1
Her fingers felt for the bits of moss lingering in the cracks where the stones met. In her other hand was a small lantern with a copper dragon wrapped around the top, lighting her path. A small flame barely surviving in a puddle of wax was tucked inside. Lilibeth, at six years of age, had a tendency to sneak off and leave her work unfinished.
Every moment she was able to sneak away from her parents, she found herself squeezing between the walls through a small hole behind a painting she discovered while dusting the storage room. The echo of the tutor's voice rolled down the hall. Lilibeth hurried, she did not want to miss one second of the lecture. Setting the lantern down; she nestled herself in the corner of the walls. There was a tiny slit between the stones just big enough for her to see through. Squinting her eyes through the crack, she started reading along silently. She copied the letters into the dirt with her finger as she scrunched up the hem of her dress in her other hand to keep it from getting dirty.
Hours passed as she sat, absorbing everything the tutor said. The boy was working on his grammar today. Lilibeth wasn't entirely sure who the boy was. She never saw him on her trips around the castle. She had only seen the back of his head. She knew he was a bit older. Taller. She wanted to know was what story he liked the best. Was it a tale of science? Or the one about the kingdom's past? She preferred hearing about the past. Lilibeth wondered if he had any friends. The other servants were nice, but they were always working, and what was one supposed to do if one was always busy?
There was a firm line between listening to her parents and listening to her heart and she often found herself choosing the latter. After all, no child wants to sit and clean and polish and scrub and sweep. No, thought Lilibeth, I want to learn to read. I want to learn about the world. She giggled to herself. Lilibeth slapped her hand over her mouth and peered through the crack. She hadn't meant to be so loud. She had been too lost in her thoughts and realized someone else had entered the room. Her eyes searched for the man's face. His voice was very familiar. But quiet. Very quiet. Is he another tutor? Lilibeth was getting excited. What was he going to teach? It sounded like a sharp clap. In the next moment, the boy's head was turned. The new strange man was screaming at the boy. He didn't do anything wrong? Tears gathered in her eyes. The man was still screaming. Her hand still covered her mouth. She was too scared to make a sound. What if he found her and hit her next?
"You bring shame to Arandon's name." The man screamed. The walls seemed to shake as he lost his temper. His heavy arm struck the boy again. Lilibeth watched as the boy's head hit the desk as he crashed to the floor sending the paper flying. Lilibeth turned her head away from the crack and covered her ears as the man lifted his foot.
"Lilibeth, you know the rules, child," a voice behind her whispered. She jumped up, her body shaking until she recognized the owner of the voice. It was a guard. He was her friend, she thought. He can help. She beckoned him to lean down. He obliged and squatted to floor.
" An-tony, there's a man beating a boy in there," she whispered into his ear. The guard looked down and smiled at her. He recognized the voice and knew there was nothing for him to do.
"Run along, I'll take care of this,' he patted her head, and she picked up her lantern and ran off. The sound of her footsteps hitting the floor faded. Until they started to get louder. Anthony turned around.
''Ant-ony, please ask him if he wants to be friends''. Her small cheeks were already flushed from running. Her hand gripped the fabric at his waist line as if she could hold him in place until he complied to her orders.
"I'll inform him he has one.''. Lilibeth's smile was ear to ear. She thanked Anthony and ran back down the path. The kid's going to need one, he thought. He leaned against the wall and listened to the roaring voice from the other side. His mouth folded into a grimace. He took a deep breath and waited a few seconds before getting up and making his way back inside. He had only come here to check on the kid. He overheard her mother mention that she was taking too long with her work. He figured he would give her a heads-up before she got in trouble. Sir Anthony embarked on his walk deeper into the castle. He found his legs beginning to quicken the more he thought of the prince. Surely, whatever he is going through is worse than whatever rage the king would have left to give him. He was standing in front of the classroom door. Muffled screams came out from under the door. Anthony hesitated just a moment before bracing himself. He tapped the door twice. The shouting grew as he pushed the door open. He cleared his throat, catching the attention of the king. After one final blow, King Abdeel finally turned.
A sheen of sweat glazed his forehead. His cheeks were reddened and the king's graying hair looked as if he had run through the wind, spreading out in different directions. His nostrils flared as he took heavy breaths before running his hands through his hair one final time and clearing his throat. He addressed Sir Anthony, mumbling something about him before turning and exiting the room.
The tutor gave one last look at the prince, who stood with his head down and his fists clenched. He lifted his nose and strutted away. The unapologetic b*stard thought Anthony as he shook his head whilst leaning against the table in the room. Soft sobs whispered throughout the room. He turned his head, noticing the small gap Lilibeth used in the back corner of the room.
