"Ari!"
I looked up from the morning dishes. Lucille had entered the kitchen. "Ari! There you are." Lucille said. "I want salmon for my dinner party. I'm going to throw one in lieu of the one I missed. I want the good, fresh kind. You are to buy everything on this list." She waved a sheet of paper in my face. "I have counted every penny in this purse." Lucille continued as she shoved a leather bag in my hand. "Be back in time to make dinner." She spun and walked out.
I glared at Lucille's retreating back. The 'good, fresh kind' of salmon could only be found at a fishing village two hours' walk away. I would never be back in time to help cook for the party, which would take hours. And I couldn't possibly carry it all. Swearing at Lucille under my breath, I trotted away to do her bidding.
The morning was cool and refreshing and two hours later, I arrived at the small fishing village. Most of the citizens present were women and children, the men, most, if not all of them fishermen, were already out in their boats. A small cluster of shops lined up along the main street formed the market. Unfortunately, the foods Lucille ordered could not all be found with these minute selections. I would have to stop at the market close to the manor. As the storekeeper wrapped my chosen salmons in paper, I glanced at the sun. It was a perched high in the sky. I would barely have time to walk back, let alone visit the market. That harpy! She knew that the market was too far away. This was just one of her schemes to get me in trouble.
As I accepted my salmons, I heard a voice behind me. "Ari?"
I turned to see a blond youth leading a brown horse. Two large, armed men strolled a pace behind him. I recognized them as the men who I had met in the meadow looking for the prince. "Derek?" I gasped.
"Ari!" Derek said happily. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm buying some food for my lady's dinner. And you?" I replied.
Derek shrugged. "Just wandering. It's a bit far just for food, don't you think?"
"She wanted the fresh kind." I scowled.
Derek laughed. "Would you like a ride back? I'm heading that way." He offered.
"Sure, if it's not too much trouble." I answered.
"No trouble at all." Derek assured me. He helped me mount the horse, food and all. When I was secure, he swung up behind me and clucked to his horse. Obediently, the mare trotted forward. The men mounted their own horses and followed. "Where to?" He asked.
"Just to the market near the Medan Manor." I replied.
As we rode down the path, I imagined an imagine Lucille's face if she saw the prince taking me home. I could not help but smile.
"What are smiling at?" The prince asked.
"Nothing. It's just a great day." I lied. But it really was a great day. The afternoon sun shone bright and clear, but did not beat down on our backs. The sharp winds that usually marked the beginning of fall were now just a refreshing breeze. Derek and I made small conversation as we rode. Derek hated the social courts, where everything was so formal and the ladies so clingy. He hated the guards his overprotective parents forced upon him. He however, was very fond of his twin brother and sister, despite the thirteen years age difference.
When we reached the market, I dismounted, gathering my armful of food. I expected the prince to ride away, but instead, he retied my bundles onto the horse and accompanied me as I walked through the market. When I finished my shopping, Derek took me back to the manor.
Lucille was in a horrible temper to find that I had arrived on time. Fuming, she sent me to the kitchen with the command that only I was to be cooking dinner for her and her friends. I worked nonstop for the next four hours, preparing the elaborate multi-course meal that Lucille had ordered for the party. When I was finally finished, I expected to be allowed to go into my room to change. Instead, Lucille sent for me. She had obviously not forgotten my punctuality and forced me to clip her toenails and dress and redress her hair.
Finally, a mere five minutes before the guest were scheduled to arrive, Lucille declared herself ready for the party. I rushed up to my room and changed into a cleaner dress, knowing that Helga would go crazy if I wore my dirty work dress while serving at her precious daughter's dinner party. I was busy in the kitchen when the guest started to arrive so my first glace at them was while serving during the first course.
There were eight of them, all rich, eligible young women. Vain and impudent, they giggled shrilly as they spoke in what they thought was a friendly way. But it was obvious that they considered each other as rivals, and strived to find each other's weaknesses. I found that they had one thing in common: obsession with the prince. Each girl was convinced that she was the fairest of them all and the one who would marry the prince. I was surprised to find Greta sitting beside her sister, staring dumbly at the girls. Lucille seemed to be in a foul mood, and often glared at Greta. Greta's presence was no doubt the cause.
I served the first course, soup, flawlessly, but when I turned to leave, Lucille grabbed my arm. "Girls." She announce loudly. "I would like you to meet my personal slave. . .um. . . Ella."
Greta blinked. "But I thought her name was A—."
"Hush, Greta." Lucille said quickly. "I was given Ella as a gift from my mother. She is completely paid for and will be mine until her death. Ella is such a dear. She loyally serves, but it's such a pity she is so stupid and clumsy. She can't do anything but what she is asked." I felt my fists clench as Lucille spoke. "Isn't that right, Ella?" When I didn't answer, Lucille's hold on my arm tightened and I felt her nails dig into my skin. "Do you want to be whipped?" She hissed in my ear.
