A/N: Thank you very much for the reviews. :) :) :)Sorry about the errors in my grammar. I'm not really very good at English… I was hoping writing this fan fiction will help improve it. I promise to do my best. Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it. Please review.
Chapter 2:
Ha!
"Let me out," he cried through the thick door of the stables. I smirked.
So who's the thief now?
"Come on, let me out of here," he cried again.
"I am not a thief. I honestly planned to return these," I said hotly through the door. I heard him start to laugh and I became even more annoyed.
"Goodbye," I shouted as I marched away, Courage started to trot behind me.
"Hey, don't go," he shouted as he frantically knocked. "Open the door." I ignored him and continued to walk away. Soon his voice died down and Courage and I stepped out through the gate.
I quickened my paces to Dwight Manor. Greda must be really worried about me.
Greda was waiting for me with a worried expression by the gate when I arrived. As soon as she saw me, she approached me and hugged me tightly.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're alright," she said releasing me from the hug, "Where have you been last night? I was so worried about you, I could barely sleep."
"Relax Greda," I told her reassuringly as we walked hand in hand into the house, "Everything's all right. Courage and I found somewhere to spend the night."
"Really," she said. "What happened?
I noticed that I still had the dress on. I better change before I ruin it.
"Look," I told Greda, "I'll go change first and then I'll tell you everything about it later, okay?"
"Of coarse," she said releasing me from her hold, "How silly of me. Go ahead and change. There's some food on the table. You may eat them after you've changed. In the meantime, I'll take Courage with me and feed him."
"Thanks," I said as Courage followed her to the kitchen.
In a few moments, I had changed back into my regular clothes. As I examined the damage my borrowed fineries took, I remembered him. I started getting annoyed all over again. I hope he's still locked up in there.
I decided to forget about him and started scrubbing the shoes as hard as I could. It suffered the most damage of the three. There was mud and snow sticking out of every nook and cranny. The dress and the coat rested beside me. They looked all right except for the mud that stained the hem of the dress.
After a few more minutes, I finished cleaning everything. I scrutinized my work and was pleased. I thought I did a good job. They looked good as new.
I carefully placed the coat and the dress on the clothesline to dry and positioned the shoes below them.
I went to the kitchen. Courage was eating contentedly on a corner while Greda was setting the table. I helped her and sat down. Then, I began eating. Greda ate biscuits while she listened to me. She told me that she already ate lunch with the other servants earlier.
I told her everything while I consumed my lunch. Well, except for the parts about him.
"Thank goodness you found somewhere to stay," she said as she carried her plate to the sink.
"I guess you're right," I agreed, following suite with my own plate. I left my dishes on the sink and started cleaning the table and putting the chairs in order.
Suddenly, Vivian came bursting in. "I have hired new help," she announced.
Greda and I stopped our work to listen to her. Vivian does not like being ignored.
"This," she said drawing an elderly woman with a rather shrewd expression into the kitchen, "is Faride. She is to be in charge of all the servants in this household. You are to follow her commands. Understood?"
Greda and I simultaneously nodded. Faride stood beside Vivian. She had her graying brown hair tied in a tight, neat bun. Her posture was enough to shame a ruler.
"Good," Vivian said, satisfied. "And, by the way," she added, "you don't have to tell the others, I've personally told them already." With that she whisked away.
Faride remained where she stood as we continued to stare at her.
"Well," she snapped, annoyed, with her arms crossed. "What are you waiting for? Get to work."
Greda resumed cleaning the dishes and I left to dust the living room.
The sun was bright and shining as I walked to the market. I clutched the bag I was planning to return on my way back. Courage followed me as usual. I went over the list of things Faride asked me to buy. It was pretty long.
In a short while I reached the market and got everything on the list. Carrying my purchases, the paper bag, and a bucket of coal I bought to replace the ones I borrowed, I made my way to the mansion that serve as my shelter during the storm a few nights ago.
I left the package and bucket of coal on the gate and rang the bell. I heard a servant open the gate and gather the things I left as walked round a bend.
Mission accomplished!
I then made my way to Dwight Manor. As I neared a forked path, I noticed an old lady sitting on a huge rock. Seeing me approach, her wrinkly features brightened.
I stopped. She approached me and I smiled at her.
"What are you doing here Grandma?" I asked.
"Nothing, just passing time," she replied as she rubbed Courage's chin. "Is that bread I smell my dear?"
"Yes," I confirmed, " I just got them from the baker."
"Can I have some?" She asked.
"Sure," I said as I pulled a loaf of bread out of one of the paper bags. "Here you go."
"Thank you my dear," she said taking the bread. "Here. I have something for you."
"Oh," I said pushing back a wrapped package her outstretched hand offered, "That's not necessary."
"Nonsense," she insisted, "Please take it."
"Thanks but no thanks." I said. "You don't have to do that."
"I won't hear of it," she said even more stubbornly. "Come on, take it. It's a gift."
I finally said submissively, "All right if you insist. Thank you very much." I took it and stooped down to deposit it with the rest of my load. When I finally managed to stuff it in, I stood up but she…
Disappeared.
I rubbed my eyes. What did I just see? Did she just disappear?
I shook my head. It must be the fog.
I decided to turn to the other path that led to Dwight Manor and quickened my pace. Faride hates unpanctuality.
