Chapter 4- Crystal Flower
Astérix awoke unaware she had fallen asleep. Sitting up in her bed with caution, she glanced out the window to see a figure out on the castle grounds. Leaning forward to try and get a better look at the person, she deemed she could not. Not with all the dirt and grime on the window of course. Didn't Raydon wash windows? He was the "maid" after all. Astérix took hold of the bedside crutch with her good hand and stood. Rubbing away at the window she finally smeared enough dust away to peer out a little more easily. Wind whipped the person's hair around wildly, almost like the mane of a lion. The person was bent over some plants plucking them out of the ground. When they stood and turned Astérix could only see that is was a boy and became transfixed on his crystalline pine green eyes.
"What are you doing Astérix?" She turned to the deep, booming voice.
"Who is that boy?" she asked pointing out the window. Zephros walked up behind her.
"Ambrose the gardener" he said.
"Breakfast is ready let's go" he stated, ushering the blonde out of the room. Upon entering the dining hall she was joined by the other men of the castle.
"Ambrose go clean yourself up you're getting dirt everywhere!" Raydon said monotonously. The gardener laughed like a little kid. He had dirt smeared on his face and a grin plastered on his lips. Glancing at Astérix his smile grew.
"Oi you're the girl" he said with an accent laced in his voice. Astérix blinked.
"Yes I suppose I am...are you Australian?" she asked. Ambrose blinked.
"No I'm not" he said with a confused look.
"But you have the accent…" Astérix trailed off.
"You're an odd one" he said bouncing out of his seat and away from the table. The other inhabitants settled down to their breakfast. Astérix stuck to toast after seeing the porridge, which looked like vomit in a bowl. It was settled Kailden could not cook. Even the toast was burnt, the charred parts flaking off.
"How's your head?" Kailden asked. Astérix brushed part of her bangs away tracing the cut lightly.
"It's okay"
"You're really clumsy..." Zephros sad mouth full of food. Some of the half chewn residue hit Raydon in the face from across Zephros. He quickly wiped it away with a napkin.
"Your table manners are atrocious" he said. Zephros smiled returning his glare.
"And apparently I'm the odd one" Asterix muttered. Her head was yanked back and she yelped as pine green eyes bore into her blue ones.
"You have eyes like the sky" Ambrose said smiling like a Cheshire.
"Um thank you?" she questioned not sure if it was a compliment or comment.
"How did you get in the castle?" he asked taking a seat beside her.
"I woke up here" she said. "My car crashed"
"Car…" she watched Ambrose quiet down and stare in confusion. Did he not know what a car was?" How sheltered has he been?
"How close to the road are we?" Astérix asked.
"There's no roads here….at least not for miles" Raydon said. Astérix stared at his sliver eye. Why did he always keep part of his face concealed? He stared back at her.
"Is something wrong?" he asked. Quickly she shook her head.
"n-No every-things fine" she said sending him a smile. "This toast is really good"
"Why don't you try the porridge?" Kailden asked pushing a bowl closer to her. She eyed it suspiciously.
"Umm..I'm not that hungry, but thank you" she countered pushing her chair back a bit. A heavy laugh caused her to turn towards Zephros.
"See Kailden even outsiders don't like what you cook" he said in his gruff voice. Raydon cracked a smile but Kailden frowned in anger.
"Well no one around here can cook" he said standing up while glaring.
"I bet Astérix can!" Zephros said taking his own stance.
"Hey let's not drag me into this" Astérix said brows furrowing in concern.
"Think about it a cook that cannot cook at all!" Zephros let out another bellowing laugh. Astérix felt like she was watching fireworks that when they exploded sent a booming wave through her chest. Zephros was like a loud firework. That's when it happened. Kailden had enough; he picked up a bowl of porridge and sent it hurdling towards Zephros. The big man couldn't move in time and it splattered in his face and down his chest. The mouse and prodded the bear, and the heavyset man picked up a bowl of his own. Food had only started to fly when Ambrose decided to join in.
"Yay Food throwing fight!" he shouted like a little kid. Then he jumped around like a monkey swinging from the light fixtures. Tossing anything and everything at everyone, Astérix could only sigh and let the whole thing happen, she couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way of anything.
