"Sit up straight." You jumped as a deep voice barked the order at you. Looking around, you realised there was a man standing close to you that you had not seen approach. The confused look on your face must have been amusing because he chuckled. "I assume that you are the replacement chambermaid?" You only nodded. "Oh thank the Norn's; Freda was going to turn me grey. I am…"
"Wilhelm."
"So you have been informed of me?" he grinned.
"Adelaide told me about you; she said you are his Highness's hand servant."
"I am." He confirmed.
"Is there anything you could tell me that can help me get started on the right foot today?" Wilhelm stared at you. "What, did I say something wrong?"
"You are the first chambermaid in all my time working with the prince to ask that."
"How long have you been with him?"
"Just shy of four centuries."
"I...wow…that's…how old are you?"
"Not long over fifteen hundred years." He smiled knowingly. "I am aware that is a substantial amount of time for my age. I was born here at the palace and I have had a few different jobs before this, but I finally found the one that fits and I enjoy it. Loki is not near as bad as some say; I mean, sure, he has his days, but don't we all? The other girls thought his more quiet nature meant they did not actually have to do their job. He has only one main peeve, however." He grinned as he studied your expression, which showed your willingness to learn. "His books are something he does not appreciate being tampered with. What you did the day before yesterday, which was perfect, he even commended it to me. It is not that books are the most important thing to him, he has many other pursuits also, he just hates when he is researching new magic and it is difficult for him to continue as he is unable to find where it was he had left off."
"Prince Loki knows seidr?" you asked curiously.
"He does, he is quite proficient at it, it is said that he is the greatest wielder in all the realms."
"So he studies everything he can on it?" Wilhelm nodded. "Does he often use scrolls?"
"Indeed, some of the more advanced magic is only avail as such."
"What does he require for me to do with them?" you asked nervously.
"I honestly am not sure; the only one that can answer such is him. You can ask him, he is very approachable, especially when he can see you are not a foolish idiot." Wilhelm stated. "I have a good feeling about you, when I met the other chambermaids; all I was filled with is dread."
"What do I fill you with?" you were half scared of his answer would be.
"With you…He looked at you for a moment. "Nothing really, I just think with your manner and with how Loki spoke of you already, I think we will get along well. When a chambermaid and a hand servant means the employer is going to be quite content."
You gazed into space for a moment. Wilhelm had referred to Loki as your employer, but employees elect to work in different jobs, you had not given a luxury such as choice. Even though Gertrude was nice, and you knew you were fortunate for where you had ended up, but you were not on Asgard of your own free will. In truth, Loki was not your employer, he was your master. "Good." You schooled a smile onto your face.
Wilhelm was not fooled. "Look, I do not know how you came to be at the palace, or indeed on Asgard, as you are clearly a full elf, but you have to choose, right now, to either accept your lot and hopefully have a good life here, or revel and end up being cast out like Freda, the only places that she will end up now are with employers that will most likely beat and rape her, or in a brothel, where she will more than likely be beaten and raped." He spoke plainly.
Swallowing hard, you felt guilty; feeling that part of the reason she now had those prospects in life were due to you.
"No, you're in no way to blame for her position, she chose to be lazy, and her extra curricular activities got her that fate."
"What of those who used her services; what of them?" you asked.
"Severe floggings, although one of them was cast out too. Just that particular offence is not a dismissible offence, just a floggable one if you have other notable indiscretions, which is when things get more severe." He explained.
"So basic instincts are forbidden and no one is permitted to have something resembling a normal life?" you felt yourself almost shake with anger at the thought.
Wilhelm frowned. "Of course, you are." You readied yourself to tell him of his contradicting statements. "You can take a husband here; you can even have a few children if you choose. You are just not permitted to sell yourself as a common wench when you work for the Allfather. If you chose to lay with every man on staff, or women, it is frowned upon if you do so publically, you will get in trouble for that; as it shows the House of Odin to be of loose morals, but if you do so in the privacy of your rooms, then off with you. The Allfather is no fool, he knows his staff have lives and needs, he believes a happy and willing work force is a good one. Plus, us happy staff having children means more willing workers for the realm in the future."
