The evaluation
Chapter 2: The evaluation
“Wake up!” Was the first thing you heard in the morning. Like so many mornings before, your mother woke you up out of the blue while screaming your name. With a growl you rolled onto your stomach. You did not want to do this. Ever since the accident, your parents had become distant and cold. You couldn’t blame them really, but still it hurt you that they no longer wanted to have you close by. Normally you would train with your parents in the arts of embroidery, weaving and sketching, but that all changed when the accident occurred and escalated even more when your little brother was born. Now all that they wanted you to do was behave and not draw any attention to yourself. That proofed to be very difficult. You had the bluest eyes, golden hair that flowed in waves to your waist, faint freckles on the bridge of your nose and your waist was shaping up to be a perfect hourglass.
“Wake up, child! You don’t want to be late!” Your mother screamed again and you knew you couldn’t lie around anymore. With a grunt you got up and silently said goodbye to your bedroom. There was a chance that you would return, but with the upcoming wedding, that change was incredibly slim. You walked over to the kitchen and sat yourself down at the table.
“Have you packed your things already?” Your mother asked while keeping her eyes on the sausages she was frying in a pan.
“Yes I have, mother.” You said while playing with a loose strand of your nightgown.
“Good. It’s an honour to work at the palace and only the best are chosen. You should be happy your father was able to get his hands on an application form.”
‘Yes, I am over the moon with happiness.’ You thought gloomy.
In truth you were scared to death. You didn’t like embroidery, but you did love to sketch various ideas for new tapestries, carpets and even dresses. You helped around the house and ever since your little brother was born, you did most of it, but a life as a maid is something different entirely. You would have to share your room with many, therefor privacy was none-existent. You didn’t know one soul there and you had heard various rumours that the nobles at court took certain liberties with the maids. Your life as a weaver’s daughter was not ideal, but it was the life you had always known and you didn’t want to give that up just yet. You would have to leave your friends behind too. If you were hired as a maid, you would get one week free every two months, but that was hardly enough. Besides they all had their own duties too. You were still rather heart-sick after you all had left Vanaheim with various other merchants to look for a better future. Your parents were used to all the moving as they had done so more than once.
“This is what you need to be prepared for, liten blomst, if you ever hope to become a weaver yourself.” Your father had told you once. “As long as people are interested and buy your goods, you can stay, but there always comes a day when they no longer do so and then you have to find a new people, a new home and a new start.”
Your parents never got attached to a place, however, you knew that Asgard was different. Both your parents were born here on the realm eternal and leaving Vanaheim behind only to return back to Asgard, had seemed to bring out a smile on both of their faces. Even when the Bifrost got destroyed by a fight that the crown prince had vigilantly put a stop to when he came back from the time he had spent on Midgard, your parents hadn’t seemed to be bothered much to be trapped here.
“Sister!” Your brother’s voice tore you away from your gloomy thoughts as he ran towards you. He was always happy around you, which would make him the only one in this family. Arfi was a bundle of sunshine, loved everything and everyone and everything and everyone loved him in return.
“Good morning, little brother!” You said with a smile as you hugged him tight.
“Hey! I’m not so little anymore!” He squealed as you tickled him on his sides.
“Alright, enough. Sit down and eat, the both of you.” Your mother said, but this time she smiled. She always did when Arfi was there. “Where is your father?”
“Oh, he’s arguing with Ulle about the wool again.” Arfi said as he stuffed two sausages in his mouth at once.
“Well, he shouldn’t overprice his goods.” Your mother deadpanned.
“So, are you excited to go to the capital?” Arfi asked while stuffing down the rest of his breakfast.
“I am.” That was the only thing you could manage to say. You didn’t want to lie to your little brother, but neither could you tell him the truth. You didn’t want to leave him behind, but what choice did you have? Your parents had chosen this path for you and you couldn’t refuse them. Your brother didn’t understand what this little trip to the capital meant. Either you would be hired as a maid and leave your family to live at the palace or you would be send home and your parents would find you a man to marry. Either way, your life was at a crossroads and you had no idea what to expect.
