Over the Mountain (Book One)

Chapter One: The Maid

^Olivia^
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Olivia

The fog is swirling through the forest, but I barely notice. In dreams you don't exactly pay attention to your surroundings, because your mind, after all the things it has seen, cannot create every detail precisely. I'm not sure if that makes any sense, though dreams do not often make any.

Maybe I'm floating. The sun is very bright, and I cower down beneath its angry gaze. Six droplets of rain pound down on my back. I fall down with a cry, hitting the hard rocks on the ground that stab me. The sun then gets closer and closer, burning me; I'm unable to scream-

"Wake up!" I barely register that someone is pounding my back. "Olivia! Wake up!"

My eyes fly open, and I groan, seeing Megan's face inches from mine. I pat my hair down slowly, squinting in the sun shining through the curtains.

"We have to get started on the chores, or the headmistress won't be happy. For God's sake, Olivia! It's already sunrise!"

A piece of Meg's brown hair slips out of her tight bun.

I blink twice and sit up. Okay, I tell myself. I need to get to work.
Quickly getting up, I go to the lavatory and grab a pin. I come back and tuck the strand of her hair through it, putting mine up as well.

"Okay, what's first?" I say.

The maids' quarters is a fairly large room with dozens of cots against the wall. Beside every few cots is a small closet for our uniforms. On the other side of the room are sewing needles and fabric, large cloths ready for stitching.

A small breakfast of eggs is brought in, and the few maids that have already gotten to work greet me and Megan, shoving soldier uniforms that need to be patched up to us.

We sit down on the wooden stools and get to work, pulling the needles through the tough cloth at a rapid pace. We have to get our qualifications met before the day is over, and if you don't, you have to work through the night to get it done. If you don't get it done, your head will be separated from your neck. Simple as that.

"Have a good beauty rest?" Says Megan softly.

Meg and I have been close since the beginning, when we first came to the castle to work. I was fifteen when our parents died in a village raid, and came to the castle looking for work. When first coming to the castle, we were happy and paid well. But when war struck between our continent, Taireilla, and Yewstrodia, all maids were struck hard. We started to get paid only a few coppers per day, and turned into slaves basically. At noon each day, Commanders and knights barge into our room, brandishing whips. One thread or finger out of place, and our heads will be separated from our necks.
Simple as that.

"Yeah," I say jokingly. I then peer over at her guiltily. "Sorry, Meg."

She giggles. "It's fine. You were drooling anyways."

I scowl. It's not my fault I drool when I sleep.

Under the table, I lightly kick her. "Bet you get a big kick out of it."

Meg makes a sound of disdain. She never finds my puns funny.

I suddenly realize something. Looking through one of the few windows, I glance at the sun. "It's almost time." I whisper. Some of the maids seem to notice too, and a hush falls over the room.

As if on cue, the door bursts open, seeming to rattle my brains. "Work faster!" Shouts a deep, loud resounding voice.

All I can hear is the clatter of the commander's shoes and his knights. Not a word is spoken by the maids.

I start to sew as fast as I can, nervous that they will point me out. A sharp pain hits my finger. I have to hold in my gasp, and try hard not to jerk back. A spot of blood is on my thumb.

"You!"

I freeze. The commander is pointing right at me. He must have seen my mistake. Swallowing heavily, I stand up. Sweat gathers at my hairline. I try not to feel dizzy as I walk up to the line of knights. Their whips look menacing, about to slap my skin any second.

"Faster!" Barks the commander. My legs feel like jelly, but somehow they're moving toward him. His arm juts out, and I'm sure he's about to whip me, but instead something white is in his hand. I look at it in confusion.

"Take it, you stupid girl! Bring it to the king's knight. And do not read it. That is confidential business. Now go!"

Dazed and startled, I take the envelope and scurry out of the door, breathing heavily.

Closing the door, I stand outside of the room in the hallway, congratulating myself for not dying. Shakily peeling myself from the wall, I look at the simple white note in my hand. It isn't sealed, as it seems as if the note were put in with haste.

I start to slowly walk down the tall, empty hallway.

I stare at the white parchment.

And stare.

One little peek wouldn't hurt, would it?

Nah.

Briskly surveying the hallway for people, and finding none, I reach in my hand and pull out a slip of parchment.

Unfolding it, and feeling extremely guilty, I read the tiny scrawl.

To thy Royal Majesty,

It has come to my perception that Prince Elijah has not been to our tutoring sessions of the late. I have conferred with thy other tutors, and neither of the former hast seen the Prince. I believe that is is reasonable to say that Prince Elijah is missing.

The Prince is missing? How could that even happen? The castle is heavily fortified, especially at this time- during war.

Sliding the parchment neatly back into the envelope, I start to walk down the hall again, only to realize that I have no idea where I'm going.

I start to panic. Shoot, where do I go? There are no doorways down this hall, so I turn the corner-

"Ah-" Smack! I find myself plummeting towards the ground. But I don't hit the ground.

"I am so sorry!" I say to the guard that has caught me. With his black hair and dark eyes, he's quite stunning, really.

He lifts me to a standing position. "No- I'm sorry Miss." He says politely. "Pardon me, I'm in a bit of a hurry." And he starts to speed walk around the corner.

Tucking a stray hair behind my ear, I casually collect myself. And immediately start to panic. I feel the pockets of my apron desperately, and look around the floor. My eyes lock to the corner where the guard was just moments ago.

I'm not entirely sure what happened, but one thing is for certain: the envelope is gone.

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