Mary POV
Bo and I were coming around the door of the castle. I sighed. "If only we could attend the ball," I said to her. She nodded. "It is nearly sheering time, and my darlings would make such a dress with their wool."
I shrugged. "I guess they would," was my nonchalant reply. As if I should ever admit to those revolting creatures having one speck of talent! I never! The shearing from their covering would probably knot and curl into clumpy fabric. Bah!
We rounded the corner of the royal castle, and stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to the citadel's entrance. After all, the sheep were in for the day and the cook usually gave us a bowl of stew for our work. We came in sight of the door. And there was the strangest girl I had ever seen.
She was standing on the grey stone steps, bouncing up and down and slapping her thighs expectantly as she awaited the arrival of the doorman. Her strawberry blonde hair was chopped off like a boy's and topped by a grungy, once-scarlet cap with an orange feather. She wore a motley array of various crimson and orange shades patched together for a tunic, with dark brown leather boots up to her knees. She was wearing skin-tight crimson leggings under her numerous folds of cloth, and they were tucked into her boots. And a strange sling was slung over her shoulder. It, like the rest of her, was a motley of scarlet and tangerine. But inside was a simple wooden pipe.
She heard us approaching, and turned around to smile disarmingly, green eyes dancing. "Why, hello there! My name is Piper. Do you know how I should be attending this ball I hear about?"
I turned to look at Bo. She turned to look at me. We locked eyes and shrugged, then turned back to our strange new acquaintance. "Are you a citizen of this kingdom?" I asked her politely, straightening my dress. She shrugged. "I be a citizen of whatever country I come to," she replied.
"Oh," I murmured. "Well, did you receive an invitation?"
"No."
"Are you someone's lady-in-waiting?"
"Nome."
"Do you know anyone of the royal house?"
"Can't say I do."
"A lord or lady of this land?"
"Sorry."
"Are you a hired minstrel, then?"
She paused, fingering her lower lip delicately. "Well, one could say that," she replied, a wry smirk on her face.
I smiled. Now we were getting somewhere. "Come with me to the kitchens, then, miss. We shall see you are given an interview. Only the finest play for our king." The minstrel only smirked again. "We shall see," she informed me.
We entered the kitchens through a door on the side of the castle. Cook Hilda sighed at the sight of us, but she allowed us entrance. "I have a minstrel," I told her, "and the sheep are done grazing, so don't start whining at me. And, no, I do not know where Vermin is."
Cook looked our girl up and down. "ELLA!" she bellowed. A timid, frightened- looking wisp of a girl appeared at her sight instantly. She was pretty. In fact, I thought enviously, she was beautiful. "Yes, Dame?" she asked obediently, clasping both hands together.
Hilda motioned towards Piper. "Take her to the blue room, with Mary. Bo can go out and tend the sheep for now."
I followed the kitchen girl and Piper out the door of the kitchens and out to the marble hall. Our feet clacked along the hard stone, except for Ella's, since she wore no shoes. I gazed lazily at the myriad of antiquarian portraits that surrounded us on all sides. My feet pounded with the constant motion.
"Here we are," Ella said, motioning sweetly towards the door. Piper bowed to her. "Thank you, my lady. You have been most helpful," she said. I gasped. She BOWED to a serving girl! Wrench my very heart from my chest! I only nodded towards Ella, determined to maintain a decent air, even if my comrade was so prone to condescendence. Ella patiently lingered by the entrance until both of us were safely in the room. Then she left us to a conference with the abomination of all music - the prince's cousin.
Lord Archibald Thornytoad was a weedy man. His nose jutted from his face like a horizontal mountain peak, threatening to poke the eyes out of any musician fractious enough to defy his opinions of their performance. Large eyes protruded from his face, and it was my personal belief that this particular homely aspect was created by a relative squeezing his cheeks too hard when he was a child. That would also account for the pinched, prim lips that pursed even farther when he was displeased, so that the man was immediately transformed into an enraged puffer fish.
He adjusted his spectacles, peering curiously at Piper. "You will need to change that inappropriate attire," he informed her, "Ladies should be seen in dresses, not -" His lips curled as he pondered this woman's clothing - "RAGS."
