A/N: Hi guys! Yah, I'm finally updating, but I've been so busy in school and stuff. Speaking of which, I posted a short story for English on under this same name. I'm gonna write the extended version (the part I wanted to write but was to lazy to earlier) up there soon. Go check it out!!

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Ch. 3: Gossip and Such

An old wooden carriage trudged along a worn dirt path in the forest. Sìrëwen looked about, partially in awe of the beautiful woods, partially in discomfort. She had been traveling in the carriage for about a day now, accompanied by Amrun, who had already found work in the castle. While her friend had been chatting happily about how wonderful it would be to work together, Sìrëwen couldn't stop worrying.

"And we're going to have so much fun together! Oh! and you can help me scrub the kitchens when I have to. Honestly, 'Rë, this is going to be wonderful for both of us! And have I mentioned how good-looking the chef's assistant is? He's got the most wonderful--"

"What if-- what if they don't think I work hard enough?" Sìrëwen muttered, speaking more to herself than to Amrun.

"Hm?" her companion stopped in mid-sentence. "Oh, don't worry so, 'Rë. They're rather nice. Well, everyone except the king's main advisor, Wenduel, and Miriénn, she's the one in charge of us servants and a real bitty." Amrun pulled her head in close to Sìrëwen as she said this, a motion that 'Rë knew meant she was eager to get into gossip. "Some say that they get together late nights and think up ways to make everyone miserable... among other things," Amrun raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Sìrëwen's eyes widened at this scandalous piece of gossip, temporarily forgetting her worries. "You don't mean to say they..."

Amrun, satisfied she had captured her friend's interest, decided to tease her. She leaned back in the carriage and shrugged. "Maybe. It's only hearsay," she said casually.

Wise to her friend's tricks, Sìrëwen attempted to pry out more information about the scandal. "Well, is there any proof? Come on, Amrun, you can't expect me to not want to hear more!"

"Hmmm, weeeell," Amrun toyed with her companion for a bit more before the urge to tell became too great. "Alright, you didn't hear it from me, but I heard that one of the laundrymaids, Lieril, found a petticoat in Wenduel's chambers."

Sìrëwen gasped. "No!"

"Yes!"

"It could belong to a prostitute," Sìrëwen pointed out, skeptical.

"Oh, please," Amrun disregarded the other girl's comment with a wave of her hand. "It was much too big a petticoat for any decent whore. And besides not even a prostitute would have Wenduel." At this both girls fell into a fit of giggles.

After several minutes of laughter, Sìrëwen wiped her tearing eyes with a smile. "Tell me, Amrun, is the castle always filled with such gossip?"

"If you know who to ask, then yes."

Sìrëwen rolled her eyes, "Mm-hm. And I'm sure they're all just folly some maid makes up to keep herself occupied."

The carriage driver, who had been silent up until now decided to interject, "That's not quite true, pen neth. It seems there's always some sort of affair or love triangle or something going on to keep the servants whispering."

Amrun nodded. "Why just the other day, there was a rumor that one of the dining hall maids was having an affair with one of the king's sons!"

Shaking her head, Sìrëwen muttered, "There must be something in the water at that place."

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A/N: 'Kay that's it for now. I was trying to make this a longer chapter but I just couldn't so I decided to post what I've got.