Woodchoppers Secret

Chapter Eight | She Forgot

My mother opened the door in the morning, after scolding me on how to be a proper woman and all, she had to leave for a one-week trip to another country. So, she could give her best wishes along with my father, giving me the entire palace in my own hands. I knew what I was going to do first, changing into a red coloured dress, with lace gloves. I noticed, if I were to be a maid then gloves were not the right subject.

Instead, I went all casual, tied my hair in a ponytail, leaving the two strands of hair beside my cheeks instead of my head. I then walk out with a bright smile knowing I am in charge; I stumble down to the kitchen and take out a cloth. "Your highness, there is no need-"

"Lauren, can you bring all the staff outside please but not the woodchoppers, thank you." Lauren nods her head; I fix my lipstick and brush through my brown curls as I tumble my way outside. Seeing all the staff gathering. I smile towards them and they look at each other in utter surprise.

My fingers were fiddling with one another before I was surrounded with staff, "Good afternoon everyone, my name is Anastasia, and I would like for you all to proceed to call me that. And no formal technical before it please. Only for a week, since my parents are not here, I would like us all to get along, you re allowed to smile, allowed to make jokes and talk as long as it does not distract you from your job."

It was as if I was giving them a raise, they were smiling, looking around to find their friends and laughing. "I want you to experience a happy work place, and lunch break will be longer that ten minutes, an hour should do. Lauren will be in charge as head of the house and I would appreciate if we could listen to what she has to say and tells you to do. If anything is needed, you shall go to her. That is all. I will try my best to help around the house. Thank you."

They bow their head and rush of back to work, Lauren beams with cheerfulness as she engulfs me into a tight hug. "You are going to be an amazing Queen Anastasia." She squeezes my cheeks and turns to boss them all around, I face the palace before facing the woods. Then I tumble towards it.

Upon the forest floor lie trees of yesteryear, fallen in storms long forgotten. The seasons have been harsh, stripping away the bark and outer layers, yet rendering them all the more beautiful. They have the appearance of driftwood, twisting in patterns that remind me of seaside waves; even the colour of the moss is kelp-like.

They are soft, damp, yet her fingers come away dry. I tilt my head upward, feeling my hair tumble further down my back; the pines are several houses tall, reaching toward the golden rays of spring.

Birdsong comes in lulls and bursts, the silence and the singing working together as well as any improvised melody. A new smile paints itself upon my freckled face, rose-pink lips semi-illuminated by the dappled light.

Before I know it my feet have begun to walk, body and mind both on autopilot - it's morning-time and no-one expects me home now. I swing my hands over the tree and notice a beautiful emerald leave. I pick it up and hold it before passing the watermelon looking tree and hearing loud snaps of wood.

"Good afternoon Matteo."

"Afternoon Alina." He returns as I stop on my walk, a few metres away from him and his wood. He wore a tight vest shirt, with a long sleeve open top that had stains of mud.

"Is it okay If I borrow one of your books?"

"Go ahead." He chops another log in half as I pace inside his cabin, grabbing any book my hands left on and tumble back outside. I settle down close to Matias, almost besides him but enough space where the splinters will not attack me. I brush open the first page, it felt as if I have not read in years.

My eyes scanned every word, one by one, appreciating it. The sun, the sun goes down gently as time passes, I read whilst he worked. He decided to play a song on his vinyl, it changes here and there. I look up a few times to see if he was okay, was it that hard to chop wood? "Can I try?" I asked.

"I don't think so."

"Why not?" I spoke, he rubs the back of his head, his emerald eyes lingering into my blue ones. He shrugs his shoulder and I close the book in my hand and I stand up walking towards him. I take out my hands, he sighs as he drops the Axe in the palm of my hands and I fall with it.

"That's why." I shake my head and lift the axe up, how much did this weigh? I hear him let out a small chuckle, as deep as his voice. He comes in front of me and lifts the axe. "Let me show you. May I?"

"No, I mean yes, no. Yes, of course." I stutter over my words. Come on Ana, you can do better, remember those books you read. I let out a weird laugh as throws a log onto the surface; he comes behind me and helps me lift up the heavy axe.

"Hold it tightly," He whispers into my ears, I shudder by the tone of it and nod my head slowly. I tighten my hold onto the Axe, I feel his hands brush over my own as he wraps it on top, as if a layer. "Good, now slowly thro it over your shoulder then directly slam it into the wood, but do it right in the centre."

"Alright, that sounds easy." I hold it in a controlled manner as I slowly throw it over my shoulder, Matias stood behind me so I had to be extra careful. He removes his hold and I swing the Axe directly into wood as I cracks open but not fully.

"There we go, you did it but next time add more power into the hit. Its okay." I scowl at him, pressing my hands against his chest as I push him away. I grab another log and put it onto the surface as I pick the axe up, I throw it over my shoulder and with all my power I slammed it right in the middle of the wood, breaking it into half.

"You were saying?" His eyebrows were raised, I handed him the axe and picked up my book from the floor as I settle back down and continue to read.

"You have a way of surprising me, Amina."

"I do, do I not Marcus?"