[alaklondewen]

Habeth watched nervously as the Queen and Morwen walked down the corridor toward King Falastur’s apartments. Beruthiel looked beautiful this evening. Many seasons had past since Habeth had seen her Mistress looking so lovely. If only she felt that way on the inside, she sighed. As soon as the women were out of sight, Habeth relaxed. There was nothing she could do now to help the situation.

Actually, if Beruthiel wouldn’t have been so miserable about going to the dinner, Habeth might have been a little excited. Her duties were all caught up, and this time away from the Queen gave her some much needed free time. She would be able to sit and enjoy her dinner with the other servants, instead of eating after the Queen was done and everyone was out of the cafeteria. Although she would never complain, Habeth sacrificed much to be Beruthiel’s personal servant, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Habeth’s feet could be heard padding down the hallway until she entered the servants’ quarters. A few other ladies were rushing about getting ready for dinner, and after a couple of short greetings, Habeth made it into her own simple bedroom.

The room was small almost barren except for her full bed and a half dresser that sat across from the bed. A wide wooden mirror from which white paint chips often fell hung above the dresser. Upon entering, she untied her apron and slung it onto the beige-covered bed, and purposefully left it…she was off duty. After peeling off her dress, she walked around alone in her slip for a while, enjoying the feel of the coarse rug under her feet.

Pulling out the top drawer of the dresser, Habeth slowly reached in and pulled out a heavy bristled brush that had been hand-carved for her mother when she was a teenager. The woman’s hand softly touched the intricate lines along the handle, and she smiled from warm memories of her mother. Then holding the brush firmly in one hand, Habeth brushed her own hair with the same long meticulous strokes she used on the Queen’s royal strands.

As soon as the Queen flitted through her mind, Habeth stopped mid-stroke and with her head tipped she spoke to herself. “I wonder just what will go on in that room this evening.” She had seen the boy earlier in the garden with his puppy, and she smiled as she thought about the cats that had surely found their way into the dining room and the chaos that might be caused if the hound noticed them. The thought made her chuckle. Shaking her head with laughter in her eyes, she went back to brushing while considering a way to get in where she could see the action.