Chapter 6

August 1, 1345.

Stormhold Castle,

The walled city of Rothwell,

Capital of Myknos.

Lady Odeya Katarina Black

"Don't you have anything better to do!" She yelled, at the people staring at her in the kitchen.

The noise came at once as they all started to gossip and she didn't need to ask to know what it was about.

Damn him!

She hated him for embarassing her in front all the servants in the kitchens and she hated herself more for responding as she did when he had blown air on her ear.

She had chased him down to give him a piece of her mind but she had gotten distracted by the mischief that lit up his cobalt blue eyes and his ruffled chocolate locks. It looked so soft that it made her want to run her hands through it.

She hated how he had turned her legs to jelly and sent heat pooling in her nether regions. He had almost sent her over the edge just by pressing her against the wall and even now she felt herself getting hot. She finally understood what the newly wedded maids felt when they talked about their night time activities.

'Stop it Odeya! Don't let him distract you.' Her subconscious scolded.

They continued staring at her and it made her feel like thousands of beetles were crawling on her body. She told Madam Elma that she needed a break and the older woman permitted it.

She went to the royal garden and sat, enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze on her face. The air was alive with lights from many fireflies and the scent of rain, that lingered in the air, took away the stress and anger she had been feeling.

The flapping of wings alerted her and she saw a rook land on the stone bench with a pouch on its leg. She went closer to the bird, the feeling of dread creeping up her spine slowly with each step she took. She opened the pouch and the small parchment held two words that sent chills running through her body.

I'm dissapointed.

He knew. But how? He told her that he didn't have anyone stationed in the castle. She turned over the parchment and wrote a reply to the man that called himself her father then she stained her finger with blood from the glass she always kept inside her shoe and brought it close to the rook. It seemed to recognize the scent and took off.

Her words were short and she could only hope he wouldn't take out his anger on her mother.

"Stay strong mother. I will come for you soon." She whispered under her breath.

She walked back to the kitchen for her supper then she retired imediately after, working on their plan in her head. She slept with thoughts of her good times with her mother and Zara.

Dont fail me or your mother will pay the price.

She woke up with a start and groaned when she saw that the sun was beginning to rise over the clouds. She was late and they would punish her by sending her to the laundry. Again.

She got up from her small bed, washed her face and wore her uniform then tucked her hair into the small woolen coif that accompanied the dress. She joined the maids in the courtyard, just infront of their keep, to await her assignment. The wait was long and she hoped dearly that she wouldn't be sent to the laundry again. Her arms still ached from the last time.

"Alicia!" The warden called finally, "It seems you are in luck with the royals. Princess Alyn has asked you to attend her today so if I were you I'd hurry up."

The snooty woman couldn't kill the joy that had flooded through her. Everyone knew that Princess Alyn gave breaks and she wasn't as bothersome as the other Ladies in Stormhold. They were even more annoying as they took out their frustrations of not catching a rich husband or the Prince, as they had hoped, on the innocent servants. Odeya rushed off to the Princess' chamber and straightened her dress before knocking.

"Come in." She said.

She met the Princess in a tub of water, behind the huge screen, with rose petals floating in it. She rested her head on the edge of the bath and closed her eyes. Her room was more furnished and decorated than her brother's. There were a lot of reds and golds and there was a rosy aroma in the air.

"Alicia? Is that you?" She asked not opening her eyes.

"Yes, Your Highness." Odeya replied with a curtsy, even though she could not be seen.

"Could you please bring out the green brocade gown with the gold owls? Its in the ironwood armoire. Then you'll do a chignon. I have already lain my bed so you don't need to do that."

She did as she was instructed and placed them on the already lain bed. She held out a pink linen robe for the Princess when she stepped out of the water. She helped her apply the rose scented oil on her body and dry her long blonde hair then she helped the Princess wear her gown and corset and then helped to pack her long blonde hair into a perfect chignon.

She crushed a few rose petals and applied the colour to the Princess' lips. Princess Alyn looked herself over in the mirror and smiled, obviously happy with her look then she opened a velvet box on the table to produce a pearl necklace. She clasped it and wore a tear drop ruby earring then she turned back to Odeya.

"I didn't ask the warden to send you here just to assist me." She started.

