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**01.02**
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She was 14 now . Her time running out. come winter and she would be sent to be apprenticed to someone in town , maid, or if years went without finding work , a sister waiting to be married of. Ella was married as of last summer. Some soldier back from the wall made a donation, had a chat with priest and that was that. she lives in a farm ,last I heard. The weird thing was she was happy. I cant imagine being in her shoes. stuck out in the middle of nowhere with some solder with PTSD probably, fresh from hell there with nothing to do but stick his dick in .if she had two cells in her brain she would have run the fuck off. Instead of smiling and skipping all month before the wedding that sealed there life together .
she stopped sweeping the autumn leaves in the yard, and imagined using a trickle of mana to get the air to gather the leaves for instead of the old broom she was using ,but that would be stupid. She is already cutting close. With the trips in the woods and the fish she caught. Thank Gia no one is asking a lot of questions.
next week the lords attendant and head maid would come to the chapel to look at the orphans, according to the matron. They need a lot this time apparently because a few of the main staff went with the lord eldest who just got married. Or so the Matron sources ,ex orphan girls , tell her. I heard her and the priests talking. How jolly they were. who knows how many coins they get per head like a bunch of fucking slavers.
It was windy and gloomy it was almost dark , her kind of day. yet everyone was still bouncing around with extra step in feet. There where five girls in the orphanage that were between 13 and 17 ,Anna the sixth .and there were three boys and they would probably all get picked. The rest where too young or too old.
because she can read and write ,she was most likely going. The matron all but confirmed. And if she wasn't plenty of merchants and scribes will "want" her. the last few years she has bean writing and reading most letters that the head priest wasn't.
the Matron was thinking of finding a teacher who would teach the young ones after she got huge response on me. she likes to talk a lot at me. I must have done something terribly wrong because I think shew actually likes me.
I sighed and stared at the perfect dark clouds above, today is a good day. a voice snapped me out of staring at the sky.
"hey you done ? I think this will be the last pick up."
I turned and stared at Dember ,unofficially dubbed dumber , as he came driving the wooden wheelbarrow making sudden turns and having the time his life. he was sweating all other Ew, and smiled a huge big smile like his parents didn't die and leave him here all alone except for his brother Jake, now Jake was appropriately gloomy. always serios and terrified.
I just nodded as was in character for me , Luke, dumb to fit in with his friend, came behind him and they started piling the leaves on. I didn't wait and headed to kitchen.by now food should be ready and she would help scoop The food to the wooden plates to eat with wooden spoons. while listening to the cooks gossip about.
the plates should be just boiled and so less yucky than yesterday. the deer they caught four days ago was still good after being dried. the orphanage even had an oven ,all brick and everything so they can eat fresh bread most days.
nothing important was gossiped about today .there is a new trader in town. But she didn't want to buy anything. The coins she saved/stole by bartering , she figured it was fair since it was the sisters money not the orphans ,and selling fish to the only pub in town was for emergency use only. or when she finally got the courage to run away.
there was nothing here for her ,she kept telling herself ,but there was always that tiny trickle of doubt.. that maybe just maybe there is a place for her. maybe just maybe she will find something. and so she never ran away , even though she could use all the magic she wanted in the woods. they where vast with nothing going through except the king's Road to the north splitting the woods in two. maybe a settlement here or village there. But mostly nothing. she would be free. so free she could summon lightening build a castle from mud and rock and trees.
yet she never did. she has never been alone before ,she remembered John living alone but knew this would be different .
And so a weak went by while she did nothing. she woke every day hesitating. telling her self she could run after, if she didn't like it, it would be harder ,yes but it is worth the risk. until the day came where the would come.
"Up UP girls ,rise and shine all , come on girls Up "
I'm already up you jolly bitch stop screaming
the matron looked around behind her stood the three spinster sisters all looking menacing
"right... to baths all of you "
"make sure to look your best today ,scrub everywhere ,under nails ,teeth , hair everywhere and I mean everywhere ,go on I don't want to see any blemish on any of you "
no hulling water , no starting a fire. I guess they took care of that already no wonder they looked menacing.
we walked a babble of exited voices happily prancing around ,Marsha the bundle everyone called joy ,I saw stupid, skipping down the hallway and across the back yard to the bathrooms.
we took a bath all five of us ,that's a thing about the orphanages there no singular in the things you do. Everything is done in groups. we scrubbed and scrubbed everything ,got dressed in our newly washed clothes ate breakfast in gowns before that and started daydreaming mean soon after praying. The matron talked and talked about what we should be ready for about how we should show them we raised right and all the shit the zooned me put before she was a tenth in to her sermon
The carriage arrived soon after. being pulled by two horses while we lined up as a reception everyone ,me always not included ,was exited and giddy. I had a hole in my stomach. but it was to late now.
The driver opened the door ,because they cant open a fucking door, and the head attendant stepped out followed the head maid.one look and you could tell everything they are about, they where old and looked exactly like there roles.as if it was all they are.no work life balance I guess.
I couldn't help but stare at the head maid. Even If everything went right. And I mean really right that was the end of my path. The pinnacle of what I can become. an old lady with more pride in a uniform she wore than she should have.
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better than a fuckdoll i guess. wait probably was a fuckdoll to grandpa noble or something ......ah fuck
"... And this is Anna I take it , the one that can read and write Samuel?"
I snapped at the mention of my name and looked at the head priest and head attendant. he looked sceptical ,extremely like reading was that hard. the old maid and Matron where still chatting.
head attendant was now in front of me .he took note book from his pocket opened a page and held to me.
