A Collection of One-Shots

Never Underestimate A Servant

I wrote this last year, as a vocabulary story for school! So, I changed some words so it'd be easier to understand (because I also forgot what some words meant). It is loosely based on a story that I will write in the future. I hope you enjoy it!

The sky grew dark as grey clouds slowly and silently flew across the sky. Because of having the menial job of stable hand, I still had a few chores to do around the stables before I was let off duty. Before I entered the stables, I admired the pigs nearby. They must have such an easy life because all they have to do is fatten up and wallow in mud. As I entered the stables, I walked across the straw-filled grass to my favorite horse, Eleanor. Her nervous, haggard movements conveyed that she seemed wary of the incoming storm. I gently pressed my hand against her neck and felt her silky white hair, which is one of my favorite attributes that she possesses.    

I heard a pained yell and I swiftly turned my head to look for the source of the sound. The sound came from the practicing field a few yards away, to the right of the stables. Two young boys had been sparring together with swords. One had black hair, and the other had blonde. Both of their outfits seemed to be upper-class. It was after the time that the knights usually practiced, so I assumed that they sneakily borrowed their fathers' swords and thought to have a little duel.

Clicking my tongue in distaste, I ran over the hill to the practicing field to see what had happened. When I got to the field I gasped in horror. One of the boys, the one with blonde hair, was on the grass with his knee in an odd angle, crying from the pain. From the looks of it, the two boys had been sparring when the raven-haired boy parried a little too hard and the force pushed the blonde boy backwards. Then, when the blonde boy was falling, he landed wrong and broke his knee.

The raven-haired boy had a predatory glare on his face, and I think I heard him mutter, "That'll teach you to disrespect my father." He then belittled him by snarling, "With all that crying, I can't believe that you are actually the son of a knight."

I assumed he had not seen or heard my presence, so I made myself known with a clearing of my throat. He looked shocked as he realized someone had been watching him, but that shocked expression turned into a sneer as he looked up and down at my clothes and realized my social status.

He went into a confident stance and said, "Oh, you're just a servant. Don't worry about telling my father about this, he'd never believe you." I nearly laughed at how much he underestimated me. Little did he know, I have a direct line to Princess Erika, and I would be sure to use it.

I looked at him with distaste and said, "Well, I have never backed out from a challenge before, and I'm not starting now. What's you and your father's names?" "My name is Timothy Barrowson. My father is Darren Barrowson, the greatest knight in all the realm!" he boasted.

"Okay," I replied. "I'll take care of this poor boy that you've injured now, and I'll be on my way." So, I picked up the blonde boy and carried him to the court physician to be have his wound treated. I'm glad I helped the boy when I did, because as soon as we got inside the castle, a horrible storm had begun. It was so terrible that it ravaged some of the trees. After the peak of the storm, I retired to my room for the night.

The next day, I met with Princess Erika to talk about the incident. I knew I could trust her because of her fair mind. After telling her the story, she ordered one of her servants to fetch Darren Barrowson, and, in the privacy of her chamber room, she tenderly kissed me. After the gentle kiss from my lover, I sent her a smile and exited with her so we could talk to Timothy's father. He looked jaunty, but with the news I hoped that he would lose that attitude.