"Why am I here then?" She asked the Princess.

"Do you know what a Lady's Hand is?" Princess Alyn asked.

"She's the personal maid of a Lady that helps her with everything." She responded.

Alyn nodded, "So now you know why you're here."

"But, Your Highness, I am still new here. There are many others that would be more suitable for the job."

"Yes. But I want you." She said, "And its the only way that I can save you from my brother. He seems to hate you with an ardent passion."

She looked down at the mention of the Prince and thought back to their meeting last night. A rush of heat went through her again and she shook it off.

"You will need to change out of those ghastly garments. I have some old clothes that should be your size." She said walking to a small box at the foot of the bed, "I have ordered some more dresses but you will have to make do with these ones for now."

She produced a sapphire blue chenille gown with bell sleeves that had been lined around the hem and sleeves with gold tulle. It was a really beautiful dress and she wanted to refuse but the Princess raised an eyebrow giving her no choice but to change into it.

She went behind the screen with owl motifs and changed from the pale blue wool gown the regular maids had to wear. When she stepped out, the Princess squealed like like a little girl and dragged her to the mirror. She pushed her on to the seat and took off the coif.

"You won't be needing that anymore." She said as she unpinned Odeya's hair.

The black bundle fell down in waves to her waist and it tickled her where it brushed her neck. She immediately remembered that Prince Nicolas' lips had been there the night before. She let out a gasp and checked for any marks but she saw only a fading pink spot.

"Wow. If I wasn't so confident I'd be pretty jealous right now." Princess Alyn commented.

She ran a comb through her hair and forced Odeya to apply some of the crushed rose juice on her lips. She looked herself over in the mirror and had to admit she looked pretty. It had been a while since she had let her hair down or worn anything so beautiful.

Her lips looked fuller and her black hair, flowing around her face in ringlets, made her grey eyes look even lighter and mysterious. She smiled and twirled a lock of hair between a long finger.

"Now you're ready." Alyn said, "We are almost late for breakfast."

"Thank you, Your Highness." She said with a curtsy.

"Oh there's no need to call me that when we're alone. Call me Alyn."

"Alyn."

"Good." The Princess said and they were off.

They walked down to the Great Hall and she saw one or two maids straining to see her face. They arrived just in time and she went and took a seat on the lower trestle tables in the hall, avoiding conversations with the other hands and eye contact with the Prince but that was hard since he kept staring at her.

She saw a beautiful red head beside him talking and rubbing his arm and a wave of anger washed over her. The red head noticed him staring somewhere else and she turned to look for the thing that took the Prince's attention away from her.

She looked away before she would be spotted and avoided looking at him for the rest of the meal.

A knight that sat beside her tried to talk to her but she turned him down and waited for food to be brought to them. It was weird being served when just last night she had been the one serving.

The noise in the hall was slightly over whelming and she felt the need to leave. When she was done she sent a steward to ask for permission from the Princess and she approved. She left the hall feeling a little better and went to talk to her first friend in Stormhold.

"So you're a hand now?" Madam Elma asked.

"I guess so." She replied.

"You are so lucky. Most of the older maids have never even had the royals speak to them."

"I didn't ask for this." Odeya reminded her.

The woman didn't speak again and it made her sad, she had hoped for a more optimistic reply but it was clear that she was envious.

She grabbed a snow apple from the bowl of fruits and walked back to the Princess' chamber. She was rounding a corner when a hand shot out from a hidden entrace and dragged her in.

She shot out a hand to punch the assailant but he easily grabed her arm and pinned it on the wall.

"This feels like déja vú, doesn't it?" He said.

Her eyes widened at the voice and anger washed over her.

"Leave me alone. Why don't you go back to your red head. She'll be looking for you." She spat.

"Someone's jealous." He said.

Even though the room was dark so she couldn't see his face, she could tell that he was smiling.

"I have to get back to your sister." She said changing their conversation.

"Congrats on becoming her hand by the way." He said,releasing her hand finally, "I have to say you look beautiful with your hair down."

She turned red at his compliment and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He lifted her head to look up at him. The corridor was too dark to see him and she was sure he couldn't read the confused expression on her face.

"You really are a beautiful creature." He whispered.

