When I wake up the next morning I am alone in bed not that it surprised me but I had dreamed the Kings had crawled into the bed with me. So I got up showered, and changed then went to the kitchen.
When I enter the room Anna looks up and smiles at me."Good morning Bella how did you sleep last night? Oh and just a heads up you scared the Hell out of the Kings last night. No don't be worried, it just means they have to look closer. You fell asleep in the library but you are so small they didn't see you. I had to physically take them by the hands and point you out. It was cute, you were curled into the corner and they just didn't see you."
"Okay note to self wear neon clothes so I can be found easier."
With that Anna and I both start laughing. Then she has me sit down before putting a plate of waffles, bacon, and eggs in front of me. Once I am finished I wash the plate then sit back down.
We pass the time by her explaining how things work in the castle. What she would like to see changed, and how I can keep the Kings in line. Her most important piece of advice was never let the Kings or anyone else walk all over me.
About an hour later Gregory comes to the kitchen door.
"Bella can I steal you away?"
"Haven't you already done that?"
When Anna and I start laughing he picks up on the joke.
"Okay no more hanging out with Anna she is a bad influence on you. Anyway I would like to show you something, please come with me."
As I get up from the chair I tell Anna I will see her later then I follow Gregory into the hall. I take his and as we start walking up the stairs. He doesn't say anything only smiles. When he opens the door to my room I frown wondering what he is up to.
He takes us to the back of the room where I see the couch is covered in bags. He sit at the desk as Darius comes into the room. I start going through the bags. I begin pulling out several different shades of yarn, as well as crochet hooks. Then I pull out several color books along with colored pens, pencils, and crayons. Then the next few bags are several different books. All by authors I read. Then the last few bags have puzzles, beads, and a few other crafting things and I can't wait to try them out.
I am so happy I go to Gregory first because we talked about it and I hug him. Then I lean down to give him a light peck that turns into so much more. I feel Darius come up behind me and I turn to hug and kiss him as well. And just like with Gregory the kiss becomes more. Darius let's me lead. I slide my tongue into his mouth and then we fight for dominance. He wins but I don't mind. He pulls away before we go any further.
I smile at both of them then I go back to the couch. I start putting yarn colors together and a bell rings. They both growl and I turn toward them.
" Sorry little one that just means our next appointment is here. We must go but we will be back later."
I smile at both of them then hug them again. and tell them to have a good day.
While I am going through the yarn I have an idea. I decide to be nice and make the Kings each a blanket now I just have to find out what color they like. After thinking about it I decided to ask Anna since she seems to know everything.
I walk into the kitchen as Anna sends the people of to work.
"So deary what did Gregory steal you away for if I may ask?"
"Well yesterday I asked him what I was supposed to be doing here till I get my dragon since I'm not queen till then and we talked about hobbies to pass the time. Well today they brought me all kinds of things to do just that. They got me yarn, and books, beads, coloring books, puzzles and accessories. Oh and speaking of yarn so do you know what their favorite colors are I want to make them each a blanket."
"Deary that is so sweet. Yes Gregory likes blue and black. While Darius likes red and black. I think it is a wonderful idea. They try to help as many people as possible all the time. I think it's great that you want to do something for them."
"Umm I only have one problem through. They only brought me light colors. I need to get to a craft store and get darker colors as well. How do I do that without hurting their feelings or giving it away?"
We think about if for a minute and then Anna says," Its easy deary go grab a couple colors you like come back down and start working on something. Once they see you are using the yarn I will ask if I can take you into town to get more. When they say yes we get what you need for them as well. Tomorrow is my day off anyway so it would be perfect."
"Oh that would be great.But why would You spend your day off helping me though? Wouldn't you rather be with your family?"
"Deary they are my family so that makes you my family to. I lost my only child in a car accident a few years back so on my days off all I do is sit in my room. Sometimes the cooks have issues that I come down and fix but most days I sit in my rooms bored and alone. Now that your here I have someone to talk to and do things with."
I look at her for a minute then get up and give her a hug.
"I would be honored if you would be my grandma. When I first met you that's what I thought of. And before you say anything I was born a farmer's daughter so class or station means nothing to me."
"Well then it is MY honor to be your grandma. Now go get some yarn and get to work deary. Otherwise they won't fall for it."
I hug her again and run up to get some stuff. When I come back down I have three skeins each of pink and white yarn. Then I get to work.
Three hours later I have a partial blanket done of the pink and white, A partial blanket done of blue and white, and a blanket started with light green and a variegated color blend. I also have a list of name of people who would like me to make them blankets and what colors they want.
As I am helping Anna get dinner started Darius and Gregory walk into the kitchen. Gregory points out the blankets on the table and they check them out. Darius sees the list of names and colors and says," Bella, what is this sweetheart?"
I turn around and so does Anna. I run to them both and hug them. Then I tell them about my day.
"Well after you guys had to go to your meetings I grabbed some yarn and came down to keep Anna company. We have spent most of the day together talking about the castle, family, different patterns of blankets, and other things. Well the yarn you guys got me is great but I could only go so far with what I had. While I started these three blankets. Some of the other staff saw and asked if I could make them blankets. Seeing as I can't do anything official till later I thought it would be a nice thing to do so I had them write down their name size and favorite colors. And if you guys are okay with it tomorrow Anna is willing to take me to a craft store to get the yarn I need."
While I am talking Gregory is reading over the list. There are fourty-five names on the list and about sixty different color sets. He comes over to me and says," Little one is this something you really want to do? It looks like it is going to be a lot of work."
I frown at him and say," Of course it's a lot of work. I have no problem doing it. I have done this kind of thing back home. Other farmers would come out and ask me to make blankets for their spouses or kids as birthday presents or gifts and I was happy to do it. Just like I'm happy to do it now. Don't worry I will buy the yarn myself. I'm not asking anything from you except to make sure it's okay for Anna to take me to town I don't want her to get into trouble for helping me."
Gregory puts the paper down and comes over to me as Anne and Darius watch in silence.
"Little one you miss understand me, I wasn't saying I didn't believe you couldn't do it I just wanted to make sure you were doing it because you wanted to not because you felt pressure to. I think the work you are doing is beautiful. I am happy it makes you want to share it. if you are happy making the blankets for other that do it. I would never try to stop you. I just didn't like the thought of someone forcing you to do it. And as long as you are okay with a guard going with you I say have fun with Anne tomorrow at the craft store. Also as our queen you don't have to spend your own money getting the yarn to make blankets for the people. It comes from the Treasury and you have the right to use it whenever you need to. I am sorry I hurt your feelings. Please forgive me."
I look over when I notice both Darius and Anna have a shocked look on their face. I am guessing Gregory has never apologized to anyone before. So I walk up to him after getting him to bend closer I kiss his cheek and tell him he is forgivin. Then we sit down to dinner. After dinner I take the blankets to my room about twenty minutes later Gregory and Darius knocks on the door. They sit on the bed while I finish putting things away.