Ch. 4: Preparation The lanterns had been lit outside the castle doors as the village had finally calmed down. Although from the inside the stone walls there was constant chatter. The festival was tomorrow so this kept every servant, cook, and the King himself, busy.
Servants were hanging up pennants of every colony that was coming; maids were making sure everyone in the castle had their clothes pre-washed; and the kitchen had become an open fire with all of the foods being baked at once. Whenever a cook managed to escape, his forehead would appear drenched with sweat. The King had requested that the fiddlers practiced in the sun room in order to allow the Dining hall to be worked on. The players were forced to use candlelight due to it being night time (where there is no sun) in order to actually read their music.
The King had decided to go and check every room in the castle to make sure the decorations were up. A short, stubby servant with greasy black hair and a moustache came up from behind him.
Servant: Sire? The head cook was wondering if you would like to taste the roast.
The King turned around.
King: Will do. (Then marched off, putting aside the task till later)
He looked down the halls as servants brushed past him carrying vases of flowers before he walked out of the room and quickened his pace down the hallway turning his head at every room he passed. The King took a sharp turn at the end of the hall, now passing huge, (and slightly faded from no source of sunlight) glass-colored windows. His steps echoed down the hall in sharp taps. It was more quiet here because it was the church part of the castle. He stared ahead thinking as he walked, and then came to a quick halt.
The King turned his head a little to the right of him to see a blurred object standing next to the window. The candle light didn't quite reach the upper part of its body as it stood there looking out.
The King slowly walked towards it.
Then the figure spoke, it's back to the King.
"I was thinking of a good way to present him . . . thought this might be a more peaceful place to think. Though the more I thought about it, he really doesn't need it."
King: He'll be fine. (Stopping where he was) "You know he has a bit of a habit of not always following your orders."
King: He can't run from this. If he tries . . . might not make it too far.
The figure suddenly turns around; the candle light reveals that it's Britain looking very stressed and tense.
Britain: America can sometimes be misleading. He can even mislead himself, not realizing the truth of some things.
Britain rubbed his forehead and walked to the King.
King: See? You know him perfectly. (Trying to sound cheery)
They both start walking back into the heart of the castle.
Britain: (sighs) I just know he will come back with a purpose.
King: Oh? What type of purpose?
Britain: Whatever he's set his mind to.
~ America breathed hard as he came to a halt after running all the way back from the woods and into the castle. Everyone seemed too busy to ask him where he could have been so America took the opportunity to run to the kitchen. The place was piping hot, the cooks still working into the night, paying no attention to America.
America looked through the cupboards and was interrupted by an angry chief.
America: I just need a container! It's a present! The chief opened the top cupboard and gave America a wooden crate that fit in his hands. America took it and nodded in thanks. He ran around to another hallway where it was slightly more quiet and a bit dark. He set the crate down on the carpet, opened it and put the scone inside.
It looked too odd, so he grabbed some blueberries and put them in there with the scone and closed it. He finished it off by taking a ribbon and tying it shut.
He wondered if perhaps it was too sudden to present a gift, though the festival was tomorrow. America sat kneeled down on the carpet, thinking, when footsteps came from around the corner of the hall.
Britain: America! What the- You're all wet! Now explain where you've been! You know you've got to be appreciative of all of this, though you might not understand it but-why are you on the ground?
America quickly got up and hid the box behind him.
Britain (A bit calmer): Look, I should apologize for not telling you sooner. I was a bit troubled and-
America then shoved the box into Britain's chest.
Britain: What-
America: -It's for you.
Britain: (took it in his hands, went quiet) . . . thank you. (Pulled on the ribbon and opened the box) (Then saw the inside and smiled a little bit) Did you make this? (Pulls out the scone with one hand, grinning teasingly)
Pops the scone into his mouth and chews it slowly. Nods, and then starts eating the blueberries at the bottom.
Britain: Is this what you've been working on?
America: Do you feel any different?
Britain: (licking his fingers) (gives America an odd look) (puts his hand on America's head, smiling) Well you've managed to cheer me up. (Bends so he's eye level with America) Thank you. (Picks up the ribbon off the floor and walks away)
America stands there for a minute, a bit taken aback by what just happened. Then ran up to his room and slammed his door shut.
America: (thinks) why didn't it work?! She said the spell would be completed!
America walked around this room, moonlight was now the only source of light that came from the window. (Thinks) Was it just suppost to make him feel better? That Looney old wo-!
America blinked and blinked again.
The room seemed to be moving. The bed was getting blurry and the moonlight was going in and out.
(Thinks) What the-? America's body weight seemed to triple. The room was now spinning, his eyes now closing.
