@Moonie ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the maids' quarters, Tansy pulled her soft gray maid's uniform over her head quickly, wiping herself off with a damp cloth and scenting herself with the flower extract she had made. She changed into her loose-fitting turquoise-colored dress, the soft lacey cotton material falling just beneath her bruised knees from scrubbing floors all day. She wiggled her toes, finally free from the uncomfortably rigid black maid's shoes, twirling her way happily to the very small mirror she had salvaged from one of the mage hall's broken mirrors. Looking into the mirror, she took her strawberry-blonde hair out of the harsh updo and let the loose waves free down her back. Pulling two sections from the front sides, she tied it back with a blue ribbon.
She turned to pull her worn leather sandals on, lacing them and tying them off around her ankles, happy to be as close to barefooted as was appropriate. Grabbing her worn leather satchel from beneath her cot, she danced and skipped her way towards one of the many libraries at the college, positively gleeful. She would have so much time to research tonight! She had uncovered several lineages that might uncover who her family had been 2,000 years ago, and if she could do that, perhaps she could track the changeling and save her own life! And if she could do that, maybe she could find her descendants and befriend them. She could have a family, a real family that might love her!
The image she painted in her head was lovely, absolutely lovely! There would be a great big family, full of love and happiness. They would take picnics and garden together. She could settle in a tiny cottage where they lived, and provide her healing services to the village! Even if she wasn't good enough of a healer, which she didn't believe much in herself, she could serve some high family as a maid-servant to a lady like she had been trained.
Tansy slowed her steps, her feet quiet as she approached the front desk in the library. Clasping her hands demurely in front of her lap, she looked down at the floor as she spoke, her sea-foam colored eyes flickering up just enough to be respectful. "Could I possibly see the books I had out yesterday?"
The old man at the desk nodded quietly, giving the lad helping him a nod. The boy walked with a good deal of control to the back room, returning with a stack of old looking books. Tansy smiled brightly at them, her voice soft but excited, "Thank you very kindly, sirs." She took the stack, her arms shaking at the weight, and wobbled all the way across the library until she found her favorite corner. The corner was cozy, in her opinion, with one of the most beat up leather chairs and tables. It was clear not many used this corner of the library, what with the dust collecting and the books smelling musty with misuse. Setting her books down as quietly as possible, Tansy took the top book and began pouring over it.
It was later in the evening when a shadow passed over her book, blocking the light from the words. Looking up from her reading, she found herself looking at two girls, probably close to 12 or 13. Not wanting to cause a fuss, Tansy gave them a timid smile. "Am I at your table? I'm so sorry, I can move somewhere else!" She stood and tucked a string into the page she had been reading, closing the book and starting to stack her books up.
One of the girls sneered before purposefully bumping the stack of books over with her hip. The books loudly toppled, falling across the floor and table. Tansy instantly fell to her knees to begin collecting the books, smiling nervously, "No worries, I drop things all the time!"
An expensive boot stepped onto the book in her hand, the girl speaking hotly, "
This is what you ought to be doing,
cleaning, and not pretending to read. I can't believe they allow maids to even touch the books! How filthy!"
A bright blush flushed across Tansy's cheeks as she swallowed, unsure of how to respond. She got that weird feeling in her stomach, that feeling she always got when people started to stop noticing her, that feeling she got when she knew she would disappear. She was embarassed. "I... I'm sorry miss..."