-38-The carriage trailed across the bridge and continued along the path between the farms.Miriel turned her eyes to Anne - who was beside her, gawking outside the window with her knees on the seat - and at Elle, who sat across her and was also gawking outside the window."Now this is quite the sight. A welcome change from the tedious Capitol." Elle said."Isn't it your highness? I'm always awed when we visit the farms." Anne shouted, her voice muffled.A moment later, they stopped and the carriage doors opened.Elle descended from the carriage, escorted by Crausel."Thank you for your assistance.""My pleasure, ma'm, I mean, your highness, I mean, princess." Crausel moved like his limbs were logs.Then Miriel and Anne descended from the carriage, Crausel eased a bit when he saw them.Elle breathed in deep and exhaled - with her hands on her hips - while Anne stood to the side, her head turning from plot to plot."How fresh and delightful. The Capitol really cannot emulate this." Elle said.The fields were lush green and full of paddy to the furthest they could see. They could see figures of people working in the fields."The smell is not so pleasant while they prepare the plots for planting." Miriel replied.As she stared at the fields, she saw unfamiliar people, dressed the same as the farmers."Those must be your knights and soldiers.""It seems they are," Elle paced a palm against her brows as she stared at them, "How laudable. Though it is unfair they get to play while I don't."Miriel saw some soldiers who seemed quite helpful to the farmers. While others were…questionable. She saw one that was stabbing the ground with a shovel, and another who was holding one in front of him with both hands and his eyes closed."Not in the farms please, Elle.""Alright," Elle nodded,"But certainly in town."Miriel sighed. She should concede that much at least.A moment later, they saw Jurrie approaching them from the farms, a straw hat covering her head."Hello madam!" Elle shouted, her hands high in the air."Hello girl!" Jurrie replied.She kept waking and stopped before them with mud covering her boots."You Miriel's friend girl?" Jurrie asked. "Mm," Elle nodded,"I am Elle, Miriel's friend from the Capitol."She put a hand on her chest and bowed."Well ain't ya the prettiest I've seen in a while. I'd have thought you a fairy if I were dreamin'." Jurre siad."Thank you for your praise madam, and I must say, you are very pretty as well." Elle replied.Miriel placed a palm on her brows and shook her head, while Anne watched them with her palms covering her mouth."To think I'd see the day Miriel'd have a friend visit her, we all thought she wasn't gettin' along with other girls there. She mellowed out now but she was quite lively when she was young." Jurrie said."Oh, she has plenty. She must be too shy to tell you," Elle continued, "Though I would love to hear more of how Miriel was before. She never shares anything like that with us." Elle smiled, glancing at Miriel for a moment."Sure girl, anythin' for a friend of Miriel. How 'bout I show you 'round the farm as well?""Another day, Missus Jurrie," Miriel said, "Our clothes will not allow that.""Nothin' to do 'bout that I guess," Jurrie shrugged, "I'll show you 'round town at least, we can chat 'long the way." "That would be most welcome." Elle nodded.Miriel nodded, she could agree to that at least."You too girl," Jurrie turned to Anne,"Come along, you'll wanna hear this." She cackled."My lady, I…pardon me!" Anne bowed to Miriel, then walked behind Jurrie and Elle as they left.Miriel sighed as she watched them walk towards the town."Crausel," She called, turning to the carriage.Crausel stood in front of the horses, feeding them grass stalks"Yes ma'm?" He turned to Miriel."Bring the carriage to town after a while." She said."Okay ma'm." He nodded.Miriel turned to the three who were a distance away and followed after them.When she reached the town, Miriel saw children surrounding Elle, who crouched down as she spoke to them. They were all silent with their eyes locked onto her."Okay, brats, go play elsewhere and stop botherin' the girl. She ain't even seen 'round the town yet." Jurrie said.They waved to Elle as they ran towards another part of the town, Elle stood and waved back.Miriel stopped beside them while Elle was waving."You're lucky you arrived near harvest. Only thing we do at the farms is 'specting crops, 'rest we stay in town," Jurrie continued, "We can prepare a feast for ya, and you can join in the women weaving and baking. You interested?"There were more people in town, where they normally all went to the farms. Miriel saw people lazing about on their porches, some sat with friends and chatted, some were mending, some were washing, some knitting, and some fixing fences and buildings."Dearly." Elle replied, her eyes sparkled as she bobbed her head.Jurrie turned to Anne, who was watching the lively town with wonder."Of course, you'll be there too girl."Anne stared at Jurrie with wide eyes."And lil' Miriel here will accompany you both."Miriel sighed. Knowing Jurrie, she expected this would happen. If she couldn't stop Elle from leaving the mansion, then the most she could do was be dragged along. And it wouldn't be just them."Though we'll need some days to prepare, and you'll help out as well." Jurrie said.Then they would send some of the food to the servants at the mansion, and to the soldiers at the barracks. Who would both have their own merry feast.It wasn't the first time they did something similar. Nor, Miriel suspected, would it be the last."We start on the 'morrow though. I'll only show ya 'round town for today.""This has turned to be most fortuitous, far more than I expected." Elle said, a wide smile on her face.Beside her, Anne bobbed her head.As the others chatted gleefully, Miriel pondered about ways to silence the knights and soldiers, with a scowl on her face.-The next few days, the three would travel to town by carriage after breakfast and return before the sun fell.The lively and eager Anne easily earned their good graces.While Elle fit in like she was a resident herself. Anything the townspeople taught her, she quickly learnt. Anything she did, she swiftly picked up the skills..
Miriel often saw her gossiping with the women, laughing and gasping all the same.
To her dismay, Jurrie often brought Elle to the farms when she went to inspect them. Miriel only hoped no one else saw them. No one that knew she was a princess, at least.
Then the night of the feast arrived and they gathered around a bonfire; people sang, danced, cheered and chattered. Men, women, the young and the elderly. All gleeful and merry.Miriel - somehow considered the host - was made to dance with the guest, Elle. And Elle, who wouldn't stop at one, kept dancing with Miriel.Miriel sat and rested as her head spun after all the dancing, while Elle was still as lively as when the feast started.At the very least, she was relieved that the princess was enjoying her stay in Lerkester. Though she might be enjoying it a bit too much.