The Maiden's Song (draft-editing)

Chapter 7 In the Castle

Chapter 7
In the Castle

It was a pleasant ride to the castle. The velvety red cushions in the chariot's made the two hours journey comfortable and somehow relaxing. Am played with a ripe apple, one of the many fruits placed for her in a silver tray in a corner of. Staring outside the window from time to time, Am recalled better times, when her dad took her to the country's market. She knew the road very well, though it's been a long time since she took it other than by foot.

Flanked by tall trees and small cottages at each side, the main road intersected the woods from the south to north and towards the castle. For the maiden, things appeared a bit different. Traveling this time inside a luxurious carriage gave her another perspective of the place, of life... a life that perhaps suited well, being the daughter of a count, still a life that she never owned because of some destiny's gambling.

As they approached the castle it was a pretty picturesque scenery: neatly aligned houses and colorful shops along the cobblestoned streets. Once in town, Am leaned closer to the window to see the meandering carts, never as elegant as hers, wobbling by while packed with merchandise towards the market. With a mix of happiness and nostalgia, Am contemplated the wooden kiosks roofed with bright canvas fabrics. Like busy ants, villagers moved across the market, selling this or buying that. The air filled with the aroma of food, spices, and blooming flowers. When she was a little girl, she used to come with her parents. Anibal sold antiques and books and Jocelyn attended her kiosk. Twice a week, they came and a smile grew on her face to recall herself playing with other kids, hiding under the tables and at the end of the day, they were allowed to eat sweets and cheese. Every day she was at the market, Am stood at the castle's gate to watch the soldiers forming in rows in the courtyard.

Unaltered by time, it was the same smell, the same noises, the cheerful people selling and trading their goods, the musicians and bards at the piazza reciting ballads of love and knights, stories of princesses and kings, of fairies and heroes that no matter hardships, they overcame adversity.

A massive iron gate opened side by side, and two pairs of guards have greeted the lady standing at each side. After crossing a second gate, the carriage passed a bridge above the pit that separated the lands where the main buildings stood. On the other side, the barracks and the guard's headquarters lied, also, the stables and a small chapel. Emerging at a top of the hill, the king's castle appeared as the most impressive white stoned and wooden structure building. Cornered by four rounded towers with their balconies and fluttering blazons, two edifications joined in the middle by the courtyard and a terrace. Beautiful gardens and fruitful trees bordered the mansion neatly arranged.

Riding now a little bit slower the carriage stopped at the courtyard, under the terrace. A group of servants hurried outside to received her. After the chauffeur opened the carriage's door, the maiden climbed down the cart, baffled by a most warming receiving "Welcome lady Amalthea to Abhain's castle", the man helped her down.

Two female servants rushed to take her luggage, as if was anything more than a leather duffle bag,  and guided her to the interior of the building, yet all she could hear was nonsense babbling fading in the distance. Admiring the interior of the palace, it came to her like a dream the tapestries hanging from the walls and the arched tall stained glass windows. Standing in the middle of the salon, Am did not know where to place her eyes on. So many things to see; exquisite furniture, bookshelves, sculptures, and bronze shields and armors.

Am was escorted by the maids to the second story and then to the room that would be her dormitory for the week ahead. "Lady Amalthea, this will be your  bedroom during your stay. If you need something just ring the bell on the table. My name is Annith, to your service." The servant left the room after helping with the little she brought, the best gowns she got, to look decent during her stay. All jumbled up her thoughts, Amalthea took a deep breath trying to compose herself. She couldn't believe at that moment where she was as it was hard to realize it was not a dream.

Her fingers trailed the soft furry covers on the bed while walking slowly towards the window. Eyes watered, the young lady fixed her eyes towards the stunning landscape. The lush gardens and orchards, then the market and beyond, the woods, where her home was.

This could have happened before and it came as a what-if moment, but she never thought about a life in the castle until then. Nor her mother neither her blamed Don Anival for having chosen a humble life in the village over a noble one in the castle. There were times she remembered her parents talking about this, of the many times king Ataro asked Anibal to live in the palace to work as a counselor in the court.

The door squeaked open scampering the rambling memories away. A smiling King Ataro walked into the room and Am immediately curtsied making a delicate bow and spoke to the king. "Your Majesty."

With a fatherly hug, the ruler welcomed the maiden. "My dear lady Amalthea, I hope you liked the room I picked for you so far. It's quite separated from the main residence, because it is a guest room."

"It is beyond beautiful, thank you, Your Highness."

"You'll find in this building, the royal salon, the captain headquarters, a library and six more guest rooms. Palace is across the terrace. Remember no one knows about you. You're free to go anyplace in this side of the castle. Neither my son nor the queen frequent this wing, so you're safe to meander around. You will love the library, I'm sure."

"Why they don't come to this part of the castle?"

"There's no business to them in this side, besides, Prince Alasther and the Queen will be out for a few more days delivering the rest of the invitations. Later on today, the seamstress will come to take your measurements for your gown. Tomorrow you will meet Maestro Romanelli so both can practice the songs to be performed at the feast." The king informed the lady who nodded, beaming a smile.

"I'll give my best, I promise, to please my king and to make him proud."

"It's your father, from above who'd be so proud of you."

Making a reverence a female servant entered the room to inform lunch was served for the guest. After padding fatherly on the redhead's shoulder, the king left the room and Amalthea followed the maid down the stairs towards a small table by the gardens. The girl didn't know where to begin with. There was food on the table to feed a whole family. Not even moving a finger, there was a maid who served what she wanted and another young servant poured cider in a glass. Holding the shiny fork in hands, she sighed, smiling to herself, wishing her mother to be there having lunch with her. Taking a first bite of freshly baked bread, still warm from the oven, she stared at the maids. Non of them older than her, perhaps villagers like herself, and there she was, being attended by them. Unfair... fortuitous maybe but never in her life she thought singing would make her world spin around to place her at a table in the castle.