Lollipop – Thanks for all your support and feedback!  I know that Keelin hasn't been very well developed up to this point so I hope the next few chapters will be more helpful in establishing her character.  I haven't even scratched the surface with her yet!  As for the prince's name, it's Celtic and is pronounced "hra-in."  And now, without further ado…

Chapter 4

Keelin was too weak for another few days to rise from her bed, in spite of her best efforts.  She was determined to get out of the bed and get to work as soon as she was able so that she could attempt to repay the king's kindness with her faithful service.  Much to her relief, none of the members of the royal family paid her any repeat visits.

            When she was finally able to rise from her bed, she brushed off the assistance of the other servants.  They realized that it was wiser to leave her to her own resources and, truth be told, they were all glad to return to their regular duties.  As soon as the queen's maids were clear of her door, Keelin could hear their happy chatter as they returned to their mistress.  She could not blame them.  Throughout her convalescence, she had felt somewhat envious of the queen's ladies.  Their manners were so refined.  Some of them were very beautiful and all of them wore exquisite clothing, far nicer than anything Keelin had ever dreamed of wearing.  She could see that they were used to an elaborate, courtly lifestyle.  Waiting on the queen certainly had to be far more glorious than being bored to tears by an injured peasant woman.  She was sure that she would feel the same if she were in their situation.

            In spite of her show of bravado, the servant still felt very weak and sick.  She almost wept as she dressed herself, unable to avert her eyes from the horrible signs of abuse that still remained on her body.  She had never taken much pride in her appearance, had never allowed herself to be tempted by vanity, yet it was still terrible to her to see her body in such a state.  Her only comfort was the knowledge that her body would repair itself with time and that she was now safe from The Earl of Essex.

            One of the queen's maids had arrived with the news the morning after the royal family had paid her a visit.  She had announced that the man had been stripped of his title and property and banished from England for as long as he should live.  If he dared return, his punishment would be death.  Keelin was surprised at the severity of the punishment and did not quite feel that she was worth so much trouble.  She was also having difficulty shaking the terrible feeling of foreboding that stole over her from time to time.  She could not believe that the earl would just disappear and that would be the end of it.  He was a very dangerous man and Keelin knew that she would fear him for as long as he should live.

            The other interesting piece of gossip that had been bandied around her sickbed had to do with the prince.  The queen's maids had discussed it only when they thought she was asleep.  They were loath to have anyone hear them talking so freely about the royal family, even this insignificant servant girl.  Once they felt that she was safely unconscious, they began to talk excitedly about how he had refused to marry Princess Maria of Spain.  They took great pleasure in talking about how angry the king was and how strained the relations between the two men were.  They also took great pleasure in discussing the prince's attributes in extensive detail and giggling insipidly over every little attention he had ever paid to them.  Keelin could remember when one of them was in a state of ecstasy over a comment that the prince had made about her kindness to his mother.  Keelin found these conversations distasteful.  The women made a sport of competing with one another for the slightest bit of attention from the prince.  Keelin could tell that they were all dreaming of one day being queen, but that not one of them dared tell the others.  She found them so stupid and so vain that she was also extremely relieved when she was well enough for them to leave.

            She had just finished dressing herself when a servant that she had never seen before entered the chamber.  Even though she did not know her, Keelin could tell that this was a woman in control.  She projected an air of superiority and of slight distaste in Keelin's direction.

            "Well, well, well, I see you 'ave finally decided to stop being a sluggard," the woman said and Keelin was taken aback.  She had a sharp, unpleasant voice and Keelin was shocked at how angry the woman seemed to be with her.

            "I-I am sorry," she stuttered nervously.  "I-I tried to rise sooner, but..."

            "I care for none of your excuses," the woman said, almost shrilly.  "All I care about is that you are now ready for work.  And work you will.  There is a position for you as a scullery maid.  You are to begin immediately."

            Keelin was surprised.  She had not expected to be made one of the queen's maids, but she had also not expected such a low form of labor.  Still, she was humble and did not feel herself to be above such work and so she raised her chin and looked the woman steadily in the eye.

            "Aye, Madame.  I shall begin immediately and I shall strive to please," she said, keeping her voice even and strong.  She would not cower and simper in front of this woman. 

            "Follow me," was the curt reply.

            Keelin followed her out of the chamber, casting only a brief glance back at the chamber that had been her home these past few days, the chamber in which she had met with the entire royal family.  The woman led her through a maze of corridors and Keelin was a bit fearful of the hustle and bustle of the castle, of the booming voices of the knights, of the way some of servant men leered at her, their faces filthy and their teeth—what was left of them—yellow and rotten.  She was relieved when the woman finally led her into the scullery, handed her a dish, and showed her where the scrubbing sand was. 

