Day 2

So day 2 of my incredible journey to...something. At this point I'm not sure. I might as well just follow the basic storyline. I don't even know if I'll be able to go home at this point. Still, today was a pretty good day. A little unbelievable though. I must be a lucky bastard. So to recap what has happened so far:

I woke up in the same room that I was in from last night. The fire was low but it wasn't that cold in the room. I got up from my bed. There was a table with two chairs near my bed with boots and socks. I put them on and just explored the room for a bit. I went to the bookshelves and took a book down. The writing was neat and evenly spaced. I found it amazing since I can't write straight on white paper. The book I picked up talked a bit about the city, when it was founded, some of the history and stuff. I just looked through it, not really focused on reading it. I heard a knock from the room and Aldous came in.

"Oh good you're awake. I have brought you something to eat." He set down a plate with some bread, eggs, and a bit of milk. I looked at it a bit unsure of what to make of it all. I thought it was weird they were treating me like a guest when I trespassed on their castle. "Oh don't look so frightened. We are still trying to figure out how you came in here, but for now, please eat." I nodded and sat down to eat.

"So what now? Am I going to get thrown out? I didn't mean to come into the castle." I said, spooning out the insides of my bread, eating it, and putting the eggs inside to make a sandwich. Aldous chuckled.

"No. Although you gave us a scare, we don't believe you came in here to steal anything. In fact, we think that you just came in for help. We do wonder where you have come from. The things on your person are...very foreign." I almost choked on my milk. He must have meant the things I had on when I came in this world.

"Um, I'm not from around here. Truthfully I have no idea how I got here in the first place. I was going home from work and...I got into an accident." I said. I omitted the car and the 18 wheeler since Aldous would have no idea what I was talking about.

"It must have been quite an accident to have hurt yourself that badly."

"I think I should be dead by now because of the accident but here I am, thank...the Maker." I said. I had to make sure not to mention God. Sometimes people get touchy about worshiping other gods around here. Exalted marches and all.

"Well if you are feeling better, then how about a tour of the castle. For now, you will remain here as my guest until you feel well enough to go home." Aldous said.

"Wait." He looked at me. "Well, about home. The accident? It made me come here. I'm not...Fereldan. I come from somewhere very far away." He stared at me hard and I felt that he was sure to kick me out this time.

"Hmm odd. Do you think magic may have been the cause of your transportation? Do you have any enemies that would want you out of the way?" I blinked at how calmly Aldous was taking this. Well magic is pretty common here.

"Well I can think of a coworker that doesn't really like me but to almost kill me? No."

"Then are you a mage? Did you protect yourself by transporting yourself here?" Aldous said with a look. Oh right, mages are considered extremely dangerous.

"What? No, no, I'm not a mage. You can have a templar come here and check me out. Do that...weird thing they do with your head. I'm for it if you want to go ahead and check it out." Aldous laughed at me.

"Oh don't be so shocked. Don't worry. I don't know how you came here and I don't believe that you will cause any harm. For now, let's go out into the castle and then we'll decide what do." I nodded and followed him out of the room. The light hit me stronger after being in a dark room for so long. I blinked a few time for my eyes to adjust before following Aldous. There were a few guards here and there that nodded toward Aldous and gave me a confusing look.

I felt awkward. Shouldn't I be locked up in the dungeon? I know Aldous said that now I'm his guest but that was, I don't know, weird right? I mean I was an unknown woman with blood all over her sneaking around the castle. Sure I wasn't stealing anything but I shouldn't be so chummy with the resident tutor. I recognized a bit of the layout of the castle, but it was way bigger than what you see in the game. The walls were extremely high and the stones seemed to shine. Various doors were everywhere leading to somewhere. Aldous showed me the courtyard and the gardens that led out outside. They were huge with a few elves working to take care of it. We passed by a few elven servants with their head down. Some actually just looked at me coolly. I realized that I'm about as tall as a male elf. I'm 154 cm so I'm pretty short, even by normal standards back in the real world.

"How do feel? Do you feel light headed, weak?" Aldous asked as he was showing me where the library was.

