Chapter 6
The trellises were a huge success with Tom. He was overjoyed to have the peas out from under his feet, and already had nasturtiums and lettuces planted in the soil where they had lain.
I asked Borlan about the Chief Royal Guard and he told me the man's name was Kevin, and that there was no hope of me ever seeing him because he never left the King's side. And of course, a kitchen wench like me would never be in the presence of the King!
Borlan and Tom agreed to share my work time. I would rotate days with them, and have one day off a week. I realized that would be my only time to explore the castle and try to find my key. Even with Borlan's warning about Kevin, I decided to do my utmost to find a way to speak with him.
By the end of the second week, I knew everyone's name in the kitchen, and I had several green uniforms, as well as a rougher dress for my work outside. Gertrude paid my wages, and I tucked it away for my future. I felt lucky to live in the palace. I had a room and free meals every day, but I worked my heart out from dawn to dusk.
I had not seen the young man in the garden or kitchen, but when I had a day off, as I explored the palace I bumped into him in a hallway drenched in spring sunshine.
"Oh, goodness! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there! I – I was just looking at the tapestries! I hope your foot isn't injured. I'm so sorry!" I was rambling, mortified at stomping on his foot and nearly sending him crashing to the floor.
"Please, I'm fine, truly. No harm done at all." His blue eyes twinkled in secret laughter. "I've been hoping to see you again, Miss. I have been meaning to ask your name."
"Addie, sir. My name is Addie. What is yours?" I was surprised at my boldness, but he seemed so open and friendly, I didn't think he would be offended.
"Caspian, at your service, Miss Addie." He bowed low, and rose smiling.
"Well, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Caspian," I said while making a deep curtsy.
His smile broadened and he asked, "What is it about the tapestry that interested you so much?"
I turned to look at it and studied it with my head tilted to the side. "It's the subject matter as much as the amazing detail it shows." As a matter of fact the entire corridor was lined with tapestries depicting kings and queens relinquishing their crowns to one figure. A king who looked the same in each image. I had just noticed a plaque beneath one which bore an electrifying title. Queen Addeliene. My head shot upright and my eyes bored into the picture. The conquering king was the same image, but the image of the defeated queen was what held me captive. She had long, flowing brown hair, soulful brown eyes, and a small nose, and narrow cheeks. She was quite petite, but held her regal stance even in defeat. She looked just like me!
"Are you alright, Addie?" Caspian had watched my reaction and turned to look at the tapestry as well. "Well, that's interesting. You bear a certain resemblance to dear old Queen Addeliene."
I turned my wide-eyed face to him and managed to close my slackened mouth. "Tell me, do you know much about this picture?"
"Oh, yes. This is a depiction of Queen Addeliene's surrender of her royal titles. She lost her lands many years ago. No one knows the details of the treaty, for some reason it was kept secret. But she became a common subject and disappeared without resistance. The Queen of Lyon at the time, Selina, had a bit of a fit about the secret. She tried to weasel it out of her husband for so long, he finally told her a story to get some peace. He said that the future King of Lyon would have the choice of marrying a common girl, if the girl was uncomfortable while sleeping in the palace tower because of a common item placed beneath her mattress. This was to be kept secret from the girl, but of course the secret got out and the whole town buzzed with the news for quite some time. No princes have even desired to marry a commoner, since there are many fine princesses in neighboring lands. The legend has faded with time until it is all but forgotten."
"Why do you know it then, Caspian?" I asked.
"Uh, well . . . I, uh, I happen to enjoy learning the history of the palace." Now he turned a bit pink in the cheeks, but I couldn't figure out why.
"Good day, Addie. I must return to my duties." He bowed and left me alone in the corridor to study the tapestry.
As the days grew warmer, the garden sprang to life with vigor. There were green things everywhere. I had convinced Tom to plant some edible flowers along with the vegetables, so the royal dishes were now garnished with nasturtiums, violets and the like. A climbing rosebush scrambled up the wall beside the door to the wilderness, its leaves softening the rough stones. I could hardly wait for the rich scent of the blooms when they came.
Caspian learned my schedule and was often in the garden when I went there. I worked tirelessly, and Caspian told me legends of the palace, the town of Denbar, and the whole kingdom of Lyon. I had never known much about the world beyond my family, so I felt like I was expanding my understanding of life and the world. I also got to know Caspian, as his personality shined through the stories. Sometimes, he would help with the weeding, but only when Tom wasn't around.
He asked me where I had lived before, to have such a great knowledge of growing things, and to be so ignorant of common lore. I told him my story as quickly as possible, with my eyes downcast. "I grew up far from here on a farm. My family, except for three traveling brothers, perished with a plague. I was spared, but left alone in the world. My father left a note which led me to find a small metal box, which led me to Denbar. I came to the palace to look for work to support myself. That's it, I suppose."
"I'm so sorry, Addie." Caspian's eyebrows were creased with empathy. "Tell me more about your box. What was inside?"
"I don't know. I cannot open it. I'm missing the key."
"May I see it sometime? Do you mind?"
"Of course, I'll bring it with me to the garden next time. It's very important to me, even though I can't open it. It's the only link to my family that I carried with me on my journey."
"I'll be very careful with it, I promise."
Caspian studied the box quite closely when I brought it to him. He traced the etchings with his finger and silently read the words with furrowed brow.
"Did you go to the court of Justices?" he asked me.
"Yes, but I didn't find much of anything useful. Just a paper about a treaty and the Chief Royal Guard. I don't think they were referring to Kevin, though."
"Do you know Kevin?" Caspian asked, looking surprised.
"Of course not! I asked Borlan who the Chief Royal Guard was, and he told me. He also told me I'd never get within ten yards of him. I've nearly given up solving my box mystery. I just don't see any way to unravel it all." I paused, "Do you know Kevin?"
"Hm? Yes, actually." He was looking distracted and so I decided not to press him. He gave me back my box and left soon after.
A week later, when I returned from a day in the kitchen, I glanced out the window to the sea, and then looked again, at the window sill. My box, which always rested there, was missing! I turned my small room upside down searching for it, but it was absolutely gone. I wept, for now I had lost all of my past.