Piper frowned in response. "If my music pleases you well enough, should I not be allowed to dress as I choose?" she snapped, crossing both arms irritably. This was not the typical response from minstrels. When Lord Thornytoad insulted them, they nodded timidly and apologized frantically for their miniscule faults, which under the eye of the abominable royal cousin, were multiplied a hundredfold. Piper's irritability came as quite the shock to our fish man, who clutched his throat and pursed his lips, face reddening. It was a strong resemblance to a fish out of water. I smirked inwardly.
"Excuse me?" he spluttered, gasping for air. Piper shrugged. "I need my ROBES in order to perform at my pinnacle. If you want second-rate for your king, then I guess I ought to warn him, eh?" She raised a threatening eyebrow. I could tell right away. NO ONE messed with this lady.
Lord Thornytoad spluttered and guzzled a quick glass of water. This fluid somehow composed him, further supporting my fish theory. He wheezed heavily for a few moments, hand on pulsating heart. "No - no. That won't be necessary. You may wear those, em, "robes" ---- if your playing is up to snuff." He grinned wickedly, and I could tell from his weasel expression that there was no way in the universe Piper was going to be categorized under "Up to snuff." Not after the show she'd put on.
But cocky, confident Piper simply lifted her flute to her lips and began. And I was dumbstruck. She could play like no one I had ever heard. The low notes were rich, and the high notes tinkled. The melody was beautiful, and the timing was godly. I was entranced.
Suddenly, the tune came to a halt. I blinked. It seemed as if the room had been emptied before my very eyes. I sighed remorsefully despite myself, and turned to look at Lord Thornytoad.
He sniffed. "That was the most beautiful music I have ever heard," he said, looking at Piper. She grinned. "But it was completely inappropriate for a ball. Too entrancing, you understand. Not up to snuff for dancing. Good day."
Piper's mouth dropped open, and she stood gaping angrily at the royal dimwit, tears forming in her eyes. "I-I cannot believe you would-"
"Good DAY, my lady."
I caught Piper's sleeve and dragged her through the door. But she wasn't finished with him yet. Wrenching her sleeve from my grasp, Piper ran towards Lord Thornytoad.
"You want to know something?" she spat, pointing at him, "When we die, we are going to a greater force for judgment. We shall reap what we sow. And may I promise you, my lord, that you SHALL REAP the fruits of the injustice and anger you sow today! Both in this world and in the next!"
With that, Piper flew from the room in a fluster. Had she just threatened him? I curtsied politely to Lord Thornytoad and muttered a few insincere words of thanks. Yes, how about - thanks for being a jerk? Thanks for bringing down Piper so that my self-esteem can be boosted? Thanks for making me appear so utterly kind in comparison to your behavior? I could say that, I suppose. Only if I wanted my head to be staring at me from the floor.
Piper could walk much faster than me, without the annoying hindrance of a dress to curb her fluid motion. It was rather difficult and demeaning work keeping pace, considering my skirts required above-the-knee hoisting. "Hold!" I screeched, stumbling and fumbling in her wake. "Please! Piper, wait! I can't- waaaaah!"
I went tumbling to the ground, arms flailing. My skirts lay tangled in a heap round my ankles and knees, ripped up the seam of my left hip. I sighed irritably and got to my knees, huffing moodily about irritable musicians and their obstreperous tendencies.
I peered up at Piper, who was standing above me. "Eesh," she murmured, "I would hate to see you in some real petticoats." I simpered. "Yes, I am a tad clumsy when running breakneck after a miffed minstrel, whose feet are not confined to the boundaries of a dress," was my irritable response. My acquaintance only smiled at me. "I do suppose I had a head start on you, there," she pondered, helping me to my feet.
I brushed the dust and dirt off of my blue dress, and began inspecting the tear. It was, thank goodness, nothing I could not repair, and was also kind enough not to reveal anything. Then I remembered. "Oh dear! I have left Baby Lumpkins all alone with those lack wit creatures of Bo's! My poor baby!"
I grabbed my dress and bolted. Piper stood in deep thought for a moment, and then decided to follow me, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Who's Baby Lumpkins?!"
