A Maid's Tale

~Chapter 3~

Dear Diary,

It has been three weeks since the "Y" incident. Unfortunately for me, Lady Kathrine is leaving the castle to return to her homeland. This means that I am getting "de-promoted." I also received the Maid uniform. It's a black dress with a white apron. and I have to wear 3 petticoats to give the dress "volume." I will now be working in the laundry department. It's a land area outside with basins to wash and hang the clothes in. I have heard that the women there are quite welcoming. It appears that it is time for me to head down.

Good day, Clara.

Clara left the diary on her bed and ran out of her room, shutting the door behind her. She made her way down the stairs, through the doors and hallways, and outside. Once outside she saw a cluster of women, some young and some were older. The oldest looked around 45. When she stepped forward, all the women turned to look at her. Murmuring among themselves.

"Gorgeous." One woman said, walking up to her. She had blonde hair and looked around 30.

"Pretty," said another.

"So, I am guessing you're the new girl. Welcome, I'm Lori."

"I'm Clara," she said as she bowed her head a bit.

"Now Clara, I'm going to tell you the RULES of the launders. We like to gossip, so what happens in the launder circle, STAYS in the launder circle. And bring daily news EVERYDAY. Guards always hear something, and so do the cooks." 

"Yes ma'am," Clara nodded.

"If you are ever wondering where to get gossip from, go to a bedroom and drop off the laundry, most of the time it's the ladies talking. Now that's the good stuff!" She smiled, raising her arms, the other maids hummed and cheered in response.

Another maid walked over to her, carrying a large wooden bucket. "This is for you," she laughed and handed Clara the bucket, almost making her fall over. The bucket was filled with pounds of clothes, and the girl led Clara to a large basin. It was filled with water.

"Now Clara, all you've got to do is fill the basin up with soap, lots of it, and dunk whatever it is a few times, then take some pins, and hang it up. That's all!" Lori explained, while showing her what to do.

"Got it!" Clara smiled.

As she was working, she heard the ladies talking around her.

"So," one of them started as she forcefully dunked a beautiful satin dress, "have you heard about, Lady Shirley?" She asked, turning to face the women.

"No, go on."

"Well, let's just say she gets around. I heard she slept with one of the guards, got pregnant, and the guard got shipped off to the Hebra mountains!" She laughed.

"Yeah, and how about," the next girl looked around cautiously, "The princess..." The girl whispered, suddenly all the girls dropped what they were doing and ran over to her.

"You're usually so quiet, I would never accept gossip outta you!" One of the older women said.

"Yeah, well, here's what I heard, with my own ears," She whispered again, Clara decided to walk over to the gathering, gossip is always fun after all. "Three weeks ago, the day of the gala, I was serving a lady, very high up. Just so high that her room was right next to Princess Zelda's. She needed me in the late hours at night, so I scurried to her room. Just as I was walking to the room, I saw," she looked around again, "Link ran right into her room!" A series of 'Ahhs!" and laughter was heard. "At first I thought that the Princess had one of her night terrors, but as I was helping my Lady, I heard the slightest of grunts and sighs!" screams and laughter filled the circle, even Clara was laughing. "Now if that ain't good gossip, I don't know what is!" The girl laughed. A few minutes later, after a few more minutes of side gossiping, they all returned to their work.