Chapter 4

Suddenly the door is kicked open with Aine rushing in with a tray in her hands. Aidan stands in the doorway behind her with an indecipherable look on his face as he walks in.

Maverick looks over his shoulder, "drop that and leave" he says in a menacing tone to Aine oblivious to Aidan's presence. Aine drops the plate, leaves and closes the door leaving Aidan inside.

"Now, where were we? Hmmm…" Maverick says as he rubs his lips on my bare shoulder, I whimper as I look over to Aidan who has a frosty expression.

Aidan swiftly walks over, grabs Maverick by the shoulder and directs a heavy blow to his face which leaves his nose bleeding with a cut on his lips. Maverick stands up in shock as he looks at him.

"You? How did you...?" His sentence is cut off by another strike by Aidan directed at his navel that makes him splurt blood.

"It seems you didn't quite get my message earlier." Aidan's tone was cold and I shiver at his voice.

He holds Maverick collar and lifts him up with his left hand, "I told you she wasn't meant for you, didn't I?" His voice was low and menacing.

Maverick chuckles and and spits out blood, "Isn't it obvious that I refused to listen?"

Aidan infuriated more by his sentence and directs another blow to his face. With rolled sleeves, drags him by the collar with Maverick staggering, opens the door and pushes him outside.

He comes in and closes the door looking at me calmly. He walks closer and holds my face with both hands, I look at his hands and see some inkings on his skin which is revealed because of his rolled sleeves, his palms are warm and comforting, just then the door is flung open with Aine asking, "Zelda are you …?" she stops midway in her sentence as she sees Aidan's position.

Aidan acts unaffected by her presence and keeps peering into my eyes with his hands holding my face. Aine coughs and he glances at her over his shoulder not leaving.

He mutters a 'sorry' to me, brushes his finger lightly over my cheek and walks to the door, holds it's handle, "keep you door locked and bolted from inside at night and always make use of the peephole", he says swiftly and walks away shutting the door.

Aine quickly walks over to me and hold my hands, "Zelda, are you alright?"

Still in shock of what just transpired I keep mute.

"Zelda please don't scare me! Talk to me, are you alright?"

Getting no reply she sighs and pulls me to the bed, makes me sit and pours in a glass of water. I take it and gulp down the contents quickly. She hands me over the plate and I eat slowly.

"I'm so sorry I came late, I should've been here earlier." She says.

I hold her hands, "Aine calm down, I'm okay. It's not like he had his way. And I think that if you were here earlier, it wouldn't have changed anything." I say and continue eating.

She looks at me quickly, "He didn't have his way, so what?! Him touching you inappropriately is wrong enough talk more of having his way!"

"Enough Aine!" I say and place my tray on the bed. "Enough drama and shocks for the day, okay?"

"I'm sorry, please don't be angry at me." She says and wraps her arms around me.

"How can I be angry at a thirteen year old I consider my younger sister?" I say with a sigh pinching her cheeks.

She laughs and slaps my hand away, she pauses a moment and sighs.

"Aine, what is it?" I say disentangling her hug.

"It's just that this incident reminds me of when I started to work in the Royal quarters. I woke up everyday to see women being forced into a life they never wished for, I hope you'll be an exception to that." She says and stands up, carries the tray and bids me goodnight.

Immediately she leaves, I get up and lock the door, bolt it from inside and lock the windows. I dim the lights till a warm ambience is created and I slide into the bed. The bed is quite comfy compared to the one back at my home, but I'm still not comfortable.

My mind wanders to today's incident and to Aine, she's too young to experience this gore side of life. I sigh and snuggle the pillow forcing myself to sleep.

Early the next morning, I wake up, walk to the bathroom and have a bath. Coming out, I roam my hands through the exquisite fabrics in the wardrobe looking for a dull color as most of them looks lavish for a maid, after much deliberations, I settle for a plain gown, immaculate brown in colour. It fits perfectly to the navel, to later form a short flay that stops just above my knees. Grabbing a pair of black flat shoes, I put them on and pack my hair into a bun.

I take a look at the mirror, and just immediately someone knocks on the door. I look through the peephole to see Aine standing impatiently with a tray.

I open the door and she rushes in, places the tray on the bed and looks at me all over, after seeing me dressed up she heaves a sigh of relief.

"I rushed down here to wake you up so you won't be late. Queen Hatia hates imperfections."

"I'm aware of that. But don't you think that these dresses in the wardrobe are a little bit lavish for a maid." I say fiddling with the hem of the dress.

She slaps away my hand from the dress, "You'll rumple the dress by fiddling with them like that. Zelda, for goodness sake you're the Queen's personal maid! And you think the Queen will let you walk beside her in sacks? Definitely no! She doesn't care about the rest of the maids who dress in corresponding uniforms, but she cares about her personal maid. Often, most of her personal maids are mistaken for being part of the royal family when she attends occasions. She's definitely ruthless and rude at times, but do you think she'll let you dress in a sack or uniform like the rest of the servants and touch her dress talk more of her skin? Besides, this dress is too dull, but don't wear this to go to any party with her, it doesn't look lavish."

She says and rushes to one of the drawers, grabs an enclosed tiny transparent glass. She picks up a little silk cloth beside it, dips it inside and squeezes little drops over my dress. It smells like lavender with several other nice scents.

"You should put this on daily, the Queen detests any slightest odour." She says while closing the glass case.

"But I just had a bath with a nice scented soap." I say confused.

"Scented soap or not, put this on everyday, clear?" I stifle my laughter at her cute bossy attitude.

"Zelda, clear?" She repeats feigning annoyance. I nod quickly and she hands me the tray. She adds, "prepare her bath water with milk and other essential oils and stand by the side till she wakes up, serve the warm water first. Then carefully undress her, another set of maids will bath her. During her bath, get her dress for the day ready, and then slice the fruits there, she likes them freshly cut dripping with the contents juice.

When she emerges from the bath, she'll dress up herself, you'll just be needed there to help her with the corsets or zipping, brushing of hair, makeup and wearing of shoes, I'll be saying and doing this only for today, so clear?"

"Clear!" I say. She nods and glances around. She makes her way to the door and pushes it open, "I'll show you the quickest hallway and stairs that lead to the kitchen so you can easily be prepared tomorrow morning.

I nod and walk out with the tray and luckily everything went perfect and smooth.