"No I feel well-"

"Oren!" As Aldous and I were walking, came this little boy with dark hair and pale eyes. He had the eyes of his father and was a little on the chubby side. Granted, I came 3 years before the blight happened. Oren who was about 5 or six is now a cute toddler of about 2 or 3. He ran toward us and tripped. He fell on his hands and knees and started to cry. That inner mom in me reacted. I went over to where Oren was and came down to his level. I was a bit worried if he would start crying harder, since I'm stranger. In order to calm Oren down, I wiggled my fingers with sounds effects. He gave me a look but then I made him laugh which made me chuckle as well. He didn't look anything like my son, but he reminded me of him.

Oriana came running after him. Her hair was longer this time and wasn't in those weird various ponytail things. I kept looking at him with my head at weird angles, looking away, then looking back with a smile or a goofy face. He laughed and clapped his hands. I made my hand do more sound effects as they went toward him. I imagined them exploding all over his body and he burst with laughter. Oren was a bit ticklish. Oriana just watched me curiously.

"Oren." She said softly. He looked over.

"Mum!" He said and ran over to her. She lifted him up and I stood up. I fidgeted a bit and Aldous came up beside me.

"Good Morning, my lady." Aldous said, with a polite bow. I bowed alongside Aldous. I didn't want to insult Oriana accidentally.

"Good Morning Aldous. Is this the girl that was causing all that trouble yesterday?" Oriana asked. Oren was poking her face. It took some willpower not to laugh.

"Yes. This is Nia." Aldous said. "For now she is my guest until we can find a way to send her home."

"I'm sorry for everything that happened. I wasn't in my right mind." I said, and I really don't know how the freak I actually got here anyway.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Do you remember anything from before?" Oriana asked. I shook my head. I kept my head low. I didn't want to insult someone by looking them at the eyes. Oriana laughed. "Oh you shouldn't be so formal with me. In fact, I know where your old clothes and items are. Would you like to join me?" I looked at Aldous and he motioned me to follow her. I said a polite good bye to Aldous. She put down Oren and I walked behind Oriana. She was pulling Oren by the hand.

"You really made the guards question their job yesterday. A weird blood soaked woman, not seen by anyone! You gave us all a shock." Oriana laughed.

"I feel shocked as well, my lady. I don't even remember how I even got here to be honest." I said. I tried to recollect my memories but all I could remember was the weird place with the halo. I couldn't remember anything that happened after. I don't know why either.

"Nothing at all?" She looked at me and I nodded. We walked through some door and she led me in a room where the elven servants were working on a few clothes. Oriana talked to an elf and she led Oriana where there was a bundle of fiber that were my clothes. They were torn in various places and I'm glad for the clothes I was wearing. I looked through the mangled pockets and nothing was there. The elf woman brought me another basket. Here were my other things that were in my pockets.

My phone, which didn't turn on. My wallet, with various cards and no money. Those cards were useless now. A pen and piping tools. I didn't need them though so I might as well give those to Nan. My bowl scraper, cook's hat, and apron. My notebook, with a few pages. Yep, nothing useful really. What do you expect from a pastry cook, a time machine clock? The elf looked at the items curiously.

My clothes were all garbage of course. I explained to Oriana about the white apron and hat. She sent them to be delivered to the kitchen staff. The wallet and phone I kept in a pocket I found in my pants. I'm going to have to hide these somewhere on the off chance I somehow get back home. I took the pen and notepad to write. It was small but I'll be able to write in it.

"Thank you so much. I thought I lost everything." I sincerely thanked Oriana. She looked at me strangely. "Is there something on my face, my lady?"

"I have a proposition for you. How would you like to be my handmaiden?" Oriana asked. If you're asking what that was, it's basically someone that helps a lady (or man) with various jobs. It could be doing their hair, or getting some clothes for them. Just a servant that's following them in the most simplest terms.

"You're handmaiden? Are you sure you don't want to pick someone else? There are bound to be others more qualified to take that position."

"But you are the only one that Oren has chosen. Do you accept the position or not?" I would be stupid not to.

"Yes I do accept the position. Thank you, my lady." I said, bowing to her. She asked a servant for a few sets of a uniform and she gave them to me.

"Follow me." I did and we went out of the room. "You are to wake early for your duties. You are responsible to dressing me to formal events and for events in the city. You are to care for Oren when I'm not available and tend to his needs as well. You are not to be dismissed until I tell you. Do you understand?"

"I understand, my lady." I really wondered why but I'm not going to push my luck.