You took a moment to process his words. "So you are here willingly?"
"Yes, should I have chose to work elsewhere, I would have been more than free to, but I like it here." Wilhelm smiled.
"If I were to have a family, my children would be free?"
"You are not a slave here, you are far more free than you think yourself to be." You raised a brow sceptically. "I speak the truth, but if you do not believe me, go to Prince Loki and tell him you wish to leave." He checked the clock on the wall. "We should go, he will wish for us to wake him. He wishes to rise every morning at six thirty sharp unless he has been at a feast the night before, then it is eight. But we can still get work done while he is resting in the other rooms, so until you work up the courage to ask about being allowed leave, you had best continue working as is." Due to the conversation, you had not eaten much, and you looked at the food on your plate forlornly. "You can eat en route," Wilhelm stated, stuffing a bagel into his mouth and taking a large bite. "I won't tell if you won't." the words were barely comprehendible as he spoke with his mouth full of food.
You laughed a little. "Deal." Grabbing some of the food from your plate that you could eat on the go, you rushed from the table and after the more experienced servant.
He explained different titbits of information to you as you walked the private stairwells that led from the chamber staff quarters to the royal rooms, trying to commit them all to memory as you listened intently. All too quickly you had found your way to Loki's ornate door. Wilhelm did not even knock, he just entered quietly. You were both somewhat started to see Loki standing there in front of them. "Your Highness." Wilhelm bowed, before looking at the clock on the prince's fireplace. "I apologise if we are late."
Loki held up his hand and Wilhelm ceased speaking immediately. "I'm simply up early, nothing more, as usual, you are precisely on time." The prince smiled before turning to you. "I see you are in good company. Finally, I have a chambermaid that is not frightened to grace my rooms before lunch is due."
You gave a polite smile at the half compliment. "You asked for me to be here before dawn, it would not set a good precedent were I to turn up late on the first day sir."
The raven haired prince smiled at you obeying his request to continue calling him 'sir'. "Good, clearly this is a great fit for us all. Wilhelm, have you explained all of the aspects of her position that she needs to know, and I am not speaking about that absolute rubbish the head of housekeeping seems to think appropriate?"
"Most of them, we will do the rest over the course of the day." Loki nodded. "Will I run a bath?" again Loki nodded. "As you wish." Wilhelm then turned to you. "While I do that, you go back the way we came and get breakfast, bring it up here then." The hand servant ordered. Barely taking the time to acknowledge the order, you turned and immediately set to do as instructed.
As you made your way to the kitchens, you replayed your conversation with Wilhelm at the breakfast table, then the interactions between him and the Prince in the prince's rooms. There was an undeniable informality between the pair showing that they were actually on very good terms, it gave you hope for what lay ahead. But you thought too of Wilhelm's statement with regards you being freer that you thought yourself to be; which had to be some form of a highly unfunny joke. You had been bought by the palace; there was no manner in which you could possibly be free after money had exchanged hands in such a manner; so you elected to say nothing for the time being and to begin to work for the prince as you had been chosen to do.
When you got to the kitchens, you informed the cook of Loki requesting his breakfast but were left awkwardly standing there when he asked a question of you in return.
"Hot or cold?" he demanded bluntly.
"What?" you felt as though you were a deer surrounded by hounds in a hunt.
"Does his highness wish to have a hot breakfast or a cold one?" the chef was speaking as though you did not comprehend the words he was saying, speaking loudly and slowly, like you were dim-witted.
"I do know, I was just told to order his breakfast." Your voice had become small and revealed your terror.
The chef rolled his eyes. "Is the prince having a bath at present?" you nodded frantically. "Then he will want the cold one."
"Okay." You had to trust him; after all, it was not in his best interests for Loki to receive the incorrect breakfast either.
Clearly taking pity on you, the chef decided to assist you somewhat. "For the record, if the prince has a bath in the morning, he will only ever have a cold breakfast." He explained.
"Thank you." You were genuinely grateful that he had decided to assist.
