Indebted

6

Esti awoke to soft, slow knocks on her door and a kindly voice calling to her, "Come, I have breakfast for us." Mr Norman bid to Esti to start her day. She arose from the bed, body still stiff and sore following him barefoot. Enjoying the sensation of the cold tiles under her feet. Giving Esti something to focus on. A sensation that was easy to understand. Easy to feel. A simple feeling.

Anything to not think about yesterday. More than ready to throw herself headlong into learning whatever work it was she was supposed to do. Esti was a little embarrassed that she really had no idea how a building the size of the castle was maintained. Had not really given considering to all the things involved to make life comfortable. Let alone taking time to contemplate that certain wings were at the oldest closer to five hundred years old now. How could such a building have ever been upgraded to include the modern human plumbing, and heating.

So many things she had taken for granted before her father had been executed in the middle of the night. The moment the King's messenger had relayed his message and sentence, Esti knew she wouldn't ever be happy again. Stay alive and find a way to be content. That was her only goal right now. Anything else was more than she was supposed to have.

Mr Norman led Esti to his office, there was a new small bistro table set up in the corner now with two matching chairs. A fair bit of the clutter appeared to have been cleaned or rearranged the room. "Until your bruises heal it would be better to remain out of sight." It wasn't expected for such a burly, large man who was normally so gruff to sound so soft as he spoke. 

Norman knew that the only thing he could do was respect what Esti said she wanted.  She wanted as much as possible to pretend yesterday had not happened. Norman was going to do everything he could to ensure as few eyes saw her as possible until she was healed. Norman wanted to protect Esti. She had suffered enough. 

Norman gestured with his head, hands holding a loaded breakfast tray for Esti to sit. A ray of sunshine when just the smallest smile curled on her lips for a second. Esti went and sat at the small table, a tray of toast, some scrambled eggs, slices of melon and a slice of real, orange cheese. There was even marmalade. Esti hadn't seen marmalade since before she had left the castle. Another simple pleasure she had not valued in her old life. 

She hadn't known how much she enjoyed the tangy orange jelly that had just always been available; Not until she had gone without it. Esti sniffed the air, smelling rose hip and lemon tea brewing. These had been Esti's favorites when such luxuries were taken for granted. "How?" This was a lot of food, too much for one person to have left a meal hall with. Let alone how anyone remembered enough of her to know two of the foods she had sincerely missed the most on the farm. Both being here was too great a coincidence.

Norman Laughed. "How did I get the tray here, or how did I remember your favorites girly?" He was smiling. His face was the kind that made a smile contagious. The mood lighter when Esti was near him. She told him she wanted the answer to both, as she grabbed a slice of the still warm toast, slathering a more than generous portion of the marmalade over the top.

"The kitchen staff know me, and remember you. When I requested both our rations to go, Nigella wanted to help." Never mind the various nights Norman had spent making sure Nigella and every kitchen woman possible knew where they could turn when an itch needed to be scratched. Nearly all the staff at the castle kitchen remembered Estella. The little scientist who followed behind her father. Heart full of curiosity. Heeding the lessons her papa taught her. She was so much like her father, such a bright light. 

Except where Alric had been nurtured and allowed to grow to his full potential. Beloved and cared for before he had come to court by Alric's own account. Fate had decided on a different path for Estella. The only reason Alric had been sentenced to death; was because Magnus needed a scapegoat. A means to scare his people back under his control. Leave no room for independent thought. Magnus considered an influx of dragons that could not be controlled by the royal family a threat to his power.  "Nigella sends her regards, she is an ally if you ever need." A stationary ally. Always in the kitchens, or in her private chamber beside the kitchen. A second safe place for Esti to go if she was in need.