Sunlight streamed into Hazel's room, and she opened her eyes, blinking against the seemingly harsh light. She pushed the covers of herself and set her feet on the cold floor. Pushing her cold feet into slippers, Hazel walked over to the library. Adalyn sat on the floor, night dress rumpled and her short curls a tangled, frizzy halo. She yawned.
"Good morning"
Hazel laughed. It might be fun having another girl around.
"Come on" Hazel pulled Adalyn off the floor, a leather bound book falling on the floor. "Time to get ready"
She reluctantly stood up, straightening her gown. Together the two walked into Hazel's room. Hazel walked by, but Adalyn stopped abruptly.
"Were did that basket come from" She asked, Pointing to a wicker basket on the floor.
"Oh, that’s our breakfast, Auntie sent it up" Hazel answered nonchalantly, still walking towards the door. She walked strait into a room on the other side of her bedroom. It was somewhat like a bathroom and somewhat like a dressing room. Adalyn had no clue what to call it.
"Adalyn, would you like to bathe first?" Hazel asked, beckoning at a porcelain bathtub.
Adalyn looked longingly at the bathtub, wanting more than anything to shed her clothes and jump in. She looked over at Hazel. Hazel Laughed, reading the young girls mind.
"I won't look, I promise, but come here first, It's better if your hair is not tangled when too get in It hurts more to brush it when it's wet.
Adalyn slowly walked over to the chair Hazel was standing by. Hazel picked up the brush and helped it through Adalyn's tangled mass of curls. Hazel tried her best to be gentle, and I took nearly no time at all. Adalyn looked over at Hazel. She nodded knowingly and faced the chair in the opposite direction of the bathtub and sat down. Adalyn shed her night dress and walked over to the tub. She stepped onto the little stool and tested the water with her toe. She climbed over the side and slid into the warm, bubbly, lavender scented water. She dipped her head under and stayed there for a few seconds. When she rose, gasping for breath, Hazel nearly turned around and the sound of heavy breathing.
"I'm alright." she said hurriedly, not wanting Hazel to turn around. She never let anyone see her body. The last time somebody saw her naked was when she was a baby. She silently gave a sigh of relief.
Adalyn quickly washed her body and her hair, then stepped out onto the stone floor and wrapped herself in a big towel. Her wet hair dripped onto the floor, and she shivered.
"Dry of Adalyn and put on your underclothes, I won't be long. Adalyn looked away when she undressed and went over to a different side of the circular room. She dried off and put on her shift. She was still rubbing her hair when she heard Hazel step out of the bath. She fingered her slightly damp hair until she was sure Hazel was ready. She turned around to face Hazel, dressed in a shift, her long, dry hair trailing behind her like a long tail.
"It's too long to wash, some how, it stays clean. Probably has something to do with the enchantment." Hazel grumbled.
Adalyn blinked. enchantment? Maybe Hazel wasn't as dull as Adalyn had thought.
"What enchantment?" Adalyn enquired, always eager to learn more about this cursed tower magic, so she could break the spell.
"Oh, it's nothing" Hazel responded with a laugh, tinted with fear. "I don't know why I said that, It's just a silly thought."
Adalyn wasn't giving up this easy.
"Hazel, enchantments are serious, You cant lie about them." She was lying of course, but she hoped Hazel wouldn't be able to tell.
" I thought Aurialla cast an enchantment to make my hair grow faster, and to make it so I couldn’t cut it. I don't know why my necklace won't let me cut it, but they're has to be a good reason or Auntie wouldn't do it. She would never hurt me."
Hazel looked flustered and red, like a small child after a tantrum. She composed herself with a few shaky breaths and her coloring returned to normal.
"Lets get dressed, shall we?" She asked in a surprisingly calm voice
Hazel plucked a turquoise gown with a square, but high neckline, multiple puffs in the sleeve, a high waist, and a narrow but split skirt with a white underskirt. Adalyn nodded. She sat down and Hazel tightened her corset, while Adalyn tried not to squirm. The dress slid over Adalyn's head and she enjoyed the fell of the silky fabric. She tightened Hazel's corset in turn, and laced the back of her's together. She wore a dress similar too Adalyn's, but in purple and silver, with a lower neckline.