You tried to eat your breakfast in silence, but you couldn’t get one bite down, not after that particular train of thought. Eventually, after your father had barged into the kitchen and had eaten all of the sausages, You all left for the docks where a skift was waiting for you. Normally you would take the horse and the cart you used for the markets to go to the capital, but that would take hours, so your father had paid the master of the docks a little extra to arrange a skift. The captain told you to hang on tight before he steered the Skift into the air and then in the direction of the palace. Instead of flying over the fields and the little villages, you flew over the river and soon you couldn’t tell where your house had stood.
The air up here is even colder than on the ground, you thought, as you shivered. The golden palace seemed to grow with every passing second as you crept closer and closer. Your heart began to beat faster. This wasn’t your first time going to the capital, no, you had done so a hundredth times over. This time however, you wouldn’t be there shouting different prices at the people on the market to buy your goods. This time you would be a good yourself.
When the captain finally lowered the skift at the docks just outside the palace’s walls, you let go of a breath you didn’t even know you were holding. You thanked the captain with a small voice and followed your parents to the western gatehouse.
“State your business.” One of the Einherjar by the gate said.
“We have come to accompany our daughter to her carreer evaluation, regarding the position of palace maid.” Your father said proudly as he puffed his chest up a bit. The Einherjar however looked over to you and pretty much undressed you with his eyes. You blushed and hid a little behind your mother to escape the guard’s gaze.
“Very well.” He eventually said and soon the gate was opened and your family was offered access to the palace.
As soon as you came out the other end of the gate you were met with the most magnificent sight you had ever beheld. The nobles of the court were having their own market, but instead of fish, meats and various greens, they sold jewellery, beautiful silken gowns and amazingly scented bath oils. It was clear that your weaver’s family did not belong here. It was almost like you had stepped into an entirely new world. You all remained still for a moment as you all gazed at the scene before you, but eventually your father cleared his throat and led you all to an entrance of a side-building.
“Excuse me, good sir, but where might we find the servant-wing where the evaluations are taking place?” Your father asked an Einherjar who was passing by.
“You’re in luck, I was just heading there myself.” Without another word you all followed the guard through various halls. You tried to remember the way you were going, but that proved to be very difficult. You took a left than a right, left, left, straight, down, right, left, up, …. You quickly gave up, but eventually you did arrive at your destination.
“Vott. These people have come for an evaluation regarding the position of maid.” The guard you had followed said to another guard, who simply gave a nod and opened the door. When you went inside you were greeted by a large woman whom had a notebook in her hand and was scribbling something down.
“And who might you be?” She asked you after a moment.
“I am Hroald Gunnulfsson and my daughter wishes to become a palace maid.” Your father said as he pushed you a little forward so the larger woman could look at you.
I didn’t know I had ‘wished’ for this or that I ever was allowed to wish anything at all. You thought and seriously tried to not roll your eyes.
“My, aren’t you a pretty one.” The lady muttered as she came closer and took your chin between two fingers. “Tell me, are you still pure, girl?” She asked which made you blush. That was an incredibly rude thing to ask.
“She is. She also just had her coming of age ceremony.” Your father said.
“Hmm. How old are you girl?”
“She’s-“
“I asked her. Tell me, dear, how old are you? Or are you mute?” The woman was making you angry. First she asks you something incredibly rude and now she was insulting you.
“I am not mute and my name is not girl.” You replied and pulled the larger woman’s hand away from your chin.
“How dare you? Apologise immediately!” Your mother cried, but the larger woman only laughed.
“You are a feisty one! Yes, I think the palace would be better off with a servant like you. Follow me, my dear.” She said and for a moment you didn’t do anything. Was this some sort of test? And you had succeeded? You were pulled back from your thoughts when your mother gave you a push to follow the bigger woman. You were lead into a different, smaller room where a desk and two chairs stood.
