Magical Encounters

Chapter 1

Clara looked up at the incredibly tall building in front of her. This was definitely the place.

Though she could not imagine Gwendolyn living in a place like this, Rolf had said that she was the palace cook.

She took a deep breath and walked past the palace guards to the imposing structure where , undoubtedly, the King and Queen were. Apparently, the castle had a lot of backdoors.

Clara entered the  first one she saw. It was so confusing on the inside and even bigger than it looked on the outside

"You there! What are you doing in the palace?" cried a rather stout woman ,carrying a tray. Clara turned, startled but soon regained herself.

 "So sorry miss" Clara said politely, "I was simply looking for a woman named Gwendolyn, perhaps you know her? I am to be her apprentice"

The woman's face which had previously been filled with suspicion, cleared up as soon as Gwendolyn's name had been mentioned.

"Ye are looking for old Gwen you say?" She said warmly "Well,you just have to go down the hall, take a left then take a right, the fourth door you see leads to the kitchen. You'll find her there." Clara thanked her and went off.

The castle was a complete maze. After many wrong turns Clara finally arrived at the kitchen. It was full of people, cooking, baking, frying, basting and doing every other culinary act you could think of.

 A short, stout woman with coarse brown curls also stood inside, peeling potatoes with such ferociousness as though each potato had done her a great personal wrong. Unsure what to do,she coughed hesitantly to announce her presence.,

Without turning the woman said angrily, "Tom if your here about those 100 broken dinner plates, you can shove your useless apology up your-"

 "Who's Tom?", Clara asked curiously. The woman whirled round. To say she was surprised to see the small figure standing in front of her would be an understatement.

"And who might  you be?" asked the woman.

"My name is Clara . Rolf told me to come to a woman called Gwendolyn to help me."

"Ah now i remember, Rolf said that you would be coming. I'm Gwendolyn by the way but call me Gwen". She finished, smiling amiably at her.

After showing her to her quarters, a small drab room with an even tinier bed, Gwen said, "Rolf didn't tell me much about you, you know. Just that you needed a place to stay and work to do".

So Clara told her everything, from her parents to her incredible powers. At the mentioning of her magic  though Gwen looked disbeleving.

 "Now don't try telling tales. We both know that magic is very rare. You having it is about as likely as i being the duchess of Shropshire".

"Don't believe me?" said Clara grinning, "Watch". Behind Gwen lay a dead rose in a vase. The flower's petals suddenly changed from a dirty brown to a deep luxuriant, red.

 The plant floated up high into the air, did about three flips, zoomed from its position and landed gently on Gwen's lap. Where it exploded into hundreds of white snowflakes.

Gwen looked up her mouth hanging open, now suitably impressed. Clara smirked at her.

Later in the day, it was apparent that before Clara learned anything in the kitchen she had to earn it. This would be achieved by series of grunt work.

Clara staggered under the weight of the heavy plates she carried. Trust Gwen to give her so much work on her first day on the job.

She bumped into someone, a rather tall someone, causing all  the dishes to fall and shatter on the ground.

"Hey!" Clara shouted angriliy, "Watch where your go-!"

She looked up, fully prepared to spew out every swear word she had heard Thomas, the royal gardener say, when she saw the majestic figure looking down at her imperiously.

It was a man. A man with burnished bronze hair and a sliver of silver running down it .Eyes so green it was like looking straight into a meadow.

His presence was so obviously princely, so exuding of royalness that Clara was quite sure she would be beheaded for impertinence.

Too bad she didn't know little girls were not violently killed simply for mistaken rudeness. Clara drew back and stuttered, "I'm s-so sorry my lord-".

To her surprise the man smiled and said, "It's alright child. It was simple mistake". Clara nodded in agreement, "Definitely sire. a simple mistake."

The man asked kindly,"What might your name be little one?". "Clara" She announced amiably, no longer afraid of the tall man.

"What's your name sire?" Clara asked curiously.

He replied "I? You may call me Arthur."

"Thats a nice name. I must go now, my duties must  be completed" ,said Clara regretfully. "It was nice meeting you!"

"And you too little one" Arthur said, still smiling. Clara beamed, waving as he walked away.

She didn't notice Gwen walk up beside her. She tapped her on the shoulder, "Oh, hi there Gwen. I just met the nicest man. He didn't scold me at all like all the snooty royals would!"

When Gwen didn't answer, Clara turned round. Gwen was staring into the space formerly occupied by Arthur.

" Helloo, Gwen? hello?" Clara said waving her hand in front of Gwen's eyes.  " Clara"  Gwen said in awe, stopping her hand, "Did you know who that man was?"

" No" Clara said shrugging, "Probably a lord or duke judging by his clothes"

"You, my dear" stated Gwen in an amazed voice, "Have just met His Royal Highness King Arthur of Camelot".