Yey, finally a chapter with over 2,000 words again :) I am still hoping I will be able to reach the target... wish me luck!

Also, I hope you still like it, leave me your comment! (Also, excuse grammatical errors or typos, I will edit the story after finishing NaNoWriMo! Thanks to Anna Fay, by the way, who keeps providing me with a list of errors I made XD)

15.

A Whole Different World

Down in the dungeons, Alannah had cuddled herself back under the moth-eaten blanket, her face pressed into the damp smelling hay. Her heart was racing and tears were running down her cheeks as she tried to muffle her own sobs so that no one else would hear how vulnerable she was in this moment.

Hours had passed since the men had stormed into their cell and had taken Rolanda away, and her older sister had not returned by now. This was causing panic and a paralysing fear to rise up inside of her, but she was simply too exhausted to really be hysterical. All she could do was lie here and cry silentenly to herself, therewhile drowning in the fear of never seeing her sister again. Even though she did not wanted to acknowledge the possibility that the men had taken her away to have her executed, she had to be realistic – something had happened, something extraordinary that had not been planned, and it certainly was nothing good.

And in the back of her mind, she had this frightingly certain feeling that Rolanda was indeed not going to come back to her and that she would have to take care of herself now. Only a few days ago, she had wished to have such an opportunity, she had thought that she was ready for something like this, that she could do everything herself...

But now, as she finally was on her own, left alone, she desperately wished that her older sister would return and take care of her. Rolanda always knew what to do, while Alannah simply felt helpless when she found herself in difficult situations. In some ways, Rolanda was just like their beloved father – she would find a solution most of the time, and no matter how bad Alannah's mood would be, Rolanda would always find the right words to cheer her up.

How she wished she had her sister with her now, to have her wipe away her tears and embrace her tightly, telling her that everything would be alright. Because when Rolanda told her that something would end good, she was able to believe it, while these positive words sounded like a desperate lie when she said them to herself. She did not know how Rolanda always found the bravery to think like that, to be hopeful even in the darkest times. It seemed like a difficult art that only a few people could master, and Alannah felt like she was completely unable to learn this as she realised that she was not the mistress over her thoughts.

She tried to search for some good thoughts, but everything that formed in her mind was dark, hopeless and so utterly pessimistic that she could not stop crying, feeling like a little child and not like the soon to be grown up she wanted to be so much.

She was alone, no one was here to protect her, she had nothing and nobody to hold on to except for the blanket and the hay under her body and the heavy feeling in her stomach told her that terrible things would happen, things that she would not be able to stop.

oOo

Rolanda felt horrible as she waited for the return of Ronan, who would take her to her new place to stay. She was shifting from one foot to the other, looking down on the surprisingly comfortable and light leather shoes she had been given along with her new dress. The two women who where left in the room were busy with cleaning up the bath tub and putting all the items they had used back into the drawer in the corner. While the two maids bustled around the room, Rolanda noticed that her own clothes were looking far more expensive than the ones of the two maids, even though they were too working for the king. Did this have any reason? Surely this king could not care less if his servants were wearing the most ragged clothes and were looking a little bit humble, making him look only more sublime in contrast.

But still, she somehow had ended up in this dress that did not really look like the average maid dress, being simply too focussed on making the wearer look good in it. None of the other maids were wearing such a corset as she did, their dresses were a dull brown, looking way more comfortable and practical.

There it was, the next question... Rolanda had to admit that she slowly was annoyed by the utter mystery this whole situation was and how every answer brought at least two more new questions, making her head spin all the time. Constantly, something seemed to be added to her distress, as if she did not have enough to worry about by now.

She just hoped that this would all be worth it, that King Severus would keep his word and Alannah would be well fed and left in peace while she worked for the king and did all he wanted her to do for him.

The voice of Ronan ripped her from the depths of her own thoughts as he said to the maids upon entering:"The king will be pleased with your work, women. You, come with me now."

Rolanda looked back at the three maids as she followed Ronan out of the room, them bowing and looking glad that they had done their job well enough. How she wished they could have told her what was awaiting her... she hated to walk into unknown situations completely unprepared, despite her sense for adventure and spontaneity.

Her heart was racing in her chest and her hands were so sweaty that she wiped them dry ever so often on the fabric of her dress as Ronan led her through the dimly lit corridors, up two staircases into a part of the castle that looked a little bit as if it could be located in one of the high towers of the fortress.

They stopped briefly in front of a oak door and Ronan turned around, looking at her with a serious expression:"These are the chambers of King Severus. I expect you to behave properly and not to touch anything without permission. If you disobey, the king is to decide how you will be punished. Understood?"