Hazel looked at Adalyn "May I fix your hair Adalyn? I know something that would look very pretty"
Adalyn sat down, and Hazel started twisting curls and adding shining pins with flowers or animals at the ends.
"your name is very pretty Adalyn. It mean's "noble kind". A strange name for a peasant daughter. You are a princess here though, so it doesn't matter. I am named after my mothers eyes. It is also a tree, so I guess I'm named after a plant too." She laughed, sounding identical to their mother.
A plant. Well, she's close. thought Adalyn. The Rapunzel plant is Queen Amaria's favorite food, and close to all she would eat when she was pregnant with Rapunzel. When she was delirious from pain during labor, she claimed that her daughter would be named Rapunzel or she would never eat again. The king told all that the crown princess you’d be named Rapunzel, event though Amaria was ashamed afterwards. They chose a more royal name the second time.
"Done" Adalyn turned around and saw her hair pinned with flowers and braids, while still falling down to her chin. She looked like a princess again. Hazel smiled
“You look beautiful. Would you like to go eat now?” She asked. Adalyn nodded, listening to the noises her stomach was making. They sat on the floor next to the basket and Hazel lifted the lid and Adalyn eyed the treasures that laid inside. Breads crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle lay in big loaves. Hunks of goat and cow cheese sat next to wrapped parcels of venison, rabbit, and goose. Juicy breakfast sausages and kippers sat tantalizingly. Flasks and wine were full to bursting. While Adalyn stared at the food, Hazel walked over to a cupboard and pulled out plates, cups and knives. She managed not to drop anything, but came close a few times. They piled food onto their plates and filled their glasses with wine. Adalyn wasn't sure even the castle food was this good, of course, Head chef Maina was getting old. The two devoured the food.
"Kiria has outdone herself this time." Hazel said after she swallowed.
"Kiria?"Another name Adalyn was unfamiliar with
"Oh, Aurialla'a chef. She used to work for the king of Gilmore" Hazel said, obvious pride in her voice
"Why doesn't she anymore?"Adalyn asked suspiciously
"Oh, she was sent with Auntie."
Adalyn felt a new kind of sympathy for this Kiria. She wondered how she was forced to come, since she certainly wasn't sent her with that women. The food disappeared fast and soon the two were left with nothing but a few crumbs and full stomachs. They just sat for a while, not talking. Adalyn look out the window into the forest, sure of the fact that it's silence was not a good sign. Soon, Hazel stood up and smoothed her skirts.
"Do you like to paint?"
Adalyn sat there. No. She didn't like to paint. The smell made her nauseas and the oils took forever to wash off.
"I'm not any good at, and I, um, don't want to ruin your dress."
"That's fine Adalyn, Do you like music?"
Adalyn smiled. She did like music. She lived her life in the music room in the castle, spending hours playing her beloved pianoforte. But would a peasant girl be able to play a pianoforte? Were they something only rich people could afford? Hazel laughed again, and Adalyn automatically felt as if she was at home, listening to her mother.
"I'm sorry, they probably don't have instruments were you are from. Oh, I feel like such a goose."
Adalyn wondered if this would be what having a sister would be like. Having fun times, and then wanting to strangle her.
"How about we...." Hazel tapped her chin. "Just talk?"
Adalyn figured Hazel would just chatter away, so she nodded.
Hazel smiled. "Hmm, well. I lived here all my life. My parents names are Elias and Beatra, but that is a long story. I never knew them. Aurialla saved me when I was a baby, and I lived in the main castle until I was twelve. Your age Adalyn. Then Aurialla moved my room to the tower. I've lived my life here since. With only my servants, well, and Sonya of course. As if on cue, the sleek gray cat curled around Hazel's body, meowing softly. It felt to Adalyn that Hazel chatted on for hours, and her point was proved when Aurialla walked in from the library carrying a new wicker basket.
