Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Past and Tense

The light shining through her window made Skye want to crawl into a dark hole. Her bedroom walls were a light blue color. The floors and ceiling were the same off-white marble used everywhere else in the castle. It helped the light become brighter where plush, light blue rugs that matched the walls weren’t covering. When she had been a child, the morning hours were her favorite time of the day. She loved the excess of light that flowed into her room. Now; all she wanted was something closer to an animal’s den to sleep in.

Sunset was Skye’s favorite time of the day now. She loved the display of colors as they blended and changed, seemingly melting across the evening sky. She loved how, even as the darkness encroached; it was also swallowed up by the vastness of twinkling stars. She liked moonlight well enough, but preferred moonless nights. Easier to see the countless stars.

Not being a morning person anymore, Skye had given strict orders to Peggy not to let her over-sleep. The fresh, crisp air of the coming winter filled the room. Riding in on a breeze through the open windows. Skye frowned deeply, wrapped herself up tighter, and retreated further into her comforter.

After gathering the necessities for her lady’s bath and getting everything at the ready, Peggy returned. When no sign of her mistress could be seen, she grabbed the comforter and yanked with all her might, sending Skye toppling to the floor.

“Bloody Hell Peg! Are ye tryin’ to kill me?!” Skye yelled at her servant after a minute long fight to free her upper body from her comforter.

“Don’t ye take that tone with me, Lassie! Ima not above givin’ ye a good crack on yer Arse, and sending ye to yer husband on yer wedding night with welts up and down yer backside! Ye be the one to order me to wake ye early. Don’t be taken it out on me!” Peggy snapped at her lady.

Skye lowered her head at Peggy’s admonishment as she sat on the floor like a child. She knew everything the old woman said was true, but she couldn’t just turn off her hostility. Instead, she aimed for ‘just annoyed’. She took a deep, long breath, exhaling heavily before replying, “I apologize; you are right. I was the one who asked for it.”

.....

Having gone through this process many times over the years, Peggy simply nodded her acknowledgment of Skye’s apology. She headed back towards the main door, knowing nothing further needed to be said. Sticking her head out the doorway, Peggy yelled at the top of her lungs; ” Felicia! Get yer behind in here Now! Yer slowin’ down me duties, ye damn milk cow!”

In less than a minute, one of the servants bustled into the room carrying fresh linens in her arms. Her pretty face was pink from her efforts to keep pace with Peggy. Which obviously and purposely wasn’t enough; according to Peggy. When she saw Skye, she nodded slightly; acknowledging her lady before starting in on Peggy.

“I was fetchin’ the new linen ye ordered me to retrieve from the store rooms! They be on the farthest side of castle! No one can go from here to there and back in the time ye demanded!”

Peggy squared her shoulders, put her hands on her hips, and wore a smug smile as she retorted, “I could, milk cow.”

“Of course Ye could, ye old ogre! Ye got the devil’s blessin’...” the girl trailed behind Peggy as they continued their argument; gathering the linen on Skye’s bed as the lass chattered.

It was the servant that had fainted in the banquet room yesterday. The scene and fresh linen only made Skye reconsider her bed, but she knew it was past time to start the day. Raising herself out of her comforter, she strode around to the other side of her bed, where the doorway led into her closet area.

Servants lugged large stock pots of boiled water into the small room from the outer door. It led out into Skye’s personal courtyard. It opened up with a small patio of smooth stones. It had a sitting area to the right, and to the left was a well that sat next to a fire pit. The sitting area had a large tree behind it that helped to shade during the noon hours. A pathway made of the same stones led out into a beautifully maintained garden. It lined a circular pathway that lead to and around a large fountain. Tall hedges and walls on the other two sides gave Skye much wanted privacy from the other quarters of the castle.

As the servants filled Skye’s bath with boiling water, she found herself lost in thought. Tidas had barely spoken to her all night, even when he escorted her back to her rooms at the end of it. She had tried numerous times to get his attention, but all he did was nod or wave at her. When she had finally had enough and went to leave, he had stood and offered to walk her back. Thinking that he might’ve just been waiting for the opportunity, she had smiled and agreed. Peggy even kept her distance as they walked, trying to give the couple a moment to get to know one another a little.

