675-12-15 - Handmaiden to a Princess
| Handmaiden to a Princess | |||||||
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| Summary: Edris is assigned by Princess Madalyn to take on a new occupation. | |||||||
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Edris is often to be encountered in her room these days, even though she usually uses every opportunity to flee them for a bit of air in the garden of the castle, or for one of her endless walks exploring the castle grounds. Her appearance has changed somewhat. First off, the belly. It is gone, at least the impressive curve of it. And while the dress she wears is still the same she used to wear during her pregnancy, the dark green one, it now fits loosely about her frame, even though her waistline is still far from being restored to its former state. Her fiery red curls are worn in a modest braid, and indeed, overall the bearing of the former Madame of the Night’s Dream is to be called modest. There may be even a tinge of sadness discernible in her mien, as the handmaiden hired to look after her is the only company she has. The baby she had seen only briefly on the night she gave birth. Only once she had been allowed to hold her daughter, when she had given her the name. Raquel. After that the newborn had been taken from her, despite all of her pleas and tears she had admittedly spilt. Even though she of course must have seen it coming.
The red-haired woman sits on her bed on this early eve, the light of candles offering a dim flickering light that illuminates her modest chamber in the servant’s quarters. For now noone had bothered to seek her out, to offer any information as to what is to become of her. And while she has heard of the return of Onimus princess and princes, she has kept more to her rooms than before, knowing any encounter with Prince Nathan would be frowned upon.
Madalyn gets down to the part of the castle, where all the chambers of the servants of the castle are. The young girl used to come here often, so she feels quite comfortable down there. There is just two guards with the girl and no handmaiden. After all, her handmaiden died during that storm and break of the ship.
The girl gently knocks on Edris’ door and speaks quietly, “Mistress Edris Alachri, this is the princess. Princess Madalyn Onimus. May I come in? We need to talk,” she tells.
The knock will have Edris raise her gaze and look towards the door. When she hears who it is that wishes to speak with her, she rises, hands moving to smoothe her skirts, a glance is shot about the room to check if it is presentable. “Please, come in, your highness,” she says finally. When the princess enters she will offer her a curtsey. “What can I do for you?”, she inquires, the tone of her voice maybe a tad shaky.
When Madalyn comes inside, she looks around the room curiously. There is a smile in her pale futures, warm and friendly smile. The girl sways a little bit thoughtfully, "Well..." she drawls.
Her guards walk into the small room too. Both men even does not give the bow of their head to the other woman. However, Maddie does not notice it. , "Well...." she drawls the second time, "I need you to gather all the things, because you are out of here! You will never come back here again. Never," she explains and clasps her hands behind her back, swaying slowly and waiting.
Edris raises her brows, looking concerned for a moment. Her hand gestures for Madalyn to sit down - on one of the two beds, as there are no chairs - when she notices the swaying. “Your highness, please have a seat while I gather my things,” is said with a slightly breathless voice. Her gaze darts towards the other bed, the one for her own ‘handmaiden’, who is notably absent. “What about the woman that watches over me…?” she asks. “She was called away earlier. Will she accompany me where I am going?” Nonetheless she will move over to the tiny wardrobe and gather her two other dresses that she has left.
"I am good. I am good..." Madalyn drawls, watching the other woman. "Do not worry about your other handmaiden. She has a new work to do. You are moving into a room connected to my chambers. My old handmaiden died during the storm and mother assigned you as my new handmaiden!" And the last sentence is told as joyful news, Madalyn beams widely and curiously studies Edris for her reaction.
The reaction comes, after a moment. Her grey-green eyes widen, as Edris pauses in her current activity of packing, and she straightens, turning half-way to shoot the princess a glance over her shoulder. Seemingly out of words for a while. “Your… highness,” she finally says, finishing the turn fully so she can execute a deep curtsey to Madalyn. “You… honour me indeed. And your mother knows she has my eternal gratitude.” Her gaze is lowered, but there is a light tremble in her tone. “I will serve you as best as I can, even though I have to admit, I have little experience in the work of a handmaiden. So I will ask you to be patient with me. But I assure you I will learn swiftly enough.” It can’t be that hard after all.
“Thank you.” This is then offered belatedly, when Edris raises her gaze to meet that of the princess. “You seem agreeable enough to your mother’s decision.” She smiles. It is a cautious smile, as after all her position at this court may still be a tricky topic.
"Of course, I am agreeable," Madalyn smiles, "I need a woman who would be beside me, and who could help me. After all, I do not not have a sister... It's strange to live just around brothers. They do not always understand me. So, I thought... why I need to take a stranger, if I can take you? I watched you... saw... while you stayed here and I think, that you are a good woman. It was my idea to make you my handmaiden. So," Madalyn takes her hand and tugs a bit, "Can we go to your new chambers?" She looks pretty happy.
“I never had a sister as well,” Edris confesses with a faint smile, although there is more warmth in her gaze now that it becomes clear that the idea to take her as handmaiden had sprung from Madalyn’s mind alone. She may look a little surprised when the princess takes her by the hand, but she will nod nonetheless. “Of course,” she says, her gaze flicking briefly to her belongings. They are not many, so she’ll roll them up to carry them below her other arm. “My chambers?”, she inquires then. “It would be your chambers, your highness, rather.” Said as she follows along with Madalyn.
“Ours,” Madalyn laughs and turns to one of the guards, “Carry her things,” she commands and maybe a little bit not happy with that, guard moves to take things from Edris, “Are you feeling alright?” Madalyn asks for the woman, releasing her hand, “You just… am… gave birth, after all. No pains? Anything?”