Rolanda gulped and nodded, feeling like she and her curious mind would have a hard time during the first days. Ronan pushed open the door and she followed him inside on his heels, wondering what she would see.

Actually, she did not know what she had expected the private chambers of King Severus to look like, but she certainly had not thought that the place would look so bright – countless torches and candles were lit, dipping the room into a warm light. Never before had she seen something like this, rooms looking so noble, full with rich furniture. Surely there were only a few places in this world that were filled with so many expensive items that the whole village of Waterhal could spend a lifetime eating only the best foods upon selling them.

The two of them were standing in the middle of a huge, round living room that had many windows with green curtains hanging in front of them, and Rolanda could not help but notice that the view from up here was magnificent – by daylight, it had to be stunning, however even in the dark, she could see over the valley, and she was surprised that she could still see the light of fires in the distance.

On the far end of the room, a mahagony dining table with matching chairs was standing, richly decorated with ornaments that were carved into the wood.

Precious tapestries showing ancient motives were hanging from the walls, accompanied by golden candlesticks and chandeliers. In front of a huge fireplace in which a warm fire was burning, banks with green, silver and black velvet cushions were arranged, some side tables with flowers or other decorative items standing between them.

Connected to the living room with a large archway was the working room, a heavy oak desk standing in the middle of it, parchments untidily strewn across it. Book shelves that reached up to the ceiling of the room were covering every free inch of wall in the working room, the boards creaking under the weight of expensive leather bound books and thick rolls of parchment. Rolanda asked herself how much the king must have paid for this impressive collection – after all, books had to be written down by hand and it could take years to copy down one book.

Rolanda had barely been able to take in the pure wealth these two rooms showed off to everyone entering as Ronan gestured her to follow him up the circular stone steps that were hidden behind a oak door with gilded iron ornaments that looked as if they had been polished only minutes ago.

On the next storey, they entered an equally huge bedroom that was full with high cabinets filled with expensive clothing. Near one of the windows stood a huge four poster bed with silver and green blankets and pillows that looked like one would feel like sleeping on clouds when lying down on this bed. In one corner, that could be divided from the room with a heavy curtain, stood a huge bathing tub that looked as if it provided space for four grown men.

Even though Rolanda did not feel like this was a place she wanted to be in, she found that King Severus' chambers looked way more comfortable than she would have thought. The king simply did not look like he was the type of person who needed a beautiful atmosphere to live in, but still everything in here looked like a person who had lacked coziness in his life lived in here.

Ronan turned around and focussed his gaze on her, looking dead serious as he said:"Stop staring around too much, the king won't like that."

Rolanda gulped and nodded, though she asked herself what the man had expected from her – anybody who had not grown up in a rich family would stare upon entering these chambers for the very first time, just because the whole atmosphere was simply overwhelming.

"Before the king comes, I will explain your duties to you. Listen carefully, and stick to the advises I will give you, for your own good."

"Yes," Rolanda answered curtly, and Ronan nodded before he started to explain slowly:"It is your assignment to fulfill every possible wish the king could have, you will be communicating his dining wishes to the kitchens and if he should wish to stay and eat in his chambers, it is also your task to fetch the food and serve it to him down in the living room. You will be preparing the king's bath every morning, sending for servants to fill the tub with hot water and making sure he has everything he needs.

"It is also your task to make sure all his clothes are freshly washed and dry whenever he wants to wear them. Don't try to use excuses or something like that when something is not finished, it will only add to his rage. You will also have to stay close to him in general, being around when he wanders the castle or works in the throne hall. Whenever he enters the room, you have to curtsey to show your respect and devotion. Also, don't speak until he allows you to do so, and if he should have guests, you have to stay silent. Additionally, you will sleep in his chambers, by the foot of his bed."

Rolanda felt like she would have a lot to do and asked herself when she would have some time for herself if she always had to stay with the king, whereever he went, practically having to become his shadow to complete her tasks. Surely this was all to the king's amusement, and he was certainly only waiting for her to make a false step during one of the many things she had to do for him.

To say that she was nervous would only play things down.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them and Rolanda and Ronan turned around to see King Severus entering the bedroom. Immediately, Ronan bowed down while Rolanda just stood there, not knowing what she was supposed to do until Ronan kicked her in the lower leg, causing a sharp pain to throb through her leg as she curtseyed for the king, her head held low, her heart beating impossibly faster as she felt the king's gaze on her.