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Bo and I were coming around the door of the castle. I sighed. "If only we could attend the ball," I said to her. She nodded. "It is nearly sheering time, and my darlings would make such a dress with their wool."
I shrugged. "I guess they would," was my nonchalant reply. As if I should ever admit to those revolting creatures having one speck of talent! I never! The shearing from their covering would probably knot and curl into clumpy fabric. Bah!
We rounded the corner of the royal castle, and stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to the citadel's entrance. After all, the sheep were in for the day and the cook usually gave us a bowl of stew for our work. We came in sight of the door. And there was the strangest girl I had ever seen.
She was standing on the grey stone steps, bouncing up and down and slapping her thighs expectantly as she awaited the arrival of the doorman. Her strawberry blonde hair was chopped off like a boy's and topped by a grungy, once-scarlet cap with an orange feather. She wore a motley array of various crimson and orange shades patched together for a tunic, with dark brown leather boots up to her knees. She was wearing skin-tight crimson leggings under her numerous folds of cloth, and they were tucked into her boots. And a strange sling was slung over her shoulder. It, like the rest of her, was a motley of scarlet and tangerine. But inside was a simple wooden pipe.
She heard us approaching, and turned around to smile disarmingly, green eyes dancing. "Why, hello there! My name is Piper. Do you know how I should be attending this ball I hear about?"
I turned to look at Bo. She turned to look at me. We locked eyes and shrugged, then turned back to our strange new acquaintance. "Are you a citizen of this kingdom?" I asked her politely, straightening my dress. She shrugged. "I be a citizen of whatever country I come to," she replied.
"Oh," I murmured. "Well, did you receive an invitation?"
"No."
"Are you someone's lady-in-waiting?"
"Nome."
"Do you know anyone of the royal house?"
"Can't say I do."
"A lord or lady of this land?"
"Sorry."
"Are you a hired minstrel, then?"
She paused, fingering her lower lip delicately. "Well, one could say that," she replied, a wry smirk on her face.
I smiled. Now we were getting somewhere. "Come with me to the kitchens, then, miss. We shall see you are given an interview. Only the finest play for our king." The minstrel only smirked again. "We shall see," she informed me.
We entered the kitchens through a door on the side of the castle. Cook Hilda sighed at the sight of us, but she allowed us entrance. "I have a minstrel," I told her, "and the sheep are done grazing, so don't start whining at me. And, no, I do not know where Vermin is."
Cook looked our girl up and down. "ELLA!" she bellowed. A timid, frightened- looking wisp of a girl appeared at her sight instantly. She was pretty. In fact, I thought enviously, she was beautiful. "Yes, Dame?" she asked obediently, clasping both hands together.
Hilda motioned towards Piper. "Take her to the blue room, with Mary. Bo can go out and tend the sheep for now."
I followed the kitchen girl and Piper out the door of the kitchens and out to the marble hall. Our feet clacked along the hard stone, except for Ella's, since she wore no shoes. I gazed lazily at the myriad of antiquarian portraits that surrounded us on all sides. My feet pounded with the constant motion.
"Here we are," Ella said, motioning sweetly towards the door. Piper bowed to her. "Thank you, my lady. You have been most helpful," she said. I gasped. She BOWED to a serving girl! Wrench my very heart from my chest! I only nodded towards Ella, determined to maintain a decent air, even if my comrade was so prone to condescendence. Ella patiently lingered by the entrance until both of us were safely in the room. Then she left us to a conference with the abomination of all music - the prince's cousin.
Lord Archibald Thornytoad was a weedy man. His nose jutted from his face like a horizontal mountain peak, threatening to poke the eyes out of any musician fractious enough to defy his opinions of their performance. Large eyes protruded from his face, and it was my personal belief that this particular homely aspect was created by a relative squeezing his cheeks too hard when he was a child. That would also account for the pinched, prim lips that pursed even farther when he was displeased, so that the man was immediately transformed into an enraged puffer fish.
He adjusted his spectacles, peering curiously at Piper. "You will need to change that inappropriate attire," he informed her, "Ladies should be seen in dresses, not -" His lips curled as he pondered this woman's clothing - "RAGS."