"You will learn more about this position in the days to come. I will send someone to train you." Oriana led to where the servants quarters were. Most servants would go to their homes if they lived in the city. The ones that were not living in the city, lived in the castle. She led me to my quarters. It was a small room. A single bed mattress and a set of drawers.

"We shall meet later. For now, put away your things and your uniform. Someone will come get you momentarily." Oriana said and left me in the room.

I sighed. I took out my stuff and I put it in one of the drawers. I put away the rest of my uniforms in the other drawer.

Well this was the start of a new life I guess. I didn't expect anything like this to happen so soon. I thought I was going to be tossed out in the streets at the first opportunity. I got lucky, real lucky. After everything was all said and done, I took out my necklace. It was a silver rope chain with three things hanging off it. The virgin Mary in gold, the cross in silver with small diamonds, and my engagement ring from my husband. I looked at my hand. My gold ring was still on it. I'm surprised no one has even asked. Though, considering my circumstances leading me here, I can understand.

Day 5

I have been thoroughly trained. There was a little more to do on the whole handmaiden thing than I thought. I was basically Oriana's secretary. I made sure which events Oriana can go to, I take messages to her, and write messages back to the correspondents. I also participate in her pastimes like embroidering or painting. She didn't take up many hobbies though. As weird enough as it is in this world, she tried to take care of Oren as much as possible. It's weird because most nobles wouldn't personally attend to their kids. They would just give them to the nannies. It was actually sweet of Oriana to do it.

After I was trained, I finally put on the uniform. It looked really weird on me. It was a dark red skirt, with a brown apron around me. A long sleeve maroon shirt with a black corset. I had to do my hair up. I was considering cutting it short, but I just left it.

It's been a few days since I wrote in here. I had to make sure that I was keeping up on all of my duties, heh. Anyway, it wasn't that hard to be her lady-in-waiting. I'm always a very focused worker and I tried to do my best to do everything. Oriana wasn't necessarily bossy either. She was from Antiva which was this world's Italy but they spoke Spanish. The Spanish that I do speak is considered from the country, so I'm a redneck sort of. Weird since my actual family was in the city. Curse you mom for teaching me ghetto Spanish! Well, at least I'll be able to tell when someone from Antiva is insulting me.

I've also been babysitting Oren whenever Oriana and Fergus go out. He's such a good boy and so cute! My son should almost be his age now. Hopefully I'll be able to get the real date instead of these day entries.

I also was introduce to all the Couslands. Oriana had me set up some tea time for all of them besides Eren and Bryce. I got the room all set up with the tea and various deserts. They looked really good. Sugar cookies with a dash of powdered sugar on top, cookies with a jelly center, cookies with nuts, almond cookies, yep delicious. Eleanor and Bryce were already there. It was more of a family thing than anything. Oriana came dressed for the occasion. It wasn't that hard to learn how to dress her since I had some experience with formal dressing.

"Hello my love. Ah, I see your new handmaiden. She's quite a looker. Ow!" Fergus said. He went up to greet her and she pinched him after he made that comment. I bowed.

"My name is Nia. Please to meet you, my lord." I said. I actually sounded pretty formal. Go me. Fergus was a big guy in terms of muscle. Formal clothing fit him but no one can deny those muscles tend to bulge out. His hair isn't messy and he liked to have a little shadow on his face. Oriana told me how she wished he would shave every once in a while. Dark brown hair and dark green eyes? No wonder Oriana fell for him he was quite a looker.

"It's interesting that she chose you. I've been pushing her to accept one of the elves around the castle, but she just turned them all away." Eleanor explained, sipping her tea. I looked from Oriana to Eleanor. Eleanor had brighter green eyes and all of her hair has already turned dark grey. Her face didn't look gaunt either unlike in game. Eleanor's face is thin and she likes make up. That's her hobby but her skin was very fine. She stood taller than me but smaller than Fergus.

"That's because Oren didn't like any of them. If they're going to be taking care of me, they will also know my son." Oriana argued. I helped only with the tea when someone needed it. I just sat slightly away from them, sorting out the messages of Oriana. I heard some snippets of politics and gossip amongst them. I didn't really care for it. I'm not one for politics.

"Love, how about we go out into the marketplace? I want to show all of Highever the most beautiful woman of the age." Fergus said, kissing her hand. Oriana gave him a warm smile. I recognized that gaze. She loved him very much.

