Chapter 4

Alys felt a mess. Her hair was falling out of its tight bun, and still in her barmaid's uniform, her dress was caked in dirt. There was hardly any light coming into the dungeon, and she didn't move a muscle for fear of knocking someone, or touching someone already dead.

For what had seemed like days they all sat in stony silence, waiting to be told their fate. The only noise that was present was a quiet scratching.

And then, a whisper. And another. And the whisper was so contagious that soon everyone was whispering, and the message traveled around the room and it reached Alys last, who was right by the door in case it opened.

They've found some sort of trap door thing, and we're going to get out. A man with foul breath said to her face, not sure where her ear was. And when she was about to say something back, she realized he wasn't there. They were all moving towards this supposed trap door, or at least an opening to get through. Alys fumbled around on the floor, patting hands down quietly in front of her.

When the real door to the dungeon opened and light spilled in, there were only a handful of people, and most of them were old. Alys stayed very still, almost as though she thought that if she didn't move, they wouldn't see her. The guards piled into the room, yelling commands, trying to figure out how the others had escaped. Alys could not even see how they had escaped. The door, if it had been a door, had been quietly shut, and if it was a hole in the wall, the elderly were leaning against it looking quite the epitome of casualness...perhaps too casual...

"Already, let's go, up with you then." A guard said, wrapped a hand around Alys's upper arm and hauling her up. She yelped in surprise and gathered her skirts to catch up with his long stride. She turned back and glanced at those left behind.

"What...What about them?" She asked him. He stared straight ahead, making his way for the door.

"We have no use for them." She cringed at his harsh, uncaring words, but when she turned around to give her sympathies and wish them luck, they were gone.

Suppressing a giggle of relief and triumph, even though she had not escaped, Alys turned back and obediently followed, her mind in turmoil over what 'use' they could possibly have for a commoner like her.

x

"What's your name?"

A woman with a bun so tight it was pulling on her eyes and giving her a Siamese cat look glanced at her with indifference, her hands folded in front of her stomach, obviously the head maid. The other girls were behind her, all mimicking her behavior, the picture of perfect cloning.

"A-Alys...Alys Delarue." The guard still had his hand on her upper arm, staring ahead emotionlessly. She could see some of the girls in the rows further to the back pointing at his rigid stature and giggling like schoolgirls.

"GIRLS! For those of you not paying attention," the head maid turned around, and all was silent. "This young woman's name is Alys Delarue. She will be joining us. Annette," she held out her hand, and almost magically another girl with her head bowed low placed a piece of yellowing paper in her hand. "Hmm...most jobs are already taken, but we can put you in charge of cleaning the Royal rooms. We don't have many people working on them. I'm sure you'll be able to manage. What kind of job did you have before?"

"I, uh, worked at a bar."

"Oh-ho, then you have plenty of experience," she chuckled and turned around, signaling the others to chuckle as well. They did.

"Thank you, kind sir. If you would so kindly hand her over to me, I'll get her cleaned up and ready to start working."

"Start working?!" Alys blurted. Despite herself, she put a hand to her mouth, and coughed, feeling heat crawl up her face. "Well, what I mean is--"

"Yes, girl, working. It's 12:00, and the King and Queen are ready for their tea, which means that you will be cleaning their rooms while they are gone."

The guard released her arm, and ironically Alys wanted it back because it was almost like a support. She also felt that perhaps the guard was like her telepathic buddy, sending her signals about how he hated life, and this woman, just as much as she did. No such luck.

"But, but--"

"Keep your mouth shut and learn to hold your tongue," the woman snapped. "Get yourself washed, it's down the corridor. Sir, would you mind assisting her to the maid's bathrooms?" She turned back to Alys, who was grumbling under her breath and glowering at the guard. "You. Redo your bun. You'll find our uniforms in the second cupboard on the right."

And before Alys could protest, the guard once again grabbed her arm, just when she was starting to get feeling back, and whisked her out of the room and down the corridor, the sound of laughing maids ringing in her ears as they went.

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I mentioned this in my other story, but if anyone can remember hospital experiences, please let me know. :)

Muchlove,

OLB