Hazel's Royal Plight

Chapter 14

An hour later the castle was in an uproar. I heard shouts, commands, yelling, and thumping. Then the door to the kitchen flew open. "Poppy, a lady has gone missing, have you seen her?" it was Eric who asked. He looked like he had been running, a lot.

I shook my head.

"Oh right. She has black hair, green eyes like yours, and a dress like the stars in the sky." said Eric.

I kept my hands in the sink. I did not want Eric seeing the ring. I then shook my head again.

"Has no one else come in here?" he asked.

I thought for a moment then held up 3 fingers from my right hand, then pointed to the dishes.

"Just three servants?" he guessed looking at me."

I nodded.

"Thank you for your help Poppy. She must have left the castle long ago." said Eric. "Jasper will be sad to hear the news."

I smiled, then hid my head. Eric must have seen for he laugh. "You like it when ladies go missing?"

I nodded then went back to my stack of dishes. I was interrupted 10 more time. Each time they asked I told him the exact same thing, without using my voice once. After 3 hours of dishes, and cleaning the floor I went to bed. I had had a very long night and tomorrow was going to be busy.

***
The next morning Sam did not wake me, a maid from upstairs did. She was not nice about it. She had thick blond hair, dark blue eyes, her smile was no more than a frown, and her nose was three inches high in the air at all times. She poked me with the end of a broom. "POPPY...... POPPY! GET UP!!"

I sat up showing her I was up and did not need to be poked, but she poked me again, while I was rubbing my eyes. She broom jaded me again, because I was not moving fast enough, I grabbed the broom and slashed the bridle end at her. Then I gave her a 'what do you want' look.

"Sam is sick! Make the breakfast." she spat, then she scurried off. I jumped to my feet, put the broom back and hurried about the kitchen. I got eggs, bacon, ham, bread, leftover pastries, fruit, and juice. As I was cooking I noticed the ring Jasper gave me for the night before. I had to give it back, but how?

When the sassy maid came back, she spat instructions for lunch. It was to be soup, the Kings favorite soup. I had no idea what that was, but I knew how to make a most delicious soup. The king is going to love it. After breakfast was made and served I started right away on lunch, a Lamb, potato and leek soup.

I first seasoned fifty pounds of lamb and placed it in the brick oven. It would be done by the time I furnished chopping all the vegetables. I had red potatoes, carrots, leeks, celery, mushrooms, garlic, and onions to dice small. Each vegetable should fit on a spoon in every bite, we'll maybe not the garlic. Once the veggies were chopped I pulled out the lamb. I was letting it rest on the table when the servers came back with the dishes from breakfast.

I had to hurry and get all the dishes in the sink before the lamb cooled too much. It didn't take long. I was back. To making lunch soon. I would wash the dishes while everything cooked in the big soup pot. I poured in the broth from the lamb first. Then I added the potatoes and celery. I chopped the lamb, and washed a few dishes. Then I added the lamb and the rest of the ingredients. I washed the rest of the dishes then lastly I added my tie of herbs, Bay Leaves, thyme, and some sage. The same spices I rubbed on the lamb.

The kitchen was starting to smell wonderful. I then got to work making the sweets for the second ball. When the sassy maid came in with bowls for me to full for lunch I was in the middle of a pie. She laid out the bowls and then left.

I filled each bowl, and noticed they all had card names next to their bowl. I then put the ring in Jasper's bowl. When the sassy maid came back she shouted orders and then left. I had only one bowl of soup left in the pot.

'Just enough soup for me.' I thought. I sat down to enjoy my soup. I had just about finished when sassy maid came back.

"Did you make the soup?" she snapped at me. I nodded. "The King wishes to speak with you."

I followed her out to a small dining room. It was filled with just the royal family. When I walked in I stood out like a white horse.

"Poppy, did you make this soup?" asked King Aris, I nodded.

"It is most delicious," complemented Queen Lilly. I smiled and blushed turning my head.

"There is just one problem," said King Aris. I looked up at him bringing my eyes to his eyes. "Jasper, ask her."

"Poppy, have you seen this ring before?" he held up the ring I put in his soup. I shook my head I could not tell him. "Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"How did it get in my soup?" he asked. I made my eyes fill with tears, made myself look at the ring with longing for something that beautiful to be in my passion.

"Oh there, there Poppy, we did not mean to make you sad," said Queen Lilly, I looked at her with wide eyes of horror. I was getting good at face expressions. I then shook and shrank to my knees and rocked back and forth.

"I think Poppy is scared," said Sterling.

"You might be right," said King Aris, "Beatrice, can you take Poppy back to the kitchen please. I think she may feel safer their. Poppy, thank you for the soup it is truly most delicious."

Beatrice, the sassy maid, came to my side and forced me up half dragging me back to the kitchen. She yelled at me again and ordered me about, then she left. Not more than twenty minutes later 3 squires came in.

"Poppy, the king sent us to help you." said the first one. "My name is Earl, this is Jason, and that is Devon." I smiled and pointed about.

"She doesn't speak?" asked Jason he had red short hair and blue eyes. His smile was kind and his face was speckled with freckles, but his ears stuck out. They made his head look small. I smiled and shook my head.

"Looks like we got lucky. A silent boss." said Earl, he had blond hair and blue eyes. He looked older than Jason and Devon. His smile was serious and he had no other strange marking about him. Devon, was a rough one. The moment he came in he started looking around and snooping. Devon had blond short hair, brown eyes, a curious smile, and small ears. His head look huge.

"Devon, would you like to wish the dishes?" asked Earl .

"Yes caption Earl." Devon bowed and skipped to the sinks. Then he started to sing, he had a beautiful singing voice.

"Poppy, what would you. Like us to do?" asked Jason. I pulled out a book of recipes and handed Jason one and Earl the other. I then held up three fingers. "You want me to make this three times?"

I nodded.

"Under one condition," said Earl. I looked at them both. "We teach you how to talk."

I blushed and nodded.

"YES!!" came the shout of three boys. The voice lessons started, I played along discussing my voice a little low, matching their tone.