Vara

Chapter 3

It had been a few weeks since Vara's little adventure, but nothing new had happened. Not that Vara wanted her life to change, even the slightest, but it was a little too quiet for her. Prince Jorik hadn't requested anything ridiculous for a while, making the woman a little tense. Paranoid by the thought that he was planning some insanely difficult task, just to watch her struggle, put her on high alert. Every time anyone walked past her in the halls, she made eye contact. Any time she heard someone coming, she stopped what she was doing to wait. But... nothing. Nothing was happening and she didn't know if she should rejoice or be wary of every step she took. "Portia," she sighed, sitting on the edge of the palace's garden fountain.

The lip where she perched was short, only a foot above ground, but two feet deep. It was a large circle, a stone carving of a large hibiscus flower in the center with water gently bubbling in the center and trickling down the petals. Portia was sat on the ground nearby, tending to the garden. Her curls looking more copper than red in the sunlight. "Don't you have work to do?" the older girl hummed, glancing at her before turning to tend to the camellia bushes. "How can I work if my owner won't give me something to do?" Light pink lips formed into a pout, narrowing her eyes at the gardener. Portia laughed, shaking her head. "I think you may rely on his highness too much," she teased. "Perhaps you should take the initiative and ask if he needs for something." she suggested, making Vara scoff.

"Why should I? It is not like I wanted to become a slave. Why should I waste my free time asking for more work?" Vara argued, Portia quieting her by raising a brow. "Were you not just complaining that he was not giving you enough work to do?" she pointed out. "Did you do his laundry?" she asked, Vara nodding with a small huff. "I did. I also cleaned his bedsheets and dusted his room - plus his study." she listed off, pulling her hair out of the loose bun it was in. She hadn't tied it properly and was falling down anyhow. "Did you walk his pet?" Portia asked, making Vara stop mid-braid.

"When did he get a pet? What is it?" Vara was excited now. Animals were cute. Portia smirked, shrugging her shoulders. "Perhaps you should go ask his highness. I've been told that he will be in his study for most of today. Maybe he will allow you to keep his pet occupied." Portia giggled at Vara's attempt to hide how excited she was about meeting an animal. Portia knew from experience that the younger girl would easily get distracted by animals - especially friendly ones. Vara hastily braided her hair, the ends not as neat as the rest of the braid. But Vara was on a mission now. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, slowing down when she finally made it to the doors to the palace. It was only a three minute run, but she was already out of breath by that point. But she continued, speed-walking in the mirrored hallways, energetic and ready to pamper the royal animal.

She knocked on Prince Jorik's bedroom door, announcing herself outside and waited a few moments. No answer. She stepped inside, looking around the first chamber she had seen him sitting in when she had brought him the alpyte. No prince. She wandered into the second chamber, the walls very nearly identical to the first room, but it was his bedroom. Along one wall was an enclosure, with sliding doors that made it seem as if it was a large closet. Though if she stepped inside, she'd be at the side of his bed. She didn't want to go there, she had already washed his bedsheets that morning. Vara never understood why royals needed such intricate work for a piece of furniture if all the owner of it would do is sleep. However, it was not her place to judge how anyone liked their rooms. Unlike the rest of the royal family, the prince seemed to have more practical, rather than superficial, furniture.

In the center of his wall opposite of his bed, was a large circular wooden engraving surrounding a door. The wood was stained, but it was clearly made of umber, the door having the same grain type. However, the inside of the circle was a brilliant forest green with the door in the center painted to match. While beautiful, Vara had seen it one too many times to stop and admire the craftsmanship. On occasion, she would see a wooden carving in the rooms and often wonder how long it took for someone to crave such minute details. Crossing the room, she knocked. "Your highness, it is Vara. May I enter?" she announced herself, hoping that his pet might be in the room. She hadn't seen any sort of bed for the animal, and vaguely wondered if he had gotten something that's kept in a cage. Though the door was thick, Vara had excellent hearing. She heard him sigh, and mutter something that she couldn't quite make out before he spoke clearly, "Enter."