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Part 3

The week wore on without any excitement except for the fact that the Kingdom of Gutaherm had agreed to sign the treaty. The only other shred of light was that my wounds were slowly beginning to heal, from the whippings granted by Miss Oriana. I had had strict orders to work from dusk till dawn, with only a few peaceful hours of sleep here and there. I had to work off my punishment.

It was Saturday afternoon and I was in Lady Ann's room, cleaning up around the bed. Lady Ann was sitting by her dresser, brushing her hair with a large gold brush. "Isn't it great?" She smiled cheerfully.

I fixed the edge of the covers on the bed and looked towards her. "What is, m'Lady?"

"Well the treaty, of course! The agreement! Can you believe it? We'll have all of that land! We'll be more rich then any other kingdom in this country!" She turned back to her mirror and began to brush her hair again.

"Yes, m'Lady, it's wonderful...just wonderful.." I replied, my mind obviously somewhere else. Picking up a crimson colour pillow, I set it back down on the bed. She turned around on the stool again.

"Kyla. I can't help but notice that you're quite occupied. We've been friends for as long as I can remember - is there anything you'd like to talk about?" Her eyes showed concern and genuine friendship. Ever since I was a child, I had been appointed into the castle and became great friends with Lady Ann, the daughter of the Queen.

I fingered the edge of the pillow as I thought back to my memories with Lady Ann, during my childhood. My parents had died in a horrible war between the two kingdoms, and luckily I was found and taken in by this castle. Lady Ann had always been my friend and I cherished it. But this time, there really was no explanation. "No, m'Lady. I'm sorry if I seem...lost. Perhaps I am?" My voice quieted and I walked to the door. "Will you be needing anything else, m'Lady?"

Lady Ann shook her head with worry, and sighed. "No thankyou, Kyla. Have a goodday. Thank you."

After I left the room, I took a short walk out in the gardens, away from my duties. It was now early evening, and I had not eaten a thing. 'Miss Oriana can save her work for later! I'm hungry and I need a break.' I thought to myself, as I headed out for the forest again. Part of me hoped to see Alexander, but the other half dreaded it. The things his mother said rang throughout my head like an annoying bug. "...no Prince will ever marry them!" I said outloud, angry and mockingly. As I got to the core of the forest, I found the apple tree, and began to climb up it's sturdy trunk. 'Good think I'm wearing my boots this time, my slippers would never have done.' I gripped a branch and pulled myself up higher, and found a good spot to sit down. I was high up in the trees, amongst all the lucsious red apples. I plucked one and rubbed it against a clean part of my dress. I then bit into it hungrily. I devoured it in almost an instant and immediately pulled another from it's branch.

Something startled me, and I heard a strong whistling. I did not have my dagger with me this time, which frightened me to think I was unarmed. I stayed still up in the tree, and watched the ground from behind the leaves. A flash of golden curls entered my view, and Alexander sat himself at the base of the very tree I was up in. I sat still and quiet, careful not to rustle any branches. He was carrying a bag, and I could see that he pulled out some parchment, with scribbles upon scribbles across the page. He then pulled out a small featherpen with an ink bottle beside. I was curious to see what was written on the parchment, and leaned further forward. I could almost make out the top line; And my love it flows to you like a rose, like a valley and a st -. Until I leaned too far and lost my grip, sending four or five apples knocking to the ground - and one ontop of his golden curls.

"OWW!" He yelled, rubbing his head and looking upwards.

I struggled to try and hide myself, and I stupidly got my foot caught in a branch. My ankle nearly twisted as I yanked it out and tried to hide my face. I let out a whimper.

"You! You there! Come down here!" Alexander stood up, knocking his ink bottle to the ground, colouring the leaves a dark black.

I shamefully crawled down the tree, having given up in hiding. I lowered my head as I got to the bottom. "I'm s-sorry, Sir...I did not mean to hit you..I'm sorry.."

Surprisingly, he let out a laugh. "Oh my! I should be the one apoligizing! I did not know it was you..." He raised my chin with his finger. "...Lady Kyla."

I looked at his blue eyes and soon found myself beginning to giggle. He smiled, and rubbed the back of his head. "Although, you or the tree, I'm not so certain which - has very good aim!"

"Again, Sir, I am sorry."

"Sit with me?" He asked, gesturing to the base of the tree, kneeling down to pick up his parchment and fallen tools. I sat gingerly beside him, and watched as he began to write more. I peered over his shoulder and watched as he finished up his poem. He held it out at arms distance, and then brought it back to his lap. "You like it?" He asked.

"Very much so." I smiled back, avoiding his eyes and the spell that they put over me.

"Sometimes I like to get away from everything and everyone...all the stress and trouble from my Mother and Father. I come here, to this forest, and write."

Before thinking, I responded. "Oh yes, me aswell! I love it here. It's so peaceful - I love to get away from all my chores and horrible castle duties!" I bit my lip, hard.

"Oh, so you are a castle-maid. Well. I think we may have alot to learn from eachother." He smiled a kind smile, and went back to his parchment. I let my head rest against the back of the tree, and sighed. "You know," he said with a grin, "The bump on my head is making me think crasy things."

