Mary's Path

“What are the gardens?” she asked as they walked between the buildings.

“It’s really just a big garden that some queen a long time ago built. But it’s divided into several departments, so you say the gardens,” Zerden replied. “These days, there’s almost no one there, only the ladies-in-waiting” he continued.

Mary got nervous, what if the ladies-in-waiting were there now?

“What if they find us, we probably shouldn’t go there?” she said.

“Oh, they won’t see us even if they’re there,” he said confidently. Mary felt insecure, but she still followed Zerden.

He went along the base of one of the castle’s towers and when they got around it, Mary discovered that they were standing in front of a high hedge. Zerden pointed to an opening a short distance away.

“That’s where you go enter the gardens” he said.

Mary felt tense when they entered through the opening of the hedge. She listened intently to other people and tried to see if she could see anyone.

But as soon as she entered the garden, she forgot about ladies-in-waiting and trespassing. In front of her, she saw the greenest lawn she had ever seen. In flower beds stood flowers of all colors. She had never seen anything so beautiful.

She walked slowly towards a flower bush nearby and when she got close, she felt a wonderfully sweet smell. The bushes flowers were cream white with a shimmer of pink at the bottom. She gently touched it and then looked at the next bush.

There were flowers she had never seen before mixed with well-known flowers. Zerden slowly led her further through the various gardens. When they entered the center, a pond spread out with mirrored water where water lilies were strewn. Mary couldn’t believe her eyes.

“This is the most beautiful place on earth,” said Mary.

“It’s okay,” Zerden said, but Mary heard that he was pleased that she had been so impressed.

They continued to walk through the gardens and eventually they arrived at a garden filled with rose bushes of various kinds.

Mary walked slowly and looked at all the beautiful flowers. Suddenly, she stopped and looked in amazement at a bush. There, small, off-white flowers bloomed with five petals.

“It looks just like my rose,” she said in amazement. Zerden looked at her questioningly. Mary took out the little bone flower from under the dress and showed it to him. It really looked like it was plucked from the rose bush.

“Where did you get it from?” asked Zerden.

“I got it as a birthday present from Erik,” she said.

“When was your birthday?” he asked in amazement.

“Last week,” she said.

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“What would I say?” she asked. “I don’t care if it’s my birthday” she lied. Zerden didn’t say anything else.

They spent the whole afternoon in the gardens and when they got tired of looking at all the flowers, they played hide-and-seek and awkwardly between the hedges. Mary felt like a child again and forgot everything but having fun.

They didn’t come across ladies-in-waiting or anyone else. They had the gardens all to themselves and it was their own little world.

But soon they had to go back as it was almost dinner. When they came out to the castle courtyard, Mary said.

“I’ve really had fun today. Thank you for showing me the gardens.”

“I had fun too. See you next week,” Zerden replied, waving as he began to walk home.

“I hope so” Mary said and began walking toward the kitchen.

Thursday morning started as usual for Mary by cooking the porridge for the kitchen staff’s breakfast. Nowadays it was routine, and she was thinking about the preparations for lunch when she stirred the big pot.

Suddenly she heard her name being called out over the kitchen and turned around. It was Jossi who had cried out to her, she pointed to the door. When Mary looked in that direction, she saw Zerden standing in the doorway.

Mary handed over the ladle to a kitchen maid who had to keep stirring in the pot while Mary made her way towards the door.

“Hello,” she said a little surprised.

“Hello,” he said. “Mom is wondering if you can come and have dinner with us tonight.”

“Wait a minute,” said Mary, paving the way to Mrs. Karrots. Patiently, she waited for the big woman to finish reprimanding the farmer who had delivered vegetables that apparently did not meet Mrs. Karrots standards. When the cook was done, she turned to Mary.

“Zerden’s mother wonders if I can have dinner with them tonight,” Mary said.

“Of course you can, my friend. Now, run and tell the boy so you can continue with the porridge.” Mary did as she was told.

“I’ll be there as soon as I finish for the day,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll tell mom.” They said goodbye and Mary returned to stirring the porridge.

Mary was a little nervous about the night. It had gone well the last time she was there, but she was still a little afraid of the castellan. But when Mrs. Karrots told her she could finish a little earlier, she hurried to her room.

She washed and changed into one of her dresses that she used when she wasn’t working. She let the little rose hang on top of the dress. She combed through her hair and braided it in a plain braid before hurrying out to go to Zerden’s parents’ apartment.

In the castle yard, she stopped to orient herself. She was going to go up those stairs, she thought. She took a chance and went up. She recognized the hallway she entered and started going in the direction she thought was right.

Soon she stood in front of Zerden’s door, relieved not to have gotten lost, and she knocked on the door. It was Zerden who opened the door.

“Come in,” he said, going into the kitchen. Mary followed and smelled freshly cooked food.