"Yes, my lady." I said softly through clenched teeth. I didn't really care that Lucille had just embarrassed me in front of her friends; actually I probably couldn't care less. But Lucille had no right to call me her slave! What kind of idiot degrades someone, and then expects them to act normal and happy? Of course, Lucille would.
Lucille smiled. "Well, because of her loyalty, I consider her as my little dog. Fitting, don't you think?" She turned expectantly to the other girls who burst into fits of giggling. Lucille finally released me to prepare the next course.
The next time I served, my hand was shaking with anger. Lucille noticed and smiled to herself in satisfaction. As I was preparing the third course, I was called up to the dinning room. Apparently, there had been a spill and Lucille wanted me to clean it up. I walked to the dining room and alas, there was a large wine spill on the tile floor beside Lucille's chair. I knelt to clean it up, but Lucille knocked me over and I fell onto the mess. Lucille giggled shrilly, as if amused by my antics. "Ella, dear. You are suppose to mop up the wine with your rag, not your clothes." The other girls followed her example and laughed while Lucille said, "Is she not like a dog? She amuses me so." It took all my self control to leave the room without stamping.
On the final course, Lucille knocked me into the fireplace. When I crawled out, I had black smudges on my face and my hair and dress was powdered with soot. Lucille just said, "Oh Ella. You and your clumsiness. Maybe now we should call you Cinder Ella." She laughed and waved me away.
Hanna, the cook, took pity on me when she saw me stomp angrily into the kitchen with stains on my dress and soot in my hair. Aware of the rivalry between Lucille and I and seeing as I had done most of the cooking, Hanna released me to rest in my room.
When I reached my tower, I found Hank sunbathing on the ledge outside my window. When he saw me, he begged entrance. I let him in. He immediately sensed my mood. "What happened?" He ventured cautiously.
"Lucille!" I screamed, letting escape all the anger I kept pent up inside. I told the hawk about the dinner and thoroughly abused Lucille.
When I finished, Hank suggested, "Why don't you go see my nest while there's still sunlight."
I considered his proposal. Deciding that I had nothing else to do, I nodded. Hank led me to the window inlayed into the section of way that adjoined the roof of the manor. I opened the window and the hawk jumped out. I followed his suit. Hank hopped over to the side of the roof. Here he stopped.
"Slide down this slope." He instructed. "There will be a rock ledge. Parts of the ledge is crumbling, but if you land near the alcove, you should be fine." Hank flew down the slope and landed neatly on a ledge about a foot wide. He disappeared into a hole at one end of the ledge and stuck his head out. "Go on." He urged.
I sat down and slid down the slope as I would a slide. I landed painfully on the ledge. I laid down on the ledge and stuck my head into the entrance of Hank's home.
The alcove was much like a dog house. In front of the opening, in the center of the room, was Hank's nest of sticks and down. Piled along three walls were assortments of odds and ends.
"Rat pack." I muttered.
"I heard that." Said Hank.
"Cinderella." Greta called. She intercepted me as I headed to my tower. Since the party, Greta thought my name had been changed to Cinderella. No amount of explaining would convince her otherwise and I have since then given up.
"What, Greta." I said. Greta may be stupid, but she had no mean streak. I could get away with insubordination.
"I heard Lucille got a bath with rose petals. I want one too. I want one in my room. I want you to get the water and get the flowers."
I sighed. "Alright." I turned to leave but she stopped me.
"I want to pick the flowers with you." She demanded.
"Fine." I said. I led her outdoors through the back door. Beside the door was a large patch of dandelions. "Lets get those, Greta." I said, pointing to the dandelions.
"But those aren't roses." She protested.
"True, but weeds are better than roses."
"I don't want weeds!"
"And you won't have them." I hesitated, and then pushed my luck. "But Greta, those aren't weeds. Those are the prettiest flowers of all, even sweeter-smelling than roses."
"Really! Then let's get those."
Shaking my head at Greta's folly, I yanked at the weeds and deposited a handful in my basket. "I don't want the leaves, too." Greta whined.
"But the leaves make the flowers smell better." I lied.
"Ok then."
Half an hour later, I deposited Greta in her bath and left. Greta was immensely pleased with the dandelions, having absorbed all my tales. Along with the leaves, she had even allowed bits of the root in her bath. So young, but so dense. I pity her greatly.
As I tried to go to my room, once again I was intercepted. But this time, it was Lucille.
"Wait, Ari." She called.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes?"
"I found the most gorgeous butterfly pin in the market and mother gave me money to buy it. I want you to go get it. Give this bag to the jewelry vender, the greedy fat one, and retrieve my pin. Don't even think of stealing money in here. It's just enough and the vender knows the price we've agreed on."
"Ok." I said, taking the money bag Lucille had offered. I hiked to the market and found the merchant Lucille had been talking about. As I approached his booth, I could feel his eyes scan my body. I shivered and walked up to his stall. The merchant inside was old, fat, and balding. His black beady eyes were like mere marbles on a face wrinkled with fold upon fold of skin and his body more wide than tall. He wore a stained apron over his clothes and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing hairy arms.
