go, and said that, when we got older and he got permission, he could take me everywhere!"
Jakob sighed. He could have easily done that for her. In fact, Gunter would have probably gone to King Garon and requested permission to make an outing of it. But, he supposed, the thrill of going out and doing it without anyone knowing was half of the excitement.
"Here, why don't we read a book? Perhaps he will be back?"
I really hope he doesn't come back.
"O… okay." She nodded quietly, and slid off the couch, going to find a favorite book.
And that was the last they had been heard of. Felicia later went to find Jakob to ask about something, and discovered that he was not in his room. She looked around, and then went up to the princess' chambers. He wasn't there etiher. A concerned Felicia went to Flora, who appeared to be even more frightened. She had steadily bonded with Jakob after their encounter, finding each other to be of comparable skill. She had come to care for him, but would never tell him. It had to be a passing matter. And it would never last, for they would soon return to the Ice Tribe. She believed that, deep down in her heart.
So, they ran in separate directions, combing the castle for them. Flora went down to the quarters and kitchen, and Felicia upstairs to the ballrooms and royalty's quarters.
Quietly opening the door to the library, she saw a pile of books next to a chair, and cautiously approached it, only to find a sleeping Jakob, with a sleeping princess resting on his shoulder. She smiled at the sight, and began to lift books up one by one to start putting them away while they slept. However, she tripped, and with a yell, Jakob awoke, pulling the dagger out of the makeshift hiding place in his boot.
"Who's there?!" He got into a defensive position, but only saw Felicia and the fallen pile of books before her, instantly deducing what had happened. Quickly putting the dagger away before someone arrived or the princess woke up, he went to help Felicia pick up the novels.
"Oh!" she exclaimed at picking one up from beside the chair. "This is one of my favorites!"
"You would read Nohrian fairy tales?" Jakob looked over her shoulder before collecting the rest of the books, and the princess was now fully awake, leaning over to watch them tidy up.
"Aren't they wonderful?" her eyes sparkled. "Knights in far off places, princesses who save themselves—!"
"—and magical creatures, myths of old!" Felicia's excitement rivaled the young girl's.
"We could start a book club! Jakob, Jakob, would you join our book club?"
He contemplated the decision, deciding that it wouldn't be a bad idea to start something of that sort. It might help her cope with the loss of Silas, and would help Felicia settle in.
"Of course, milady. It seems like a sound idea."
"Then it's settled! We're gonna start a club!"
-8-
Jakob had begun to notice a trend in the staff. More and more people were leaving while he, Felicia, and Flora reported their growing list of talents to Gunter. They were not being picked to leave and go off elsewhere, or to the army.
On the same day that he noticed this, Gunter called a small meeting in the sitting room. Jakob found that he, Flora, and Felicia were the only ones present.
"You all are reporting great progress in your abilities to serve," Gunter started the conversation while settling into a chair, motioning for the three to do the same.
"The King feels that it has come time for the princess to have retainers. He wants these to be the only people serving within the castle and are directly connected to her. You will be solely responsible for her safety and care—yes, Felicia?"
Her hand was raised, and she put it down when she began speaking. "On the subject of defense, Gunter, who will be guarding the castle?"
"You three." The answer was simple and gained eye widening and gasps from the group. "I will be personally instructing you in the rest of what you must learn. When your training is complete, the last of the staff will leave, and the four of us will be the sole persons responsible for her."
Jakob was beaming. This was what he had been working for. Being chosen among all else. He was down to now competing with Flora (extremely capable) and Felicia (not as capable) for being the main one by her side.
"You are all in good standing with the princess. You are all developing an… extensive repertoire of skills. And I can tolerate all of you."
"You mean you've basically adopted us as family, old man."
Gunter chuckled. "Yes, I suppose that is right. I do feel like you are all a part of a family in this castle. Rebellious as some of you may be," he added, looking right at Jakob, who looked offended.
