After making myself familiar with my quarters (they are larger than I could have hoped, with a sitting chamber and a sleeping chamber, complete with a fireplace, wardrobe, balcony and private bathroom), I decide to venture to the rest of the palace. I slip quietly out of my chambers, the closing of the door behind me echoing through the empty hall. Where is everyone?
Turning left, I walk through the hall past numerous sets of double doors. This must be where the guests stay. Or perhaps ladies of the court. At the end of the hall is a stone staircase leading to the more central area of the palace. I approach a guard standing along a wall. He holds a spear in his left hand. A sword rests in a sheath on his hip, under an ornate metal breastplate. I clear my throat.
"Pardon me, sir, might you give me directions?"
He turns to me. "Where do you wish to arrive?"
Hm. That is a question I have not yet pondered. "I… I know not, I suppose. I am new here. Where might I go?"
No smile graces the guard's face. It stays in its natural yet watchful stare. "Down this hallway," he motions to his right, "is the wing concerning training and physical endeavors. You will find an arena with a sparring ring, as well indoor and outdoor training and an armory." He gestures to the left. "This way leads to the library and astronomy tower. The healing rooms are also located that way."
I give him a bright smile. "You have my thanks," I reply. Turning toward the second hallway, I saunter away. The library sounds like a delightful place. When I was going through the customary years of education, I would read any book I could get my hands on. I imagine the palace library would have a luxurious selection of reading material.
After a few moments, I find myself in front of a set of double doors larger than any I have ever seen. They are at least three times my height, cream in color with bronze designs etched around the edges and the handles. I turn the handle down and push gently on the door. It opens silently, and my mouth falls open.
The ceiling of the library is higher than the top of the doors. To my left and right, shelves of books run the entire length of the colossal room. There are ladders in every aisle to reach the upper shelves. Floor to ceiling windows cover the back wall, which is lined with circular wooden tables. A few books, some scrolls of parchment and a bottle of ink rest on an otherwise empty table. Ornate light fixtures hang from the ceiling. Combined with a crackling fireplace in the corner, they give the space a comfortable glow.
I walk to the nearest shelf and run my fingers along the spines of a few books. Most of them are leather bound, though a few have covers of thick parchment. This section seems to be about materials with magical properties. The few titles that are in Asgardian, the only language I can read, are names like "Magical Plants, Herbs, and Fungi" and "Growing Magic". A couple steps down the aisle are books of spells. I amble up and and down the rows, wandering aimlessly and leisurely. The area of books about magic impresses me, and I know I will be spending a lot of time here.
The door opens up and a maid comes in, probably to clean. She glances at me and gasps.
"Lady Edan!" she exclaims.
"Hello, Dagney," I greet her as I recognise her.
"Why are you not dressed for the evening meal?"
I look down at myself. I am in the breaches and tunic that I arrived in earlier.
"Dusk will be upon us quickly, and you have not bathed!" She looks anxious, as if I have broken a sacred rule without being aware of it. Perhaps I have. "Come, I will assist you in your preparations."
"Preparations?" I inquire, but but she has already walked out of the massive library. I give the space a longing look and hurry after her, closing the door behind me. Dagney is conversing with another servant. I catch up with her as they part and smile at the unknown girl, walking quickly to match pace with Dagney. We rach my chambers in a matter of moments, as she knows her way through the labyrinth that is the palace.
"Who was that?" I ask as we enter my chambers.
"That was a friend of mine. She will help me with my duties while I attend to you," she replies kindly. A small feeling of guilt courses through me, that Dagney should ignore her orders to help me. She sits me down in front of a vanity and opens drawers and cabinets, withdrawing a few bottles and setting them on the table.
I clear my throat. "Pardon me, but what am I being prepared for?"
Dagney throws back her head and laughs. "For the evening meal, of course! One can not dine with the royal family looking like, well, forgive me, but…" She trails off, gesturing at my clothing.
I blush. "I suppose you are right. I think I lost track of time in the library."
She smiles. "I'm sure everyone has done that at one time or another. Now, there isn't enough time to bathe completely, lest you arrive in an unpunctual manner. There will be sufficient time after the meal to wash. For now, though, I will simply clean your face, as the rest of you will be covered." Dagney selects a bottle and begins to open it.
"Oh, please don't feel obligated to do that," I interrupt. "I can clean my face."
Dagney sighs. "As you wish." She hands me the bottle and motions to my bathing chamber.
Once clean, Dagney sits me down again and opens more tubes and bottles. "What's this?" I ask as she pats a pale powder on my face.
"It makes you skin tone appear more even. See?" I turn around to study my reflection in the glass on the vanity. My flesh seems to glow under the powder.
"Yes, but why is it necessary?" On the streets, appearance was trivial. What you looked like did not change your status drastically, unless you were lusted for in bed. I was never coveted, so I had little reason to fret over my appearance.
"Oh, all the ladies of the court enhance their features in some way. Most even their skin and line their eyes."
"Line their eyes?"
"Oh, yes." She opens a small bottle of paint-like black substance. "You paint it along your eyelids. Or you could shadow them with this." She opens a jar of dark powder. "Of course, we have other colors."
I am dumbstruck. People of nobility paint their faces? How odd. I assume there are many customs with which I will have to make myself familiar.
Through the window to my left, the sun sinks lower in the sky. "Oh, the time passes! I must be going, or I will keep the royal family waiting."
Dagney gasps. "We have not yet chosen your dress!" She grabs my hand and leads me to the wardrobe. Throwing the doors open, she looks thoughtfully for a moment at the standard gowns before pulling out the garment of her choice. "Here, wear this one. It matches your eyes."
I change into the dress, and notice she is right. The pale green fabric accented with grey embroidery brings out the grey in my eyes. My auburn hair is an appealing contrast to the green. The gown hugs my slim figure comfortably, modest while suitable for dinner with the royal family. "Oh, you look beautiful." Dagney is smiling, but I don't feel beautiful. The fabric is a bit too tight around my waist and I already know I will trip over the too-long skirts meant for someone much taller. "A corset and other things will have to be made for you later, but don't fret about that right now. She glances out the window. "Come, we must be on our way" I follow Dagney out of my chambers and through the grand hallways. I stumble a few times before we stop in front of the double doors, and she smooths my dress. "Now, go in there and show them who you are. Make them adore you."
I give her a genuine smile. "You have my thanks. Should I require anything over the next few days, may I call on you?"
She returns my smile. "Any time at all."
Fighting back a wave of nerves, I take a deep breath and enter the dining room.
A/N: Hey, guys. Wow, it's been a while. Sorry about that. You know how school and work start to consume your life and you start to forget about anything that doesn't affect getting into college... but I digress. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon, so as not to leave you hanging. Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a review!