Grooming Weeds
Act Five
Sir. Sir? Sir! When was the last time anyone, anyone addressed him as sir? Cedric grunted as he slipped his hands into his oversized sleeves and crossing his arms to his chest. What was with that strange girl? Was that some kind of joke, to call him sir? How disrespectful. If there was one thing he hated about speaking and socializing with others it was the idea of sarcasm. Sure, he wasn't Goodwin the Great but he was still the royal sorcerer! He deserved more than some sarcastic mocking, especially if it was said right to his face.
Then again…
She had said thank you and even excuse me after getting what she wanted. Was that a part of her sarcasm too? Huh. He stopped mid-step and lifted his chin upward. She also bowed to him. What in the world was that about? One couldn't exactly be sarcastic when bowing, so did that mean she was being genuine with her words and respect?
Was it possible that she knew who he was and was paying the well-earned respect he deserved?
"Only one way to find out." He muttered to himself and shifted his body to the right.
He gazed down the long hall and narrowed his eyes. There wasn't much doubt that she was going to be meeting up with Baileywick in the main hall for some kind of immature work orientation. Perhaps if he was to 'walk in' on the situation he would get enough of an earful to know whether or not she was as genuine as she sounded.
But he couldn't really just follow after her. He turned forward again and hummed to himself. If he continued down this hall long enough and took the proper turns and twists he would eventually find himself in the main hall and by that time she would be there meeting with Baileywick.
It wasn't as if he had anything better to do…for the moment anyhow.
He exhaled through his nose before he moved onward, following said plan he'd concocted in his brilliant mind. This strange girl would probably prove entertaining for a minute or so but she'd no doubt turn out just like the rest. But at least for the moment she'd be something to occupy his head. This was a good enough break from work in any event.
XoXoX
Cedric stepped through the hall, his footsteps echoing through the heavy walls. With his arms still bound to his chest he emerged close enough to make out several figures waiting in the wing. Hm, what was this? More maids for orientation? No. He narrowed his field of vision to see three small silhouettes first. Oh wonderful, the royal children. For a short second his clenched his jaw and rolled his dark eyes.
"Mr. Seedrick!" Sofia turned, likely because of the sound of his footfalls.
The urge to correct her came but died in his throat. "Princess Sofia."
"Oh hey Cedric." James spun around next while lifting his right arm. Oh how very casual.
Without a hello or even so much as a 'go away', Amber turned last her eyes making contact with his. She gave him a half-lidded, high browed frown-pout, almost as if he were spoiling her good time. Wonderful way to start off the conversation.
"Prince James, Princess Amber." He muttered, their names leaving a rather bitter taste on his tongue.
After addressing the royals, the magic man felt his eyes dart upward to the other figures standing in the nearby distance. King Roland caught his attention first, his beautiful queen by his side, man and woman arm in arm as usual. Then standing beside them, of course, was Baileywick.
Wait a moment. What where all of them waiting for? They weren't waiting for that strange-haired girl were they? What in the world for? What was she to them? She was a nobody! There wasn't any reason to call the royal court to meet a maid.
How infuriating.
"When do you think she'll get here?" James turned to his sisters, his smile now gone. "She's really late."
"I'm not sure." Sofia linked her two hands together in front of her stomach. "Maybe she got lost. Maybe we should have walked her here."
Ah so they were talking about that strange maid.
"She'll get here." Amber gave a roll of her right shoulder. "Rye's here after all, she has to come."
Rye? Before he could even ask himself twice, his eyes darted away from the children and back to the adults who held their conversation several feet away. He searched for an unfamiliar figure for only a second and a half before he found the shortest adult female in the hall. Of course she stood with her back to him so he could only see the long, dark brown hair that hung well over her shoulders but he was still certain that this had to be 'Rye'.
Whoever Rye was anyway.
"Baileywick," The deep sound of Roland's voice caught the thin man's attention. "Where is this maid? I thought she was supposed to be here."
"She will be," Miranda lifted her delicate hand to the king, placing it in the middle of his chest. "I want you to meet her, just wait a little longer."
Oh so she had grabbed the queen's attention, had she? What magically miracle had this simpleton performed in order to gather the matriarch's eye anyway? It wasn't as if the girl was worth speaking to. In the short time they shared she proved rather unworldly.
"In two more minutes I'll get the other maids," Baileywick spoke out, grabbing all eyes. "She has to be around here somewhere."
"I'd hope so." Roland replied, his tone lower than before.
The white-haired man gave a single nod of his head, "Not to worry your majesty—"
"I'm here! I'm here!" A familiar female voice boomed through the hall. "I'm so sorry! I got lost!"
