Free Don't Forget to Dream by Kathryn Ling Page A

rooms. She was no diff erent to those girls. I t was not their fault that they were illiterate. She had never thought that something she had done because she enjoy ed it would really make her so different in some people ’ s eyes. Once Lady Emelia decided to take her in as a companion rather than a lady ’ s maid , Rhyla had not heard a bad word said about her. She had expected some ill will as after all she was still the farmer ’ s daughter who avoided working but spent her time reading wonderf ul books and sewing in the hall. Even Elsie didn ’ t begrudge her position. She was truly thankful that Rhyla was there to allow her more time to concentrate on her chores. Several days ago Rhyla had also learnt that it meant she now had time to spend with Kyle, a guardsm an who had caught her attention and for that she declared eternal gratitude to Rhyla.
    “ Are you alright my dear? ” Lady Emelia ’ s question forced her to contrive a smile for the benefit of her mistress.
    “ Yes my lady, I ’ m fine, truly, ” she assured.
    “ Then if you are done day dreaming shall we go down? Or are your musings something you wish to share, to discuss per chance? ” the Lady offered with a wry , barely suppressed grin.
    “ Oh no, my lady, ” Rhyla far too quickly replied, blushing once again. “ I would like to see the great hall. ” She attempted to portray enthusiasm as she placed her sewing down, before standing and assisting Lady Emelia from her chair.
    They walked slowly through the Palace halls, arm-in-arm so Rhyla could support the elderly lady. Her joints had stiffened with age so that walking caused her great discomfort, particularly in the winter but as the days were gradually getting warmer she was up and moving more freely.
    The great hall was down a flight of stairs and on the opposite side of the Palace from the sunroom. Lady Emelia directed her to a closer small side door rather than walk the length of the hall to enter through the main double doors that stood near the main entrance to the Palace.
    The door opened quietly at Rhyla ’ s touch. At first she c ould see only a few long tables. The first table was encircled with chairs while benches flanked the rest. Large tapestries were hung on the opposite wall between the tall windows; the first depicted a hunting scene with men on horseback pursuing a stag through a clearing. To her left behind the first table the hall ended with a large dais on which stood two large ornate chairs, the thrones of King Liam and Queen Aletta.
    With a gentle hand on her arm Rhyla looked back at Lady Emelia, “ You may enter my dear. ”
    Rhyla blushed knowing she was acting like a little girl spying where she shouldn ’ t be. Supporting Lady Emelia she stepped into the great hall. Expecting a dark, smoky, threatening room she was pleasan tly surprised at the grand room.  A room full of light and colour greeted her. Rhyla was impressed by all the tapestries which depicted processions of triumphant soldiers; ships under sail; snow capped mountains towering over a large lake; ladies dancing in a garden and a young couple kneeling as crowns were placed upon their heads, Rhyla could not be sure if it were King Liam and Queen Aletta but she thought there was some resemblance from this distance. Turning around to look at the wall she had just passed through, she noticed there were two large hearths evenly spaced between where she stood and the great doors at the far end. Covering the wall were b anners and shields of all types; some she recognised but most she did not.
    “ They are the emblems of our noble houses. Each has their own banners and shield design to identify them. The brown bear on yellow is the house of my husband, now headed by my son Joshua. The black swan on white with the blue rim is the family I was born to, and am the last of, ” Lady Emelia said with a mixture of pride and sadness.
    Rhyla nodded and squeezed her mistress ’ s hand as it lay over her arm. She knew