“No,” Her eyes were bewildered as she stared at the old women. Last nights dreams had left her uneasy and tense.

“Katie I will need help. This is a very important dinner, I can’t be down a serving maid,” Ms. Dorris countered.

“Will I be paid?” Ms. Dorris nodded her head.

“I might even give you a bit more then normal because of what your usual role is in the estate,” She sighed, there was nothing she could do. She needed the money. The letters had started coming in from loan sharks and club managers demanding repayment, the stack was piled on the floor next to her bed.

Katie glanced at her grass stained shoes, reluctantly nodding her head.

“Thank you dearie, heaven knows what I would have done without you! Now off you go into today work, but come this afternoon. I'll send someone out to help you get ready."

****

The brush scrubbed her skin red, as Ms. Dorris and one of the kitchen staff concentrated on getting the dirt and grime off. It had been over a hour and they hadn't even started on her hair. They had time though, Katie would not be needed until later that night.

She couldn't remember the last time she had needed to take this much effort in getting ready. They plucked and probed, and scrubbed and scraped leaving her skin red and agitated as the water flowed over her shoulders washing everything away. She was surprisingly happy with the thought of dressing up and looking presentable for once. The small smile that grazed her mouth didn't go unnoticed by the two women washing everything away. Leaving Katie clean and free in more ways then one.

The bath continued for another hour or so, before Katie was told to dry off and follow the two women in only a robe. She had thought she was going to the maids quarters to borrow a simple dress for one night. After they had climbed two flights of stairs and wounded onto the royals personal floor she figured that was not as such. She needed the money.

The women entered a large room filled with clothes and dresses, pants and jackets. Everything was boxed and filed away under some numerical system written on the tags.

Katie stood there awkwardly as the women trifled through the rows upon rows or lavish clothing. She didn't understand why she was there, she didn't belong among the expensive silks and satins. But she stayed none the less. She needed the money.

Ms. Dorris, and the kitchen maid come out with over ten dresses hung on their arms. This was going to be a long afternoon.

****

After trying on the sixth dress, the two women decided beige and nude weren't my colors and violet would be the best option.

It didn't matter either way to Katie, her feet ached from standing and her stomach cramped from being in a corset much too long. They were down to two dresses, both violet, both seemingly uncomfortable. The first one didn't fit, the neck line was too tight, and no matter how found Ms. Dorris was of it, Katie was human after all and needed to breathe in order to live. That left one dress.

It was thick and long, flowy and restrictive, and modest in every way except the neckline. It made Katie uncomfortable, but it fit. She guessed that that was what mattered. Ms. Dorris continuously gushed over how it made Katie looked, to her though it was just fabric sewn together by someone who charges much more then the dress is actually work. She needed the money.

****

"You will be serving the second course with Hannah. She will show who how to serve down in the kitchen around four. That will give you an hour to learn everything and be completely ready to go upstairs and serve the King and Queen," Ms. Dorris explained.

The kitchen maid was currently tightening her corset, each pull taking more and more breath away. She needed the money.

Next came the petticoats and thick dress layer that seemed to add enough weight upon her shoulders that if she didn't sit prim and proper the dress would push her to the ground. Ms. Dorris did my hair in a tight know that pulled at her scalp giving her an already unpleasant headache.

She was sent to the kitchen where Hannah, an unusually broad shouldered and droopy face women of high physical proportions, was waiting impatiently.

She was shown, as if being a complete imbecile, for an hour how to pour the soup, which side to pour on, and how to act in the face of the King and family. She really needed the money.

****

She stood outside the dining room doors, shakey and out of breath. She took a gulp of air, hardened her face, and walked in. She kept her head down and she walked to the king first before going clockwise around the long table. Serving each guest as she went.

By the last person her heart as slowed down and her mind had calmed down enough to think rationally.

The room was beautiful. The long pillars were sculpted into thousands of blooming flowers. Carved tomatoes vines climbed up the walls and ceiling before intertwining down into the grand chandelier that hung in the center of the room glittering in gold. Jewels studded every edge on the room as gold fixtures decorated the room. Everything was beautiful.

"No soup," Katie looked up at the familiar voice. Travis. The prince. The same wild curly hair. The same scar. His wide eyes staring back at hers. She nodded her head. Her heart hammered painfully. She walked slowly back to the servant doors, giving a quick polite curtsey before exiting and the room. She ran down the hallways, down the stairs, and out the back entrance to the grooves of trees.

She sat in the mud, leaning her back against the tree trunk, the violet dress ruined. She didn't care.

She looked behind the thick hedges, and into the space where she had kept all the flowers Travis had given her. Each and every one alive and thriving. The Travis she knew would come from one of the overhanging branches ready to tell her a grand adventure of people who had lived and loved and experienced so much more and in so many more ways then both of them. People who she wished she could be. Her Travis would make her feel okay, even for one second. When she was with him she was okay.

The prince, was not her Travis. He lies and cheats and steals people of their lives. He hides until his deceit is known, only then will he crawl from the shadows and plead non guilty.

Katie's head leaned back against the rough bark, the cold wind nipped at her ears. The cold air entered her mouth and filtered out the cold before exited out her nose. The hair on the nape of her neck stood on end. It was as someone was watching her as she sat there, wallowing in pity. She looked to the side.

He sat there, his ice blue eyes washed over her. Her toes curled. She sat waiting for him to begin, as it was his place to start. But he never talked, he did the most unexpecting thing instead. He placed a gold coin in the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around the metal and clasping them into a small fist. She could feel the sob raise from the depths of her chest rattling her lungs and belching out in one agonizing sound. He placed his head on her shoulder, breathing in and out.

Her body relaxed as she drew mindless circles in the mud. She and her Travis sat there until morning, his hand clasping hers.

****
(Authors note)

This is so long over due I'm almost ashamed I didn't get it done way sooner. I'm sorry to all old readers when this randomly pops up as a notification and you find it a nuisance of a notification. To new readers who started this fanfiction recently thank you for joining and I very much hope you enjoy my once every blue moon update! There most likely will not be one anytime in the near future. You started reading at the right time, savor while you can.

I hope you enjoyed this one shot. It's been a long time in the making. And just know that Everytime one of you votes, comments, or adds this story to a reading list it makes my day!! Again my offer still stands from my previous statement of you sending me an idea for a one shot and ill have it written in roughly 1-2 weeks. All you have to do is ask!! So please do!!! I also like the fact I wrote this entire authors note, but I bet only maybe 2 people will actually end up reading it...huh...welp whatcha gonna do?

THANK YOU!!!

(1509)