"Your Highness?" Was all she could manage to say as he rubbed her chin, sending electric currents throughout her body.

"Dont speak or I might do something that we'll both regret." He said throwing her off guard.

She didn't know how to answer him.

"What if I want you to do it, Your Highness?" She asked.

He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "You should go." He said finally.

"What?" She asked.

He walked away from her without even giving her an answer and she felt disappointed. She had half hoped he would have kissed her; he was a good looking man and she couldn't deny that he had awoken something inside her that made her crave his touch.

She walked out of the dark hallway and went to Princess' chamber where she saw the Princess and her chaperon, Duenna Nefeli, having their class. She wasn't sure if she was to join her or wait elsewhere.

"Oh Alicia dear. Come sit. You have to take these with me." Princess Alyn called me.

She walked to join them and accepted a tea cup from the Duenna. None of what she said was new to her because her mother had repeated it time and time again.

The Queen's Hand came to the room and she informed them of the tea that they would have in the garden pavilion with the other ladies.

Odeya brought out the Princess' green parasol helped her touch up her face. She added a gold circlet, that had rubies inlaid, to her hair that she had finally let down. Then walked behind the Princess holding the parasol over her head when they had stepped outside.

They met the other Ladies and their Hands already seated on two round tables. The red head from breakfast was there and she watched her as she went to sit on the Hands' table. There was a lot of conversation but most of it was centered on the Princess' shiny jewels.

The other hands didn't even try to talk to her; they just whispered amongst each other but she knew that their conversation was all about. She was different; tall, black haired, pale skinned and she had grey eyes. She ignored them and prayed for the engagement to be over soon.

She was deep in her thoughts on what the Prince wanted to say or do and it annoyed her a great deal at the mystery he had added to her already complicated life. When the Queen strolled in, they stood to show respect and until she was sitted did they sit.

She looked as graceful as ever in a purple linen gown with silver silk fringing the bell sleeves and a diamond necklace and matching earring set.

They engaged in a light discourse as they sipped their tea and munched on biscuits and sliced fruit. She loved snow apples, the major fruit export of Myknos, the other ladies seemed to prefer the grapes. She didn't feel odd and no one could see any flaw in her movements, one would almost think that she was royalty.

She had had serious training on tea time and she could see the pride on Princess Alyn's face and dissapointment on the red heads face.

She was sure that they were all looking forward to embarassing her.

After tea, some of the Ladies decided to do some needle work while Princess Alyn wanted to go to library.

Since she wasn't much for reading, Alyn gave her the afternoon off and she decided to go riding and maybe do some sword practice. She went to her former room and changed into her riding garb; a white linen button down shirt, black pants that clinged to her like seond skin and a black leather riding boot. She added a brown leather vest and hid her sword in a large bag with an extra shirt and cloak.

When she stepped out of the room, she met the red head waiting for her with a a sour expression on her face. The woman was an embodiment of perfection with her red curly hair and smooth unblemished skin. Her eyes, green like a forest, had a look of satisfaction and disgust in her eyes.

"I knew you weren't a noble." She said.

"Is anything wrong?" Odeya asked.

"I am Lady Emelne of Tyrene and Rothwell and bethrothed of Prince Nicolas of Myknos." The woman said with a haughty look, " You should know your place. You may be the Princess' Hand but you're still nothing more than a maid. A low born."

"Have I done anything to offend you, my Lady?"

"Stay away from the Prince. He is mine." She warned.

"I don't want him and we have not even met. You have nothing to worry about." She lied to the woman cutting into her riding time.

"Who says I'm worried? You're getting ahead of yourself. You're just a glorified servant and nothing more."

"Are you done? I have somewhere to be." She said pushing the smaller woman aside.

She was boiling inside but she hid her emotions. She walked to the royal stables and paid the stable boy a silver for watching over Zara and keeping her owners identity a secret then she saddled her. She mounted and rode out of Stormhold to the black lake outside Rothwell. The lake was beautiful and the air smelled fresh and she enjoyed it, taking deep breaths at a time.

She unmounted and secured Zara to a tree bark close the shore. The horse nipped her hand playfully as she rubbed her snout. Odeya fed her a snow apple then removed her vest.

