Thank you to everyone who read my first chapter. In this second chapter you will finally meet Emily. As always feel free to review. Thank you all again!
Emily stood by her daughter making sure she didn't ruin the batch of flour she had finished preparing. This particular flour was of the highest importance. It was meant to go straight to King Argon, the ruler of the Land of Nothing, who was in search of a new miller. Emily determined to impress the king, for her family was in desperate need of money. She knew this would be her families one and only chance to keep themselves afloat.
Sweat sliding off her forehead down to the tip of her nose, Cora didn't dare try to wipe it away. She knew how important this flour was; to drop any of it would be disastrous. Having already filled up four out of the six massive bags, Cora used her battered shovel to scoop the flour into the remaining open bags.
"Slowly, Cora," Emily advised. "There is no need to rush. Be sure to keep your hands steady."
This was easier said than done. It was so terribly hot in the mill, which was making Cora's hands sticky. Her sweat stinging her eyes, she felt as though she were working inside of a volcano. How could her mother stand the heat? Even though Emily was also sweating she didn't appear to show any signs of fatigue. Another thing that wasn't helping Cora's situation was her mother's sharp blue eyes remaining glued on to her.
Why would Mother make me fill these bags? These bags of flour are the most important, yet she is making me fill them up? Cora thought to herself.
Emily seeming to sense her daughter's agitation, she rested a hand upon Cora's shoulder.
"I know this is hard and the heat isn't helping, but you're doing a wonderful job. Once we are done here, I'll let you have the rest of the day off. You may do whatever you wish."
That was enough motivation for Cora. Quickening her pace her shovel suddenly slipped right out of her hands. Unsure how it happened, Cora watched horrified as the flour bag she was filling fell to the ground with a loud 'thump'. Before she could attempt to correct her mistake: her mother's hand firmly snatched at the back of her raggedy dress.
"You careless fool! Did I not tell you to go slow?!" Emily bellowed, shoving Cora roughly towards the door. "Get out! And don't even think of going into the cottage! You will go straight to the wood pile and begin to stack the pile in the shed, understood?!"
Cora stumbling out the door, feeling like a whipped puppy, she dragged her legs over to a mountain-sized pile of wood. The wooden wheel barrel already beside the pile, Cora grabbed a pair of moth eaten gloves starting to place the wood into the wheel barrel.
Damn you, Cora! she thought, furious at herself. You useless cow! How could you have been so careless?! Mother and Father worked so hard to make the flour and what do you do? That's right, you drop it on the damn floor!"
Slamming the wood down into the wheel barrel: one of the pieces suddenly bounced out, hitting her squarely on the jaw. Recoiling backwards, Cora could instantly taste blood in her mouth. The wood had surprised her, which had caused her to accidentally bite down on her tongue. Cora already feeling a stinging pain she also felt more enraged with herself. Knowing she was acting rather immature; she didn't give a damn. Continuing to throw the pieces of wood into the wheel barrel, she forcefully pushed it over to the shed once it was full. Cursing like a sailor at a piece that wouldn't fit properly, Cora had yet to notice the pile was leaning at an awkward angle. Throwing one last piece up to the very top: the wood then broke away.
Staring stunned as the wood came soaring down directly at her, Cora found she could not move her legs. Almost as if they were rooted into the ground. Opening her mouth to scream; nothing came out. Perhaps this was justifiable in a way. Cora thought of how poor her family was, and to have one less mouth to feed would help her parents to stay afloat. The more she thought about it, the more Cora started to convince herself they would be better off without her. Closing her eyes; preparing herself for the impact: a hand suddenly wrenched her backwards.
Falling right on her butt, Cora stared wide-eyed at the pile of wood now on the ground. Hearing her heart beating in her ears, she slowly looked up to meet her father's worried gaze. His brown eyes that mirrored Cora's were full of fear, as he stared from the wood to his daughter.
"Are ye alrigh, girl?" he asked, offering his hand down to her.
Cora nodded, taking his hand.
"How many times do I got ta tell ye? Pilin wood is like a puzzle. Ye, understand? Ye've got ta place the heavier pieces at the bottom and the small pieces at the top. If ye place the pieces randomly on top of one another the whole pile will collapse."
