Chapter Three - Quarters

                                                                                  Hope

Life is bitter sweet it has a way of breaking you and blessing you at the same time. My life was my blessing i guess i should be thankful but the rage sitting in the pit of my stomach makes it hard to be greatful for anything even getting to live. After being waved off by her highness regina, maria hurried us along to the servants quarters. Turning down several lavash hallways we reach a worn brown wooden door that leads down a dingy set of stairs to our new living quarters. As we decend the stairs she starts rambaling on about what is expected of us. " Do not speak unless spoken to" always be properly dressed" when adressed eyes to the floor" "scrub the floors, polish the silver, serve the food dress the ladies blah blah blah her voice is soft but stern. Her eyes find mine " and absolutly no disrespect or lip of any kind"" they will not hesitate to punish you" she says. Maybe she can see the distaste on my face while laying out the rules . A quick nod of understanding seams to have her satisfied and she continues on.I was never good at keeping my emtions off my face and i have a feeling that is going to cause me problems here. The the thought of serving the same monsters who killed my mother has that firey pit in my stomach raging. I wanted to get away from this god forsaken place but here i am preparing to serve their every whim. 

At the bottom of the stairs we are met with a small kitchen area with a medium sized wood burning stove a long table is placed in the center. A older man with gray hair stands at the stove stirring what looks to be a large pot of stew. The smell has my mouth watering. Turning to greet maria his smile is worn but kind. "what do we have here" he says looking between us and maria. There are five of us two of the women look to be maria's age while the other two look about the same age as me. Smiling she say " our new help love". The girl next to me rolls her eyes " you think thats her husband?" she asks me. I hadnt taken the time to really look at her or the other girls. She is short probably 5'1 with a thin frame, freckels and red hair"hell if i know" i mumble back. Liffting her hand to hide mouth she snickers " im fran btw short for franchesca". i give her a half smile " hope" i say flatly. Its not that i have anything against this girl she seams nice even a little whitty but making friends in a world like this just isnt on my to do list. I have no intentions of staying but i wont be telling them that.

Maria gives us a quick tore of our new living conditions. Through the kitchen the is another small hallway lit with a small lantern on the wall one door to the right another to the left. Opening the right door we follow maria inside"this is our sleeping quarters" there are to more rooms at the far end that hold more beds two to each room." pick your bed" she say. Going to the far back i find a empty bed, the rooms are small with tan walls and brown trim. A single wardrobe sits in the middle of two twin sized beds each with a thin cream colored blanket and a single pillow. A old desk and chair sits against the wall across from the beds. It's not much but is still better than the doungens or the old meet shack i use to sleep in. The room smeels of wood oils and carasien from the lanturns on the wall. Fran walks in behind me and smiles" care if i bunk with you she says. What is she so damn happy about hasnt she heard the stories of what happens to servents in this castel " sure" i nod slipping my shoes of my aching feet. My body hurts all over and exhaustion is starting to set in. Shaking it off i walk back to where the other women are following maria out into the hall. She opens the other door " this is where you will bath" smiling she ushers us in. Three stalls sit at the back wall with a three sinks and a old metal bucket. walking in she leads us to another door its warped and creaks as she pulls it open. Metal tubs separated by thick tan cloths hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. My eyes are tired rubbing them i walk inside with the other girls. The room is warm a large wood burning furness conected to a large water vat sits off the right corner. i can see the amber glow of the flames inside " ive heard about these!" skquils fran "But ive never seen one only the castels and homes of high lords an ladies have them"  looking over at her The excitement in her face all to clear. Apparently when the alpha took the castel he made some alterations maria hands us each towel a change of clothes and a pair of simple black flats" you'll have to take turns but you will bath and change before bed every night she hands me mine last"oldest to youngest soap is in the cabnet".

Im the youngest being only 21 with fran just a year older than me" im sure you girls are starved" says maria leading us back to the kitchen. The smell of stew hits my nose again and my stomach growls on que, my mouth watering "sit down and dig in girls" benjamin her husband says. Setting two bowls and some bread on the table as we slide in. Offering him a smile i say "thanks you" and immediately dig in. Hot broth hits my tounge and i can help the moan that slips past my lips. Maira and benjimen both laugh "glad to know someone likes my cooking" he says with a smile. Maria swats his arm " oh hush i love your cooking just not squiral stew!" i cant fight the tug that pulls at the corner of my mouth. Watching them is wholesome, almost heart warming. This whole setting feels almost normal a sweet couple teasing each other over trivial things, a warm candle giving a homie glow, hot food siitting on the table with people gathered around. But its a fleeting moment and the furthest thing from the truth. Finishing my stew i stand gathering up my new found belongings" thank you for the stew ben iit was delisous" he just smiles an nods. The other girls are finished and im dieing to wash the grim from the dungons off my skin.

The tubs are empty so i can bath in peace"thank god" i say alound to myself. Fran is still in the kitchen with the others. Rubbing my sore and raw wrist i quickly stip off my tattered dress and step into the hot water sighing as i lay back into the water. I close my eyes enoying the sting of the aches slowly being pulled from my muscles. i want to melt and become apart of this tub for hours but life isn't that simple. My eyes snap open when i hear fran walk into the room ten minutes later.  Thankfully I can't see her or her me due to the curtains that surround the tubs. Deciding i've soaked long enough i slip my head beneath the water soaking my hair. The water has began to chill so i quickly srub my body head to toe. The soap smells of warm vanilla and leaves my skin soft to the touch. Slipping on the night gown i catch a glance of my self in the worn mirror leaned against the wall. Dark circles rim my blue eyes, i look tired and i am. My long brown hair is thick and tangled. The thin night gown fits snug against my hips stoping mid thigh. Ive never been very skinny but ive never been chubby either. In fact i quite like my body. i have thick thighs, a slimmer waist and small but firm breast im quite proportionate. 

Walking out of the bathing room i head to my so called new room. The concrete floor is cold against my feet. It's quiet as i climb into bed pulling the sheets up to my chin. Exhaustion has set in my eyes are heavy and tired slowly i start to drift to sleep but one thought rings in my head over in over as sleep consumes me." I have to escape i will not die here like her".

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