The Blue Dress

Chapter Two

We walked through the tall door that led into a large dining hall. We were all told to sit down at any table. About 400 girls were in the courtyard trying to get in, and only 200-150 were chosen to come in. The rest were sent home. I had no clue how long I would be here, I probably would not even be chosen, but it was worth a try. We ate in the large hall, very elegant food. Better food than I have ever eaten at home. I chatted with some of the other girls in the hall. While looking around I realized many of the guards had a younger boy next to them. Their apprentice as I soon came to learn. The younger boys around 14-15 were taken out of school and taught to become soldiers or guards for the kingdom. Not all kingdoms required this of boys, ours did if there was not enough volunteers, but there always is. Boys beg to become soldiers in our army or to become royal soldiers, to take care of the palace, the princess, the queen, and especially the king. All men looked up to him in our kingdom, rumored to be as strong as a god, and as powerful as a soldier. He was tall and looked very, royal.

"Welcome girls!" boomed the queen, "We are very excited to start training tomorrow for you. The princess will join you at certain practices and at some meals, she is very self sufficient and can come off as, well, unpleasant at times. But I promise you she is excited to soon choose one of you to become her head of house and overall companion. I will now leave it to my personal head of house to explain some ground rules and the schedule," she walked away over to the table that sat her husband, and her son. James Forest. He was only about 13 himself, younger than the princess, so she was next in line. In most kingdoms the oldest boy is the future king, but in our kingdom it goes by age alone, so the princess was next in line.

The queens head of house walked onto the stage type area and started speaking loudly, "Hello girls. Some basic rules are mainly just always act proper, show up to lessons on time, do not disrespect any of the staff, do not fraternize with the apprentices, and do not go into the far West Wing without permission. Lights out at 9:30. Tomorrow you will come here from the dorms you will be assigned in a moment, and then you will be given a schedule. You will go to the class you are assigned to at the time the church bell rings. Then when class is over you will go to the next one. At the second church bell you will be brought to lunch, continuing with classes. After all of your classes you will have spare time in the courtyard or at your dorms, then at 5:30 is dinner, with church at 6:30. You may now go to the dorm you are assigned to."

Everyone stood up as she walked off to the queen and we went to the door. When we walked by and said our name we were given a room to stay in. They have many rooms in the castle all that are meant for guests that stay over or are doing business. I went to my dorm to find a very simple skirt and a button down, with a deep red vest on top. The same deep red was on the tie and next to that was a very simple nightgown. All the girls and I washed up and put on the nightgown. In the trunk at the end of our bed had multiple of the same clothes, that are meant for when the originals get dirty. There was also a laundry basket. The bed sheets were plain white with a ivory colored quilt on top. I laid down in my bed and thought of what the princess might look like. And then dreamed of becoming her head of house.

The next morning I got out of bed and put on the uniform I was meant to wear. The other girls trickled awake and when we all are ready, we walk to the dining room. We sat together and started to eat. The church bell rang and we all grabbed the schedules that were in our trunks. My first class was boring and so was most of them. After I got finished with all of my classes we and free time before dinner. About two hours or so. I went out to the courtyard with the book I had found in the library here. I had to go for my second class in order to learn where everything was. I sat in a quieter corner of the courtyard, away from where the rest of the girls gossiped about the boys with the guards. I had no interest in any of them. After thirty minutes of reading the courtyard had calmed down. Most of the girls were talking about their classes in the dining room or in the rooms they were staying in. I looked at the time and I guess it was longer than thirty minutes because it was time to eat. I went into the dining room and sat down. I looked over at the head table and saw that there was an extra place set at the table. Two extra places. 

"I hope your first day was well, today my daughter will be joining us and choosing one of you too sit with her. It may seem odd but it is purely based on how she sees you at first. It is hard to see all of you at once so do not take it personally. Charlotte you can come over now," the queen beckoned her daughter. What a lovely name.

A slim and tall black haired girl walked across to Queen Adela. She looked over and from all the way across the dining hall her eyes shimmered a blue like no other. With specks of gold and green glittering across the world. Her nose was small and was a button nose, and her lips were the perfect size. Her dress shimmered and was tightly sewn to her hourglass figure. Her skin was a lovely olive tone, she was tan and her legs were long. Her face was slim but her cheeks were still holding onto a small amount of baby fat. Her voice was clean and kept well, as unraspy as possible, "Hello, my name is Charlotte Forest, and I am Adela's daughter," she examined us all very closely. She kept eye contact with me for what felt like forever. I felt like I was drowning in her ocean blue eyes. She walked over to her mother and whispered in her ear. I looked down at my food. Her mother walked over to her head of house and pointed. The head of house looked at me and walked to me. "Follow me dear."

I was speechless. A handful of maids followed her with my food and she showed me my seat. I sat down next to the gorgeous princess. I must have looked like a troll next to her. I had plain brown hair and very simple white skin. My eyes were the color of mud. James, the prince stared at me. "How old are you?" James asked.

"I am thirteen, I just turned it a few weeks ago."

"I am fifteen," said the beautiful voice beside me.

"I am thirteen as well, I turn fourteen in a week though," said James estaticly.

The Queen looked at us all and smiled widely. "Perfect ages! You are all very close in age."

"Yes mother, it is very good. Maybe she can come to my horse riding lessons tomorrow," James asked his mother but looked at his father.

"Of course, if she wishes, and if Charlotte does not wish for her to come to her music lessons."

"I would be fine with anything!" I added.

"She can go to his riding lessons, but she is going to sleep in my room tonight," Charlotte stated.

"No," the king said in a average tone but it felt loud.

"Why Louis, it would be good for her to have interaction with other girls," the queen said with her terribly saddened eyes. I do not know if he could even say no.

"Fine, but I want a guard in there as well. Outside the room. An apprentice and a guard, we need to teach them to protect rooms."

"Okay!" the queen smiled her lovely smile. She is not as scary as I thought she would be. She smiled at me.