Chapter 7: Uncertainty

*Splash*

Agatha felt the warm water fall on her body. Even though she was unhappy about being up so early, she did not mind the idea of a warm bath. The mix of steam and the smell of lavender filled the room. Agatha has always found lavender to be such a fulfilling smell. Not only was the flower effortlessly majestic in her eyes, but the scent had helped to calm her nerves many times in the past. She held a bit of the water with her two hands and looked at the reflection in front of her. Though the image wasn't perfect, she could tell it was her face. That was her in the reflection, but was this reflection real or fake? Did this reflection show the real person or just the "vessel?"

*Splash*

Daliyah poured a bit more water on Agatha's hair. Agatha didn't even flinch as she kept on looking at her now distorted reflection. 

"My lady, it's time to get you dried up."

Agatha slowly turned and looked at Daliyah. It seemed like she was trying to find something in Daliyah's eyes but gave up after a few moments. She nodded as she got up and stepped out of the tub. Daliyah gently dried Agatha's body with a towel and helped her put on her bathrobe.

As they walked into the bedroom, Daliyah served some lavender tea with a small breakfast. Toasted bread, scrambled eggs with spinach, and boiled potatoes.

"My lady, please eat while I get your dress ready."

Agatha smelled the tea and savored the aroma. She took a sip and looked out toward the window. She could still hear the people outside as they were finishing preparations. She began to eat her breakfast.

When Agatha was done eating, Daliyah helped her get into her dress. it was a simple yet pleasing dress. The dress was made out of linen and blue colored. The blue gently faded to white as it reached the end of the flowy sleeves and the parts that reached her ankles. It was comfortable enough to make the journey they were about to embark on.

Daliyah helped her put her boots on. They were not too heavy but seemed firm enough to travel through the mountains.

"Not that I mind the boots, but they seem to be more for someone who will be walking most of the journey and not be in a carriage,"

"You never know my lady. Anything can happen in the mountains. There may be moments when you will need to run," Daliyah said as she finished tying the laces.

"Run?" Agatha asked as she tilted her head.

Daliyah smiled as she stood up.

"It's just a precaution, my lady."

Daliyah signaled Agatha that it was time to brush her hair. Though Agatha wanted to ask more questions, she bit her tongue, walked towards her mirror, and sat in front of it. Daliyah grabbed the hairbrush and gently untangled Agatha's long hair. 

After a few seconds, Agatha found herself struggling to keep her eyes open as she felt the strokes of the brush against her scalp. 

Her eyes slowly gave up and closed. 

Daliyah noticed Agatha's calm expression and smiled.

"There is still time…" she thought as she proceeded to brush Agatha's hair even though it was already untangled.

Daliyah left Agatha's hair loose so that it would dry on its own. Agatha had never liked extravagant hairstyles anyway. She had described them as a hassle and did not see the need for them. 

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("Where would I go looking all nice anyway? The garden? Who would I show it to? The old man in charge of this place?")

Daliyah felt saddened as she remembered Agatha's expression that day. Even though she laughed it off, Agatha had wondered what it would be like to go to those balls and festivals she read about in books. She would read and dream about them near her window. Her eyes had nothing but longing. She was stuck in these cold and dark premises, surrounded by walls made of dark stone. 

If only the walls were the only thing keeping her captive. This cursed place also had eyes that would watch over her every move. People whose duty was to keep her "safe" within these walls. Artificial smiles that saw her as nothing but an object who held the true treasure they were waiting for. They filled her ears with sweet words that turned bitter the moment they entered Agatha's ears. After so long, she just blocked them out of her mind. If only it was just as easy to block those words out of her heart.

Her only escape was to sit by the window in her room, open a book, and use her imagination as she looked out to the mountains. Daliyah would sometimes catch her reaching out into the distance. Who or what she was reaching out to was unknown to Daliyah. 

The breeze would sometimes blow through the young girl's hair and her face would be covered by the light of golden hour. It was at these moments that Daliyah would admire the young girl's simple but tragic beauty. A beauty that was unknown to the world. A beauty that waited quietly for her final moments.

She was like a caged flower silently withering away.

"My lady, would it be alright if I did two small braids on your hair? One on each side? I can tie them together at the back."

"That should be fine. You know you don't need to ask me. I trust you know what I'm comfortable with."

Agatha kept her eyes closed and did not see Daliyah's conflicted expression.

"You trust me…"

Daliyah paused for a moment and just looked at herself in the mirror. Agatha had her eyes closed without a worry in the world. Even though she was the most in danger, she had her eyes closed because Daliyah was there.

"My lady, you are too naive for your own good."

"Daliyah, are you finished?"

"Ah, y-yes."

Agatha opened her eyes and grinned.

"I like it, thank you."

Agatha applied some scented oil on her neck and looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She gave a final approving nod and got up.

"Well, it's time."

As she walked past Daliyah, she felt a small grab on the sleeve of her dress.

"My lady…umm…"

"What's the matter Daliyah?"

Agatha saw hesitation in Daliyah's eyes. She seemed conflicted and could not find the right words to speak.

"I…my lady…I…" 

Daliyah looked down and bit her lip. Why was it so hard to say something so simple? it was but the mere truth. So why was it so hard to say it? After all these years…

"Daliyah?"

Agatha held Daliyah's hand and gave her a gentle gaze.

"Ummm…if I may…w-we still have time so how about a small dance?"

"A dance?"

"Yes, like the ones you read in your books…or do you not want to…?"

Agatha stared at Daliyah with a serious expression.

"I-I'm so sorry! That is so out of line! Please forget I said anything!" Daliyah bowed as she tried to hide her embarrassed face.

"Ha..hahaha" 

Daliyah looked up to see Agatha laughing.

"What…what's so funny?" Daliyah asked with her face completely red.

"Oh dear Daliyah, was that what you were struggling so hard to say?"

Agatha grabbed both of Daliyah's hands and started to spin around the room.

"You must know though that I am no expert, so please bear with me my dear maiden."

"Oh my lady, now you are just teasing me," Daliyah said as she chuckled.

They spun and spun around the room. They laughed and complained as they stepped on each other's feet. They took turns spinning each other with one hand. They spun so much that after feeling dizzy, they fell to the floor and looked up at the rotating ceiling. 

Agatha laughed until her stomach hurt. She hadn't had a good laugh in such a long time. It was ironic to her that it was at this moment that her laugh had arrived. Agatha reached out with her hand to the ceiling and looked at her fingers.

"Daliyah, those are my fingers right?"

Daliyah looked at her confused and looked at the fingers Agatha was referring to.

"Yes my lady, those are your fingers."

"Are they truly my fingers though? Do they truly belong to me? Or are they someone else's?"

Daliyah remained quiet. Those fingers did belong to Agatha, but for how long would they stay hers?

"And the heart I feel quickly beating in my chest…is it truly my heart? The laughter I just felt, was it truly my laughter?"

Agatha placed her hand on her chest and felt her heartbeat. It was beating fast because of all the spinning she had done but was slowly calming down. She heard its melody.

"If your heart is beating, that means you're alive. My heart is beating so that must mean I'm alive, but is it me who is alive or the one within me who waits to be awakened?"

Agatha looked at Daliyah searching for answers. Daliyah looked back at her but said nothing. Of course, she remained quiet since not even Agatha herself had the answers to such things. 

"Sorry about ruining the mood. Just ignore me. That's just my emotional side talking."

Daliyah opened her mouth to say something when…

Knock, knock, knock

"My lady, it is time."