Cold as Ice

Part 8 (Incomplete)

"I'm afraid it's not much my lady"
"Thomas it's more then enough"
The room is simple although the wall looks like it could do with a lick of paint or at least a good scrub the rest is clean.
"I'll see if I can get you a position in the palace tomorrow so you can find princess Andrea"
He sets my scarce luggage down and stands there for a moment.
"I'll get you and your sister back no matter what it takes"
"Don't sacrifice everything for us"
I start taking off my head scarf and he quickly exits the room.
"You don't have to leave Thomas"
"I'm afraid I have to my lady it is improper for me to see your hair if we are not married"
I open the door and he turns around as quick as the glance he got of me.
"Lady Lucia please respect what I'm saying"
"Thomas I need stuff for-"
How do I word this to an old fashioned man like him.
"Lady issues-"
"Oh- of course"
He walks away and I quickly let my hair down, scalp throbbing from the extremely tight plaits.
"Lady Lucia?"
A girl that looks around Andi's age walk up the hall.
"Tommy said you're on the rag"
She hands me a small folded bundle with contents hidden inside.
"There's a garter belt and rags under the cloth"
"Thanks-what's your name"
"I'm ginevera"
"Thank you ginevera"
"There's a box in your room for the soiled rags and the bathroom is the first door after the stairs, wash them there and dry them in your room"
Of course the pads are held on with a belt and reusable I don't know what I was expecting there.
"Do you have tampons?"
"Tampons"
I explain tampons in hand motions because god forbid I mention a vagina.
"Oh god no, especially not for unmarried women"
I haven't used pads since I was 14.
"Thank you Ginevera"
"Of course my lady"
She does a small bop suggesting a curtsy and walks off quickly.
I go back into my room and inspect the cut strips of towel that I have to use.
There is a thin belt with safety pins so I can wear them.
I pin on the pad and quickly go to the bathroom.

"Lady Lucia supper is ready"
I haphazardly throw on my head scarf and walk out.
"Thomas please just call me Lucia or Luci"
"I Can't my lady"
We walk side by side hands brushing off each other my heart seemingly skipping a beat each time.
"Look at her in all her glory, I can't believe A princess is staying with us"
"Mama she's not a princess remember their announcement"
"If Princess Andrea is a princess then so Is Princess Lucia and she will be addressed as such in this house"
She does a curtsy and glares at all around the table.
Thomas sisters follow suit and Thomas does a curt bow.
"Please take the top of the table your majesty"
I awkwardly shuffle past the people and sit on the chair she has pulled out.
She coughs at Thomas and he pushes the chair in.
"Thanks Thomas"
"Of course your majesty"
I'm starting to hate all this titles bullshit.
They all sit down and look at me causing me to fidget.
"You have to tell us to start dinner"
Ginevera whispers to me while pouring me a golden liquid.
"Dinner can start-"
They immediately grab the plates of food filling up their own plates.
I grab a small serving of each in the little time I have before the plate is snatched away and passed on again.
I start eating and in an instant they put down the plates of food and start eating too.
Dinner is silent and awkward each one of them glancing at me and immediately stopping the second I do, many plates still unfinished.
"Please don't stop eating just because I did"
"We must your majesty"
"That's an order"
I feel like an entitled bitch saying that but everyone besides Thomas and his mother shoot me a grateful glance and dig in yet again.
I take a swig of the what I now know is cider in my glass.
The clatter of crockery and knifes and forks being stacked on top of each other and the quick sips of various drinks.
"Princess Lucia I believe it is necessary for you to get new bedding and room arrangements"
"Oh no Mrs everything is perfectly ok"
"Ok isn't good enough for someone of your status"
I look at Thomas for guidance but his eyes are set on the stack of dirty dishes in front of him.
"I'll bring her to town tomorrow mama, I believe she's in need of a good nights rest"
"I would ask one of you girls to warm a bath for her but i prefer do it myself for fear of it going wrong"
"Ginevera and Francesca you're washing the dishes, Thomas you have horses to attend to"
They turn to me again.
I look at ginevera for advice.
"You have to dismiss us"
"Dismissed-"
Everyone gets up and goes about their duty's.
I decide to follow Thomas.
"Princess this yard is no place for you"
"Please just call me Lucia or luci"
"I ca-"
"That's an order Thomas"
He looks so conflicted.
"Of course Lucia but only in each others company"
"Good enough for me"
The horses whinny and stamp in their stables.
"Can i help?"
"Princes- Lucia it wouldn't be right"
"Please Thomas I love horses and know how to properly care for them"
"Only the first three then, they're the calmest"
He goes into a tack room and hands me a box and a pike.
"Muck out the stables first then groom them"
"Where do I put the dung?"
"There's a wheelbarrow around the corner"
I finish up grooming the horses when there's a shout.
"WHOA-ARGH"
I quickly exit the stable I'm In bolting the door closed.
A horse is running around the the yard eyes wide with fright.
I run towards it.
"PRINCESS DONT-" he doesn't finish his sentence and crumples to the ground.
I grab a rope and make a lasso and throw it around the wild beast.
I run it into an empty stable and bolt is shut quickly taking off the rope.
The horse kicks the door relentlessly but I don't have time to worry about it.
I run over to Thomas.
He has a nasty cut all down his face and his forehead has a nasty bump forming.
I hoist him up and put his arm around my shoulder and practically drag him back to the house.
My head scarf his around my neck from the weight of his body.
"HELP"
I continue up the pathway to the front door.
His mother rushes out follows by his two sisters.
"Princess what happened?"
She goes to examine me.
"Not me, him"
With help he's quickly moved inside and layer on the couch.
"Francesca get a medic"
She sprints off as quick as her short legs can carry her.
"Princess what happened"
I give my account of what happened.
"Ginevera bring her to her room, this is no sight for a princess"
I don't even attempt to protest in any way.
I go up the stairs followed closely by ginevera.
"Ginevera?"
"Yes?"
"Do I was the cloth with soap?"
"What cloth-Oh, yes it's in the cabinet in the bathroom"
"Thanks ginevera"
I go into my room dismiss her and go about my Raggy business.
I put it over the ledge of a shelf to dry and sit on my bed.
I feel numb.
Andi is in the castle with god knows what happening to her and poor Thomas is going to have a nasty head injury.
I take off my head scarf and change into the last of the clean clothes I packed.
I feel much more comfortable in my pants but I feel like it would be scandalous if I was caught in public with them.
I get under the covers and feel slightly annoyed with the coarse blanket and hard pillow but beggars can't be choosers.
My body aches with exhaustion and I feel guilty as a wave of intense exhaustion washes over me.