"Of course. Nia. You will keep watch over Oren while I'm gone. Come, I need to get ready." Oriana said. I bowed and took my leave after Oriana left. She wore a light blue dress with gold embroidering. I helped her with the corset and shoes. She looked stunning. Oren came stumbling over. He hugged her leg and she lifted him up. She kissed him on the head. He was babbling here and there. I found it endearing. He looked at me.

"Mia-Ni!" He said, his arms stretched to me. I took him and he kissed me.

"We'll be gone until evening. Be a good boy Oren. Nia" Oriana said. I walked her over to were Fergus was near the main gates. He was wearing some formal clothes as well. They weren't that red and gold gaudy stuff you usually saw in the game. This was more like a black and white outfit with minor gold embroidering. They went ahead in their carriage. I said hello to a few of the guards. They still didn't trust me considering how I got into the castle a few days ago. Oren and I went ahead to the gardens. I kept a close eye on him. Kids at this age still liked to put stuff in their mouths. The elves that were working were looking at him with a humorous gaze.

I had a few close calls with a few weeds and rocks, but everything worked out. We played the chasing game and I realized that it's hard running in this skirt. As I ran around a corner, Oren hot on my heels, I rammed right into someone. I bruised my face since he was decked in full armor. I landed on my butt which really hurt.

"Hey!" I said before Oren finally caught me. He hugged my face and started to scream and laugh.

"Oren!" The man said. Oren looked at him and started to said "Un, Un!" That's when I realized that this must be the younger Cousland, Eren. I knew about him from what Oriana told me. This was the first time I met him though. I got up and dust off my apron, not that it was dirty or something. I took a look at him. His hair wasn't as messy as Fergus'. His was straighter. He also had a goatee with mustache. It was trimmed neatly. Fergus and Eren really looked like one another. Oren wanted to get to me. I stretched out my hands to get Oren but Eren just looked at me.

"And you are? I don't think we hired another nanny..." He said. He sneered at me, sneered!

"No, but Oriana did get a handmaiden. I'm Nia, my lord." I bowed. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I just put on my best innocent face. Finally Oren started to cry and I gave him an expectant look. He gave him to me finally.

"Well, if what you're saying is true, I am Eren Cousland. Best that you shouldn't forget your position handmaiden." He said before he strutted, yes strutted, out of my vision. I rolled my eyes and forgot about that incident. The dusk started to settled and, after playing some more chasing games, Oren fell asleep on one of the floor. It was cute. I had him in my arms while an elf servant called Cyla led me to Oriana and Fergus' room. There was a big mattress and a smaller bed next to the wall. I assumed that was Oren's bed. I got the blanket that was resting on top and pulled it off. I put Oren on the bed and pulled the sheets over him. I learned early on that it got cold in the night. I didn't want him to get a cold so I made sure he was tucked in before going out.

Oriana and Fergus came in, giggling like early stage couples. Fergus' face was a bit pink. I bowed and Oriana gave me a few bags to carry. Fergus went off to find his brother and I followed her. She went to her room and saw Oren there. She ran her hand through his hair.

"Good job. Now, let's get me out of this tight dress." Oriana said. After helping her with the dress, she excused me for the night. I was going to just go and sleep, but I decided to visit Aldous. He was still in the study reading a few books.

"Good Evening Aldous." I said.

"Oh Nia. What are you doing here so late?" He asked. I just shrugged.

"I like to read." I said. "What do you have around here?"

"We have many books here, most concerning history and lore. We also have a few scandalous books that Oriana has shared with us if that is your preference."

"Oh, no, no. I can't even watch people kiss let alone read it."

"You're getting red."

"It's just my natural flush. Anything you'd recommend?" Aldous chuckled.

"For as long as I've tutored here, I've never once read everything the Couslands owned. Please, go through them if you'd like."

"Thanks." I went through some of the books. There were a few about magic surprisingly. Most of the books were of history though. I went through some of the books only for the writing. It looked so beautiful the way they write. All I have is my chicken scratch. Ok maybe it's not that bad but still. Anyway, I spent some of my time looking through the books but I couldn't settle on one. I started to get sleepy and bid Aldous a good night. I have to be careful when writing all this down. I only have one pen and quill and ink takes time to make. I need to find another way to write eventually. I'll think on it later.

I know it starts slow but just bare with me ok?

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