Defending the innocent

"Cursed bride," murmured Fiona.

"That's right," quipped Glenda. "Don't deny that the master has his eyes on you."

Fiona shook her head but Glenda paid her no mind. She reached inside the wardrobe and pulled out a bathrobe and rested it alongside the dress.

The healer didn't say anything but Fiona assumed it was for her to wear indoors. Once the two women left she planned to get comfortable in it right away.

Glenda continued dreamily, "The way the master swept into the main hall passionately, while carrying you in his arms reminded me of the old folk tale around these parts. If you stay here long enough perhaps you'll hear about it but alas it's time for me to take my leave." She said hurriedly while heading out the door, "Eat your breakfast before it gets cold, you'll need it to regain your strength."

The door creaked behind her as Glenda let herself out with Clare fast on her heels, "I'll be back for the tray later, my lady. I have other chores to attend to and the Cook would have my head on a platter if I don't start prepping the vegetables soon."

Left alone in the room there was nothing for Fiona to do than focus on breakfast.

The eggs were scrambled to perfection, just the way she liked it. The bread tasted stale to her but it was still edible.

She imagined that had it been fresh out of the hot steaming oven with a touch of melted butter it would have been delicious to eat by itself.

The cow's milk was unprocessed and straight out of the cow's behind, served at room temperature. Fiona would have preferred it at least strained and cold.

Still she didn't realize how hungry she was but then the last day she would have eaten was yesterday morning before they left the campsite.

Thirty minutes later Clare returned for the tray. Fiona could tell the time because of a tiny sundial that was left on the vanity table that showed the shadow fell at noon.

"Did you enjoy breakfast my lady," asked Clare as she cleared the tray.

"Breakfast was utterly delightful," gushed Fiona. "I didn't realize how ravenous I was until I had my first bite but I would really like to do the most right now is take a bath."

"Well grab what you need Lady Fiona," urged Clare. "I'll take you to the bathhouse after I drop off the breakfast tray at the kitchen."

Clare handed her a wood hamper and pointed to a cupboard she would have missed because it was hidden behind the thick curtain.

Inside was fragrance soaps, wash rags and towels that Fiona assumed was for guests. She grabbed a bar that smelled strongly of roses, a rag and a towel.

Fiona folded the items neatly inside of the hamper along with a simple rose pink cotton dress she planned to change into after she bathed.

She waited until Clare dropped off the breakfast tray then she followed her outside to the left side of the castle.

They walked along cobbled stones that took a few minutes. A small babbling brook ran alongside the path and Fiona couldn't help but stare.

It was definitely clean running water and if it was good enough for the fishes that swam in it, it meant it was good enough for the villagers to drink.

It was probably also an additional source of water for the bathhouse. They walked until Clare stopped in front of a building the color of red mud.

It was where the path ended so she beckoned for Fiona to get inside.

Fiona thanked Clare for escorting her to what seemed like a private entrance.

She assumed this was just for the family and guests, the servants probably had their own bathhouse.

Fiona didn't know whether to feel honored or alarmed at the privilege.

The bath house seemed to be built over some hot springs as one side was warm and steamy and when she dipped her toe in the other side it was freezing cold.

Naturally, she was drawn to the hotspring and slowly eased herself into the water so that her body could adjust to the temperature.

Luckily, she had the foresight to take the small sundial with her so that she could keep track of the time.

She wasn't about to pass out in the bathhouse because of too much exposure to heat.

Fiona told herself an hour max to soak away all her aches and pains and then she would be out of there.

So far she had been left undisturbed and after a while every little sound stopped making her jump thinking that someone was going to walk in and see her naked but none came.

The fragrance from the rose bar was strong but not overwhelming.

She liked it and would love to get the villagers to show her how it's made but first she would have to win them over and earn their trust and friendship.

Fiona was very careful not to get her head under water because of the head injury even though she felt like it smelled of sweat but it was not worth the risk of getting worse.

When she finally emerged from the steamy waters Fiona felt shriveled up like a prune but she enjoyed every second of it.

Drying every inch of herself vigorously with a thick towel.

Fiona had still managed to get the ends of her hair slightly damp despite her best efforts to keep it out of the water.

As she walked and towel dryed her hair on the route back to the main house.

Fionas thoughts were occupied and wasn't paying attention to her surroundings when she bumped into something.

She looked down to see a little boy, stark naked and looking like he recently got a trim. He kept patting his chin length hair as if wondering where the rest had gone.

It was strange to Fiona because he seemed not to recognise himself as he had been staring at his reflection on the water in awe.

"Get back here you little sneak, when I get my hands on you, you are going to pay," yelled Gritzl with so much outrage he was shaking with it.

What could that innocent looking doe eyed brown hair boy have done to elicit such fury from a grown man?