May felt a sigh well up in her chest and pushed it down till it only came out as a little bit of a heavy breath. Being a lady-in-waiting meant a lot of waiting. May waited in the solar as the Princess had a nice little coze with her mother and two aunts. The incompetence of servants, fashion faux pas of people of the court and any malicious gossip were always the favorite topics. There was never any talk of favorite poems, good books, classical music or anything elevating.
May waited behind a screen while the Princess bathed. She waited on a footstool as the Princess dressed. Because the Princess never seemed to stop talking or complaining May waited at the dinner table long after her own meal was consumed. She had once tried to secretly read a book while she waited only to hear, “Mary Agnes, are you saying prayers down there with you head bowed for so long.”
The Princess was round in places due to an excess of pastries and confections but it didn’t detract from her cherubic beauty. Golden hair, cornflower eyes and dimpled cheeks all combined to give the outward appearance of angelic sweetness. May practically disappeared in the Princess’ wake with her willowy shape, brown hair and eyes.
Strolling in the garden in the early morning, May walked with her arm linked with the Princess. May only half listened as the Princess complained about another fitting she had for a gown for an upcoming ball. The Princess was sixteen and would soon be married. May was one year older and expected never to marry. She had fallen in love once but the boy was only visiting a neighboring farm during the summer; he was several years older than her and hadn’t really noticed her mooning after him. Thirteen is not a very lovely age for young girls.
“There is something going on over that wall.” The Princess announced. “Give me a boost Mary Agnes.”
“Wizard Fitzwhiz is practicing with his new apprentice, your majesty.” May informed the Princess. May recognized the deep musical voice of Wizard Fitzwhiz and the less settled voice of his apprentice.
“I want to see.”
The Princess stomped her foot and so May laced her fingers together. The Princess stepped into her hands and grasped May’s shoulder and then the top of the stone fence. May straightened as best she could and leaned her shoulder against the wall to keep steady. Her face turned bright red, her breaths came in little gasps as she felt the shoe dig into her hands and her muscles strained to hold up the Princess’s considerable weight. The Princess swayed as she gathered berries off the vines climbing the wall. She almost pitched backwards as she flung berries over the fence.
A prepubescent voice squeaked. “Oh! You vixen!”
May’s hands flew into the air as the weight of the Princess suddenly vanished. May toppled over backwards. She looked up to see red fur and a white tipped fluffy tail disappear over the fence.
“Catch her you fool!”
“I’ve got her cornered.”
May listened to the scrambling on the other side of the wall.
“Oh she bit me.”
“The bag, the bag, get it over her.”
Then there was silence.
“Princess?” she whimpered.
May couldn’t believe what her senses told her. She searched the garden for the Princess to no avail. She checked the royal bedroom and the solar with no luck. She explored the dining hall and throne room without success.
She paced in front of the winding staircase that lead up to the Royal Wizard’s chambers. The stories of the horrors that went on in the Wizard’s tower sent shudders through May. Her heart drummed in her ears and thumped in her constricted chest. Courage enough to skitter up the stairs finally came as she heard the guards begin the searching cries for the Princess. A large oak door carved with constellations and demon faces filled the space at the top of the stairs. Her arm shook as she tentatively tapped on the door. The door swung open and Wizard Fitzwhiz dressed in his star speckled wizard’s cape and cap scowled down at her.
“You’ve come.” He said his face brightening with a smile at the same time as she said. “I’ve lost the Princess.”
“Well it’s very unfortunate.” He murmured ushering her into his chambers.
Books lay in heaps around the room and baskets filled with scrolls. Tables and chairs, two desks; one large and ornate and the other spindly and small, shelves and drawers, bottles and boxes of all shapes and sizes filled the room. The apprentice stood in a corner by a wire cage. A growl and yip drew her attention to the two black sparkling eyes staring at her through the bars.
“Accidental magic can often be the trickiest, you see.” The Wizard said moving over to the large desk where an ancient book lay open. “There are several complications.”
May walked across the room toward the apprentice and knelt beside the cage. The fox gave a soft whimper.