"would you mind reading this for me little miss?"
do I play dumb ? should I play dumb ? do I really wanna be maid ? … fuck just do it go with flow see what fate has in store. And all that shit
"Aura heralds rest
before spring breaks
the falling leaves leave us Aqua and it's Grace"
what in holyshit is this, why does he look proud the fuck is with this guy, trying to be a poet ? some Haku shit ,I mean I know nuns wear kimono here but WTF
"forgive me Priest Samuel , I should have not doubted you"
"haha no no , I would have done the same , Anna here is an extremely diligent young lady. but never mind that I didn't know you wrote such beautiful poetry you never mentioned "
"oh no not all ,its something I merely dabble in , Rides do get long as you know doubt are familiar"
they continued , and I personally thought the dude was lying it on thick but the sir butler looked extremely pleased.
in the end we where dismissed and told to pack, not that we had much to pack. we where all taken. half would go to the lords manor and the other to the new villa in the capital.
I packed my spare set of clothes in pillow case , my coins and dagger in between , and headed outside. couldn't handle the jumping and excitement the others where going through.
I took a tour through the chapel ,this was my chance to steal anything if I wanted. but there was nothing to steal. I grabbed a pair of apples and threw them in bag. I have no idea where they keep the coins , and I still have a sole ,I wouldn't steal and make the kids go hungry. that's like kicking a puppy. you just don't do it. although they're vicious here so maybe I would kick a dog not a puppy. never a puppy .it would have to be really ugly but I would, I would kick a fucking dog.
I went outside and saw that the carriage had a hanger on. A two wheeled open roof back ,as the youngest beside Marsha I'm pretty sure that's where I go ,with Marsha, Emily and lore. Denmar and Luke where already sitting next to the driver.. poor horses they will have to push so many. I went back to the kitchen took more apples and started feeding them , the driver smiled at me. suddenly Jake came carrying two buckets full of water and apples, and I slid back on top the hanger wagon feeling that my job just became useless.
I'm guessing it would still take a while I covered my face with my hand and sleeve. Lay on the straw covered wagon and slowly dozed off. sorting dogs into kickable when attacked and non-kickable dogs.
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The carriage was crawling on the road. it moved at tractors pace. Emily and lore were playing clapping hands with extra moves going faster and faster until one made a mistake. Marche happily hummed along there song and stared at there hands amazed. I took one of the apples from my sack and bit on it. Marche stared at me with wide puppy eyes , drooling at the apple in my hand like it was a kings feast or chicken butter ,without saying a word I gave her the second apple. the girls laughed but Marche paid them no mind ,hummed and giggled content biting and chewing her apple. she made it look so good that I almost denied we were eating the same thing.my apple tasted bland , hers looked full of flavour. but I knew even if we somehow switched apples .it would still be the same.
But that's Marsha. she would build heaven out the most mundane things and be happy. The embodiment of little joys in life. I envied her. There is no way for me to me to be able to do that. She looked happier and healthier in her ignorant bless, than me and all the "wisdom" I have. bleh..
the hours trickled by as we went around the town not through passing by a couple of the Farms. until we reached the Manor I looked up ,and it was the went to the back gate and realized how huge it really was , two stories in U shape the base was presumably the main entrance, we headed to right side building where The Head maid got off and spoke up.
"Girls this where we get off, Bertenand will Handle the boys. come on. alright then follow me. "
and so the sixth of us followed along like she was are mother duckling the girls had there hands squashed together in tight fists. Marche was skipping oblivious to the world and I hung back, watching everyone.
soon we went inside down ana open hall way where we met Agatha a senior Maid.
"Agathe would take the new girls to the room they been given would you , make sure there nicely settled."
"will do MS.Beth"
"this is we where we split girls , I shall see you tomorrow morning up and early for your uniform sizing."
with that she took off Gia know where and left us with four eyes Agathe mean stare.
she turned and started walking and talking as fast as she possible could.
"There are many things you would have to learn if you want to work here long. I could give you a list but I doubt you will hear most of what I say...." she turned and saw that none moved yet, she sighed
"what do you think your doing , follow along , do I have to spell every bloody thing ... come on then "
with a jolt everyone moved.
"as I was saying , many things you have to learn , including when I walk , you walk if I run you run your job for the first few weeks at least will be an extra hand. that is all you will be. The senior maids know what needs doing and you will be there to make the work ever so slightly faster. Winter is coming and that means a lot overnight guests and balls and dinners. we do not have time to teach you anything so follow along and do your best. "
she seemed to think of something as we reached a room. With at least 8 bunkbeds and small dressers scattered about inside.
"You must understand that you are not at the chapel anymore. This is not your home. This is where you work except for this room and this room alone, always act as if it is cermonday. polite smiles and laughs and everything else. outside this wing you do not run , skip ,play, hum or anything the draws any attention to you. we are somewhat free in this wing but nothing compared to the chapel. always remember and pay attention. follow and do as we do."
she breathed out. mentioned to the door. and carried on
"get settled , this room is for you alone right now unless we get more girls. Tomorrow one of the senior Maids will give you a tour of Manor where the basic rooms are and what to expect. You will mostly be working in this wing ,but just in case. ill be back shortly with blankets gowns and a brush you may share."
she took off and we settled in. I wated for everyone to pick a bed before I picked the farthest away. I put my clothes ,and hung a sheet between bunk beds so that I have a little privacy. This small space will probably be my only sanctuary.
we settled in and we had nothing to but wait. as the sky slowly darkened Agatha ,came back put everything and showed us the way to the staff kitchen and dinning hall at the same time. We eat are fill with the Matron asking how we felt, met the rest of Maids and staff. interestingly the stable boys got there dinner alone ,and the attendant ate separately. so far things were good.
Weeks went by with our work , as warned , being in this one wing. Much of it was Washing or doing dishes. Rarely did we have to go to the rest of the estate and it was always with one of the older Maids. My coins pouch grew steadily week by week and slowly winter Came.
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