Chapter 5

"Ellie dearest, wake up." Martha said, gently shaking Ellie's shoulder.

Ellie opened her eyes and sat right up. "Oh dear, I slept in, I'm so sorry."

"No it's ok, you didn't really. Its six o' clock in the morning, we have to go prepare the breakfast for the kingdom." Martha explained.

"Oh ok." She replied and hoped out of bed and followed Martha outside to the palace.

"Wow, this is the biggest kitchen I've ever seen." Ellie said as her and Martha walked into the large kitchen.

"I know dear." Martha chuckled. "Why don't you get started on crushing these oats to make porridge, while I dice some meat?"

"Yes ok." Ellie replied, and started getting to work on the food.

About half an hour had past and Martha approached Ellie carrying a plate of meat and fruits.

"Well I'll just take this down to the dinning room, care to follow me?" Martha asked.

"This is almost ready." Ellie said, stirring the large pot of porridge.

"Ok dear, I'll be back soon." Martha replied and walked out of the kitchen and headed for the dinning room.

She walked on in and saw Mark sitting at the end with Jocelyn next to him. He was holding her hand and kissing her on the cheek.

"Marcus, this is not the place for that." Martha chuckled, while sitting the tray on food on the table.

Mark and Jocelyn both chuckled and looked at what Martha had served them. "This looks lovely Martha." Mark smiled.

"Well I hope it is dear, where is Bernadette?" Martha asked, while cutting the meat.

"She's talking to some guards down stairs." Jocelyn replied.

"Oh ok, well eat up, there's some more on the way." Martha explained and walked out.

She smiled as she walked past Ellie who was approaching the dinning room carrying the bowl of porridge she had prepared.

Ellie slowly walked in and placed the food gently in front of them, and then stood back.

"What is this?" Jocelyn asked, looking at the porridge.

"Oh it's porridge." Ellie answered politely.

"Eh…it looks like pig food!" Jocelyn snapped.

Ellie bit her lip, she thought she had done a good job considering that she hadn't made it before, but obviously she hadn't.

"This mess is perfect for people of your standards, but not of mine!" Jocelyn yelled at Ellie.

"I'm sorry; I've just never made porridge before." Ellie explained.

"Sorry? That's all you can seem to say at the moment is it? You are pathetic, you hear me!" Jocelyn yelled.

Mark noticed tears starting to form in the young girl's eyes. "Jocelyn, if you don't want to eat it then don't." He said.

Jocelyn looked at him dumbfounded. "Fine then." She said.

Mark caught in the corner of his eye Ellie smiling, but he didn't say anything.

Just then Bernadette walked on in. "Oh breakfast." She smiled walking over and sitting opposite Mark.

"Oh dear, it looks like we need a bath." Bernadette said, looking up at Ellie.

Ellie bit her lip and looked down at the ground.

"Well I'll have to organize someone to take the slaves down to wash themselves in the creek." Jocelyn explained.

"I'll take them, I've finished my breakfast." Jocelyn explained standing up.

"Wonderful dear." Bernadette smiled at her.

Jocelyn smiled back then sneered at Ellie.

Ellie walked along the path with the other laundry women to a creek at the back of the kingdom.

She stopped and looked in horror as she saw men and women bathing in the creek.

"What's wrong dear?" Martha asked, after seeing the look on Ellie's face.

"I…I…I don't want to wash myself in front of all these people." Ellie explained.

"Oh pet, you get used to it after a while." Martha replied and undid her blouse and hoped into the creek.

Ellie started whimpering, she didn't want anyone to see her naked.

"What are you waiting for?" Jocelyn asked, walking up to Ellie.

"I…I…but." She started.

"But nothing! Don't you answer back to me! Now undress now!" Jocelyn spat.

Ellie nervously started unbuttoning her blouse, and placed it on the ground beside her. She tried to cover herself up the best she could with her two hands.

"Look at you; you have no breasts or a figure. You are skin and bones and no man would want you, now get into the water!" Jocelyn sneered.

Ellie slowly walked over to the water, tears were streaming down her face at the harsh comments that Jocelyn had said about her.