“Take a seat.” The woman said as she sat herself down at the desk. “Now tell me, what are your qualities?”
“My qualities?” The woman rolled her eyes.
“Surely you’ve not come here to become a maid, for the palace might I add, without any sort of experience?”
“I… I helped mother all the time with the chores and when my brother was born, I pretty much cooked, cleaned and did the laundry all by myself.”
“Can you read or write?”
“Yes, I can do both. I am also good at math. I used to keep track of the gains and losses of my family’s business.”
“Good. I’m sure we can do something with that. Would you say that you have an organised mind?”
“If you mean by that, that I like to keep things clean and well-placed, then yes, I do have an organised mind.”
“I might have a position for you, but I must first talk to the people whom are concerned. If they refuse, I still want you to become a kitchen maid.” She said as she got up.
“Does this mean that I am-“
“Yes, you’re hired. I trust you know that from now on you’ll live here at the palace at the servant-wing?” you nodded your head. “Good. Then I suppose it’s time for me to introduce myself. My name is Rydigg Hedindottir and I am the head of the kitchen maids. You’re very lucky you had this evuluation with me, otherwise Dalla would have had you stationed as a cleaning or chambermaid. Today you’re off duty to spend the rest of the day as you like, but your duty to the palace begins tomorrow. I will instruct another maid to show you around and show where the kitchens are where you will report to me first thing in the morning so I can give you your chores for the day. I also want you for another position, but I first need to speak with the archivist about it. If he agrees to your service, you will report to him thrice a week and on those days you will not be required in the kitchens. Is all this clear?”
“Yes, my lady.” That made Rydigg laugh hard.
“Not ‘my lady’, dear. Ma’am is good enough.” She smiled and then shouted “Djúpvitr!” A tall girl with beautiful brown hair came into the room.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Show Svinnr here where she will be staying and working. Introduce her to the others as well and answer all her questions.” Rydigg instructed and with a curtesy Djúpvitr took you by the hand and left the room.
“So, how does it feel to be hired as a palace maid?” Djúpvitr said and to your relief she sounded sincere and kind.
“To be honest, I thought I would have been send home with a few lashings for speaking out of turn to the head maid.” Djúpvitr giggled.
“I did the same thing at my evaluation. You know, Rydigg is the only one who hires boys and girls who show a little backbone. She says that servants need that, especially those who serve people of noble blood. If you had done something like that with Dalla or Vigdis, you would never have heard the end of it!”
“So, you are a kitchen maid too?”
“That I am. I have been that for 50 years now. I’m not going to lie, it is hard work and rather tedious in the beginning. They don’t trust you with real food at the start, so you’re forced to wash the dishes day in day out. You do get some cooking lessons to make sure you don’t screw up a dish for the nobles, let alone the royal family, but I have never gone further than cleaning the vegetables or plucking the poultry and I have been here for 50 years! Well, at least I’m not a chambermaid.” She added with a smile.
“Why? Is that a bad thing?”
“Oh, as a position it is the best you can have. All you have to do is keep a chamber clean for a noble that has been appointed to you! But those maids are the worst brats around here. They themselves act like they are of noble blood! Most of them even end up in some sort of relationship with their nobles, but that always ends horribly. Either they have fallen madly in love with them, while the noble has not or the noble grows tired of them and has them sacked and replaced by another. It’s great for gossip around here, but other than that it’s a horrible reality.”
“I thought for a second that I would become a chambermaid when Rydigg asked me if I… was still pure.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that! She always asks people that to get a rise out of them! Although I have heard a rumour that some nobles have the audacity to specifically ask for untouched maidens to clean their rooms, but hey! That’s none of our concern given that we are not chambermaids.” Djúpvitr reassured you and strangely enough you actually felt better.
“Rydigg also told me she wanted me for another position, but she first needed to speak with the archivist?” Djúpvitr stopped in her tracks and looked at you with big eyes.
“Norns, Svinnr! She wants you to become Blekk Surtsson’s help?”
“Is that bad? And that’s not my real name.” You said.
