Disclaimer: Belongs to Gail Carson Levine
Chapter XIV
Sleep was good. I decided when I awoke the next morning.
It cleared my brain enough for me to realize I owned a talking book.
Which is actually a rather frightening fact, when you think about it.
I hesitated as I slid onto the floor, next to where it lay, as if it were waiting for me to speak.
The book opened to a blank page, and writing appeared on the page, Well, are you interested in knowing why I can talk or not?
I sputtered, as I stared at the open book. I swore I imagined half of what happened last night.
But I straightened myself up, as if I were a proper young lady and not a captive of a beast, "You are a fairy book, are you not? I expected this to happen."
If a book could laugh, I swear this one did. It shook for several moments before writing appeared once again. No you didn't. You just expected stories to come from no where and appear on my pages, so you could read them, you bookworm.
I gaped at the pages, surprised at the sarcastic tone within them.
I am a spirit trapped within the pages… or rather I was a maiden but then that fool of a fairy decided to trap me within these pages. And now I am here, reciting what has happened to all the others who have been affected by that fairy's doings. If a book could sigh, it did so.
I didn't have to ask which fairy it was. It was fairly obvious. Before Lucinda reformed, she was known to place "gifts" on many maidens and gentlemen, believing that she was helping. Randomly (at least to those who did not own the fairy book), she changed her mind about "big" magic, and is now a proper fairy.
But before, I shuddered when I thought of her victims which included my own monarch Ella, who thankfully overcame her curse.
"Is there anyway that you can overcome this?" I asked the book gently.
The book didn't write anything for a moment. I felt rather foolish talking to a book at that moment.
Well you are foolish, so it's alright. The only way for me to become free is by love, or Lucinda, but I rather doubt she would help me out. Refusal to do "big magic" and so on.
"I'm sorry" I told it honestly, before placing it up on my bed, so it could be cozy.
I would hope you wouldn't call me an it anymore. I am a girl after all. That's why the cover is pink.
I blanched, and glanced at the cover, before saying, "It isn't pink."
Drat. I knew she would do that to me. What color is it?
"It's gold," I informed her, becoming more confused by the second.
Well, I suppose that's okay.
I shook my head emphatically, "Well I am going to try and find food now."
Ah…. Food. How I miss it… if they have treacle tart give it a whirl. It was my favorite when I was growing up.
"Err… ok," I said as I got up and left the room.
That was probably one of the weirdest experiences of my life I decided, as I carefully strolled the dimly lit hallways.
I succeeded in tripping over my own two feet several times as I approached the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.
By the time I got to the kitchen, it was easy to tell the servants were conversing about me.
"Well the master is being stubborn," Mrs. Greggs started, before being interrupted by Yarian.
"And the girl is not?" he snorted, "They both need to forgive each other for whatever wrongs they think each other did,"
"He did lock her father in the dungeons," Jasper interjected as he chewed on a green apple, causing apple pieces to fall on the floor. Mr. Hoble hunched over, and glared at Jasper as he cleaned up the apple pieces.
"That was disgusting Jasper," Mrs. Greggs frowned.
Noting that change in conversation, I had thought it best for me to come in now, rather than later.
"Um is there anything I can eat?" I asked quietly from the doorway.
Yarian turned around to face me and almost choked. He nodded nervously, probably wondering how much I had heard, "Ah yes, what would you like this morning, miss?"
I smiled sweetly at the man who had called me stubborn moments ago, "May I have a croissant, the one I had last night was delectable. And some orange juice perhaps?"
Mrs. Greggs smiled broadly, "Sounds delicious to me, will you wait in the dining room, while we prepare your meal?"
The dining room? Adam did not show me that last night, I thought curious to see it, "That sounds nice, could someone show me where it is?"
Yarian pounced on the invitation before Jasper could get a word out, "Yes miss, I will take you there, it will only take a moment's walk."
It took less than a second for him to lead me into a room next to the kitchen. It was very long, and beautifully lit, with the most marvelous chandelier I had ever seen.
"This is a beautiful room," I whispered, as Yarian led me to my seat.
"I will tell the master you approve of the room," he said stiffly as he began to leave
"Wait! Why are you treating me as if I were a prisoner all of a sudden?"
He gave me a strange look with his opal eyes boring into my plain ones, "You are not a prisoner. You are our guest."
"Guest…" the word felt foreign on my tongue, "I had assumed I was a prisoner."
"No, we all think of you as our guest, maybe a permanent one, but a guest nonetheless. Even the master believes that." He bowed to me with a flourish, and the magic began.
Dozens of servants came carrying every kind of utensil known to man. Jasper handed me several napkins with a grin and a bow. I grabbed them, nervously, and placed them on my lap.
More servants piled into the room with all sorts of juices, alcohol, water (even flavored water! Can you imagine?) and then with the food a moment later.
The most glorious food I had ever seen. Mrs. Greggs must have taken her whole cookbook and decided to make everything in there.
I must have been the first "guest" in a while. I smiled as the servants curtsied and bowed out of the room. I felt as if I were in a delusion, with the amount of people and colors that coming in and out of the room.
I was nudged roughly. I looked up into Jasper's aqua eyes. He stared at me incredulously, "Are you going to eat this or what? We didn't work on this for nothing you know?"
"Jasper! Be kinder to our guest," Mrs. Greggs frowned at him from the other side of the table as she placed a large punch bowl in the middle of the table.
