The Marí

Part.13

As the morning light filtered through the window, my eyelids twitched, recoiling from the sun's rays. I stretched and grunted trying to wake myself up the warmth of the sunlight so gentle at first seemed to hold me in place unwilling to let me slip back into the comfort of sleep. My muscles ached with the strain of a restless night, a mixture of exhaustion and unanswered questions. I blinked into the brightness, willing myself to focus but my mind felt hazy like a fog clouding my thoughts.
"Good morning, milady," a soft voice chimed cutting through the stillness of the room. "My name is Hena and I will be your maid during your stay here."
I blinked against the haze of sleep my mind slowly registering her words "Very well," I replied my voice more distant than I intended as I pushed myself up from the bed. The effort was enough to leave me dizzy but Hena was quick to move to my side, steadying me with a gentle touch. Her round cheeks and full figure spoke of a life built on hard work and the simplicity of her French-braided hair only added to the impression of someone who had long been accustomed to service. Her eyes a striking shade of blue that seemed almost too sharp for the softness of her features, studied me with care yet without undue curiosity.
"Would you care for some tea, milady?" she asked, keeping a polite distance as she placed the tray on a small table nearby.
I glanced at the offering, but the chaos of recent events made it hard to focus on the simplicity of tea. "A warm bath would suffice, Hena," I said trying to push away the images of last night's argument with Regina.
"At once, milady," Hena replied, her tone comforting and assured. "I'm glad to see you're doing better; you were found unconscious on the cold floor last night." She hesitated her gaze softening with concern "If you need anything else, I will take my leave."
I offered a small nod appreciating her thoughtfulness "In truth Hena, I am much improved thank you and if you could bring me something to eat, I would be most grateful."
She gave a quick understanding smile. "Of course, milady. I will return shortly with your meal."
As she exited the room I sank back into the pillows the weight of my thoughts pulling me under again, I couldn't shake the memory of Regina's cold words or the way she had torn at me and I struggled to piece together a reason-any reason-for her actions but the silence in the room offered no answers, only the distant echoes of everything I had left behind. Rising from my bed, I made my way to the vanity, my fingers lightly grazing the edge of the mirror as I examined my reflection strangely there were no signs of injury-no marks or bruises from the chaos of the previous night I exhaled in relief my gaze lingering on my smooth skin, grateful for the care that kept it pristine despite the turmoil I had endured.
A soft knock on the door broke my quiet reverie "Enter," I called out.
Hena stepped in followed by a few young maidens they seemed eager, their eyes scanning the room as they busied themselves with preparations. Without wasting any time they began setting out the essentials for my bath moving with a practiced ease that spoke to their efficiency. Sitting at my vanity I disrobed and allowed them to finish their tasks, the silence was comforting yet the weight of the previous night's events still remained in my mind. When all was prepared Hena called to me her voice gentle but firm, "Milady, your bath is ready." I nodded in acknowledgment and followed one of the maids toward the bath leaving Hena to arrange my meal in peace.
The warm water embraced me as I sank into the tub its soothing touch slowly dissolving the tension I hadn't realized I was holding. I leaned back eyes half-closed and allowed myself a moment of stillness. Regina-or Lena as I had come to think of her-had certainly acted rashly but her attention had not gone unnoticed. The quarters I now found myself in were far more comfortable than the ones I had left behind and though I had always felt at ease with a certain level of luxury a small part of me resented how easily it had come. Despite the relief of a restful sleep a wave of exhaustion swept over me as the maids began their work scrubbing and massaging my body in a way I would normally avoid yet this time I welcomed it. The ache of my muscles and the emotional toll of recent events had worn me thin and I couldn't bring myself to protest. Instead, I closed my eyes and allowed the hands of the maids to soothe away my weariness if only for a moment. Each gentle touch, each soothing movement seemed to pull me further from the weight of my troubles offering a moment of peace I hadn't realized I needed, their hands worked with quiet efficiency tending to me without question without hesitation. Once they were finished the maids escorted me back to my room, their steps soft as they continued their work with silent grace they moved around me like shadows, attending to every detail until one of them began braiding my hair. The soft pull of the strands was a comforting rhythm and I closed my eyes taking in the calm allowing it to wash over me as the final braid was secured I sighed, feeling an unexpected relief at the simplicity of the act as if in this small ritual I could find solace from the chaos outside.
"Milady," Hena's voice broke the quiet bringing me back to the present. "Your table is set." I turned to face her blinking away the haze of exhaustion. "Thank you, Hena," I replied the words coming out softer than I intended. It was then that I realized how much I longed for a moment of normalcy a chance to just breathe even if it was only for a little while. The maids gently dressed me in a delicate baby blue morning gown the fabric soft and light against my skin and it hugged my form perfectly. The dress seemed to shimmer slightly in the soft light of the room, accentuating the dark blue of my eyes making them appear even deeper. They added simple diamond earrings that caught the light with every movement and a necklace that complemented my skin tone making me feel a touch more regal than I cared to admit. Once they had finished I followed Hena and her attendants downstairs, my footsteps echoing softly in the quiet of the inn. The common area was already lively despite the early hour, men lingered over their drinks their laughter and chatter creating a hum of activity that filled the air. I couldn't help but notice the contrast between the bustling crowd and the strange emptiness that lingered within me. Hena led me to a secluded table near the back where the maids quickly set to work laying out a lavish spread before me the rich aroma of food filled the air and my stomach growled reminding me of how much I needed sustenance. With a grateful nod I began to eat savoring each bite as my hunger overtook me.
"Enjoy your meal, milady," Hena said with a solemn tone her eyes distant "On the night of the new harvest, you will be called upon to fast until midnight-a tradition of the Maríhín to drive away malevolent spirits."
I paused for a moment my spoon halfway to my mouth, processing her words the name Maríhín was familiar to me like something I had seen of before but couldn't remember where. Marí...hhh..ìnn  i stretched the word pronouncing it more slower while waiting for it to clink but disappointedly I got nothing.
After I had finished my meal Hena stood with a sense of quiet urgency "You need to go rest now," she urged her tone laced with concern "for your first dance lesson is in just an hour." I gave a small sigh a part of me dreading the next task ahead but I knew I had little choice. The dance would be the first of many lessons in the coming days and it would be a test of my ability to fit into the world I was now a part of. Rising from the table I followed her back to my chambers, I lay on the bed feeling the soft linen sheets beneath me as the name "Maríhín" echoed continuously in my thoughts with unsettling intensity, reverberating like a distant drumbeat. Each repetition stirred memories I could not quite place fragments of a past that seemed just out of reach yet too significant to ignore.