Goose feathers, straw, hay, wool. Loldirr had slept on them all, but nothing felt quite like the bedding she had been given in one of the guest rooms of Ravenscourt keep.

Despite the overflowing comfort, she found sleep almost impossible to come by until she eventually took to sleeping on the hard stone floor.

She deserved to sleep on the floor. Her punishment for not seeing that she had spent the last couple of months with her guardian's son without a single word of apology.

The events of the day before had been bizarre. She recalled the cries from Millendahl Darke as he was dragged away to the dungeon before Ethelston took steps to consolidate his power within the city guard.

Quickly capturing and imprisoning certain members of the city watch, including the Captain of the guard, it appeared that any chance for an uprising had been quickly quelled. But it also caused chaos within the ranks. Until further notice, all city guards were confined to the keep.

Loldirr remembered just standing there watching the chaos unfold, only concentrating on one thing. Because of her, Ethelston's had not known his father for the last eighteen winter's, because of her, his father had been brutally executed and left to rot in a village that no one knew existed.

That guilt knawed its way through her all day and night. As soon as she was allocated a room, she confined herself to it and refused to take a step outside.

Even when she was summoned for a hog roast, despite the hunger pains that terrorised her stomach, she refused to go.

No one had died from guilt as far as she was aware, perhaps she would be the first.

A small tap tap could be heard from outside. Loldirr gradually raised her head allowing her messy red and black hair to fall aimlessly towards the ground. The tapping continued once more but she didn't feel any enthusiasm to investigate it.

There was another tap followed by the creak of the hinges on her room's door. Stood in the doorway was a young mousy haired woman. She was probably only a couple of winters younger than Loldirr.

She stepped through in her black plain dress revealing a cute smile, exposing her sunken dimples. Her smile turned to shock when she spotted Loldirr lying on the floor.

"Milady, are you ok? Did you fall during the night?" she called out, rushing to Loldirr's side, her accent was smooth and delicate, almost as if she sang when she spoke.

Loldirr recoiled away almost out of instinct. It was when she spotted the young woman's face full of fear, Loldirr realised that her own face was frowning somewhat fiercely.

"I'm ok." Loldirr replied, her voice broken and tarnished. At least that was how it sounded to her.

"We can't have you falling off your bed milady, you'll catch a cold sleeping on the floor." the woman responded before standing and tidying the bed covers in a presentable manner.

"My da' says you'll catch the death of ya' if ya' sleep on the floor. He says he's done it a fair few times, and the chill goes to your bones. Not very nice from what I can tell." the young woman continued.

Loldirr looked at her in confusion as she babbled on about things of no relevance. Almost oblivious to Loldirr's presence, the young woman continued to tidy the bed.

"These feather beds are nice, much better than the floor, " the young girl continued, "my da' says that these beds are goose feathers. Our neighbour has a couple of geese. I don't think they have enough feathers for one of these beds."

Loldirr stood, wrapping her blanket around her, aware that she was wearing very little underneath and still rather muddy from yesterday's encounter. "Sorry, but who are you?" she asked. Instantly the young girl stopped what she was doing and looked directly at Loldirr.

"I'm so sorry milady, " she said, her cheeks glowing red as she stepped away from the bed, "I completely forgot. I am Chrysanthemum Sagard milady, Lord Darke has assigned me to be your personal servant." she elegantly curtsied in a way that made Loldirr smile at the young woman's nervousness.

"I did not ask for a servant." Loldirr replied, completely unsure of the whole concept of a servant. She had never needed one before, why would she need one now.

"Lord Darke did mention that you may be somewhat, " she looked up to the sky thinking deeply of the word she was trying to attain "reluctant?"

"I am in no need of a servant." Loldirr replied sternly.

Chrysanthemum's face seemed to drop in disappointment. Without a word, she curtsied again and made her way to the door.

"Wait." Loldirr called as the young woman reached the door.

Chrysanthemum turned and smiled instantly. "I have been told I am a very good servant, I will do whatever you require milady."

Loldirr smiled at the enthusiasm on her face. A smile she hadn't felt for a very long time. "Fine, but I can't keep calling you Chrysanthemum all the time."