Piper frowned in response. "If my music pleases you well enough, should I not be allowed to dress as I choose?" she snapped, crossing both arms irritably. This was not the typical response from minstrels. When Lord Thornytoad insulted them, they nodded timidly and apologized frantically for their miniscule faults, which under the eye of the abominable royal cousin, were multiplied a hundredfold. Piper's irritability came as quite the shock to our fish man, who clutched his throat and pursed his lips, face reddening. It was a strong resemblance to a fish out of water. I smirked inwardly.
"Excuse me?" he spluttered, gasping for air. Piper shrugged. "I need my ROBES in order to perform at my pinnacle. If you want second-rate for your king, then I guess I ought to warn him, eh?" She raised a threatening eyebrow. I could tell right away. NO ONE messed with this lady.
Lord Thornytoad spluttered and guzzled a quick glass of water. This fluid somehow composed him, further supporting my fish theory. He wheezed heavily for a few moments, hand on pulsating heart. "No - no. That won't be necessary. You may wear those, em, "robes" ---- if your playing is up to snuff." He grinned wickedly, and I could tell from his weasel expression that there was no way in the universe Piper was going to be categorized under "Up to snuff." Not after the show she'd put on.
But cocky, confident Piper simply lifted her flute to her lips and began. And I was dumbstruck. She could play like no one I had ever heard. The low notes were rich, and the high notes tinkled. The melody was beautiful, and the timing was godly. I was entranced.
Suddenly, the tune came to a halt. I blinked. It seemed as if the room had been emptied before my very eyes. I sighed remorsefully despite myself, and turned to look at Lord Thornytoad.
He sniffed. "That was the most beautiful music I have ever heard," he said, looking at Piper. She grinned. "But it was completely inappropriate for a ball. Too entrancing, you understand. Not up to snuff for dancing. Good day."
Piper's mouth dropped open, and she stood gaping angrily at the royal dimwit, tears forming in her eyes. "I-I cannot believe you would-"
"Good DAY, my lady."
I caught Piper's sleeve and dragged her through the door. But she wasn't finished with him yet. Wrenching her sleeve from my grasp, Piper ran towards Lord Thornytoad.
"You want to know something?" she spat, pointing at him, "When we die, we are going to a greater force for judgment. We shall reap what we sow. And may I promise you, my lord, that you SHALL REAP the fruits of the injustice and anger you sow today! Both in this world and in the next!"
With that, Piper flew from the room in a fluster. Had she just threatened him? I curtsied politely to Lord Thornytoad and muttered a few insincere words of thanks. Yes, how about - thanks for being a jerk? Thanks for bringing down Piper so that my self-esteem can be boosted? Thanks for making me appear so utterly kind in comparison to your behavior? I could say that, I suppose. Only if I wanted my head to be staring at me from the floor.
Piper could walk much faster than me, without the annoying hindrance of a dress to curb her fluid motion. It was rather difficult and demeaning work keeping pace, considering my skirts required above-the-knee hoisting. "Hold!" I screeched, stumbling and fumbling in her wake. "Please! Piper, wait! I can't- waaaaah!"
I went tumbling to the ground, arms flailing. My skirts lay tangled in a heap round my ankles and knees, ripped up the seam of my left hip. I sighed irritably and got to my knees, huffing moodily about irritable musicians and their obstreperous tendencies.
I peered up at Piper, who was standing above me. "Eesh," she murmured, "I would hate to see you in some real petticoats." I simpered. "Yes, I am a tad clumsy when running breakneck after a miffed minstrel, whose feet are not confined to the boundaries of a dress," was my irritable response. My acquaintance only smiled at me. "I do suppose I had a head start on you, there," she pondered, helping me to my feet.
I brushed the dust and dirt off of my blue dress, and began inspecting the tear. It was, thank goodness, nothing I could not repair, and was also kind enough not to reveal anything. Then I remembered. "Oh dear! I have left Baby Lumpkins all alone with those lack wit creatures of Bo's! My poor baby!"
I grabbed my dress and bolted. Piper stood in deep thought for a moment, and then decided to follow me, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Who's Baby Lumpkins?!"
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