Cedric watched as the girl he'd given directions to dart around southwest hall in a sprint. As she entered the main area she attempted to put on her brakes, her shoes sliding across the marble floor in the process. He grimaced at the sound of her flats scratching the pristine floor.
"I was lost and then got directions but then I got lost again." She spoke between huffs and puffs sweat moving fast down her temples. "You know left and right gets all confusing when you're in a rush! But I'm…"
Her large brown eyes flickered. Her brows touched the top of her forehead and her lips parted. What? What has she stopped? Did something bite her?! Dumb girl, how dare she—
"RYE!"
The son of Goodwin the Great flinched at the high-pitched scream that left the female at the far end of the hall. He and everyone else in the area, watched as she broke from her tense stance and made dashed across the hall. During her short sprint her arms opened wide and closed only when she reached the long-haired female who stood beside the castle steward.
Huh. The two did happen to look alike in some ways. Sisters? Twins, perhaps?
"Hea." The shorter of the two girls sighed and complemented the maid by returning the gesture.
"I got the job!" Heather said, pulling away from Rye. "Can you believe it? I have my own room and everything! You have to come see it."
"Ahem."
Both females froze.
"Ms. Matthews, you are late." Baileywick spoke at her left, making her physically stiff. "I believe I asked you to be on time or earlier. This does not look well, you do understand that."
"Yes sir." Said female broke further away from her kin and proceeded to dip her head. "I do apologize, I tried my hardest sir."
There it was again. Sir. If she used such a term here and now in front of her superiors she couldn't have been sarcastic twenty minutes earlier. Hm.
"I don't want to hear excuses."
"Of course."
"You had the king and queen waiting on you as well, young lady." The taller steward said in a rather snippy tone that the sorcerer knew all too well.
The short, ragged haired girl flinched and whirled around on her heel, her brown eyes landing squarely on the lords of the land. And almost as if she'd been poked with a hot spike she stood straight before marching before them. Once within reasonable distance, she bent forward. Dipping her torso down low she bowed before the king and queen.
Why hadn't she curtseyed? She was a girl; she was wearing a dress so why had she bowed in the male practice? Cedric felt his face tighten; this maid was just littered with questions. But it wasn't like he cared too much. It was keeping his interest for the time being and keeping him from work, both good things. Heaven knew he deserved better.
"I apologize your majesties. I am so sorry. I was really lost. I didn't mean to break so many rules. I promise to do better." She said, head still lowered.
"I hope you can keep that promise." Roland said, face hard as steel. "I expect you to do your best to get those scratches out of the tile as well."
She blanched for a second. "Yes sir."
"And you do know about the no running rule?"
The girl paused, her bottom lip pulled in. "Yes…sir. I'm sorry, sir."
"Another thing," He king held his head high, "I want you to always remember this piece of advice: 'If you show up to anything on time, consider yourself late and if you're early then you're on time.' Understand?"
"Of course. I apologize for my inconvenience."
"Its fine this one time," Roland huffed, the tenseness in his folded arm becoming tighter. "Next time there will be some severe consequences."
The girl's head sunk deeper between her shoulders. "Yes sir, I understand."
"Now," He cleared his throat and eased the strain on his tone. "My wife has told quite a few things about you, Ms. Matthews. How you've been kind to our daughter and…"
Okay, now it was officially time to leave. Was there a real point in staying to hear any more trash? This girl was no longer interesting and his attention span was far past its limit. With an internal grunt and physical roll of his eyes, he turned away and began to move forward.
"Mr. Seedrick?" The sound of shifting fabric and heels on the hard floor made the sorcerer pause. But instead of turning around to face Sofia, he glanced over his thin shoulder. "Don't you want to meet Heather? She's really nice and—"
"Not at all," He replied dropping his right arm from his chest and flattening his palm in the princess's direction. "I have a lot of work ahead of me, I can't waste my time just standing around. Good evening Princess Sofia." He then dipped his head out of respect as per the norm.
Well that was rather uninteresting. Sure, it was always fun to watch someone else get scolded but King Roland let the scruffy maid off without so much of a slap on the wrist! Very unentertaining to say the least. So much for his amusement.
XoXoX
"So here is your work schedule for tomorrow. Be sure to show up on time and finish as promptly as possible. Do your best and you'll do just fine." Baileywick said with a smile as he laid a single sheet of paper before the baker.
"Oh cool, thanks." Heather flashed a quick smirk in his direction before looking down at the parchment.
"Seeing as you were late today young lady, I have to leave you to your agenda without much of an explanation. Please, if you have any questions come to me first thing tomorrow." Before she could say another word the tall, thin male spun around on his heel and left her bedroom.