The only thing that they had spoken about as they walked was the food. Skye was amused to see that Tidas hadn’t changed when it came to his appetite. However, his persistence to stay on topic had made her nervous. She knew he was intentionally dragging out their mundane conversation. The entire night, he had ducked and dodged questions pertaining to his whereabouts of the past few years. ‘Why? What was he hiding?’ Skye pondered obliviously as the servants finished their task, and quietly left.

Peggy and Felicia’s bickering had brought Skye back to reality as they entered her closet. They had brought towels, soaps, and various other things needed for Skye’s bath. Peggy leaned over and poured scented oil into Skye’s bath water as she undressed. The room filled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms and citrus. It was a special scent that was custom made for Skye in the Sai Republic. Her father had taken her with during a business trip to speak with a Senator of their government. Unlike Alcon and most other kingdoms; Sai was run by a Senate, and a thorn in the sides of a few choice kingdoms because of it.

Skye had become friends with his daughter Mei, who introduced her to the smell. She thought the cherry blossom would pair well with the citrusy perfume Skye already liked, giving her a completely unique smell. Mei was only a year older than her, so they got along well. It was the first time Skye truly bonded with another girl that was her age. While she loved Peggy like a mother or grandmother, it was nice to have someone her own age to talk to about; certain things with.

Climbing into the steaming water, Skye thought about her dear friend. They wrote letters to each other, but Skye still missed her terribly. She was unable to attend her wedding because Mei was giving birth to her first child. Most of the girls around Skye’s age were either too courteous, or jealous. While she never lacked for company, she couldn’t really call the girls around her ‘friends’. They were there to secure their families’ interests. They didn’t actually care about her. Just the prestige of calling Skye Moonstone ‘friend’.

It made Skye sad, the first time she’d realized it. Right after they were informed of the prince’s false death. She had been devastated for the loss of her friend and betrothed. After all of two weeks, they were talking about other suitors, and comparing her options for her. It had made Skye unbelievably angry and hurt. She was still morning the prince, but all they cared about was who would take his place.

Skye’s whole life had been planned around him. How she dressed, what she ate, how she talked; every aspect. Her time spent with Peggy had affected her speech. She spoke properly, the majority of the time. But when excited or frustrated, Skye often slipped into her ‘commoner tongue’. Her father did it all the time, so she never understood why is was such an issue for her, when she was a child. Of course when she was older, she understood. Her father ‘wasn’t the one marrying royalty’, as he liked to put it.

Skye washed herself as she let her thoughts drift in and out of days past. The bath was hot, causing her skin to turn slightly pink. That was how she liked it, though. It drove Peggy crazy when she was a small child. As Skye smiled at the memories that sprang to mind, her calm was broken again by the sound of her servants’ arguing. Each stood on either side of her, preparing to wash her hair. Irritated with them, she flicked water at both of them said, “This is Not a day to push my limits, Ladies! Finish up and be gone. I need a wee bit of peace before I must face my day!”

The two women had sense enough to apologize, and then remained silent until their work for their lady was finished. Peggy grabbed a short, but wide basin to catch the water as she washed Skye’s hair. Felicia cleaned and shaped her nails on both her hands and feet. She began to drift back into her nostalgia as the room went quiet. But as soon as they went to empty the basin, their tasks being finished; their bickering started again.

Skye listened as Felicia spoke, “Why did I have to have the mornin’ rounds? Lord Fowler was mighty angry he didn’t get his tussle wit’ me last night..”

“Ima sure he found another heifer willin’ to take ye place, milk cow,” Peggy retorted with a huff.

“Ima not a milk cow! Stop callin’ me that! Ima thinner and prettier than all the lasses in me village. Ima not fat!” Felicia screamed as her face turned red from her anger.

“Well, if ye stop givin’ away the milk to anyone who tweaked yer nips, I would na be able to call ye that, now would I?” Peggy replied with a sneer.