"Little Miss Ari." He drawled. "What brings you here today?"
I shuddered at the raspy sound of his voice. "Miss Lucille has sent me here today to buy the butterfly pin." I said, careful to keep my voice indifferent.
"Ahhh, yes. Do you have the money?"
"Yes." I replied, holding out Lucille's bag. The merchant's eyes snapped on the bag. I handed it to him and he greedily snatched it. Dumping it in his hand, he counted its contents. Satisfied, he poured the coins back in to the case and grinned at me.
"You can't be too careful, especially here in the market. Isn't that right, little Miss Ari?"
I could feel the dark waters of disgust rising as he spoke. It took all I had to keep from shuddering. "Of course." I murmured, trying to shield my eyes from the sight of his rotting brown teeth and failing to do so.
The merchant grabbed a jeweled pin from one of the displays which he presented his wares and handed it to me. "Would you like something for yourself?"
"No thank you." I said quickly. I turned to leave.
"Won't you stay a little longer. We can have tea, and chat." The merchant said with a suggestive wink.
I shook my head and backed off. "Nice doing business with you, little Miss Ari. Come back soon!" He yelled after me.
Without reply, I turned and left, thoroughly disgusted. It was not until half-way back to the manor that I recovered from my revolting experience to examine the pin. It was a beautiful pin. It was mostly made of a shiny purple material, with gold trim and inset jewels. So Lucille does have taste.
When I returned to the manor, Lucille all but pounced on me. "Do you have the pin?" She demanded.
I withdrew the pin from my pocket. Lucille snatched it and held it up in the light. "Lovely." She commented and she angled it so the sun's rays would make the gems sparkle. "Fit for a queen. Fit for me!" She giggled shrilly and started to walk away. Suddenly, she whirled around and said, "Ari, I have a date with the prince tomorrow. We'll be riding together." She paused and said dreamily, "He asked me himself, and his parents did too. Oh, the other girls will be so jealous that he fancies me, although I don't know how that comes as a shock to them. Anyways, be in my room at four."
"In the morning?" I gasped.
"Of course! I must have sufficient time to prepare for our big date." Lucille said and left be to my duties.
In the kitchen, I discovered, with the reliable help of gossip, that Lucille had lied . . . or at least mutilated the truth. One of the cooks, Beth, is currently seeing a stable boy and he had been present when the prince supposedly asked Lucille out. Apparently, Helga had bribed people to find arrange for her to "accidentally" bump into the royal family in front of a group of peasants. Lucille and her then made conversation with the royal family and pressured them until there was no choice, without acting rude in front of the peasants, but for the prince to ask Lucille on a date. And it wasn't even a real date. They were only going to attend a parade tomorrow with the prince. I had thought it was weird that Derek would like Lucille. She was the classic example of the stalking harpies he said he loathed.
The next morning, promptly at four, I showed up yawning in Lucille's room. She was awake only enough to order me to wash and curl her hair and scent it with fragment oils. After murmuring instructions, she promptly fell back into deep slumber.
Grumbling, I set to do as she bid. I went out of my way to pull and tug at her hair. She probably didn't feel it, but it certainly made me feel better.
Four hours later, Lucille woke up and screeched at me because I did not wake her. Half an hour later, she realized that she only had half an hour to prepare. I helped Lucille into a new dress and did her makeup. Lucille was barely on time for the parade.
That evening, Lucille returned in a foul mood. "Ahhh!" She screamed. She rushed up to her room slammed the door. He mother came in more gracefully. I quietly followed them. When they entered the room and shut the door, I pressed my head against the wooden door, but it wasn't necessary to hear the conversation.
Lucille screamed and I heard ceramic breaking. After about ten minutes, when I assumed there was nothing left to destroy, I heard Helga's cool voice. "What's wrong?"
"Everything!" Lucille screamed. "The prince didn't even notice me! I was beside him the entire time! How will he marry me if he won't spare me a second glance?"
"Dear, I've invited him over Saturday. You can show him around the manor and beguile him at the same time."
"I suppose so." Lucille said dubiously.
"Surely he cannot resist your charm if you spend time with him." Helga cooed.
"Of course not." Lucille sounded convinced and returned to her old arrogant self. "No man can resist me. He's probably lost and looking for love. One conversation with me shall convince him I am his long lost love. Not those sluttish harpies that stalk his every move."
I stifled a snort. Talk about irony.
Lucille continued, "I must pick out what I'll wear." I heard loud crashing sounds, as if Lucille knocked over chairs and desks in her rush to reach her dresser. "What shall I wear!" There was a slight hysterical note in her voice. "This pink one? No. I wore that at the ball last year. How about the navy one? But it's too high cut. Maybe the pale yellow . . ." I walked away. I can already predict what Lucille would say. Oh, this one is too short. This one is too dark. This one I wore too recently. It would be hours before something exciting happened in there.