Where The Heart Lies

Chapter 1

I awake to the sun seeping through the curtains on my small window, it’s nearly dawn. I raise slowly, my nearly white-blonde hair flows over my shoulder and to my waist. I slip into my under dress and work gown, and I tie a cream colored apron around my small waist. I step in front of the little sliver of glass I use for a mirror and comb through my hair before braiding it tightly. Once I let go, my hair falls just above my waist, the usual look for me. I look into the “mirror” again and see my eyes. My mother always told me that they reminded her of beautiful emeralds that my father used to give her before he left her for someone else. Circling around my bright green eyes is a ring of simple gold. My mother said that any man would be lucky to be my husband with my exquisite beauty, but I don’t believe her. I’m not beautiful, my eyes are my only impressive feature, plus, love does not find castle servants easily.

I walk through the castle courtyard and towards the castle, the crisp white snow patches glistening in the pure white snow. I walk into the kitchens and I’m met with the comforting warmth that it offers. The pink, stout little cook with a beard hovers over the oven, baking more bread for the king, queen, and princess. As soon as I walk close enough to hear him, the cook shouts, “YOU, MAID, I NEED WATER. GO FETCH SOME FROM THE WELL!” I just stand there in shock of his utter stupidity; does he not know that it is winter?

“S-sir…”

“YOU’RE SO SLOW! I ORDERED YOU TO GET ME WATER! NOW GO GET SOME! WORTHLESS, THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE. WE SHOULD HAVE CHUCKED YOU OUT AS SOON AS YOUR PATHETIC MOTHER DIED!” The cook screams at me once again, but this time, it felt, like someone had just hit me in my gut while stabbing a knife through my chest and into my heart.

I try to reason with him once more by starting again, “S-sir I… Th-the well, it… It’s frozen sir.”

I watch as his face turns three different shades of pink and two shades of purple before he responds to me, “I WILL NOT TOLLERATE A MAID TELLING ME WHAT’S WHAT AROUND HERE! YOU WILL GO AND GET THE WATER, AND HURRY WITH IT, OR ELSE!”

I back up and run out of the kitchen doors as quickly as I can, one thing about the cook, he NEVER makes an empty threat or promise. I think back to what he said about throwing me out after my mother’s death and tears threaten to fall over onto my cheeks, I have never met someone who likes to insult a girl and her late mother before. I grab my emerald green cloak that matches my eyes, and wrap it around myself before stepping out, once again, onto the snow covered grounds. I see some footprints that lead towards the well, so I step in them to insure that my leather slippers don’t get too wet. I follow the footprints until I can no more. I begin to walk off of the footprint trail as they lead to the stables. I get to the well and reach for the bucket to fill with water, but I slip on some hidden ice on the well’s base. I start to fall backwards; surely I shall hit my head. But then the most wonderful thing happens, I am caught by a man with very strong arms. He lifts me back onto my feet, and I get a good look at him at last. He is around six feet tall with brown hair so dark it is almost black. He looks at me and I see the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes in the world, and when he smiles I see perfect white teeth that sparkle in the sunlight.

“Careful, it’s a bit slippery over here.” He says in a strong yet gentle voice, oh the beauty of all of him is enticing. He’s only around twenty years old, two years older than me, he looks as though he has no flaws and his voice is just perfect when it comes out of lips that look so soft and tempting.

“What’s a fair maiden like yourself doing out on such a cold and icy day as today?” He asks, his voice causing me to lose my train of thought for a moment. I try to speak, but it seems that my voice is stuck in my throat and will not come out. I decide to do a basic movement with my hand toward the well as my answer.