The Wizard picked up an ornately carved circlet off the desk and sprinkled a fine white powder over it. He pulled out his wand and spoke an incantation as he waved the wand over the crown.
“Give her the drink, Ustes.”
The apprentice handed May a goblet.
“Thank you, you are very kind.” May cradled the cup in her hands and took a sip of the sweet wine.
“Drink it all, my dear.” The Wizard invited.
May thought she had never tasted anything so delicious and easily finished the beverage. She looked down at the dregs in the cup and then back at the Wizard.
He placed the circlet on May’s head and pressed his thumb to the center of her forehead.
“Only you will remember a time when you were not the Princess.”
“What have you done?” May wailed.
“Just until we can reverse my foolish apprentice’s accident.”
The fox howled in the cage.
“This fabric is all wrong for your complexion, majesty. I don’t know how we could have thought it would suit.” The royal dressmaker put aside the fabric she had draped over May’s shoulder.
May’s head was spinning. The guards had run to her in relief as she descended the stairs from the Wizard’s chamber. The mistress of the day had informed her of the changes to her schedule since she had taken an unexpected leave of absence. They all treated her as if she was the Princess.
“A pale blue will look lovely with your russet hair.”
She tried not to get used to having things just as she wished. She had requested a musician in the solar as the women embroidered and chatted. She talked of books with the Royal Librarian. She rode everyday on the beautiful white mare the Princess had feared. In the beginning she checked with the wizard everyday. Then the guests began arriving for the Betrothal Ball. The Princess’ marriage had been arranged by court councilors, diplomats and of course the King. This would join two kingdoms and help insure peace.
The night before the Princes’ arrival May snuck away to find the Wizard.
“Soon,” he kept repeating.
The bleak look on the face of the apprentice did not bode well.
“It must be before the wedding.” She reminded him.
“Yes, yes. Soon I promise.”
The fan fair sounded. May took a quick breath and held it without realizing it. She watched the door of the throne room as the visiting Royal family stepped across the threshold. King, Queen and Prince looked up at the throne dais to see King, Queen and Princess. But May wasn’t the Princess and she feared the Prince would somehow realize it. His family stepped forward as she rose with the Princess’ parents.
The Prince was about the same height as his father, his hair was brown with flashes of gold through it framing a very pleasant face. May was almost as tall as the King and towered over the pleasingly plump, platinum headed Queen. No one seeing the three of them together would have naturally assumed they were family. Now they were all bowing and shaking hands. May once again held her breath as the Prince taking her offered hand bowed over it and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckle. He tipped his head up to look into her eyes with his lips still on her hand and he winked. May gasped.
It was him. The boy from four summers ago. The one she had followed relentlessly, baiting his hook while he fished in the stream, galloping their horses across the meadow and watching him swim in the pond while she made flower chains. The boy she had given her heart to.
She lived in a daze as he whispered shared memories in her ear at dinner. She felt her heart soar as he danced her around the ballroom remembering the gangly youth and marveling at the radiant beauty she had become. She sighed when he stole a kiss from her as they walked under the stars in the garden. She fell asleep smiling as the day replayed itself.
May woke. Tears lept to her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. He was not her Prince. Today or tomorrow the spell would be broken and she would return to being Mary Agnes Yvette Pritchard lady-in-waiting. The Princess would not require her to go with her to her new home,surely. May could become lady-in-waiting to the Queen or she could go home. Perhaps the Wizard could provide her with a potion.
She threw her robe around her shoulders and ran from her room. Down the hall past startled servants and up the winding stairs. She beat her fists against the great oak door. The demon faces mocked her. When there was no answer she pushed with all her might against the door and felt it slowly give way. She stepped into an empty room.
Gone were the stacks of books, baskets of scrolls,bottles, boxes desks and chairs. Not a stray slip of paper or dust mite remained. Gone were the Wizard and his apprentice. Gone was the wire cage with the dark eyed vixen.
May fell to her knees and pressed her hands to her lips. She let out a hiccuped sob that quickly turned into a strangled laugh.
(1850 words)
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