"Oh, good, there you are Shelly," Naetalia said happily as she walked into
the bustling kitchens.
One of the servants, a woman in her early twenties, looked up from the dishes as Naetalia walked up to the quieter corner's counter.
"My word, Tally, what are you doing in here again? The Lord Kayell would have your hide if he knew the future queen was wandering about in the kitchens again."
"Nonsense, it always smells wonderful in here, sides, I will not be told where I can and can't go in my soon-to-be home. It's bad enough I have no say in this wedding," she stopped herself before she went into a harsh topic that would never be heard the end of.
"But I'm not just here for that, I found something."
She held out her hands, one still gloved as it was held over the frog's small form.
"Oh my, isn't he a darling, haven't seen one of those kind in ages." The woman looked up at the duchess. "Is he still alive? Where on earth did you find one of them during this time of year?"
Naetalia looked down worriedly.
"I was at a little pond and I found him there. It's too cold out there though, and he was in the water, which is even worse. He was alive when I found him.you don't think he's."
"Here, give him to me while you go take off that warm cloak. Put it on the stool there. Lets warm him up a bit, see if he gets a little livelier."
Shelly took the frog from the other woman and placed him on a clean area of the counter. She grabbed one of the clean bowls and poured just a touch of the warm water in the bottom.
"You know, you can't go around saving every creature you come across, Tally."
The woman picked up the frog again and placed him inside the small bowl. She smiled when he seemed to respond with a light kick, bringing him to cling to the bowl's side.
Naetalia looked over the servant's shoulder into the bowl and smiled.
"No, but it makes me feel better when I can. At least I know someone is looking out for them."
Shelly sighed.
"Here," she handed the bowl to Naetalia. I can't keep him around here. I have work that still needs to be done.
"Where should I put him?"
"Put him back outside."
"But it's too cold out there."
"If you're that worried, just put him in your room. I'm sure he'll find a way to live."
Naetalia thought it over as she walked past various people. She turned back to her friend.
"You'll be up later?"
Shelly nodded with a smile.
"After supper, want me to bring your things?"
The young woman nodded as she looked down at the small frog.
As she walked out of the kitchens, the servant chuckled to herself, ending with a sigh.
"I hope the best for her, somehow."
...............
(Frog)
I was a little more aware this time. I had dozed when I was being moved. There wasn't much else I could do. My body felt stiff, and so heavy. Then we went into all the sounds. The sounds of busy people all over. My body didn't feel quite as heavy as it had, but I still could hardly move. There was also something covering me. Then it moved, opening up a view of a lighted room. Had it always been so large?
I was placed in a small pool of warm water, which seemed to lighten the weight immensely, though I suddenly realized how open I was. Quickly I clung to a wall.
We started moving again, the water lapped up against the walls around me. I think we had entered a room. All I knew was it was much quieter. There were no people moving around, just one. I liked it. She looked down at me and smiled for some reason, then started talking. My head was still fuzzy, and I couldn't make out what it was she said. She was very pretty though.
Then she left, I couldn't see her anymore. I didn't want her to go. I didn't want to be alone.
I tensed my body, and jumped for it, easily landing on the other side of the wall.
It was a smooth surface and I could see an edge not far from me. I don't think I'll head that way though, it looks too tall.
Then I saw her across the room, getting into a bed. She had her back to me as she laid down. I think she was asleep not long after. I just watched her as she slept. Who was she? And where was I? My head started to hurt, a deep throbbing feeling. Sleep sounded so good. Yes, sleep.
One of the servants, a woman in her early twenties, looked up from the dishes as Naetalia walked up to the quieter corner's counter.
"My word, Tally, what are you doing in here again? The Lord Kayell would have your hide if he knew the future queen was wandering about in the kitchens again."
"Nonsense, it always smells wonderful in here, sides, I will not be told where I can and can't go in my soon-to-be home. It's bad enough I have no say in this wedding," she stopped herself before she went into a harsh topic that would never be heard the end of.
"But I'm not just here for that, I found something."
She held out her hands, one still gloved as it was held over the frog's small form.
"Oh my, isn't he a darling, haven't seen one of those kind in ages." The woman looked up at the duchess. "Is he still alive? Where on earth did you find one of them during this time of year?"
Naetalia looked down worriedly.
"I was at a little pond and I found him there. It's too cold out there though, and he was in the water, which is even worse. He was alive when I found him.you don't think he's."
"Here, give him to me while you go take off that warm cloak. Put it on the stool there. Lets warm him up a bit, see if he gets a little livelier."
Shelly took the frog from the other woman and placed him on a clean area of the counter. She grabbed one of the clean bowls and poured just a touch of the warm water in the bottom.
"You know, you can't go around saving every creature you come across, Tally."
The woman picked up the frog again and placed him inside the small bowl. She smiled when he seemed to respond with a light kick, bringing him to cling to the bowl's side.
Naetalia looked over the servant's shoulder into the bowl and smiled.
"No, but it makes me feel better when I can. At least I know someone is looking out for them."
Shelly sighed.
"Here," she handed the bowl to Naetalia. I can't keep him around here. I have work that still needs to be done.
"Where should I put him?"
"Put him back outside."
"But it's too cold out there."
"If you're that worried, just put him in your room. I'm sure he'll find a way to live."
Naetalia thought it over as she walked past various people. She turned back to her friend.
"You'll be up later?"
Shelly nodded with a smile.
"After supper, want me to bring your things?"
The young woman nodded as she looked down at the small frog.
As she walked out of the kitchens, the servant chuckled to herself, ending with a sigh.
"I hope the best for her, somehow."
...............
(Frog)
I was a little more aware this time. I had dozed when I was being moved. There wasn't much else I could do. My body felt stiff, and so heavy. Then we went into all the sounds. The sounds of busy people all over. My body didn't feel quite as heavy as it had, but I still could hardly move. There was also something covering me. Then it moved, opening up a view of a lighted room. Had it always been so large?
I was placed in a small pool of warm water, which seemed to lighten the weight immensely, though I suddenly realized how open I was. Quickly I clung to a wall.
We started moving again, the water lapped up against the walls around me. I think we had entered a room. All I knew was it was much quieter. There were no people moving around, just one. I liked it. She looked down at me and smiled for some reason, then started talking. My head was still fuzzy, and I couldn't make out what it was she said. She was very pretty though.
Then she left, I couldn't see her anymore. I didn't want her to go. I didn't want to be alone.
I tensed my body, and jumped for it, easily landing on the other side of the wall.
It was a smooth surface and I could see an edge not far from me. I don't think I'll head that way though, it looks too tall.
Then I saw her across the room, getting into a bed. She had her back to me as she laid down. I think she was asleep not long after. I just watched her as she slept. Who was she? And where was I? My head started to hurt, a deep throbbing feeling. Sleep sounded so good. Yes, sleep.