Dear Reviewers,
I am sorry it has taken me so long to update! Crazy thing about university, though, is that final exams don't like to share their takers with anyone else. Good news, though! I have graduated, with a degree in Writing and Literature! I'm all done and I hope to dedicate more time to fan fiction now that I'm finished :)
Thank-you for your patience, there are personal replies below.
Love much,
Pip
Ruby890: Thank-you! I'm excited for the palace again, too.
Bottled Sunshine: Oh, there will be much banter to come. Possibly drunk banter. Muahaha.
April29Roses: That is the most FLATTERING compliment! Thank-you! You're wonderful.
Manet: Oh my gosh, thank-you! That is way too kind of you.
Alaia Skyhawk: I love your penname. Thanks for reading :)
Magpie of Silver: I am SO glad that you like my story! Enjoy!
StarryNight359: Aw, thanks, I was afraid it was over the top. I appreciate your feedback!
-Bed Chamber-
"Thes'll beh y'r roowm," the head cook's heavy brogue had to be mentally translated as she showed me my quarters, a tiny bedroom down the hall that branched off the palace kitchens. "Y'r gona shere witch Mess Th'ie," she continued, looking around the small space with a dry, uninterested expression. "An' I don' beh wantin' an' complints ef ye got problems witch 'er. I don' care for 'em. An' ya start en th' mornin'."
"Thank-you," I said, placing my sack on the bed.
"I suppose I don' need t' explin t' ya, that I don' put up witch any nonsense of any sourt, I like m' kitchen meds t' beh punc'tual an' fest."
"Punctual and fast," I repeated, nodding. "Of course."
"Ye tek or'drs frome meh an' no-boty else," she added, opening the small, wooden door and stepping sideways in order to fit through it. "An' oft' th' othur cooks stert tellin' ye what t'do, an' I'll BATEM SO MOCHE THEY'LL FELLICK CABERS'R DROP'D ENEM ALLNIT!"
I took a moment. "So I'm to inform you if I'm given an order by another cook and not by yourself?"
"AYE, ORIT'LL BEH CABERS! ON TH'R HADS!"
I nodded, numbly. "Yes?"
"Tha's Yes'm, t' you, an' jes cos I knowe Evrick, you arn't git'n no special fav'rs. I don' treat non' of 'em maids lik bairns."
"Yes, ma'am."
Breathing heavily, she left.
"Goodness!" said a voice, in the cupboard. I whirled around, and the cupboard opened. A slender girl, red-headed and freckled, fell out onto the floor and stood up with a flourish. "I always hide in the cupboard when I hear her coming," she said quickly, with the same accent, but much gentler. The only thing that they had in common was the heavily pronounced R and vowels.
"Uh—that's funny," I laughed awkwardly.
"I'm Thea, I'm one of the cooks," she introduced herself, with a half curtsy.
"Wren," I replied, my curtsy even less satisfactory.
"Did you understand her much?"
"Hardly a word."
"Here are the basics," Thea repeated, "Don't take directions from the other cooks, otherwise she'll beat them till they feel like cabers have been dropped on their heads."
"Oh, cabers… like logs?"
"Logs, exactly. And she isn't going to treat you special or like a baby."
I glanced at the door where our mistress had squeezed through. "I can't imagine her treating anyone lightly."
"She's all talk," Thea sighed, sitting on her own cot. "She threatened to take a horse whip to our arses for chatting with Merlin in the mornings. But since it's been a few years, she's warmed up to it."
I should have known! I should have known the lad was inescapable. But some strange part of me felt—relief? It took me a moment to identify the feeling. It was relief, even if I was always at odds with him, I was sighing with the knowledge that at least someone familiar might be passing through—no matter whom it was.
"Merlin?" I said, the revelation only taking a second.
"Aye, he comes by every morning at six-thirty to fetch the Crowned Prince's breakfast."
"Oh, I see," I nodded. "We probably don't see anything of the knights, do we?"
"For any other kingdom, I'd say it's impossible," Thea smirked. "But Camelot? Nay, some of 'em can't stay away. Sir Gwaine, for instance, and his tall, muscular friend—they are always passing through and stealing tidbits. A nibble of chicken there, a carrot stick there… It's like having two large children underfoot."
Now, that I could look forward to.
I know it is short! But I will be updating regularly, again. It won't be long before the next chapter… I'm hoping I'll have it up by tomorrow! :)