            "I expect a decent day's work out of you," the woman said harshly.  And then she was gone.

            Keelin toiled long and hard for many hours.  She bit her injured lip gingerly, trying to ignore the throbbing pain that the hard labor sent through her injured limbs.  None of the other woman would talk to her.  They looked her up and down and sneered at her, turning to gossip with one another.  Keelin did not understand why they shunned her so, but she did her best to ignore it, keeping her head high and her face serene as she worked.  She nearly wept with relief when it was finally time for a meal and a break.  She was given a dry, burnt crust of bread and a small mug of water for dinner.  She ate quickly and hungrily, and then decided that she needed a quick breath of air before retiring to bed.  She did not think it would be difficult for her to find someone who would be so kind as to tell her how to get to the nearest courtyard.  Instead, the only courtesy that she received was a vague set of directions from one of the other servants who made a face, as if she were being forced to speak to the vermin that skittered across the floor.  Keelin held her back rigid as she walked from the kitchen.

            As soon as she was away from the critical eyes of the woman, she allowed her spine to slump, allowed her body to give in to the pain and weakness that she had been trying to conceal all day.  She ran her forearm across her sweaty forehead and then wearily pushed a strand of hair back into her servant's cap.  She shuffled forward, closing her eyes and putting a hand to the back of her aching neck.  She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt herself bump into another human being. 

            "Whoa," a gentle voice said as an equally gentle hand reached out and steadied her.  "You may want to keep your eyes open when walking through these halls."  The voice was warm with a subtle hint of humor.

            "Forgive me," Keelin mumbled.  The words died on her lips as she looked up and saw that it was none other than the prince that she had run into!  "Your Highness," she said, her voice horrified.  She immediately dropped to one knee before him, lowering her eyes to the floor.  "I-I did not see you."

            "Please, arise," he said.  "The fault was my own."

            Keelin rose, but kept her eyes averted from his face.  She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye and watched as the expression on his face changed to one of recognition.

            "Keelin?" he asked.  She was shocked that he had remembered her name.  "Are you out of bed already?"

            "I could not allow myself to impose on Your Majesties' kindness any longer," Keelin replied, voice low and eyes averted.

            She could feel his gaze travel the length of her.  Peeking out of the corner of one eye, she could see him frown.  She was suddenly worried, sure that he was not fooled by her show of strength.

            "Are you certain that you are well?" he asked her.

            "Oh, quite, Your Highness," she replied.

            The prince apparently decided to change the subject.  "Have you been given work?"

            "Aye, I have just finished for the day, Your Highness."

            "Are you satisfied with your position?"  He was now studying her intently and Keelin felt the insane urge to flee his assessing glance.  She folded her hands and hid them in her apron so that he could not see how red and raw they were.  She forced a broad smile onto her face and raised her gaze to his.

            "Aye, Your Highness," she said.  "I have never been so satisfied in all my life.  To work in His Majesty's palace is a great honor."

            "Of course you would say something like that," he said, his voice soft.  "You are very humble and grateful for any small kindness done to you.  But I would not have you unhappy and would wish to know if anything could be done to improve your situation."

            Once again, Keelin was surprised.  She could not believe that the prince could possibly care at all about her situation.  She was sure that he must have much grander things to worry about and, after all, she was only a lowly servant.  She couldn't help but wonder if he took this much of a personal interest in the lives of all of his servants, but that thought was pure vanity and she banished it immediately.

            "There is nothing that could possibly be done to improve my situation.  I consider myself the most fortunate woman in all of England, Your Highness," she said, simply.

            The prince gazed at her intently for a moment.  He opened his mouth as if to speak when the sound of a booming, male voice suddenly filled the hallway.

            "Rhain!  There you are," the voice said.

            The prince turned around to see who it was and Keelin caught a glimpse of one of the king's knights.  The man was very large and very imposing, but Keelin felt such a sense of relief at his appearance that she could have kissed him, unruly beard and all.  She immediately sank into a low curtsey.

            "Your Highness," she murmured.  Then she turned and fled, walking as swiftly as she could without breaking into a run.

            "Who was that?" she could hear the knight ask.  She was around the corner and out of the hall before she could hear the prince's reply.