Faride was sitting on a stool on the kitchen when I entered. She stood up as soon as she saw me.
"Finally," she said. "Where have you been? What on earth took you so long?"
"I-I…"I stammered.
Faride interrupted me and raised here hand. "Never mind. Did you get everything?"
I nodded as I pushed the things towards her after discreetly removing the package the old lady gave me. "Good," she said, pleased, as she looked through the paper bags.
She turned to Greda. "You may now start cooking dinner."
And then to me she said, "Go to the cellar and mop it. It's a mess. How can you store things at such dirty environment?"
I turned to obey her when she suddenly noticed the package I was trying to conceal. "What's that," She asked with raised eyebrows.
"Nothing," I said as I hid it behind me. She glared at me threateningly.
"S-some books I bought on my way back," I lied.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to do other things when you are assigned a task?" she lectured. She sighed. "Very well, leave that in your room and mop the cellar immediately. I won't tell Madam about this but next time you won't be so lucky. Understood?"
"Yes," I replied and went to my room, which was really a closet with an old mattress to serve as a bed. I slipped the package under my bed and went to the kitchen.
I got a mop and bucket with water and dragged them to the cellar. I dipped the mop into the bucket and started mopping.
Late that night, I went to my room. My whole body ached.
Gaspar made me clean his horse after I finished all my chores. His horse turned out to be untrained. It kicked and neighed every time I attempted to touch it or get to it. After hours of ducking, running and moving around, I finally managed to clean it.
I noticed a few bruises as I changed. I groaned.
I went to my bed, shut my eyes and waited for sleep to overtake me when I suddenly remembered about the package that the old lady gave me.
I got up and pulled it out. I unwrapped it and I found a pair of glass slippers. It's so beautiful!
I raised it up to the light and watched it sparkle and glitter. They looked like crystals. I touched the shoes. They felt so smooth.
I tried them on and they were a perfect fit. I t was like as though it was made for me.
I walked the few steps my small room permitted.
Too bad, I would never be able to wear it.
I removed the shoes and rewrapped them. I slipped them under my bed with a sigh. Maybe, someday…
"Go serve this to the dining room," Faride said handing me a large bowl of soup. I took it and entered the dining room.
Vivian and Trudy were talking excitedly. Gaspar just ignored them and continued eating.
"Mathilda said that the prince just arrived," Trudy said as she chomped on her food, "he's been abroad all this time studying. And now, he's back. I heard he is very handsome."
"That's great," Vivian exclaimed as I placed the soup on the table. "Of course, now that he has come of age, he will be looking for a bride." Vivian's eyes gleamed. I could tell from it that she is up to no good.
"You must not waste this opportunity," she told Trudy as I exited. "You have to make a good impression to the prince. We'll have to buy you some new clothes and jewelries, and shoes of course and the…"
"Yes, Mother," I heard Trudy reply as I closed the door. "I am going to marry him."
Silly Vivian and Trudy. They actually think they can make the Prince fall in love with Trudy. It would take more than a miracle to do that. Poor prince… Vivian doesn't give up very easily.
A couple of weeks later, winter was preparing to go while spring began to arrive. The snows started melting and the trees were growing leaves once again. A few shrubs from the garden have sprouted tiny buds. I was hanging the clothes with Cynthia, another servant. Courage chased a butterfly that flitted about.
The bells in the kitchen rang out of the blue.
"I'll go see what Vivian wants," I said to Cynthia.
She nodded and I left her. I briskly marched to Vivian's room and knocked.
"Enter," she said. I went inside.
"What took you so long?" she said.
"I'm sorry, I was hanging the clothes," I explained.
She stopped brushing her hair and turned to me. "Do learn to prioritize," she said. "When I want you to do something, stop whatever you're doing and come to my aid."
"Yes," I said rolling my eyes when she turned away.
"Trudy and I want to buy clothes," she said as she resumed to combing her hair. "You'll accompany us to carry our things." Noticing my wet clothes she wrinkled her nose and added, "go change to something decent."
I have nothing decent. You took them away remember?
I said nothing and changed.
I rode the carriage with Vivian and Trudy to town. I sat in silence while they discussed the difference between sky blue silk and light blue silk.
In a short while we reached our destination and alighted.
Vivian instructed me to wait outside every shop and carry everything they bought. Vivian and Trudy stopped at almost every shop and bought something. I patiently followed, waited and carried their things.
Soon, the pile of boxes, bags and bulky packages that I carried grew and I had a little trouble balancing them while following Trudy and Vivian's quick paces.
They stopped at a certain booth to admire the brooches they sold.
I looked around. On a tailoring shop not far from us I saw him. I maneuvered the boxes to cover my face from view. For once, I was thankful Vivian and Trudy bought so much. I didn't really fancy a talk with him.
After half an hour, Trudy still hasn't selected anything. I was becoming impatient. What's taking Trudy so long?
Soon he exited.
Uh-oh.
I tried to dodge from view, but it was too late, he already caught a glimpse of my face. He approached me a little unsurely.
What's taking them so long? I can't run. He'll surely catch up with me, besides Vivian will surely punish me if I do. What do I do?
What do I do?
WhatdoIdo?
"Excuse me," he said behind the boxes I carried as he attempted to take another look at me. "You look like someone I know, do I know you?"
Oh crap!
