cupboard. Off came
the mantle. Her gown shone like the summer sun. She breathed in deeply, but
the air of the cupboard smelled of the onions and potatoes that also made their
homes there. If only she had a mirror. She wondered what others had seen when
they looked at her. Was she lovely? Or were they fools to think so?
Removing the golden gown, Allerleirauh slipped into
her snakeskin bustier and tattered black skirts. This was her rightful
clothing. Lying on the three glorious dresses, Lally pulled her pelts overtop
of her and closed her eyes to sleep. Tomorrow would be a better day. Tomorrow
she would be fearless.
Chapter Six
Lally worked tirelessly alongside Cook to prepare for
the evening’s festivities. The topic of the gold thread was not broached.
Neither did Cook mention the hairy animal’s soup being declared superior to
hers. The large woman did, however, begin hitting Lally with three carrots
instead of one.
Liam and the other servers came and went with the
dinner. For an hour and a half afterwards, Lally tried to work up the courage
to ask Cook if she could go upstairs. Every time she opened her mouth, the
words ran back inside. What sense was there in asking? Cook was certain to
say no. Lally remained quiet, sweeping the hearth. The silence weighed
heavily on her.
“Quit getting under my feet,” Cook grumbled, kicking
at Lally’s forearm. “Why don’t you go upstairs for half an hour and watch the
festival? Get yourself out of my way for a while.”
Lally looked up to see if she was serious. There was
something like a smile on the cook’s lips. Was this an act of generosity? Unimaginable!
“Thank you,” Lally said, rising quickly in case the capricious woman changed
her mind.
Which gown would she wear? Offal had mentioned his
favourite was the one as brilliant as the stars, so perhaps she should save
that dress for a special occasion. Washing the soot from her hands, Lally
pulled her snakeskin bustier over her head and kicked the black skirts to the
floor. She slipped the gown as silvery as moonlight over her naked flesh.
Peeking through the cracks in the cupboard door,
Lally waited until Cook’s back was turned to race out and leap up the
staircase. When she arrived in the great hall, nobody was there. The festival
could not have concluded so early, could it? The muted sound of laughter rang
from outside. In her snakeskin boots, Lally crept over to the great doors at
the far end of the hall. The laughter grew louder. She heard music now,
also. When she pushed the heavy door with all her might, a new world opened up
to her.
Hundreds of guests wore outfits of rich yellow, deep
orange and blood red cloth. The dark night was illuminated by candles and oil
lamps that appeared to be hovering in the sky! On closer inspection, they
merely hung from cords tied to tree branches, but the illusion was nonetheless
spectacular. Tents were set up with food and cushions. Musicians down the path
played wild tunes on the pan flute, drums and hurdy-gurdy. A group of maidens
danced together in a circle, muddying their skirts for their mothers to clean.
Lally hadn’t a friend in the world, nor a mother to wash her skirts.
Her heart winced when she caught sight of her darling
King Aelwyn dancing with another woman. Had he forgotten so quickly about the
girl he loved last night? Lally felt cheated and… oh, how silly of her!
The dancing man was not the king after all. Her mind played tricks in the low
light. Pressing on through the crowds, she stopped dead before a curly-haired
child dancing on her father’s feet. The girl leaned back, holding tight to her
father’s hands. Her bright eyes twinkled under his gaze. Lally’s stomach
turned. That poor child had no idea what breed of monster her dear papa would
become in a few years. No…she mustn’t think that way. She mustn’t
assume all fathers
the mantle. Her gown shone like the summer sun. She breathed in deeply, but
the air of the cupboard smelled of the onions and potatoes that also made their
homes there. If only she had a mirror. She wondered what others had seen when
they looked at her. Was she lovely? Or were they fools to think so?
Removing the golden gown, Allerleirauh slipped into
her snakeskin bustier and tattered black skirts. This was her rightful
clothing. Lying on the three glorious dresses, Lally pulled her pelts overtop
of her and closed her eyes to sleep. Tomorrow would be a better day. Tomorrow
she would be fearless.
Chapter Six
Lally worked tirelessly alongside Cook to prepare for
the evening’s festivities. The topic of the gold thread was not broached.
Neither did Cook mention the hairy animal’s soup being declared superior to
hers. The large woman did, however, begin hitting Lally with three carrots
instead of one.
Liam and the other servers came and went with the
dinner. For an hour and a half afterwards, Lally tried to work up the courage
to ask Cook if she could go upstairs. Every time she opened her mouth, the
words ran back inside. What sense was there in asking? Cook was certain to
say no. Lally remained quiet, sweeping the hearth. The silence weighed
heavily on her.
“Quit getting under my feet,” Cook grumbled, kicking
at Lally’s forearm. “Why don’t you go upstairs for half an hour and watch the
festival? Get yourself out of my way for a while.”
Lally looked up to see if she was serious. There was
something like a smile on the cook’s lips. Was this an act of generosity? Unimaginable!
“Thank you,” Lally said, rising quickly in case the capricious woman changed
her mind.
Which gown would she wear? Offal had mentioned his
favourite was the one as brilliant as the stars, so perhaps she should save
that dress for a special occasion. Washing the soot from her hands, Lally
pulled her snakeskin bustier over her head and kicked the black skirts to the
floor. She slipped the gown as silvery as moonlight over her naked flesh.
Peeking through the cracks in the cupboard door,
Lally waited until Cook’s back was turned to race out and leap up the
staircase. When she arrived in the great hall, nobody was there. The festival
could not have concluded so early, could it? The muted sound of laughter rang
from outside. In her snakeskin boots, Lally crept over to the great doors at
the far end of the hall. The laughter grew louder. She heard music now,
also. When she pushed the heavy door with all her might, a new world opened up
to her.
Hundreds of guests wore outfits of rich yellow, deep
orange and blood red cloth. The dark night was illuminated by candles and oil
lamps that appeared to be hovering in the sky! On closer inspection, they
merely hung from cords tied to tree branches, but the illusion was nonetheless
spectacular. Tents were set up with food and cushions. Musicians down the path
played wild tunes on the pan flute, drums and hurdy-gurdy. A group of maidens
danced together in a circle, muddying their skirts for their mothers to clean.
Lally hadn’t a friend in the world, nor a mother to wash her skirts.
Her heart winced when she caught sight of her darling
King Aelwyn dancing with another woman. Had he forgotten so quickly about the
girl he loved last night? Lally felt cheated and… oh, how silly of her!
The dancing man was not the king after all. Her mind played tricks in the low
light. Pressing on through the crowds, she stopped dead before a curly-haired
child dancing on her father’s feet. The girl leaned back, holding tight to her
father’s hands. Her bright eyes twinkled under his gaze. Lally’s stomach
turned. That poor child had no idea what breed of monster her dear papa would
become in a few years. No…she mustn’t think that way. She mustn’t
assume all fathers
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