Chapter two
A single hair
The sun started to go down, the sky beaming full of the colors of cotton candy. No sounds besides the occasional footsteps echoed throughout the halls which belonged to the staff of the castle. All the other women did leave after their meal. The three women, King Robin picked out of the group were led to rooms on the east side of the castle. Regina's eyes couldn't go any wider, her lips parted, but no words came out. She stared at the room the guard led her too. The size of the room seemed to be half the size of her mother's house. A cherry wooden dresser in the corner by the closet, a huge bed close to the tall window and a mirror across the room along with a matching changing wall. The exquisite carving detail on the matching mirror and changing wall stood out. The craftsman brought the birds and flower to life on the cherry wood, and she guessed it would have taken months to complete.
The guard left her alone in the room after shutting the door behind her. She walked over to the window, pushed the dark blue velvet curtains back to see outside of the castle. The tall green pine trees cover most of her view besides the snowy mountains peeking over the trees. Soon darkness would take over and nothing would have been seen. She stepped back and went to the bed for rest. The blankets smelt of vanilla. Once she disrobed down to her undergarments, the bed consumed her. She never once felt a bed so comfortable as this one. It didn't take long for sleep to welcome her.
The next day came early to Regina's surprise. A handmaiden knocked on her door twice before entering her room. Regina pushed her messy hair out of her face to see a woman a few years older than her in a maid's outfit.
"Good morning, Regina. I'll be your handmaiden until ordered not to. Breakfast will be served in an hour, so I came to get you ready. Would you leave to go to the bathing chambers?" Her voice reminded her of a chipmunk.
She could not get angry about her waking her up when it was her order to do. She nodded and left with her to the bathing chambers. The bathing chambers were all the way down the hall to the left. Her lips twisted into a half smile. No windows in this room, but it still held charms with the pink and blue walls. Three large tubs in a row on the back wall, each tub had a large metal bucket, towel on the side and a changing wall behind the tub.
"Which one do I use?" She asked, then she realized that she never caught her name.
"The one in the middle, as you can see the one on the right has a wet towel. Someone already used that tub. Also, my name is Theresa. Behind the changing wall is a gown you will wear." She led her to it and poured the bucket of warm water in the tub for her. The clothes hit the floor quick and she got into the tub. The warm water caressed her gorgeous body and she enjoyed the warmer water that she didn't normally get at home. The task to be more positive than negative held a challenge, but she promised herself years ago, she wouldn't be like her mother. A bitter old woman.
Behind the changing wall, Regina heard someone come in. Once she dressed in the chosen gown, she stepped out to see another chosen woman bathing for breakfast. Theresa came to her side quickly and led her into the hall.
"What's for breakfast?" Regina asked.
Theresa rose a brow at her. 'You're the only one that has asked that… I believe it's eggs, ham, fruit, bread and gravy."
The sound of all that made her mouth water.
King Robin in his chambers, paced in front of his window. A swamp of thoughts pooled in his mind. The kingdom would expect him to choose a bride soon. He had a maid collect all the information on the three women he picked.
Alexa Binds, twenty-four years old, blonde, a daughter of one of the largest farms in the kingdom. She wore a smaller size in clothing, she enjoyed cooking and gardening. Her father owned his farm for many generations. The King himself has visited that farm before.
Carol Evert, twenty-five years old, red headed, and a daughter of the local baker. Of course, she baked, but she dances and sings too. She has two other sisters, but both are younger than her. They both lacked age to get an invitation to the castle.
Regina Mills, twenty-six years old and the daughter of the local Miller. She cooks, cleans, ride horses and very few people know of her singing talent. Her mother did some networking to get her daughter that invite. Regina didn't know her mother begged for her invitation, or she wouldn't have come to the castle.
King Robin heard breakfast was ready, so the three women were too. He went to the dinning hall, all three women stood up once he walked into the room. They did not take their seats until he did.
The blonde spoke up. 'I hope you slept well, King Robin."
His gaze focused on the plate in front of him. He took a deep breath and grunted. "There is a hair on my plate." He spoke up as if he didn't hear the woman at all. A maid rushed to his side. "I'll remove the plate from your sight."
She reached out to get the plate with the hair on it. He backed handed the plate across the table to the wall. The shatter echoed throughout the room, everyone in their seat jumped and didn't dare say a word.
"A nasty hair is how you serve your King? Clean up the broken glass and have someone fetch me worthy food." His voice held the same roughness as sandpaper. The tightness in his jaw, white knuckles and furrowed brows showed his anger. Carol, the calmest one in this situation; she must have been used to anger issues.
He looked at the red headed woman. "Would you eat a hair from kitchen maids?" He asked.
"No, King Robin. What a disgrace that is…" Her words poured out like silk.
The maid cleaned up the broken glass and splattered food while another maid served him a clean plate. He leaned into the table; gaze studied the plate before he took a bite. Regina couldn't believe the way he acted over a single hair. Deep down, she would not have been sad if he did not choose her to be queen. If he acted like this over a hair, it made her nervous to think how he would react to other situations.
((Thank you for the follows and reviews! It gave me inspiration to post this chapter early.
Did King Robin overreacted?))