"Excuse me!" he said, not even hurt by the comment. This got a laugh from Felicia and Flora, who said that they, too, were fine with the agreement.
Gunter nodded. "Then, it is settled. I will begin with all of our lessons tomorrow. I will decide the best course of action for each of you.
"Do not let me down."
A knock came at Jakob's door. It was one he recognized as Flora. Putting down the dress he was mending, he called, "Come in."
She quickly closed it behind her, and sat down next to him on the bed. She was silent for a few moments, just watching him expertly sew the hem on the dress.
"You've gotten very good at that."
"Of course," he said simply. "I had to."
Flora nodded, biting her lip. Jakob felt the temperature of the room go down a few degrees.
"What's the matter, Flora?"
She took a deep breath, attempting to control her feelings and powers, before speaking.
"How long are you going to serve for her?"
Instantly, Jakob felt attacked. Was she questioning his loyalty to the princess?
"Why are you asking me this question?"
"Because I want to know." Flora looked to him with hurt eyes, and he finally looked up from his needlework, seeing the pain in her expression.
"I will not be giving up my position as her retainer to make you feel more welcome. I was here before you."
Flora held back tears. He had misunderstood. She was staying for him… why? Why had she stayed this long? Why had she endured for all this time? However, maybe, she could bring the conversation around to that…
"I don't know, we seem to be quite capable. Felicia's a natural fighter."
"You seem jealous."
"I am not!" Flora took on an offended tone.
"You are an excellent maid in your own right. Your ice powers are beyond compare in my eyes. You are adaptable, a swift learner, and organized. Methodical. And a very hard worker."
Flora had never heard him speak highly of anybody except the princess before. He spoke down to everybody. And here he was, speaking so kindly to her—!
"And on that note, I look forward to working with you. Now, if you will excuse me, I must finish mending this dress."
She nodded, getting up and smoothing out her dress.
"My life rests with her," he said before the door opened. "I owe her a great debt."
Flora didn't respond. Jakob turned and saw that the door had been shut behind her silently. He shrugged, and went back to mending, but found himself distracted.
What exactly was he working towards in terms of repaying his debt? What did he want to do for her? Did he just want the title of servant? Or something more? Something like he desired all those years ago...
"Jakob."
He looked up from the testing dummy he was prying a dagger from. Seeing Gunter in the doorway, he yanked it out and tossed it around a few times, showing off his skill every time he caught the dagger's handle.
"What is it? Here to approve my skills? You know we're all becoming quite capable in a short amount of time."
"Yes, I am impressed with all of your progress." Gunter sighed. "Sadly, none of you took up my lance work…"
"We must have our smaller weapons. We cannot appear threatening, at first. We all decided this. It would concern the princess if we always had a sword at our side or a spear on our backs."
"Yes, yes, I know. I didn't come here to talk about that, though. I'm here to talk about you."
"Me?" Jakob stopped tossing the dagger and instead stuck it back into his boot, watching Gunter ease himself down onto the bench.
"Yes, you're fifteen now, soon to be sixteen. It's time we talked about what you would like to do as your position within our ranks."
"That's not a difficult question to answer." Jakob stood before Gunter, hand on his hip while he drummed his fingers against his thigh.
"So you've given it thought. I'm impressed."
"Shut up!" He said it half-heartedly, as if he didn't quite mean it that time. "I've known for quite a while what I want to do, and so have you."
Gunter bit his lip, not sure if he should dissuade Jakob or encourage him.
"I just do not know when I can tell her of my intent."
"Well, you'll know the time when it comes." Gunter seemed to not quite respond, off thinking about something else.
"Listen, old man, I got to beat out the other two first! Do you have a problem with my goal, old man?" Jakob was fully ready to fight him on this matter.
"None at all. But is this what you want? Do you really want to serve her? You've been so utterly loyal, so patient towards her. Do you intend to be with her forever?"
Jakob straightened slightly, holding his head high with confidence in his answer.
"I intend to serve her until the end of time itself."