Cora staring down at the ground, her father then gently grabbed her chin. Noticing blood on her lips, he then proceeded to open her mouth. Letting out an annoyed sigh her father, Tucker, led her over towards the cottage.
Her father having left her alone in the kitchen as he went to retrieve her mother; Cora sat at the kitchen table with her hands tightly clenched together in a tight fist. Feeling like she had been sitting there for ages, the front door suddenly burst open: revealing a red faced Emily.
Looking directly at her daughter, not saying a single word, she stepped into the kitchen. Reaching up towards a brown cabinet, she proceeded to pull out a black box. Cora instantly smelling alcohol; Emily placed a few drops on to a round piece of cotton.
"This will sting," Emily said stiffly, placing the piece of cotton on Cora's tongue.
Cora's eyes watering at the exact moment of contact, she gripped the arms of her chair tightly. Her mother telling her to hold the cotton ball for a few minutes while she put away the first aid; Cora sat stone still in her seat, feeling her tongue starting to become dry.
"Why must you be so rash, Cora?" Emily finally said. "If your father hadn't shown up when he did, you could have been seriously hurt or worse."
"Wat's ip atter?" Cora attempted to speak; however, the cotton ball was slurring her words.
"What's it matter? What do you mean, 'whats it matter'?" Emily said, disconcerted.
"You and ather ould e etter off…" She took the cotton ball out of her mouth. "You and Father would be better off without me. We're so poor and barely have enough to get by. If I were to be out of the picture-"
"Stop it!" Emily snapped, stepping right up to Cora. "I don't ever want to hear you say such nonsense again."
Although Cora had fallen silent, she was still thinking about what she had just confessed.
"I don't understand why you feel that way? Was it something I have done to make you feel the way you do?" Emily asked, looking quite concerned.
"No, Mother. I just…" She bit her bottom lip, unsure if she should continue to speak.
"Speak, Cora," Emily said firmly.
Cora let out a sigh, before she said: "Mother, is this it? I mean is this all life is about? Getting up to work ourselves into the grave?"
Cora's words caught Emily off guard. Examining her daughter's face, Emily took a seat in a chair directly across from her child. Her dazzling sapphire eyes staring deep into her daughter's brown eyes: Cora was shocked when her mother started to smile.
"I'm afraid so, my love. For your father and I anyway. You, on the other hand, have your whole life ahead of you." She leaned forward motioning for Cora to come closer, as she continued in a whisper: "My Cora. You're going to leave this rundown old mill one day and become known throughout the land. The people will kneel before you, and kings will wage wars to win over your heart."
Cora stared at her mother with widening eyes.
"Really, Mother? You think so?"
"I do. I believe you will rule a kingdom where there will be talking flowers; a cat who is quite clever and can also disappear and reappear out of thin air; and a mad man who will have tea parties all day, every day."
"A mad man throwing tea parties all day?!" Cora said, starting to giggle at her mother's crazy imagination.
"That's right, my darling. And there will be all kinds of celebrations and parties just in your honor," Emily said, reaching over to tuck a few strands of Cora's hair behind her ear.
Cora trying to picture what this kingdom would look like, she could see herself sitting on a high throne made of pure gold. Wearing a matching gold crown upon her head. Her attire was of a different sort. Her favorite color always having been red, she could see herself in a puffy red dress that would put the reddest of roses to shame.
Emily pleased to see her daughter looking much more cheerful, she was also feeling slightly guilty for having told Cora such a thing. Of course Cora becoming a queen of her own kingdom was not possible, nor would any king or prince gaze upon a common miller. Emily; however, felt the girl needed something to hold on to. Even if it was mere fantasy at least she now had something to live for.
"Is your tongue feeling better?" Emily inquired, starting to get up from her chair.
Cora nodded.
"Good. Then perhaps you'd like to come along with me to drop off the flour. Your father is busy with other chores, and I'd feel much better to have some company when I go to see the king."
"I'll go with you, Mother!" Cora said, leaping right out of her chair.
Rolling her eyes at her daughter with a smile; Emily led the way out of the cottage with Cora right on her heels.