"People call me Chrys milady, they say it is far easier."

Loldirr nodded in agreement, "Very well Chrys, I am in much need of a bath, can you assist?"

Chrys' dimples reappeared as her smile plastered itself on her face. "Absolutely milady, I shall get right on it. Lilac and Lavender?"

***

A feeling of peace rose through Loldirr's body as she stepped into the steaming hot water for the first time. As she immersed her naked body she let out a small sigh of relief. It had been so long since her last hot bath that she wished she could embrace this moment for a lifetime.

The best feeling was when the water enveloped her face. The feeling of the water splashing against her as she raised her head made her giggle slightly. 'Such simple things' she thought to herself.

Her bout of giddiness quickly dissipated once Chrys walked into the room and knelt down behind her. Instantly, Loldirr felt conscious of her naked body and the discolouration of the water as the mud started to dissolve into it.

She lent forward, bring her legs in and covering her body. The gesture, however defensive it was, didn't appear to discourage Chrys from tipping a large jug of water over Loldirr's head. She gasped slightly as the water crashed over her and then flinched as Chrys' hands started cleaning her hair. It was at this point she realised how much she currently disliked physical contact.

"God's your hair is so soft, " Chrys smiled, "I wish I had hair as beautiful as yours. It's so red!"

Loldirr didn't comment but instead watched as the water turned browner by the moment.

"I've never seen such gorgeous hair. Do you put anything in it? I use lavender, when I can, smells wonderful and is apparently good for you." Chrys continued, "I remember meeting this old lady, a friend of my da's, who told me it had the ability to improve hair quality. I have no idea if it's true, but I've used it ever since."

'This woman can talk!' Loldirr thought to herself. But something about the way she talked seemed to relax her rather than agitate. Probably her soothing voice, or maybe it was because for once she didn't have to think.

Loldirr flinched once more as Chrys placed a hand on her back. Her body felt like it had just been briefly struck by lightning. Preparing herself for the next touch of Chrys' delicate hands she tensed herself.

"I'm sorry milady, am I bothering you?" Chrys commented with a sadness in her eyes.

A small smile crept onto Loldirr's face, disappointed that the young woman had noticed, but happy that there appeared to be genuine compassion in her voice.

"No, I'm sorry Chrys. I've become somewhat unfamiliar with human touch, and I've never had someone bathe me before."

Instantly Chrys stopped. "Never?"

Without looking, Loldirr shook her head, almost embarrassed to admit it.

"No matter milady, " Chrys smiled once more. "If you find anything I do uncomfortable just say. I have been told I have very delicate hands."

Loldirr chuckled slightly, for the first time feeling somewhat at ease with her new companion.

The room thundered into life as the rattling of the door grabbed both of their attention. Almost instinctively, Chrys stood and carefully opened the door so only a small slit was open.

She was greeted by Arminell, still wearing the official city watch garments but without the metal armour.

"Miss Sagard, greetings. Lord Ethelston has requested Lady Loldirr's immediate presence." he said with a degree of authority, which Loldirr found almost unrecognisable from their previous encounter.

"Lady Loldirr is currently indisposed." Chrys responded.

There was a brief silence before Arminell responded. "Lord Ethelston requested immediately."

Chyrs' stance altered as Arminell's voice became more assertive, she seemed to grab the door a little tighter as a result. "Arminell, I heard you the first time. The Lady Loldirr is currently bathing therefore she is indispos... Don't look, you pervert!!"

Loldirr couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she overheard the conversation.

Chrys continued, her voice more assertive than before. "Inform Lord Ethelston that she will be there to see him as soon as she is presentable."

As she closed the door before Arminell could respond, Loldirr burst out in laughter with Chrys following behind her.

"That told him!" Loldirr chuckled.

"I'm sorry milady, if I came across to forceful?"

Loldirr shook her head and smiled. "No, thank you. I think I needed that entertainment. Take your time though, I'm not quite prepared to face Ethelston just yet."

As Chrys sat beside her and started rinsing Loldirr's hair, she smiled, her dimples most apparent "I'll take as long as you need milady."