Tԋҽ Eʅϝ Kιɳɠ.

chapter 3

Astrid♡

Astrid: " What is king Jarith like ?"
Everyone in the kitchen stops talking eating , cooking ,and cleaning to look at me . After those words leave my mouth . Ember Breaks the silence .

Ember: " a lot of us have never spoken to him but once or twice our whole lives he has sartain servants that attend him directly in that part of the castle. I'm sure you have heard the stories about him . I can say he is very strict and I heard he can be very cold , But you do not have to worry Astride. I have only ever seen him 2 times my whole life in the palace and he never spoke to me . We are not assigned to that part of the palace . So most likely you will probably never come in contact with the king . The palace is so very large . "

An elf with dole brown hair in her 20s starts to speak next .

Joy: " Hi Astrid I'm joy . Living here is really not bad . But I would caution you to stay away from king Jarith . As long as you do your duties and stay in the parts of the castles you have been assigned to . Then you won't have to fear the king or life here in the palace ."

Everyone starts eating , working ,and talking about other things again. Like the awkward question was never asked to begin with . I get the feeling they would rather not linger on this topic for to long . Which only makes me more set on doing everything in my power to stay away from the king.

After dinner ember asks me if I would like to take a hot soak in the large stone tub before bed . It sounds so soothing I decide not to pass it up . Ember filled the large stone tub for us telling me that the water is natral spring water with minerals that make your skin really soft .

We soak and talk about our lives for a good hour . We part our ways going to our own rooms across the halls from one another. I tried the whole night to sleep despite being exhausted. All that came for most of the night was a lot of tossing and turning . I was still nervous about what my new life in the palace would be like and I really missed my family .

~THE NEXT DAY~

Astrid♡

A knock on the door wakes me . "Come in ." I call out . Ember walks in holding a salmon colored apron just like I have seen the other servants wearing ,and a tray with food on it.

Ember: " Goodmorning Astrid . We have 20 minutes before we need to start working . I brought you breakfast this morning but after today we can meet in the dining room have breakfast with everyone in the kitchen before we start work. "

I drag my tired body from the bed . I feel my lack of sleep. I will really have to push my way through this day .

I eat my oatmeal toast and fruit she brought me . I get dressed and ready wearing a short sleeve denim dress. Tying the salmon cored apron that matches hers on , and placing the map she gave me and today's schedule in the apron pocket.
We head out to the garden . Our first duties for the day is to work in the garden using our elf gifts to make sure all the plants, trees and, flowers are all healthy and growing well.

Since elves are connected to the earth we have an ability to connect energies with herbal life we can help them grow and bring dying ones back to life . All elves can do this . The next 5 hours is spent in the massive garden going from plant to plant fixing anything that does not look perfect . Now I understand why the garden is so beautiful here . Helping a flower or plant grow is not a fast thing you have to take your time and connect with that root to that plant . It takes patience. A lot of care and time goes into this garden .

Doing this to hundreds of herbal life if we had to touch every single plant in this garden could probably take months . Luckily we only have to walk through and spot check and fix the ones that do not look like they are doing good . Ember said this is something we have to do everyday . Keeping up with it. So it stays in hand .

For the first half of the day we work in the garden then we will break for lunch and the second half of the day we clean in the palace until dinner time .
Then we are free to have our own time unless something extra needs to be done or is assigned to us . We do not have free days we work all 7 days in a week . Our free time is in the evenings .As the morning dwindles down I can feel how tired I am .

Ember : "It's almost lunch Astrid . You have done great so far . you do look very tired though . I guess it will take some getting use to.Etsy's from the kitchen use to help me out here in the garden . She was happy to be moved to kitchen duty . She really didn't like standing outdoors all morning long ."

I see ember start to blush . I turn to look behind me to see what has given her this reaction . Walking up to us on the garden path is Head guard Artimis. His shaggy black hair blowing in the breeze . He has forest green eyes and is very attractive. I can understand why Ember blushed .

Head Guard Artimis: " Goodafternoon ladies . I was out attending some business and thought I'd come see how your first day with us is going Astrid ?"

Astrid: "So far everything has been okay . Thank you for checking up on me Artimis that is very kind of you . "

Ember: " We were just about to head in for lunch Artimis . Would you like to join us?"

Head Guard Artimis : " That would be great I can take my break now I suppose . I'm not headed back out for another couple of hours . "

We start our long walk back up to the palace heading towards the kitchen. When a tall elf with the most gorgeous crystal blue eyes , silvery blonde hair a face and body that can only be described as a perfect work of art. Steps in front of us towering over us all he has to be at least 6 foot in height .
All 3 of us freeze in place .

King Jarith : "This conversation is not finished Artimis !"
You will do as I say ."