Finding Freedom

Finding Freedom - Part 1 Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning to the patter of the rain on the glass of my balcony doors. I sighed. My punishment would last until the next evening. There was not much I could do to pass the time. I looked around my room, like I was discovering it for the first time. I had never paid much attention to what was in it, much too occupied by my little escapades. It had cold grey stone walls, like the rest of the castle, only they were covered by two rich tapestries. I smirked; they were quite ugly. The floor was wooden, a rarity only afforded by royalty. The bed had a carved wooden frame with a feather mattress and silk covers. On one side of the room lay a chest with all my clothes and on the other stood a desk with a candle and a couple of flint stones.

            I got up, walked silently to the desk and lit the candle. It was dark outside because of the rain. How was I ever going to have fun in this dreary place? I then walked to the chest, making dull thuds on the wooden floor with my heels. I opened my chest and lightly slid my hand over all the beautiful materials. I had chosen some of them myself, but the dressmaker had made horrible dresses out of them. I dug out the only dress I liked from the bottom of the pile and put it on. It was beginning to get small, but it was my favourite dress and I couldn’t make myself throw it out.

            I sighed and took a look around my room. The tapestries seemed uglier than when I had first looked at them, if that was even possible. I suddenly decided I would take them off the walls; at least that way they would stop bothering me.

            I walked up to the closest one and shook it slightly. It was hung too high for me to reach, and too wide for me to grab both sides at the same time. I lifted one side up to look behind it but the smell that immediately came from it made me take a step back. I looked again, this time holding my breath, and glimpsed a cavity in the wall. I wasn’t expecting that. I couldn’t see well with the feeble light the candle on my desk emitted, so I went to get it. The wave of air the tapestry made when I let it fall sent another breath of foul odour in my face. I came back with the candle and, careful to not set the tapestry ablaze, went behind it to where the cavity was.

            I had to stand on the tip of my feet to look into it. It didn’t seem very special, it wasn’t very deep. I supposed it once held some sort of artefact. As it was full of dust, I blew in it to try to make it less dusty, but all that did was get the dust in my eyes. I quickly dismissed the discovery as boring.

            I stomped back to the desk, enjoying the dull sound my heels made on the floor. I sat on the chair and stared at the candle flame, waiting for an idea to pop into my head. The piece of cloth on my desk suddenly appeared very attractive. My mother had wanted me to learn how to sew, because every respectable woman had to know how to sew. I had tried once on the piece and had not touched it since. But an idea had popped into my head and was quickly unfolding. I picked up my project of the day and tried to fold it in a way that would make a perfect getaway bag. At that moment my mother entered the room.

            I laid down my work and stood up to bow, as I had to every time I was in presence of the queen. She gave an evaluating glance at what I was wearing and cried for Yvonne.

            “Maid!”

            “Your majesty?” Yvonne appeared behind my mother’s big red velvet coat.

            “My dressmaker is here. Call for him. I want a new dress made for Heather. And put this one in the trash.”

            “Yes, your majesty. Right away, your majesty.” Yvonne bowed and backed up out of the room without one glance from my mother. I stayed immobile as my mother continued to stare at me. The dressmaker arrived soon and poked his pig-like face from behind the red velvet of the queen’s cape. “The dressmaker is here, your majesty.” said Yvonne from the hallway.

            “Make her a green cotton gown for tonight’s dinner, with yellow ruffles.” said my mother with arrogance before leaving. Yvonne came in with a stool on which I climbed daintily. 

I let the dressmaker take my measures, even if the contact of his hands made me wince with disgust. Yvonne pulled my dress off and left with it under her arm. I highly wished the new dress would be of my liking, but doubted it, even though green was my favourite colour. I liked green because it was the colour of my eyes. My hopes were crushed when I saw the cotton. It was not exactly green. It was more of a brownish coloured material. I sighed. A mud-coloured dress. What more could happen to me? Yvonne entered with the yellow ruffles. I winced. I hate yellow.

            Later on, I walked into the small dining room that evening with my new dress, my feet still aching from all the standing I had done. I sat down beside my mother.

            “Isn’t your new dress pretty, Heather?” She asked.

            “Thank you, mother,” was the only answer possible.

            “Your conduct has been exemplary today. I will take off your punishment for one hour tomorrow afternoon. You may go out and walk in the village with Yvonne if you want to.”

            “Thank you, mother.” I said gravely, but with a half-hidden smile.

            “I hope you have learned your lesson and will not try to run away.”

            “No, mother,” I lied.

[[I know this is kinda short, but I had initially written up part 1 as one huge chapter. At the same time I am experiencing with how this site works, so please don't kill me XD . Chapter 3 will most likely finish Part 1.]]