" I despise him," a soft voice muttered. The prince was rubbing the tears from his eyes. Sir Anthony wanted nothing more than to agree with him. To have him shout with his loudest voice, to scream it to the heavens that cursed him to be the son of such a vile and cowardly man! He wished to let him rip the tutor's books cover to cover. Hell, he'd let him hit the tutor if only he could offer the boy a moment of peace. But, alas, all he could do was silently nod and hope the boy, who was never given the opportunity to be a boy, would talk to him. Anthony pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to the boy.
"Why does he hate me?'' The same small voice questioned him. Anthony looked at the prince that stood before him. How was he to provide any comfort to him?
"I can not fathom a reason, my prince. But I do know with certainty that the fault does not lie with you''. Anthony hoped his words would sink into his soul. The prince sighed and uncurled his fists. He ran his hand through his dark curls and let out a frustrated grunt before kicking the table. Anthony chuckled but quickly covered it with a cough.
"Come, Ero, let's begin practice. We're using swords today. I'll teach you all about them.'' Anthony placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and urged him to stand straight. Ero stood tall before slumping into himself as he let Sir Anthony lead him out of the room and to the training grounds.
Lilibeth had been skipping her way through a field of wildflowers when she suddenly stood still and remembered her mother's words. ''Don't forget your work of washing and then come and help me in the kitchen. Hurry along now''. Today, of all days, was washing day! She ran out of the field and followed a path through the wood back to the washing room. The chortled screams echoed behind the palace as she approached, followed by someone telling them to shush and quiet down while laughing. The smell of soap drifted out. She searched for the basket of linens she had tucked away behind some bushes before running off to the lesson. She picked it up with both hands and walked back into the room.
"Well goodness me deary, that took you long enough''," one of the women teased, causing the others to laugh.
''Leave the poor girl alone Roberta,'' chimed back another voice. Lilibeth couldn't see who, on account of the piles of dirty laundry that towered over her.
"Run along and hang this up to dry'', ordered Miss Roberta, while handing her a basket of wet items and hurrying her along with her hands. Lilibeth grabbed the basket by the handles and picked it up, the water from the fabric dripping onto her dress. "Children ay'', she heard someone say as she left the room. She walked out to the drying line by the practice grounds and ran back to the castle wall for her stepping stool. The fabrics were large and heavy. They were also much heavier since they were now wet. She did her best to balance herself on the stool before flipping the first blanket over her head and onto the line. Once it was over, she skipped over to the other side and pulled it down, making sure it would lay even. She dragged the stool to the next open space and stepped up. This time, she flung the blanket over her head with the intention of flinging it back. Unfortunately for Lilibeth, the blanket fell, covering her and dragging her down, making her stumble backward off the stool. She screamed as she tumbled down and landed on rocks. Rocks? There weren't any rocks before, she thought? There was grass. Lilibeth quickly tried to pull the blanket off.
"Ow'', she heard in her ear. She froze for a few seconds and then proceeded to flail her arms, trying to find a way to get the blanket off.
"Watch it'', shouted a voice. Lilibeth flinched. The events from earlier were still fresh in her mind. She felt the blanket being moved in different directions until, finally, someone freed her head. Lilibeth looked around for the person who had fallen victim to her accident. She looked up to see a dark head of curls followed by a very young face. A very bruised face. A boy? A tall boy? Lilibeth was confused. She had never seen him working in the palace before. She remembered everyone's face, and his was new. And he looked furious.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I promise.'' Lilibeth's frantic voice explained. The boy's eyes softened along with the rest of his face.
" What are you trying to do anyway?" the boy asked her as he inspected the line.
"Just hang the wash" Lilibeth straightened the stool and picked up the blanket once again.
"Try your shoulder."
Lilibeth looked at the boy and nodded. She placed the heavy blanket on her shoulder and then flung it over the line. It worked! Lilibeth beamed with happiness at the boy. He smiled back and gave her his hand to help her down. The clashing of swords caught their attention. The boy looked over and looked back at her. Lilibeth understood that he had to go. She looked over at the training grounds and found Anthony leaning against the wall in the shade casted by the castle. She excitedly waved, and he nodded his head before smiling back.
"I have to go...bye," the boy said and took off.
"Bye!" Lilibeth waved aggressively when the boy turned around to look at her. He lifted his hand in a small farewell and turned around. There was something familiar about him but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.
