The Princess Switch

At the Inn

Hey ya'all, hope you like this new chap.  I would like 160 reads before I update, as it is a Friday.  I am unaware as to how many I currently have, but I know that it is in the 150s...... so ya......... this chapter is going to be dedicated to.......... look up!  

                                                                             Chapter 12: At the Inn

     Once I had finished my meal, the serving girl showed me to my small but serviceable room.  It was a tiny and cramped, square room with a miniature bed pushed into the corner and a bedside table close by it.  A wardrobe was also placed in the other corner of the room.  She handed me a candle, and with a final “good night”, she bid me farewell.  I examined the room closely, but it seemed like a safe and secure place.  Just in case, I barred the door with a chair so that if someone attempted to break in, there attempts would be futile.

     I changed into the extra dress that I had made, very poorly, may I say, and collapsed on the bed, reaching over only momentarily to blow out the candle.  I lay sprawled across the bed for a while, thinking about all that happened that day.  

     It seemed like quite a bit to have occurred in only a week.  It was a whole lot to have happened in only one week.  I had been through a kidnapping, recovery from my injury, escape from the Marks, and even just being this far away from the castle was exciting.  Before I knew it, I was dozing off as my body obviously did not realize how hard the bed that I was resting on was so hard, almost like a wooden board.

     When I woke up, I felt reenergized and ready to start the day.  I descended the stairs sleepily, and the serving girl, whose name I had learned was Kati, gave me some breakfast.  I ate the food vigorously, knowing that the trip ahead of me was long.  “Kati, would it be possible that you had any extra food in your storage for me, as I am about to continue on a long journey?”  

     She replied with a shrewd smile.  “Of course.  Just a second, milady.”  A few minutes later, she came back with a bucket heaping full of bread, fruits, and other various food items, and she looked at me with a tender face.  “Once again, my lady, thank ye kindly for the extra money.  You see, my sister is having a baby soon, and they did not have enough money saved to hire help, and I was worried sick about both Caroline and her new little baby.  The innkeeper let me keep the extra money, and I was able to hire the best help around to wait on her.  

    “Be off with ye now, before that evil man catches up with you.”  When I heard this, I was shocked.  How did she know about Mr. Marks?  Well, I guess gossip travels quickly in this town.  Who am I kidding?  Gossip spreads like wildfire wherever you are.  

     As I reached the door, I stopped for a moment and turned back to wave to her.  She called after me “my family and I will not easily forget what you did for us, Princess.”  When I heard this, I gave her a quizzical glance.  How did she know who I was?  She gave me a wink, saying, “Not many normal people pay with gold coins, Your Highness.  Try these,” she suggested while pressing several silver and copper coins into my fingers, pushing me out the door before I could resist her kind charity towards me.  Afterall, I had been the one that had plenty of gold coins to spare.  

    I set off on my way, boiling in mock anger at first, but then getting past it as I realized how incredibly beautiful it was outside.  This was a rare time when no one could resist nature’s beauty, no matter what kind of hurry they may have been.  The sun was shining brightly, and the flowers were swaying back in forth in full bloom while bees buzzed back in forth, sf  I couldn’t help but stop and smell the flowers for just a moment.  Deer and foxes passed in perfect silence, content to keep their distance if I would keep mine while birds tweeted around with him.