Suddenly America collapsed right there in the middle of his room, unconscious.
End of chapter 4
Servants were hanging up pennants of every colony that was coming; maids were making sure everyone in the castle had their clothes pre-washed; and the kitchen had become an open fire with all of the foods being baked at once. Whenever a cook managed to escape, his forehead would appear drenched with sweat. The King had requested that the fiddlers practiced in the sun room in order to allow the Dining hall to be worked on. The players were forced to use candlelight due to it being night time (where there is no sun) in order to actually read their music.
The King had decided to go and check every room in the castle to make sure the decorations were up. A short, stubby servant with greasy black hair and a moustache came up from behind him.
Servant: Sire? The head cook was wondering if you would like to taste the roast.
The King turned around.
King: Will do. (Then marched off, putting aside the task till later)
He looked down the halls as servants brushed past him carrying vases of flowers before he walked out of the room and quickened his pace down the hallway turning his head at every room he passed. The King took a sharp turn at the end of the hall, now passing huge, (and slightly faded from no source of sunlight) glass-colored windows. His steps echoed down the hall in sharp taps. It was more quiet here because it was the church part of the castle. He stared ahead thinking as he walked, and then came to a quick halt.
The King turned his head a little to the right of him to see a blurred object standing next to the window. The candle light didn't quite reach the upper part of its body as it stood there looking out.
The King slowly walked towards it.
Then the figure spoke, it's back to the King.
"I was thinking of a good way to present him . . . thought this might be a more peaceful place to think. Though the more I thought about it, he really doesn't need it."
King: He'll be fine. (Stopping where he was) "You know he has a bit of a habit of not always following your orders."
King: He can't run from this. If he tries . . . might not make it too far.
The figure suddenly turns around; the candle light reveals that it's Britain looking very stressed and tense.
Britain: America can sometimes be misleading. He can even mislead himself, not realizing the truth of some things.
Britain rubbed his forehead and walked to the King.
King: See? You know him perfectly. (Trying to sound cheery)
They both start walking back into the heart of the castle.
Britain: (sighs) I just know he will come back with a purpose.
King: Oh? What type of purpose?
Britain: Whatever he's set his mind to.
~ America breathed hard as he came to a halt after running all the way back from the woods and into the castle. Everyone seemed too busy to ask him where he could have been so America took the opportunity to run to the kitchen. The place was piping hot, the cooks still working into the night, paying no attention to America.
America looked through the cupboards and was interrupted by an angry chief.
America: I just need a container! It's a present! The chief opened the top cupboard and gave America a wooden crate that fit in his hands. America took it and nodded in thanks. He ran around to another hallway where it was slightly more quiet and a bit dark. He set the crate down on the carpet, opened it and put the scone inside.
It looked too odd, so he grabbed some blueberries and put them in there with the scone and closed it. He finished it off by taking a ribbon and tying it shut.
He wondered if perhaps it was too sudden to present a gift, though the festival was tomorrow. America sat kneeled down on the carpet, thinking, when footsteps came from around the corner of the hall.
Britain: America! What the- You're all wet! Now explain where you've been! You know you've got to be appreciative of all of this, though you might not understand it but-why are you on the ground?
America quickly got up and hid the box behind him.
Britain (A bit calmer): Look, I should apologize for not telling you sooner. I was a bit troubled and-
America then shoved the box into Britain's chest.
Britain: What-
America: -It's for you.
Britain: (took it in his hands, went quiet) . . . thank you. (Pulled on the ribbon and opened the box) (Then saw the inside and smiled a little bit) Did you make this? (Pulls out the scone with one hand, grinning teasingly)
Pops the scone into his mouth and chews it slowly. Nods, and then starts eating the blueberries at the bottom.
Britain: Is this what you've been working on?
America: Do you feel any different?
Britain: (licking his fingers) (gives America an odd look) (puts his hand on America's head, smiling) Well you've managed to cheer me up. (Bends so he's eye level with America) Thank you. (Picks up the ribbon off the floor and walks away)
America stands there for a minute, a bit taken aback by what just happened. Then ran up to his room and slammed his door shut.
America: (thinks) why didn't it work?! She said the spell would be completed!
America walked around this room, moonlight was now the only source of light that came from the window. (Thinks) Was it just suppost to make him feel better? That Looney old wo-!
America blinked and blinked again.
The room seemed to be moving. The bed was getting blurry and the moonlight was going in and out.
(Thinks) What the-? America's body weight seemed to triple. The room was now spinning, his eyes now closing.
Suddenly America collapsed right there in the middle of his room, unconscious.
End of chapter 4