Hope

Chapter One: Found

Quentin-

Sometimes people come into your life when you least expect it and leave behind their marks. Whether for the good or bad, is something else entirely, but as soon as I saw her eating breakfast with the other servants, I knew I had met someone who would change my fate.

"Camilla, who is the new maid?"

"Hm? Oh. Her. She's actually one of my new handmaidens. Father found her near death in the woods, can you imagine?"

"What's her name?"

Camilla huffed with impatience. My little sister with her dark hair and green eyes was a beauty, and conversation that didn't revolve around herself tended to spark her temper.

"She doesn't even talk, Quentin. How the Gods am I supposed to know what her name is?"

"She's mute?"

"I guess so. She does an okay job I suppose, but you know father: Much too kind hearted. Unfortunately, you take after him."

"I can't say that I can take that as the insult you mean it to be."

"If you weren't so handsome, I'd think you positively hopeless in finding a queen."

"I'm young yet, I have plenty of time."

"You're 21, Quentin. Our parents won't live forever and if you don't have a bride, you can't take the throne."

I sighed deeply and tore my eyes away from the fawn-colored hair of the new maid.

"You worry too much, Camilla. I'll find a wife. Besides, wouldn't you like to be queen? You get to be the ruler if I can't find someone to marry my sorry ass."

"You're so crude, Quentin. And I have a feeling being queen would be a lot of hard work, so no thank you. I'm made to be a trophy wife, you know this, they know this, I mean, just look at me."

"Camilla, you're so much more than that," I frowned at my sister, sad that she didn't consider herself more than just a pretty face. I turned back to look at the unnamed girl, but she was no longer in her chair.

"Dammit, where did she go?" I muttered to myself, but apparently loud enough that Camilla was able to hear.

"She's so plain, why do you caaaare?" She whined out. I caught a flash of blue eyes and brown hair going out the door, a tall and lanky frame hidden beneath and oversized maid's uniform. She had left, and my questions of who she was, followed out the door behind her.

Aimi-

It had been ten years since I had had a meal in a dining hall, and I hadn't been able to enjoy it. The prince's eyes had followed my every move, and I felt my hands trembling under his gaze. I felt doubt growing in my heart. I knew what I looked like to people around me: A plain mute... but I hadn't realized I stuck out that badly. But, Gods was he handsome, and while I was terrified, I couldn't help but take my own peeks at his profile as he turned and spoke to his sister.

This time, it was the young princess who looked at me skeptically. Camilla, who was a stunning girl with plenty of suitors, hadn't taken to me quickly, or at all. She was used to being surrounded with pretty things and people who fawned over her, and I was neither attractive nor someone who tossed compliments at her head in hopes of gaining favor.

I saw the prince purse his lips, obvious unhappiness clouding his eyes, and took that moment to slip out of the room. The last thing I wanted to do was gain attention from those in power. I only intended to stay until my strength was back, as it was.

As I walked down the hall after breakfast to Camilla's chambers, I thought about the events leading up to this moment. I knew very well if I told who I was things in my life would change drastically. I would get to sleep in a bed stuffed with the softest goose feathers instead of a thin cot in the corner of a dorm-style servant's room. But I couldn't allow myself those luxuries. My parents and Lucy no longer had them, so neither would I.