Freeing Azalea

Chapter 4

   The water was almost black after I had scrubbed myself raw. I smelled like lavender and rosemary, and my skin was glowing pink. I swam to the lip of the pool and sat there looking around me. The walls were a bright white with little jewels of blue tile nestled in the wavy plaster. The water reflecting off the pools made the walls seem to move. I'd never been to the ocean, but if it was anything like this room, I'd want to live there forever.

   I heard footsteps coming towards the door and tried to cover myself as best I could. Apparently, Belle had taken my rags away when I got in the water. Large calves came into view under the door with...women's boots?

This ought to be interesting.

 A rather large woman burst through the doors and looked right at me. "Marian?" she asked with a voice that sounded like little bells and definitely didn't match her large and muscular stature. Her head almost touched the ceiling and her short dirty blonde hair made the large muscles in her tanned neck very visible. she looked like she could break me in half with her forearms that were almost the size of my entire torso.  She had a grin plastered on her face showing her startlingly white teeth.

Maybe she could show Tali a thing or two about oral hygene. 

I meekly nodded and she scooped me up into a rather tight hug.

Geez, does everyone give bear hugs around here? 

I  eventually found my voice once she set me down on the floor.

"Um, hello, ah yes I'm M-marian. Who are you?"  I was frightened to say the least. What did this woman want? 

"OH! Darlink, forgive me! I'm Lissandre. I oversee all the girls here, and Belle tells me you're a new one, da?"

Sometime during her introduction I found my shoulder draped with the softest towel I'd ever felt. I simply nodded at her and drew the towel tighter around my small frame. I watched Lissandre as she poured some sort of powder from her apron pocket into the grimy water I had left behind. Once the powder hit the water, it fizzled and foamed bright purple, and just as quick as it started, the foam dissolved and in its place was the bright turquoise water I saw when I entered the room. I looked up and Lissandre with awe.

"What magic is this?" I all but whispered.

"Castle wizard say this be 'magic', but I know better. Some minerals from the field. The right mix, and poof! Clean water for Lissandre's girls. Bah. Wizards. Can't trust them." Lissandre rolled her eyes and smirked at me. "Don't worry, dahlink, there's no magic here. Just some git with an apothecary set."

I like this woman already.

I smiled back at Lissandre and shuffled my feet. I wasn't the best at talking to people, and was starting to feel a little uncomfortable. Sensing this, Lissandre looped her arm through mine and brought me back into the room full of girls. She set a heavy amber dress in my arms and took me to what looked to be her private living quarters if the giant bed was any indication. 

Her room was surprisingly well furnished. I had pegged Lissandre to have sparse furnishings, but the bed frame was a deep oak, the bed was covered in a lilac colored duvet, and the fireplace had some knickknacks that were obviously made by some of the girls. There was a partition on the side of the room with a dress thrown over it and I heard someone humming from behind it. I couldn't see who it was,  but when  Lissandre heard the singing her smile became 100 watts brighter.

Who would have thought she was so sentimental?

I was lost in my own little world and next thing I know I was barreled over by what felt like a small building. I opened my eyes to see that familiar mop of red curls and Belle smiling down at me. 

"Hey there, slow-mo! How was the bath?" She asked while dusting herself off and sidling up to Lissandre.I coughed and gave her a thumbs up and stayed on the floor watching the two. Lissandre gave her a tender kiss on the forehead and my jaw almost hit the floor. I was definitely not expecting those two to be together. Belle barely looked six and ten summers, but a closer examination of the fiery cherub showed the slight wrinkling around her eyes and the wisdom that those eyes held. Belle was completely dwarfed by Lissandre, but they looked so happy and at peace together, who was I to judge their love? At least that explained the room. I hadn't thought of Lissandre as a lavender type of woman, anyhow. I quietly cleared my throat and stood up.

Lissandre smirked at me again. "I see you've met my wife, then. She gets a little too excited sometimes, but she means well. I've got to see to my other girls, but Belle will get you dressed and ready to meet the queen. Shouldn't be a problem putting you to work, but her highness always has final say." With that, she gave Belle a kiss goodbye that I tried not to gawk at, and patted my shoulder as she left the room. Belle waved after her, and then rushed behind the partition. I could hear her rummaging through some drawers.

Somehow, I think I'm not going to like where this going.....

Confirming my suspicions, Belle emerged with her arms full of cosmetics and an evil grin on her face. "Time for a makeover!" she squealed.

 ...............................................

A/N:

oOOOoooO a meeting with the queen? Things are finally rolling and woo 59 reads? *chirping crickets*  anywho....

Sorry for posting after about six moths later than I planned (oops). I just couldn't get in the zone. But here it is! Let me know what you guys think!!!!