“No, he’s only the most boring man in all the nine realms! He is as old as Asgard herself and probably smells like it too.” She said as she wrinkled her nose. “Oh, besides, Rydigg always gives her maids nicknames. My real name is Torunn, but she calls me Djúpvitr, because I’m resourceful. You must have been quick on your feet for your nickname to be something resembling ‘swiftly’.” She explained.
“But is he horrible too?” You asked with a trembling voice, completely ignoring the explanation of the names. You were just a little bit terrified by the way Djúpvitr’s eyes had expanded at the mention of the archivist to think of anything else.
“Not that I know off. Most of the helps he has had, ended up in the library or as some sort of book-searchers in the other realms. I heard that the last help ended up as a teacher on Vanaheim, but what exactly did you say for Rydigg to see you as a possible candidate for this position?” You thought back on your evaluation, but it had gone so quickly that you could hardly remember saying anything to receive such a position.
“I told her I could read and write?” You tried and Djúpvitr nodded.
“Well, that makes you unique among all the other maids. I know a few who can, but most of us don’t.”
“Oh.” Was all you could say. You had a feeling Djúpvitr was also talking about herself.
“Here we are.” Djúpvitr eventually said after walking in silence for a while. She pushed open a door and you were met with rows on rows of beds. “These are the sleeping chambers you’ll be at. If good old Blekk decides you are worthy to be his help, I’m sure you’ll receive quarters closer to the archives, for now you’ll sleep here.” Djúpvitr lead you through the various rows of beds all the way to the back of the room.
“This will be your bed.” She said as she pointed to the last bed in the room that was under a small window. “Now, all your stuff has been brought to Rydigg. You see, as a maid, you are not allowed to have your own stuff. You will wear what they grant you, eat what they give you and do as they tell you. They tell everyone that you are allowed to bring your stuff here, just to make sure you don’t get the feeling you’re a slave, but let’s face it, the only difference between a slave and a maid here is that we get paid just enough to not be considered as one.” You looked at her quizzingly. She had seemed quite happy to be a maid before, but now she was telling you that you were all basically slaves?
“Oh, don’t see it as something bad! I’m just being real with you. I have met so many girls who had this romantic fantasy about this job. They all expected to be treated with more respect than they would normally receive in whatever village they had come from, but none of that came true. You work hard and most of the time no one even notices you exist. At least you have a roof above your head, food in your belly and medical assistance when you’re feeling poorly.”
“Can I ask you something, Djúpvitr?” You asked as you sat yourself down on your new shaggy bed.
“Sure anything.” Djúpvitr said as she too sat down beside you.
“Why did you apply for this profession?” That made her laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She looked rather sad than joyous.
“Like many girls here, my life was a disaster before I came here. My father was a drunk and whenever he came home, he sought my mom out to beat her. On the nights he couldn’t find her, he found me. We had a small bakery with our own windmill. One day I was going to take over the bakery myself, but I was sick of the various beatings my father dealt to both my mother and I. He also used up all our savings to spend on ale and whores. Eventually after my mother died of a sickness, I packed my bags and came to the capital. After a few days of just wandering through the streets, I heard some girls talking about becoming maids and I followed them home. I stole one of the girls application forms and got myself the job.”
“Wow. You’re very honest, Djúpvitr. Thank you for that.” Djúpvitr looked at you quizzingly.
“Not many people have been honest with you, I take it?” You shook your head. “Well, you don’t have to tell me your life story just yet, but I do hope you can trust me. This world is a harsh one and we maids have to stick together.” She said as she gently bumped her shoulder to yours.
The rest of the day you spend with your family. You were allowed to walk the public gardens and you took full advantage of that. By the end of the day you were forced to say goodbye to them. It was heart-breaking to see your little brother’s pained expression. He only thought you were all going to visit the capital, but now it was also clear to him that it was never just a visit. You promised him to come back home in two months, but that made your little brother cry even harder. That night you went to bed with a hollow feeling in your chest.