18

Chapter 3

Dinal was not surprised to find Megan staring at the wall. She gave no indication she heard him enter.

"Megan, what happened?" he asked gently. "A very irate prince just told me you are behaving irrationally."

"I told him off for dragging me here," Megan admitted. "I appreciate you did your job, Healer Dinal. But he had no right…"

"No, he didn't, in your eyes," Dinal agreed, reheating the cold soup. "In his eyes, he is the Prince of Par Valon, and has the right to do as he pleases. He sees something he wants, he takes it."

"I am a human being, not a plaything!"

"Glad to hear it," Dinal carried the soup to the bed. "Now, sit up and eat. If you want to leave this palace, you need your strength."

"I am dead to my world," Megan looked at him.

"Yes, you are. You would have been, regardless," the Healer nodded. "The question is, what will you do now? Seek a quick end? Your soul would still be trapped from the loop of human life Above. Or will you find some way of making a new life for yourself?"

"I will not take up with Mikkal, that is for damn sure!" She declared.

"That is your choice. But for you to have any choice, you must not give in to depression," he pointed out. "Eat. Healer's orders."

"Yes sir," Megan sighed, and sat up. "Starving myself would sort of being cutting of my nose to spite my face, wouldn't it?"

"Rather," he nodded.

Megan felt better after eating. She felt better the following morning, enough so that she actually got out of bed, and started looking through the wardrobe.

"Oh brother, is this guy missing a few cards," she muttered, looking at the fancy gowns of lawn and linen, silk and satins…almost all in the same pale blue shade. A shade Megan was not fond of to begin with, and was becoming less and less fond of as she looked.

"Good morning, my lady," a maid entered with a breakfast tray, and set it on the table. "Shall I ring for a bath to be brought up? I could wash your hair for you."

"It looks that bad, hu?" Megan asked. "Yes, please, only I can wash it myself."

"Those are lovely gowns, my lady," the maid pulled a bell rope by the door, then joined her at the wardrobe. "But, if you don't mind me saying…"

"They are so not me," Megan said it herself. "I don't do pastels much. What is your name?"

"I'm Lily, my lady," the little maid curtsied.

"I'm Megan, not 'my lady'," Megan stated. "Do me a favour? Find me a nice, plain, brown dress please."

"Plain brown? Not a nice violet, to set off your hair?"

"No, Lily. I do not want to set off anything," Megan stated firmly. "Something plain, brown, and comfortable, thanks."

Megan was wrapped in a robe, brushing her hair, when Lily came back with a plain brown dress and sensible shoes.

"Ah, thanks Lily," Megan began braiding her long reddish-brown hair. "That works, as long as it fits. I'm not really built like a Fey, when we're being honest about it."

"I got this from the dairymaid," Lily admitted. "That style is rather severe, miss. Maybe just…"

"The more severe, the better Lily," Megan commented, wrapping the braid into a bun and pinning it into place.

"Won't you at least wear the daisy tucked in?"

"No, since I am quite aware His Highness put it on the tray," Megan dropped the robe and pulled the dress on over her head. "I am not planning to encourage him. He's arrogant enough as it is!"

"Comes from being a prince, I expect," Lily shrugged.

"Possibly," Megan sat down to pull on some cotton stockings and the shoes. "I wouldn't know, I've never met any princes before. If they're all like this one, I'm just as glad. So tell me, who do the palace servants report to?"

"Miss?" Lily looked confused.

"Who gives you your work assignments for the day?" Megan asked.

"The housemaids go to Miz Ticia, miss," Lily replied. "The kitchen maids have to listen to Cook, the pageboys are under Wheems the butler."

"And who is most likely to need extra help?" Shoes on, Megan stood, shaking the skirts down straight.

"Usually, that'd be Cook or Jem Gardener, miss," Lily said, eyeing the human from Above a little worriedly.

"The gardener? Perfect! Come along, Lily. You can introduce me to Jem Gardener," Megan linked arms with the little Underhill human and headed out of the room.

"But…why?"

"Because it's time I started working off what I owe around here," Megan stated, as if Lily should have guessed. "I'm pretty handy in the gardens."

"But… His Majesty…"

"Let's get something straight right now, Lily," Megan said reasonably. "I am not about to take up with Prince Mikkal. I don't know that I will ever forgive him for what he's done to me. So, if you are part of His Highness's fan club, please save your gushing about him for those times I am not around to hear it."

"Anything you say, miss," Lily nodded, wondering how she was going to get out of this mess. "This way to Jem's workshop, miss."

Jem Gardener looked from Megan to Lily, back to Megan, then pulled Lily off to one side.

"Ain't she His Highness's new interest?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper. "He catches me letting her work out here, it'll be me neck!"

"Let her putter for now," Lily begged. "I'll go straight to Her Majesty, and get orders. I don't know what else to do, Jem! Honest!"

"Fine, but be quick about it," Jem grumbled. He turned around and walked back to Megan. "What is it I'm to call you, gal?"

"My name is Megan," Megan rolled her eyes. She had told the wizen little gnome that twice already. If he was that absent-minded, she could believe he couldn't keep help. "I'll answer to 'Gal' from you, if it's easier, Jem."

"Well, we'll see how you get on," he handed her a basket and a pair of shears. "The Queen likes her roses. Mind you only cut'em from the bushes outside that hedge there!"

"Full basket?" Megan inquired.

"Aye, then bring it to Miz Ticia, an' she'll get'em to Her Majesty's rooms," Jem nodded.

"Fine then. Lily, thank you for your help," Megan went off to the rose bushes.

"Move it quick, you. 'for His Highness finds her out here!" Jem ordered. Lily practically ran all the way to Jalina's morning room.

"Well Lily? How is the patient this morning?" Jalina asked, when Lily was brought before her.

"Up and about, Your Majesty," Lily said carefully. "She's out in the gardens, even."

"Wonderful!" Jalina smiled.

"She's asked Jem Gardener to put her to work," Lily reported, afraid to look at her mistress. "She wouldn't wear none of the dresses Prince Mikkal sent in for her…"

"Why on earth not? Mikkal has excellent taste!"

"Begging your pardon, mu'm, but he sent all pale blues, and they don't suit Lady Megan's colouring all that well," Lily shook her head.

"Well, what is she wearing?"

"A dairymaid's dress, mu'm," Lily was practically shaking in her shoes.

"Has this girl absolutely no appreciation for the finer things?" Jalina tilted her head a bit. Lily didn't make a sound. "Leave it with me, Lily. Make sure you get her to luncheon."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Lily curtsied and left the room.

"Claira, we need to see to the Lady Megan's wardrobe, and her rooms, personally," Jalina informed her personal attendant.

"Do you really think you can convince her to fall in with Prince Mikkal's plans, mu'm?" Claira asked doubtfully.

"Of course! What human girl, especially Above, does not dream of being romanced by a handsome and dashing Prince, living in a castle, and being able to leave the intense manual labour to someone else?"