*****

            The prince was surprised when he ran into the young servant in the hallway.  It was difficult for him to believe that she could be well enough to be working again, but she said that she was fine.  Still, she did look awfully pale and the yellowish tinge of her bruises did nothing to lend an illusion of perfect health.  Her eyes were red-rimmed and he had seen her wincing in pain before she had noticed him.  She had looked exhausted and he was very concerned.  His physician, Alward, had only visited her for two days longer after the royal family had been to visit her.  He had then turned her over to the care of the queen's maids. 

            Prince Rhain was worried about the woman.  He had never really noticed servants before, but he was especially concerned with this servant girl because she had once belonged to Mordrid.  He felt that she might have some information concerning her former master that might lend some insight into Mordrid's devious mind.  The prince was very worried that the former earl would exile himself to France, where his friends were many and powerful.  He felt that Mordrid would be a threat to England until his death.

            The prince had decided that he would have to gain the timid girl's confidence.  He desperately needed all of the information that she might possess.  He had not been looking for her, but when he ran into her, he decided to take advantage of the situation.  He had just been about to tell the girl that he thought she should rest further when their meeting was interrupted by Sir Edwyn, one of his father's best knights and the prince's best friend.

            Edwyn was a massive man, nearly a giant, who struck fear into the hearts of his enemies.  He had wild black hair and an unruly black beard matched by fierce black eyes set off by bushy, black brows.  His hands looked as if they could crush a man alive and, indeed, they probably could.  His neck was as thick as a tree trunk and his entire body was one mass of rippling muscle.  In spite of his fierce, almost barbaric looks, Edwyn was actually a very gentle, intelligent, and loyal man.  He had been a great friend to Rhain throughout the years, even saving the prince's life in a battle against France.  Rhain could only wish that every one of his country's men were as trustworthy and brave as his friend.  His friend's booming voice and enormous presence distracted Rhain and by the time he turned around, the servant was gone.

            "Who was that?" Edwyn asked, curiously.  He rarely saw the prince conversing with servants.

            "That was the girl that Mordrid was attempting to kill during Spain's visit," Rhain replied, somewhat distracted.  The servant girl was certainly swift.  He hadn't even seen her leave.  It was as if she had simply disappeared.

            "That was the girl?" Edwyn asked, incredulously.  "You made it sound as though she were on her deathbed.  What is she doing up and around?"

            "She claims that she is well enough to work, but she certainly does not look it."  Rhain frowned thoughtfully.  "She is as timid as a mouse.  I need to gain her confidence for I am certain that she has much valuable information about Mordrid."           

"I see," said Edwyn.  "You wish to use her to help you capture Mordrid.  That is very clever.  But will she talk?  You have led me to believe that she lives in mortal terror of Mordrid."

            "She is hardly to be blamed for that," Rhain told his friend.  "The man beat her nearly to death.  Still, she must know now that she is safe and that she will not be punished for speaking out against the man."

            "Well, then, perhaps she is merely afraid of you," Edwyn suggested.

            Rhain was surprised at the idea.  "Could that be so?"

            "Certainly she cannot think much of herself after such prolonged mistreatment by Mordrid.  Moreover, Mordrid is the only man of any station that she has known for some time.  And, of course, nearly all of the peasantry lives in awe of royalty.  It does not surprise me then that she does not see you as a confidant."

            "You are wise indeed, Edwyn," Rhain sighed.  "I had not thought of that, but I believe that there is truth to what you say.  She was nearly pale as a ghost at the sight of my father and mother and never meets my gaze unless I make it so that she cannot avoid doing so."

            "There you have it," Edwyn said, satisfaction evident in his voice.  "Perhaps you should let me attempt to gain her confidence."

            Rhain laughed merrily at his friend's sincere suggestion.  "She could not be half so afraid of a man such as me if you were to try to gain her confidence.  Perhaps your suggestion is a good one.  She may be so fearful of you that she will run to me for aide."

            Edwyn's face broke into a smile, his pink lips barely showing through his thick, black beard.  "Indeed.  Only the bravest of ladies is willing to give her confidence to such a man as me."

            "If only all men were like you," Rhain said, once again feeling an enormous rush of gratitude for his friend.  "Then all ladies would be protected and more than willing to give you their confidence."

            The two men laughed and Edwyn gave his friend a hearty slap on the back that Rhain knew would leave a mark.  They moved out of the corridor and towards the great hall, where they would dine together.  The king usually dined in his study, among his advisers and stacks of letters, but Rhain customarily dined with his men.  He wanted them to know that he considered them his equals.  As he entered the loud, bawdy hall, he found his thoughts of the servant girl fading away for the time being.