Chapter 4

Malina walked down to the laundry quarters. She was trying to rid herself of the thoughts of Prince Hectors kiss. "O for goodness sake, it wasn't even a kiss; it was on my head and had no meaning to it. End of story." She barged into the laundry room and started washing. As she did, she noticed little holes in Hectors clothes. These would need stitching. She finished washing and hung them up to dry. As they dried, she decided to walk around the gardens. Since she arrived here, she hadn't had much time to actually look around and familiarize herself with the palace.

She entered the gardens to see Prince Paris and King Priam walking alone and talking along with some other men. She decided to keep to the shadows as to not draw attention to her. Servants weren't allowed to be alone without an escort. She walked slowly to the fountain and sat down next to it. She dragged her hands lightly through the water, loving the warmth of it. It wasn't to warm or to cold. It was perfect. She looked around and noticed some other people walking through the gardens. Mostly other servants trying to get to their destinations. She was too enthralled with looking at people she didn't notice someone sit next to her.

"It's a beautiful place isn't?" Malina snapped her head to the side and noticed King Priam sitting next to her.

"Your highness. I'm sorry, I was just," King Priam held up his hand to silence her. Malina stopped talking.

"Don't worry child. Nothing is wrong with you enjoying the palace every now and then. How do you like it so far?"

"It's lovely. I really enjoy living here."

"I meant serving Hector."

Malina just looked at him. "He's nice. Very caring. I am glad I am his servant. It is quit an honor to serve him." King Priam just looked at her. She felt a little uneasy. "Well, I must be going; Hectors clothes should be dry by now." She got up to leave when King Priam stopped her.

"Hang on my child. Hectors clothes can wait. I wanted to talk to you about something." Malina sat back down and waited. "You told me that your mother died a few days ago, is that correct?"

Malina nodded. "Yes. That is correct."

"I am very sorry. There is something that has been nagging at my mind for some time now. Let me look at you." He took her head in his hands and studied her face. Malina felt a little weird at this but let him. He seemed to be trying to figure out something. "My dear, what do you know of your childhood?"

"Well, um, my father and my mother lived in a cottage and grew crops for the market. I was an only child. Why?"

"Well, it has come to my attention that you are not who you think you are."

"What? What do you mean?"

King Priam took a deep breathe. "My child, the woman that died a few days ago was not your mother."

"What! How could you say that? She is my mother!"

"Malina, please, calm down. She was not your mother. You were given to her and her husband when you were but a child. They raised you to who you are today. And I must say they did exceptionally well. But, they are not your true parents."

"Then if they were not my parents, then who is?" she said angrily.

"The people of Thessely. You were born to the King and Queen of Thessely."

"What? So you're telling me that I am of royal blood? Why did they give me away when I was but a child?"

"They believed you to be evil, child. When you were born, you looked nothing like your parents. Both of your parents had black hair and green eyes. You, I mean look at you, you do not have the same hair or eyes. You were thought of as an omen of bad things to come. That is why they got rid of you."

"So, just because I looked nothing like them, they got rid of me? They sent me to some farmer and his wife to take care of? That's ridiculous. That makes no sense at all."

"It may not make sense my child, but it is the truth. We have been keeping a watchful eye on you as you have grown up. Your parents would give us insight as to how you were doing. When you turned 5, men from Thessely came to take you home. Your parents saw that you were not a threat after all and wanted you back. Your father put up a fight and they killed him, right in front of you, am I right?"

"Yes." She said quietly. "Those men, the ones in the brown armor, they were from Thessely?"

"Yes. Yes they were."

"Why didn't they take me back?"

"Well, your mother grabbed you, after your father was killed and hid you. The men threatened your mother if she did not give you up. She told them that you were in the fields playing. They took an innocent child that looked just like you back to Thessely. She is there now, being a princess. This is what you were to be."

"So, that girl in Thessely, it was some random girl that they found?" King Priam nodded. "So, if all of this is to be true, and I am getting a strange feeling that it is, what am I supposed to do? Am I to still be a servant or what?"

"Heavens no child. You will become a princess like you were intended to."

"What do you mean?"

"You are to be schooled in the ways of the princess and will become what you were intended to."

"I'm not even sure this is true yet! I mean, how can I believe you? How can I believe that I am a princess?"

King Priam sighed. He knew this would happen. "You real name is Anama."

Malina stopped. "What? What did you say?"

"It rings a bell does it not? Your true name that was given to you at birth was Anama. Your second parents changed it when you were given to them, just in case someone knew who you were. Your real name is Anama."

Malina knew it was all too surreal. She remembered that name. Her mother, when she was real sick and hallucinating called her by that name. She thought her mother was mistaken, but she kept calling her that. Anama. Malina sat down and put her head into her hands.

"What do I do know?" she asked King Priam.

"Don't worry my child. I am getting a room ready for you know as we speak. It is just down the hall from Hectors."

"Hector! Does he know? I mean, he will have to get a new servant and,"

"Shh. He knows. That is why he brought you here in the first place. We were keeping track of you remember? When your mother died, we were to bring you here and tell you of your true heritage. He knew all along, which is why he made you his servant, to protect you."

It all made sense to Malina know. "So what name do I go by? Malina or Anama?"

"Anama. No sense in hiding who you really are."

"But the one in Thessely. Does she have the same name?"

"No. They changed it when she returned. Just in case she still was an omen. You will go by Anama now. We will make this public in a couple of days. It will give you time to settle in and get used to the royal lifestyle. Come, you must be exhausted. I know I would be to if I was just told who I really was. Come, I will show you to your room."

Malina, or Anama now, got up and followed King Priam to her quarters. As they walked, she noticed people bowing to her. She would definitely need to get used to this. They made it to her room. It was quite large. About the same size as Hectors. She had a balcony that overlooked the ocean. It was beautiful. She could definitely get used to this. After she got used to whom she actually was. Talk about a change in destiny. King Priam left her and she went to her bed. It was large and very comfortable. She lied down and drifted off to sleep.

I know that's kind of out there, but hey, what can ya do…. Please review.