"I am just astonished at the amount of food, I was only expecting a croissant and orange juice," I stated faintly.
Jasper grabbed a croissant from a numerous pile of them, "Well here is your croissant," he said placing into my right hand, "And here is your juice," he said placing a glass of orange juice into my left.
I gaped at the food, before placing the orange juice down in front of me, and I began to eat the chocolate croissant.
It happened to be the most delicious food I had ever gotten my hands on.
"Mrs. Greggs, this is amazing," I told her, as I savored the croissant's flavor.
She smiled at me as she carried more orange juice out for me, "I know dear, I hope you have had a proper welcome now. This was how we used to do it in the old days. It made many visitors happy and full."
"I can imagine," I said as I took in the great amount of food in front of me. Only a giant could have eaten the amount of food in front of me, and they would have been full.
"Would you like some more dear?" Mrs. Greggs asked as she handed me a plate of bacon and cake.
"Um, no thank you, I'm all right." I stated as I watched the servants clean up the leftover food, "What are they going to do with the food?"
"Save it for later. It will be their food for this week, most likely."
"Only for this week?" I asked amazed, "How many servants are there here?"
"About a hundred servants or so. Many were lost travelers, but the Master had a bit of an attack from one traveler last year, and hasn't let any stay after that."
"What happened to the man who attacked him?" I asked.
She frowned at me, "That my dear, is none of your business."
I glanced at my plate, noticing that my curiosity gets me in trouble here, "I apologize. I have a very curious nature."
She smiled motherly, and began braiding my hair, "Ah, my dear, its alright. Now what would you like to do today?"
I sighed, "I have no idea. Am I allowed to explore the grounds?"
"Only if Jasper or Yarian go with you," she stated kindly.
"I suppose that's alright. Could Yarian go with me?"
"What's wrong with Jasper?" she asked amusement alighting her eyes.
"He can be a bit too mean," I stated honestly.
"Well, it is only because whatever he thinks he says. You will have to forgive him for that. Mr. Greggs was just like that too. "
My face burned, "I'm sorry. . . Jasper is your son?"
She laughed at my expression, "Yes, and he doesn't look a bit like me. I've heard that tends to happen with the oldest son. They always look like the father."
I smiled with her as she laughed, "Can you ask on of them to show me the grounds?"
She smiled at me, "It's no problem dear."
Yarian came up to me moments later, and bowed, "I heard you would like to see the grounds, I am ecstatic to show you."
I glanced at him, a tad bemused at his choice of words, but nodded in agreement nonetheless.
Unfortunately, I had no idea what trouble this trip to the gardens would cause.
Responses to Reviews (in no particular order):
bookomania: Thanks, I was bored and decided to write. Yeah, I was hoping it did go somewhere, because otherwise the hour or two I took to write it would have been pointless. sigh
I agree with you wholeheartedly about Beauty's reaction. But to be honest she was so shocked that it wasn't shocking to her.
She'll freak out this next chapter don't you worry evil grin
And I really appreciate the suggestions! If that plot bunny doesn't work out I am going to make her have a stronger reaction in Chapter 13, because well she needs a stronger reaction.
Getting bed before one is quite an accomplishment isn't it? haha
Kaeghlighn: I think it is because I am always hungry when writing lol. I'm glad you like my characters... especially because in my opinion characters make the story (which is why I don't particularly like Romeo and juliet... what a bunch of idiots.. sorry offtopic.) Mood swings are fun, unless you are having them... which Beauty surprisingly has as much as Beast... must be those teenage years... even though Beast is 20... well he is part squirrel and that can make anyone moody so I suppose that works lol. Yeah, its more about four years ago, but I am blaming the lack of a calendar, lol.
I 33333 Mrs. Greggs, if you have ever watched That 70s Show, she is kind of a mix of Kitty from that show and Mrs. Potts. Both very motherly individuals. (and awesome people! 33)
serenity12345: Its more about four, but they are without a real way to track time... He was turned into a squirrel a week before Mandy called on Lucinda to turn herself into a squirrel. He was the last person she cursed. Poor guy. And I'm glad you like the smart alecky book! It is going to lecture Beauty a lot... and she isn't going to like it much... but this next chapter she is going to actually realize her book is talking... because this chapter she didn't really get it... she was still upset about her convo with Adam...
I'm glad you liked this chapter though!
Dani Nott: Thank you for your compliment. I always worry about its originality but reviews like this make me feel better. (Actually reviews in general brighten up my day!! ) I hope you enjoy this next song.
Eclair: She does? Man I suck at searching through books. I looked through there about a billion times... sigh. I am leaving it Granat, because now Granat feels real to me. I will mention those countries though... and use them for my next story like this... (with a different fairy tale, I am so excited for that one jumps up and down).
Yes I just admitted to another story, and I already know which fairy tale I am going to use. But you guys will find out at the end of this story in the last Author's Note.
So thank you for those countries names. I know who to go to for obscure information
DarlingPaws: You get a chocolate chip cookie!! YAY!
Man now I'm hungry lol.
Thank you, I hope you like the rest of it!
(A/N) I am sorry about the shortness, but this is all I was inspired to write while I was procrastinating on a lecture paper due tomorrow (EEP!) I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Oh and if anyone cares, Mr. Hoble will be coming more into play as the story goes on.
And next chapter she will find the rose garden.