The Alphas maid

Serving

Chapter Two

The next morning I woke early as usual today we where back in the castle doing the laundry and cooking food, only the most senior members of the household were cooks my mother being one of the best cooks around was always tasked with making food for the royals, I got up brushed my hair got dressed in my smarter worn out tattered old dress on to work up at the castle, I walked out of my room to grab a bowl of porridge that would have to keep us going for most of the day, the only good thing about my mother being a cook was that she was usually able to get us some left over food to eat while we where there, I never really knew what I would be doing until the grumpy old head maid would tell me what to do, I sat down to my breakfast my mother pottering about the room, my brother walked in guiding my grandmother to her chair, I watched her as she patted my brother in thanks for helping her she was completely herself again after her strange turn last night but I would be keeping a close eye on her none the less, after asking her who was coming she just acted like nothing had happened so I put it down to old age. My two older brothers joined me at the table along with my sister Joanna, “were are you guys working today?” I asked my brothers Sam and mark "there are some guests coming from the north today, apparently they are more miserable than the ones here and expect nothing short of perfection so we are to get new clothes from the castle and we are guards outside the front today, expect the castle to be madness today in anticipation of their arrival" Sam told me "oh great everyone is going to be so stressed” I sighed "yep” Sam sighed “come on then everyone lets eat up quick and get there to help out” my mother hurried us along we all quickly finished our food and left the house together to head up to the castle I was dreading today I knew everyone was going to be miserable and stressed and I wouldn’t be left alone to work for five minutes. We trudged up the hill as the impressive castle came into view, it was a huge place really with a market in the castle square, not many people lived in the castle only a few ladies maids and any servants that the royals needed, everyone else lived within the castle lands the walls didn’t surround the whole of the village as it had grown so much in the last few years we where on the outside of the walls but there was always guards walking around making sure everything was protected, me and my mother and sister waved goodbye to my brothers who entered through the servants door, the three of us then made our way to the kitchen back door, we walked through to a flurry of activity people where rushing about everywhere for the impeding guests to arrive “oh Margaret I'm so glad you are here” the head maid rushed over to my mother “where do you want us?” me mother asked that determined expression on her face “please could you help cook with the preparations for lunch? Its going to be a small lunch with a feast to welcome the guests properly this evening” my mother nodded and went straight over to help the cook prepare lunch, the maid then turned to my sister “Joanna please could you help with the washing up” Joanna nodded and made her way to the sink with two other girls "right scarlet they are a server down and will need you to help with serving the lunch” she stopped a moment looking me up and down “you will need to wash those filthy fingers nails and get some proper clothes on go up to the servants quarters they will be expecting you I told them I would send someone along” I groaned I really didn’t want to serve I was such a clutse, the maid looked at me sternly “this could be a promotion for you don't let me down" I smiled at her wishing she could of picked Joanna but she didn’t like me much so it made sense she would try and get rid of me elsewhere in the castle, my mother looked over at me a worried expression on her face I gave her a bright smile and made my way up to the servants quarters, I knocked on the door to where they all got themselves ready the door flew open “oh good are you the one who is helping us?” I small young lady asked me answering the door "yes" I stammered "great" she smiled I hadn’t seen her before usually the servers where men they didn’t have many women but the king liked looking at the girls so it made sense to have one or two mixed in, “come in lets get you some clothes" the girl showed me in looking relived she took me to an old wardrobe “hmm you look about my size I don’t think these will fit you ill grab you my spare ones” she rushed off to another room and came back with the outfit that they all wore, “now if you go in there and get changed ill show you how to do everything and what will be expected, don’t look so nervous stick with me ill show you the ropes I gave her a grateful smile and walked into the room she said to get changed in, I picked up the dress I was to wear it was black with a white band around the middle and at the bottom of the dress some tights and a black jacket to go over the top I reluctantly took off my old dress folding it and placing it on a chair I pulled the dress over myself pulling on the tights and putting the jacket around my shoulders I smoothed it out feeling the luxuries fabric beneath my fingers I had never worn anything so nice in all my life there I wish I could of seen myself but there was no mirrors, I grabbed my old clothes to put in the wardrobe in the other room and walked out to find the girl I needed to ask her name in all the rush I hadn’t introduced myself, I placed my clothes in the wardrobe and went to the sink to clean my hands they had soap in here which made light work of the dirt on my hands, “oh that’s much better you look great” I turned around to see the girl behind me “I’m Anna by the way” "I’m scarlet I smiled to her, “thank you for this” oh no problem "thank you for helping" Anna beamed "ok so lets see let me show you how to pour the wine”. Anna went on to show me everything that was going to be expected of me by the end of it I was a bag of nerves but at the same time I knew I was more than capable of doing the job "ok got everything?" Anna asked, "Yes I think so!" "Don’t worry I will be with you the whole time just we will stick together ok?” "Ok thank you" I whispered, "no problem, I'll go and check the time then we will go and wait in the hall?” “Ok” I wrung my hands together nerves starting to take hold standing alone in the room I checked my face in the tiny mirror above the sink my green eyes shining with anticipation I smoothed my chestnut brown hair Anna had given me a band to tie my hair back with I pulled my long thick hair into a loose pony tail down my back I could barely believe that it was me looking back in the mirror I needed to do my family proud I took a deep breath and was set on doing the best job that I could. "Ready?" Anna asked smiling at me "yes, yes I am".