My Escape To My Fantasy World

Elira

This is the longest thing I have ever written on Wattpad, I'm sorry if it's a bit boring but I'll try to make the next one more interesting and gripping. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this and please comment your thoughts.

Elira sat on one of the barrels outside the castle kitchens, her legs slightly swinging to and fro. She was in for it now, she had lost track of time and been late back. All she could hope for was that it was Maybel who gave her a punishment and not Madam Kravant, whose glare alone could strike fear into the hearts of all those under her care.

She blew back a strand of her dark brown hair that had fallen over her face but refused to tuck it behind her ear. She preferred the feeling of her hair being loose rather than tied back and wouldn't stoop to Madam Kravant's idea of the perfect girl.

The wooden door to the kitchen opened and a wave of heat from the fire inside as well as relief washed over Elira as Maybel walked out, "Not again poppet, you need ta learn where ta be at what time otherwise you're gunna find yourself in a real pickle some day ya know that." she said. Elira didn't give any response and the middle aged woman sighed and shook her head, "Well you're 'ere now, get inside and warm up."

Elira jumped down from the barrel and followed Maybel into the kitchen. Chickens, geese, turkeys and other birds hung down from the ceiling, a stack of clean pots, pans, plates and cutlery stood in one corner and the whole room smelled of different spices. Elira brushed off her plain brown (though it had a few coloured patches) dress, sat down at the wooden table in the middle of the room and waited for the lecture she knew was coming.

Maybel sat down opposite her, "Now ya know I 'ate lecturin' ya love but you've got to get that head of yours out of the clouds and back into the real world and your lucky ya know. You get ta spend all day down 'ere 'elping me and no up there as a servant which ya could very well have been, and still could be." Elira sighed.

She knew she was lucky to work in the kitchens and not as a servant in the castle and was indeed grateful but she couldn't help wanting to see more, go new places. Where? She had no clue but while Maybel was always in her element when working in the kitchen Elira could never feel the same way.

"Now I really should give ya some kind of punishment but it's late so I'll wait till the mornin'. Now get you off ta bed and don't ya think for a second that you're off the hook young lady." Maybel told her, trying (and failing) to look stern.

Elira nodded and, without saying a word, walked towards the door that led to her bedroom. She reached for the handle and went inside. Heidie was in her own bed which stood against the wall, opposite to Elira's. She was lying there peacefully, clutching an old rag to her chest. Her mousy brown hair was tied back in two loose pigtails so only a few stray strands fell across her freckled face. Sometimes it was hard to believe she was a year older than Elira.

She turned over in her sleep when the door closed but didn't wake up, which Elira was grateful for. She didn't really want to stay up and tell her friend why she had been so late back. She lay down in her bed still in her work clothes, she didn't have many things to change into, but couldn't seem to fall asleep. She wasn't at all tired and figured she wouldn't be for a long time but what could she do?

She turned onto her back and looked up at the ceiling, remembering why she had been so late in the first place. She had, of course, been out in the forest again. Elira always felt at home in the forest, she couldn't explain the feeling but whenever she felt the sun streaming down through the green leaves high above her head, saw the forest path covered in sticks and leaves and heard the call of the animals around her she wanted nothing more than to just run and run until she could go no further.