"So long as you remember that, you and I will have no issues in the mornings." He growled as he handed you the foods that Loki would eat, you went about placing them on your tray next. "And do not forget his morning mead."
"He drinks mead as part of his breakfast?" you asked in shock.
"Yes, a small shot of it, it is not as potent on us as it is on you little elves, all the members of the royal family have one to start the day, it is said to make enduring court far easier." Your eyes widened. "Welcome to Asgard, you are in for one Hel of a learning curve. Now, run along."
With your tray filled, you turned and headed back to the stairwell, your focus was on not spilling anything as you ascended the steps, but you groaned audibly on seeing Rebekkah coming against you.
"Ass kissing in the early morn I see, trying to outdo poor Freda on every aspect, as though to show her up more." She snarled.
"If Prince Loki requests an early breakfast, it is the duty of his chambermaid to do as is requested. Perhaps if she, and indeed you, had done so when you were his maids, you would not have been reallocated."
Rebekkah's lip curled in contempt. "I prefer Prince Thor, he sleeps later and when he takes the throne, I will surely be his head housekeeper."
"Good for you." You dismissed, genuinely not caring, though it was unsurprising to see where she saw herself in years to come. "Now let me pass, I have to return to the prince I serve with his breakfast."
"You are such a suck up." She rolled her eyes, but made way, knowing she would one the one punished should it be revealed that she was the reason for being untimely. "Let's see how long you last."
"Not paying any more heed to the other maid, you went to Loki's rooms and were relieved to see the Prince was not out of the bath yet. You headed to his dining table and began to unload dishes.
"He wishes to eat on the balcony today," Wilhelm informed you as he walked by you, getting something that Loki had requested.
"Okay." Reloading the tray, you walked to the large glass doors that let to the balcony; beside which, there was a table and two chairs. Placing the tray on thee table, you opened the door and lifted one of the chairs out ensuring it was in a warm and bright spot, when you turned to retrieve the table, you jumped when you realised that Wilhelm was standing behind you, the table with the tray still on top of it, in his hands.
"I didn't remember to tell you that these were there." He lifted the table slightly higher in his hands to show he was referring to them. "But I see you figured that much out for yourself."
You stared at him, somewhat insulted. "Why would I not figure that out?" It's hardly that hard to comprehend." Your tone was slightly clipped.
Wilhelm placed the table where he knew Loki would want it, which was in a spot very close to where you had placed the chair. "Because all you predecessors did not figure it out, it was not a statement against you, I assure you."
You relaxed slightly. "You'd think a palace as grand as this would have far more intellectually advanced staff."
"There is more than five hundred in-house staff, trust me, a few are superb, like myself, most are good, but is also the fair share than are utterly useless. When you have certain jobs, they hide a person's slothfulness, but chamber staff is not one such job." Wilhelm explained as he watched you organise the plates on the table, nodding approvingly when you were done.
"That makes sense." You agreed; looking at the setting in front of you, readjusting the jug of mead so that the handle would be easy for Loki to reach.
Not a moment later, the prince arrived onto the balcony. Looking at the table in front of him, he too gave an approving nod, so Wilhelm bowed and turned to leave, giving you a look that told you to do the same, so with a curtsey, you followed.
"You start in the bedchambers, change everything today, bar the bed sheets, and work your way to the bathroom, then finally to the front room." He instructed. "I will be trotting around should you have any questions."
"Got it."
"Had you any issues in the kitchens."
"Nothing really, though I did not know whether the Prince wished for a hot or cold breakfast, I had no idea what the chef was referring to for a moment."
Wilhelm winced slightly. "I should have warned you of that."
You shrugged. "I got it in the end, and I met Rebekkah in the stairwell."
Wilhelm ceased what he was doing and looked at you. "Those particular stairs are for you and I to use alone, they are not for general usage, and she knows that," he growled. "This is the sort of things that gets her in trouble."
"Well, that explains why she did not attempt to delay me further."
"I am not one to tell others what they should or should not do Girlie, but I am going to warn you, that girl is trouble, try to avoid her when possible." With that, Wilhelm left again, leaving you to wonder about what he had said in his wake.