"Like what, Sir?" I lifted my head off of the tree to look at him.

He shook his head, causing a few curls to fall over his eyes. "Like thinking a young beautiful flower would fall in love with someone...a stranger."

We sat in silence, my cheeks turning redder then ever. I raised my hand boldly, and gently pushed the curls back from his eyes. His hair felt of a thick silk, soft yet strong. My hand was covered by his, suddenly, and I could feel his skin warm up at the touch of mine. He slowly moved my hand to his cheek, and I felt his warm cheek. He slid his other hand on my cheek, and I found that my gaze had been directed to his blue eyes. I fell inside them and was being drawn towards them. He let go of my hand and put it on my back, to pull me closer. I dropped both my hands and let out a yelp of pain. He pulled away quickly. "What happened? Kyla? Is something wrong?"

I got up and ran out of the forest, tears pouring foolishly down my cheeks.

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Part 4

"Yes, but you didn't answer my question!" Isabel said, poking me playfully in the ribs. Isabel, Lady Ann and I were all sitting ontop of Lady Ann's bed, gossiping away like old times.

"Yes, he was handsome!" I replied hesitantly. After I had come running into the castle in such a fret, I was ordered into Lady Ann's room by Lady Ann and Isabel. They wanted to know what was bothering me so much, and demanded a 'meeting'. "Anyway," I continued, "that really isn't the point!"

Lady Ann let out a girlish giggle. It was just like oldtimes, indeed. "Yes, exactly. The point is, that he tried to kiss you! Kiss you, Kyla! So, after all of that, after the poem and the apples and such, and the kiss, what happened then? Nothing seems wrong to me, so far!" Her lip gave way into a pout, showing me that I had to continue my story with a greater explanation. Isabel looked at me expectedly, too.

"It's just...I mean...well there's something I haven't told you both." I took a deep breath. "The boy, the man I met - his name is Alexander...Prince Alexander."

The two girls gasped, but could not respond in time - the door had opened, and Miss Oriana stood tall. Isabel and I stood up quickly and began to act as if we were cleaning. Ann stood up aswell. "Yes, Miss Oriana?"

Miss Oriana gave a curt bow, then resumed her frown. "I was wondering, m'Lady, if you needed clean towels. But I think, perhaps, these two already were at your...assistance. Am I wrong?" She looked the two girls up and down.

Ann stepped closer, as if shielding Isabel and I from the wrath of this woman. "Yes, they were doing just that. I do not need any more towels, thank you...Miss Oriana."

"Good then. Now, if you are finished with these maids I'd like to have a word with Kyla." Miss Oriana said, but from the look of Ann's face, quickly added, "If that would be alright with you, m'Lady."

Ann looked over to me and 'asked' if it would be alright. I nodded silently - I was out late, again, and I was already paying off my punishment. This time, I deserved it greatly. Ann looked almost dissapointed, and then turned back to Miss Oriana. "Yes, you may. Thank you, Miss Oriana. Good day."

As I followed Miss Oriana down from the top floor into the corridor of the lower level, and into her room, I knew what was going to take place. I was no fool. Isabel walked beside me, quietly, and discreetly held my hand. I think she knew just as well as I did, what was coming. When we reached Miss Oriana's room, she turned and commanded for Isabel to leave and go help out in the back gardens, with hoeing and weeding. Isabel was a bit surprised that she would not be getting a punishment, gave me a worried glance, then hurried away. Miss Oriana grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the room and shut the door with a thud. "I'm not impressed with your lack of effort around this castle." She went behind her desk and opened a wooden drawer, pulling out the same strap that had punished me last Monday. I cringed. She stepped infront of the desk and looked at me, square in the eye. "Remove your apron, Kyla."

I looked up at her with a certain fear in my eyes. "Miss Oriana, I'm sorry that I haven't been working accordingly, but I promise I'll -"

"Remove your apron, Kyla!" She yelled, her knuckles turning white from her grip on the whip. When I did not respond or move from my position, she pushed me roughly to the ground and ripped off my apron. She then pulled my dress down so my back was exposed again. Whack.

The only sound that could be heard was the slapping of the whip against my back, and the screams that came out of my trembling mouth.

"It's unfair!" Isabel growled, as she began to boil the water again. I lay on the hay shivering, not because of the cold - but because of the pain. "She can't just punish you all the time! She's taking her anger out on you Ky, and it's got to stop!"

I didn't answer, but simple bit my thumb as she dabbed another towel onto my back to wash some of the blood away. Isabel kept ranting her hate towards Miss Oriana outloud, and paced back and forth - checking the water and dabbing my back. The wounds before were now hidden beneath the new ones. A few other girls came into the basement and snickered some more, but then ran away quickly because of Isabel's growling at them. If anyone could stick up for herself, it was Isabel. She looked down at me. "The only reason she made me go away was because she knew if I knew what would happen to you, she'd be pounded into the ground and then hung!"

I kept my face buried in my arms, and did my best to ignore the pain. "It stings.." I sobbed, as Isabel let the hot water dribble onto the cuts, to clean them out.

"I know sweetie, I know..." She whispered, petting my forehead at the same time.