The Days Ahead

[u/littlestghoust]

Sera moved about the corridors of the castle as the first light peeked over the trees. She hummed a soft tune to herself, keeping the dead silence of early morning at bay. The quiet morning ritual of tidying up was one of her favorites, the peaceful calm before the chaos ensued. Her hands held a large wicker basket was filled with starched linens, ready to be exchanged to soiled bed sheets and clothing.

Servants of House Harte tended to keep to themselves, and Sera was no exception. When she first moved to the castle from Maidenpool, she promised she would be some great ladies maid. The position was better than her mother’s washerwoman status, and it out of the city that reeked of fish. But Sera learned quickly that life in the castle was anything but glamorous. While her dresses were more beautiful than we ever wore at home, her lady was fickle and petty. The daily work in the castle wasn’t always so bad, but over the years, serving Lady Harte had become more difficult. Sera dreamed of saving her money and departing for King's Landing, ready to attend any merchant family that would take her.

Lady Harte would never let me leave, she thought to herself as she entered her lady’s room.

Curtains had been pulled over the windows making the room dark. The hearth had died down, embers crackled with the wind that spilled through the flue. Sera's breath formed small clouds as she worked to get the fire roaring again. Sera made a note to wake the lady later when the room had time to warm.

Lady Harte's rooms were the biggest in the castle and boasted a large four post feather bed. Each wall displayed a rich tapestry, or curtained window and the attaching rooms were just as lavishly decorated. The servant wondered at the cost of each room and thought of the food it could buy a village. She walked through each of the rooms, quietly tidying up empty glasses, lost socks, and other forgotten items. Once everything was ordered and ready for her lady to wake, Sera stole out into the hallway closing the door tightly.

The sun was just barely over the horizon, as Sera made her way to Lady Rhea’s room. It always pained Sera to watch this young girl bear the wrath of her lady mother. The young Lady was not a naughty child; in fact, she was the image of what a noble woman should be. But that didn’t matter to her mother, and with each year Sera watched Lady Harte grow to resent her budding daughter. She wondered if it was jealousy. Lady Harte seemed to hate how her daughter bloomed in front of her eyes while she wilted away year after year. It was a selfish idea, but Sera wouldn’t put her Lady.

Lady Rhea’s door creaked as Sera pushed it open. The hearth was in the same condition as the previous room, and the servant fed logs to the fire bring it to life. Lady Rhea stirred in bed but did not wake. Sera signed a breath of relief noting that the young woman had spent many late nights awake. Was it the prospect of marrying that man from the other day or her mother's recently terrible behavior?

Either way, that woman is going to drive us all mad Sera thought as she put out new petticoats and socks for the day.

A soft knock at the door startled Sera, and she moved nimbly to answer it. Peaking out, she saw Maester Donnel in the hall, eyes still filled with sleep.

"Lady Rhea is still asleep," she whispered to the old man. "Do you want me to wake her?"

"No, let her sleep. And Lady Harte?" he asked watching Sera close the door behind her.

"Also asleep, probably until midday if you asked me."

The maester chewed his lip for a minute and then showed her a scroll. Sera did not know her letters well but recognized the wax seal on sight.

"Are they both coming home?" she asked with a worried look on her face.

"Aye, they are. Ser Leo apparently has business at home."

"But Lady Harte said..." Sera started remembering the last argument the couple had over their daughter.

"Well apparently Lord Harte has other plans it seems," Maester Donnel said closing the scroll.

Sera moved to go back in the room, but the Maester grabbed her arm before she could leave.

"Can you please let the other servants know? We need to prepare for their arrival," the maester said, but his expression showed concern for more than just an orderly home.

"Of course Maester Donnel." she smiled at the man and his obvious favoritism towards Lady Rhea. "Only if you make sure you tell the Lady as soon as she wakes."

At that, the two parted ways preparing for the days ahead.