"Well, that was interesting." Rye said from the opposite side of the mattress. "You're in trouble."
"Yeah, thanks."
With a deep sigh, the young woman moved backward until the back of her head hit the fluffy pillows at the front of the frame. What a day for her, poor Ms. Heather! What a terrible impression. It was embarrassing to the point of making her cringe.
"I'm really sorry about Heather." Sofia bit her lip, catching the maid's attention.
She then sat up and glanced to the right to see her standing at the bedside. Sofia cupped at her chest, still feeling horrible for what happened. She had gotten the lecture of her life from her dad, the king. How was she feeling now? Was she still upset or even mad about the whole thing? Hm, only if she and her siblings made sure Heather knew the way to the main hall, then maybe this wouldn't have gone the way it did.
"Nah, don't worry about that." Heather's expression softened.
"It is kind of my fault." The tiniest girl furrowed her brows. "I knew that you had to be on time but we made you late."
A small laugh left the older woman's lips. "No, no. You didn't make me late; me being lost made me late. But really, it's okay. I've had harder days."
"Our mom used to give it to her pretty good." Rye joined in with the laughter. "She's used to it."
If that was true, why did she still feel bad? Well, if no one wanted her to feel bad, maybe it'd be best if she didn't. It wasn't really helping anything anyway.
"So what do you have to do tomorrow?" The older sister leaned into Heather with a curious set of wide eyes. "Anything good?"
"Huh," The maid reached back down to the sheet of paper. "Says something about delivering clean bed sheets to the lower level of the castle. To the royal sorcerer's room?"
"Oh!" Sofia inched closer to the bed and moved her hands on the comforter. "You're going to visit Mr. Seedrick?"
"Seedrick?" The younger sister cocked a brow. "Who—?"
The sound of two knocks on the side of the doorframe made the three girls in the room pause. Sofia looked beyond her left shoulder to see one of the many castle maids standing there with a smile. Oh! This was about Heather's dog, wasn't it? Good, maybe that would put everyone in a better mood! The tiny princess gave a gentle push off the bed and approached the senior maid at the door with her arms open.
"Is this that special delivery I asked for?" Her smile grew into a grin as she spoke aloud.
"Yes, princess." The female replied with a quick wink. "Where shall I put it?"
"Delivery? Are you hungry or something?" Heather's voice whispered in the back, no doubt she was talking to Rye.
"I think it would be best if you let the delivery walk in on it's own." Sofia returned the facial gesture.
"Yes ma'am." With a tip of the head, the maid moved aside.
"Where is she? I can smell her! I know she's in there!" A tiny high-pitched voice from the hall echoed into the royal's ear. Was that Bug speaking? It had to be! It was nice to know her amulet was working on the new addition to the castle.
"Come on in!" Sofia announced with all the pride that had collected in her chest.
Probably still confused to ask, the room fell silent minus the clicking of hard nails on the hard floor. The noise became louder, then faster until a flash of blonde fur appeared in the doorway. Puffed out more like a lion than a dog, the small pup stood in just outside the room for about half a second before blasting inside the moderately sized bedroom.
"There she is! Hea!" Bug shouted as she crossed the room.
"Bug?!" Heather stood up from the bed and took a few steps forward. "Bug!"
The maid didn't get much of a chance to rush over to the canine before the dog came at her at full force. Still having enough time to drop to her knees, the dog owner opened up both of her arms and allowed the small ball of fur to leap into her arms. Once there, Bug nuzzled her muzzle into the woman's right cheek and whimpered. Aw, had she missed her owner?
"Where have you been?! You aren't allowed to leave for that long ever again! I missed you so much. And Rye didn't give me much dinner last night, I'm starving."
What a chatterbox. But that was a good thing. How many questions would Clover ask her if she left for more than a few days? Getting to know this dog would be exciting, that was obvious already ! Was she always that chatty or was that just her reaction to seeing Heather again? Either way, Bug's tiny voice was too cute.
"So she can stay?" The maid's voice made the princess snap out of her mental ramble. "Your dad said it was okay?"
"Oh!" A small giggle left her lips. "Yes. It should be fine he said, just as long as she gets along with the other animals."
"She will!" The bond around the fluffy canine tightened. "I promise!"
"Good." Sofia bowed her chin a single time. "Then we would be happy to have her here."
"Thank you," Heather turned her nose down to the dog in her arms and proceeded to bury her face into the thick blonde mane of the dog. "I can't tell you how much this means to me! Thank you!" Her muffled words were almost too difficult to make out.
But that didn't matter much, she was happy. And if there were tears then they wouldn't be because she was depressed. If she could make one person, one family happy then all of it was worth it. That was her duty as a royal and as a friend.
Act End.