She placed it in the bag and unsheathed her sword. It was a one handed sword with double edges. She had named it Vixen because of the fox's head on the hilt. It was the prize of her first victory in unarming a soldier in her father's army.

She played with it first with a slash and some thrusts before practicing the fifteen step dance she had formed. The movements came to her easily as she had been doing it for over ten years. She did a forward thrust and pulled it back then sent an upward kick as she thrust the sword backward.

She channeled her emotions into the dance and worked off all her worries; her father, Prince Nicolas' behaviour and now the irritating red head.

She felt drained and went to sit under the shade of a large tree and took a swig of water from her canteen. She changed her shirt and put on the vest she had discarded then mounted Zara and ride back to the castle, hoping Alyn wouldn't be mad that she had missed lunch.

She went back to her room then took a bath and rubbed herself with the daisy scented oil her mother always used then wore the dress Alyn had given her. She met up with the Princess and she helped her prepare for dinner. The Princess changed into a pale pink gown that made her look much younger but she used the same jewellery and circlet she had used before.

The Princess gave her a burgundy gown for the meal and let her put her hair into a braid. She left her neck and ear bare. They talked all the way to the Great Hall and she had laughed at the tales of her childhood. She decided to let herself relax during the dinner and actually taste the food she was eating.

She looked at the higher table for the royals and saw Prince Nicolas discussing with his father then as if sensing her eyes on him, he turned and their eyes met. He looked away from her and a pang of hurt passed through her heart. She looked back to her food and realised she had lost her appetite.

She watched the Princess and waited for her to excuse herself before leaving. She was distracted while helping the Princess get ready for bed and it seemed she noticed.

"Alicia what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothings wrong, Your Highness." She lied.

"I've told you to call me Alyn when its just us." Alyn scolded, "And I can sense that something's wrong. You have been distracted all night."

"I am fine, your hi... Alyn."

"Is it my brother? Did he say something to you?" She asked with worry apparent in her voice.

Odeya felt bad immediately and wanted to open up to her but decided against it.

"No. He didn't do anything." She lied.

"I would have believed you if you didn't hesitate but I won't pester you. Whenever you're ready, I'll be here for you." Princess Alyn said.

She hugged her and tears blurred her vision. Here was a person that trusted her completely and was even willing to take care of her without even knowing her. She had had trust issues ever since her father felt that using her to get what he wanted was the right thing to do. She hugged the Princess back tighter then stood up.

"I'll leave you to retire for the night." She said with a curtsy and left the room.

Did you really think that I suddenly started loving you? You have been a disappointment from your birth and nothing you do will ever change that.

Her father's words haunted her and it brought more tears to her eyes. She could barely see where she was going and she bumped into someone. She stood and muttered apologies with her head down and ran towards her small room.

She had not yet moved to the new room Alyn had gotten her and now she was regretting it, hating the bothersome distance.

"Slow down!" A male voice called out.

She couldn't recognize the voice and didn't even try to. All she wanted was to get to her room and cry her heart out.

"Wait. Please." He said again.

She stopped and turned to look at the man who had called her and her breath hitched. It was not someone she knew but he was very handsome, almost more handsome than Prince Nicolas. He had silky black hair and coppery skin that reflected the dancing flames of the torches. His beard was shaved close to his face that bore a concerned look.

"Are you okay?" He asked, the lilt in his words making them sound sweeter than honey.

"Who are you?" Was the first thing she thought to say.

"Oh, forgive my terrible manners. I am Prince Khalid of Shiv'ra. And who might you be fair maiden?" He asked.

"I am Alicia, Your Highness." She said with a curtsy.

"Alicia? No title?" His accent made her fake name sound even more beautiful to her.

"No, Your Highness. I am but a humble maid." She said with her head down.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of." He said, "Do you want to take a walk? I find that walking makes me feel better."

"I really should be getting back, Your Highness." She said.

"That's alright." He said.

She turned to leave but stopped when he called her back.

"If I'm going to call you Alicia then you must call me Khalid." He said with a smile.

"Khalid." He smiled as she said his name and she smiled in return.

"Good night Alicia."

"And you too, your high... Khalid."

They shared a smile before she turned and walked back to her small room, the reasons for her sadness forgotten. She changed into her nightgown and slept with a smile on her face.