[alaklondewen]

Even though Habeth was the Queen’s personal servant, her work load increased dramatically with the news of the coming of the heir to the throne. It was now two days before he was to arrive and Habeth was cleaning Beruthiel’s quarters. The curtains will have to come down and be washed, she sighed as she realized the work seemed as though it would never be finished. One by one, the servant unpinned the velvet, black draperies and put them in a basket.

Lifting the now full basket, Habeth laboriously carried the curtains to the wash room. Hot water was already waiting for the dirty draperies, and as she forced them in, the water bubbled and sloshed with gratitude. Her hands instinctively kneaded the curtains after she added an appropriate amount of soap.

These will need to soak a bit… Pulling her dripping arms out of the water, Habeth pulled a clean linen from the shelf behind her, dried her hands and arms, and then used the cloth to soak up any water that had escaped the tub.

“I suppose I should do the floors while they are soaking,” Habeth spoke softly to herself as she brushed a few loose hairs from her face. Taking a small pale of the bottom shelf, she filled it will a reasonable amount of soapy water from the laundry tub and walked across the hall to the store room. Before she could even touch the handle, a horrifying noise came from within. It was a long drawn out reeow, the sound of a pitiful and wounded animal.

Habeth had been momentarily startled and had withdrawn her hand, but she reached out again and slowly pushed the door open. A black streak darted between her legs, and she stifled a small cry. Her heart was pounding, but after a few deep breaths, she managed to calm her senses and continue on with the rest of her duties.