Chapter Eight: Making Plans with the Queen...
Barbie awoke with a start, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. Confusion flooded her as she slowly registered that she was not lying in the queen sized bed of the motel room that her traveling agency had booked her, but rather a much larger bed, one that was bigger than a king-sized one. Brushing her loose hair behind her ears with her fingers, she glanced around, trying to remember if her agent said anything about it being a suite. It was when her eyes landed on a rather large portrait of the king and queen of Gardenia that she recalled the events from the day before. "I can't believe this... Sequin, I'm a princess!" Barbie struggled out from under the thick covers, feet slapping against the cold tile. Running her hands through her hair, she glanced over to where the French poodle was curled up, dozing quietly. "Matin paillettes." Sequin yawned as she stretched, her eyes fluttering open.
Barbie rummaged through her luggage, before deciding on a pair of designer skinny jeans and a plain yellow sweater with pink flowers on it that she had picked up at Walmart last year. Dressing quickly, she was in the process of tying her shoes when there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Barbie quickly finished the knot.
The door swung open as a young maid entered the room, carrying a tray. "Mlle du matin. Je suis Maria, votre nouvelle femme de chambre." Pausing, the girl, who clearly was French if her accent was anything to go by, hurriedly sat the loaded tray down on one of the decorative tables in the room. "Sorry... I didn't mean to say all that in French. My name is Maria, and I'm your new maid."
Barbie smiled at her, already moving over to peer at the tray's contents. "No need to apologize. Je parle couramment le français." Maria gasped, clearly surprised that Barbie knew her native tongue. "Is there anything going on today that I should be aware of?" Barbie picked up a piece of bacon, which she then proceeded to feed to Sequin.
Maria seemingly recalled quickly that this was the king's long lost granddaughter that she was speaking with and not some American that just happened to be fluent in more than one langauge. "Yes of course... the queen wants to take you shopping today."
"Oh...shopping..." Barbie frowned at that, uncertainty flashing through her. While she did enjoy shopping trips, indeed the size of her closet was because how much she loved to shop, she had never imagined that she would be invited to shop with royalty, or that her usually busy schedule would be obsolete when given the opportunity.
"Is something wrong miss?" Maria shifted slightly, clearly concerned about the lack of enthusiasm coming from Barbie.
Barbie shook her head, French braid swinging from the motion. "Nothing at all... I'm just used to having to squeeze my shopping trips into rather busy schedules. Mom always said that it is better to have too much to do, than to have too much time on your hands...reason why I got into acting, gymnastics, karate, dancing, singing, piano, flute, harp, guitar, my vlog, fashion, baking, charities, parkour, camping, horseback riding, surfing..." Barbie paused, finally noticing that Maria looked lost. "I uh, also really like shopping. Reason why my closet seems to be so big at times. I squeeze it in as time to be with my friends." Barbie blushed, having forgotten that most didn't have a long list have favorite activities that one does that was close to a mile long.
"Your...mother certainly kept you busy." Maria looked as if she was about to faint.
Barbie laughed, before shaking her head. "Oh no... I signed myself up for all of that. I truly enjoy all of those activities, and if I didn't, Mom would have pulled me out immediately."
"I see... I shall leave you to your breakfast m'lady."
"Please...call me Barbie."
Queen Cecelia glanced down at her elegant designer watch once more, uncertainty flooding her. What if Barbie didn't like shopping, and insisted on staying behind instead? What if...? "Your majesty? Maria said you wanted to take me on a shopping spree?"
Queen Cecelia snapped her head up to see Barbie enter the entryway. She was dressed far more simply than she had been the night before at dinner, the jeans obviously designer, Millicent's if she wasn't mistaken, while the simple, but quaint sweater was clearly not designer. "Ah yes... I thought it a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better." And so that the army of servants that she had hired could work on her surprise without worrying about Barbie walking in on them and ruining the surprise.
"Um...okay." Barbie shrugged, not entirely sure why a shopping trip could possibly be a way to get to know someone.
"The limo is waiting your majesty." A butler came over, bowing low as he spoke to the queen.
Queen Cecelia nodded, before moving to head outside. "Come dear... have you seen much of Gardenia yet?"
"No... I had just arrived, and was heading to check in when I was attacked from behind. If I had realized that I might be in danger in such a high security area, I would have been more alert."
"I...see." Queen Cecelia fought her disappointment as she listened to her long lost granddaughter, realizing that she sounded rather independent, as if she could handle herself in that kind of situation, and the only reason why she hadn't was because she had dropped her guard briefly... and yet it was because she had been knocked out was the only reason why they knew she even existed. "We best get going then."
Barbie sighed as she realized that the queen appeared to be disappointed about something...something that she suspected was her independence that her parents had encouraged in her and her siblings. Following the queen out of the palace, she slipped quietly into the limo, allowing a footman to close the door behind her. Looks like she was going shopping with the queen of Gardania...
A/N: Done! Hmm...yeah this is a week late...sorry. Let's see here, we have Queen Cecelia taking Barbie on a shopping spree...and she is planning a surprise for Barbie as well! One that involves the servants. Whatever could it be..? Kidding...I know. And here's a hint, near the end of the last chapter Queen Cecelia asked a question that is connected to the surprise. Can't think of anything else to say here...so...
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SkyTalon