"Would you all just stop!" she screamed cause everyone to freeze. Porridge dripped from her face onto her lap. She stared down at her ruined clothes.
"I do hope this comes out….." she muttered. "Must we all act like children?"
"They started it" Ambrose said pointing towards Zephros and Kailden.
"I don't care if they did, I'm finishing it" she said crossing her arms. "You're grown men! You should act like it" They looked at her as if they've never been yelled at before in their life. Miraculously Raydon was the only one in the room with no food on him.
"Come this way Astérix let's get you cleaned up" Raydon spoke softly and helped her hobble out of the room.
"You shouldn't have to clean that whole room by yourself" Astérix said looking at the man.
"They'll get punished do not worry" he said leading her to a bathroom. Closing the door he left her alone to get clean.
She walked out of the bathroom smelling like lavender. Raydon had left a simple white dress for her to wear. She was barefoot as she wandered aimlessly trying to find her room. The castle was large and the halls all looked the same. It was like a giant maze and she was trapped in the middle of it.
"Astérix…." Turning she faced the brunette gardener.
"Ambrose?" she questioned. He smiled childishly at her. "Come with me I want to show you something" he said.
"But I was looking for my room…."
"That's on the other side of the castle"
"What?..." Ambrose bounded over to her and took her by her good arm.
"Come on" he said letting go and leading her to an unknown area. Thought of her being murdered by gardening tools flitted through her mind. Ambrose stopped and turned to her upon reaching an oak door.
"This is my favorite place in the whole castle to be in" he smiled. Astérix stepped up to the door and Ambrose opened it.
Inside was a large room filled with plants.
"An indoor garden?" she vaguely remembered seeing one when she first wandered along the halls of the castle.
"This is my best work, I put most of my time in this one, the others are sort of dying…but the master likes this garden best because it's close to his quarters" Ambrose explained quickly and ushered her inside. The room smelled of lavender, mint, and sweet pea. Greens, yellows, purples, reds, and pinks jumped out at her in a swirl of color. Above the sun was high in the sky letting its rays enter into the room warming it and giving the plants their daily nutrients. The walls seemed less dark and dank and to Astérix it was easily the brightest room in the castle.
"It's beautiful in here Ambrose" she said placing a hand on the bark of a Cherry tree. Ferns and hostas poked out of the dirt by the trees. Astérix found a small bench and sat on it. It was peaceful, quiet here. She could get used to coming here.
"The rooms never locked so you can come in whenever you want" Ambrose said as if reading her mind. She smiled at him as he took a seat next to her.
"What's your favorite flower?" he asked.
"I like red Carnations" she said flashing another smile.
"I think I have some of those in the garden on the west wing." He said thoughtfully tapping his chin with his index finger. Astérix giggled a bit at him.
"So I have a question…" she said softly turning to face him fully. "Why am I unable to leave?"
The boy beside her froze in his spot, looking much like a stone statue than a human being.
"The master does not wish for you to go" he said.
"Well who is this master?" Astérix said huffing a bit. What she wouldn't do to get her hands on this guy to talk some sense into him. It's a crime to hold someone against their will, and being stuck in this creepy castle…yeah not her ideal vacation. Then the unexpected happened.
Ambrose leaned in quickly and kissed her. Thoroughly shocked, Astérix scooted back a bit.
"What are you doing?" she asked stuttering to get a grasp on her words.
"I'm sorry…." He said sheepishly.
"We just met…" she trailed off. Ambrose frantically moved away from her.
"No... You're the first girl to appear in the castle for years..I don't know what came over me; hormones perhaps"
"Wait so are the others gay?" Astérix tried to picture the other men with each other the thought made her shudder. Ambrose threw his hands up defensively.
"No no"
"Then why don't you all go out and find some girls?" Astérix asked. Ambrose stood up and took a step back.
"You don't understand" confusion flitted across her features.
"What is it?" Ambrose shook his head. Astérix stood up and took a step forward.
"What is it?" she asked again. Ambrose looked straight into her eyes.
"We can't leave the castle…"