The girl stares a bit curiously at Edris, while they walk, and then continues, “I have my own chambers, yes. Though, when you enter my chambers, there is a small door on the right wall. That’s where your room will be. My handmaiden has to be somewhere close to me all the time. But do not worry. I do not have much requirements. Others have many requirements for me, though,” she giggles, “And do not worry. Handmaiden’s work is not so hard. You will help me to dress up, you will brush my hair and you will be my trusted servant. That means, that you will keep all my secrets safe. Anything, what I will tell to you, will stay just between us. Also, if I will ask something to do or carry a note to someone - you will do that. Easy, right?”
“I am,” Edris replies to Madalyn’s question whether she is feeling alright. “I am fine, really.” The curiosity of the princess is met with a smile. “It’s the birth itself rather that caused quite a bit of pain. But after all, it has been three weeks now.” She smiles, but it is a faint smile. “I have been told to abstain from hard physical labour, and I do feel a little fatigued at times. But I feel fit enough for the task you have for me, your highness.” She does not object though, when the guard takes the bundle from her.
The fiery-haired woman will follow along when Madalyn leads the way. “A chamber in your quarters,” Edris echoes. “That sounds like much of an improvement. I know how to help someone into a dress and out of it, of course,” she admits then with a low chuckle, a hint of amusement sparkling there in her grey-green eyes. “As for the trust…” Here her demeanour becomes slightly pensive. “You know of my occupation, your highness. The one I’ve had prior to when I became a ‘guest’ at this castle?”, she inquires, raising a brow as she shoots Madalyn a glance.
"Yes," Madalyn nods slowly, "I heard of your reputation. You had ups and downs there. What can I tell?" She stops and looks at the woman. The young princess whispers, "I know that people love me. I love them and care for them too. But nobles? They think that I am useless child and the Kingdom will be ruined, when I will take my mother's place. So, I have two different reputations either... I believe that people can change. I will change and I will never disappoint my mother, Nathan will change when he will marry princess Luanda, if he will do so. Zephan will change and will be more often with me and his family. You will change too. You won't have to... am..." Maddie blushes brightly, turns away from Edris and continues their walk, "You won't have to do these stuff you done at.. am... brothal," she giggles like a true child. "You will become of a higher rank, you know. Many want this position.... So, you will change."
“My reputation? Oh. Yes.” Edris smirks faintly. “I have been running the Night’s Dream, your highness.” A good thing probably they have arrived in Madalyn’s quarters by now, the door closing behind them as the redhead continues. “But there have been other tasks as well I have seen to. You must be aware, Princess Madalyn, that there is a certain benefit of working at such a place, when one seeks to gather information. Information that may help or harm the Isles.” Grey-green eyes flicker towards Madalyn, studying her attentively. Given the princess was the heir to the crown she certainly would be aware of the network of information, and those that provide it: the Whispers.
She will listen when Madalyn speaks of her siblings and them being required to change, the mention of Nathan will have her lower her gaze though, and her jaw will set. “Of course, “ Edris replies, “I will become the handmaiden you would like me to be.” Nothing easier than that for a Whisper, to slip into a role. “But I will need new dresses, I suppose. That fit my station. Or will these do?” She points to the dress she wears and the two spare ones, both in darker tones, modest enough; and not flashy at all.
Madalyn turns to Edris, "Yes, of course, these dresses will be good as I am sure, that you will be good handmaiden. No longer a Whisper though. You will serve for me from now on and nobody else. Mother said, that I can trust you, but not fully. And I will remember my mother's advice unless you will prove otherwise. That I can't trust you at all or that I can trust you fully. But... the time will answer to all our questions!" Madalyn joyfully ends and flops on her bed, pointing at the other door, different than exit, "Your room!"
“You have spoken with Lady Adara then?”, Edris inquires with a curious flicker in her grey-green eyes. Whispers were not dismissed, usually. Only degraded - or even killed off. Once a Whisper, always a Whisper. Because it would not be advisable to let the acquired knowledge about the workings of the system of spies be spilled to the wrong people. Even so, the red-haired woman will nod. “Certainly, your highness. I am aware I have to earn your trust, to prove I deserve it.” Her gaze shifts to the door indicated and she walks over, shooting the princess on the bed a brief glance before she opens it and peeks inside.
What Edris sees is a tiny chamber, offering enough space for a plain bed and a plain chest without any adornments. Both pieces of furniture are made of sturdy oak, simple but practical. A pillow and a blanket of roughly spun cotton as well as a woollen brown blanket for the colder seasons are neatly arranged on the bed. There is a rug of a dark brown colour covering the small space before it, beside a small table in a corner, with a bowl and a jug of water.
Madalyn shakes her head, "I did not speak with lady Adara. I understand, that you should be punished for what you have done and Patrons will judge you, when the time will come, but for now..." Madalyn grins, "You will be my handmaiden. My brother Zephan said, that I am the future Queen. People will have to obey for my wishes, when the time will come. But this was the order of my mother, who is the current Queen. They must listen for her! So do not worry. You will be safe with me..."
“Even so, Lady Adara may wish to speak with you when she hears about this,” Edris comments, a brow lifting as her arms cross before her. “As for the punishment…” her smile fades. “I have already received it, I suppose.” Her hand is run absently across her belly. “But have no fear. I will not complain about anything that has happened to me in consequence of my deeds. I will serve you as best as I can, if that is your wish.” The mention of Zephan has her raise her brow once again. “With all due respect… You are the heir! Your position is not a result of how your siblings would like to see you, your highness.” She lowers herself once again into a curtsey, a smile curling her lips. “So… How can I be of service? Is there anything you need right now?”
Madalyn shakes her head, "I don't need anything for now." She moves to take a seat near the table and takes a parchment, "You go and settle in. I need to write a few letters. Then you will be able to carry them to a few of my friends."
