Chapter two of Radella: The ogres come for Ella

"I think this will fit you well," a maidservant said as she returned with a dark blue tunic with matching leggings, a pair of tall leather boots, and a brown cloak.

Ella looked at the clothes with a bit of distaste, thinking how the people back home would have reacted, but in reality she actually liked it. She took the clothes and stared at the maidservant.

"Well?" she asked. "Are you going to change into it or not?"

Ella stared at her still.

"Oh," she said, "I am a woman too!" but she turned around any way.

Ella eyed her then changed into the clothes. The clothes felt strange to her but it was much more comfortable than she expected it to be. Indeed, they were made for traveling. When she was done she allowed the maidservant to turn around and then looked in the mirror.

"Ladies should be clothed in dresses instead, but Avery told me you would much rather wear something to travel well in," she said with obvious dissatisfaction.

"I like it, it's very comfortable," Ella objected and turned around in front of the mirror.

"The king would like you to dine with him today," the maidservant ignored Ella's comment.

"The king," Ella said amusingly.

"Are you mocking him?"

"No, no." Ella said with a smile, "What may I call you?"

"I am Esme," She said, "Now go and clean up; you will not appear before the king looking like that. Your hair must be fixed; your face washed, and put on some jewelry."

"I don't want to," Ella said, "Besides he didn't seem to mind me the way I was before. And I don't have any jewelry."

"You will do as I say," Esme said harshly, "You are nothing but a commoner."

Ella was taken aback by what the maidservant had said and how rudely she had said it, "Calm down, I just don't feel like fixing up myself."

"Well, if the king complains to me about how you're dressed for dinner you will not receive happy company from me, you dirty commoner."

"How dare you speak this way to my guest?" Avery stood at the doorway.

"Your Majesty!" Esme exclaimed and curtsied and kept her eyes down, "I only wanted her to clean up for dinner."

"If she does not wish to, then do not pester her. Apologize." He demanded.

Esme turned and looked at Ella. She apologized, though her eyes clearly showed that she did not mean it.

"You are dismissed." Avery said to the maid and she bustled out.

"I apologize for her behavior," He said politely, "May I escort you to dinner?"

Ella smiled and took his arm, "Yes, you may."

They got to the table and she let go and sat down. There were two children at the table and an old lady who Ella assumed were Avery's sisters and mother. She stared at their ears which seemed unusually long and then noticed that every one else's ears were just like that as well.

The table was large enough to fit twelve people, but only the five of them were seated and they were all at one end. Avery sat at the head of the table and his mother and Ella sat on either side. The servants came in with the food and set it in front of them all. First they served the main course, which was a soup of some kind that Ella found quite well, and then they served dessert. Ella's mouth melted as she saw them bringing the plates of a cake made of chocolate, covered in chocolate, and sprinkled in chocolate. The people here, she decided, had quite a sweet tooth and she was grateful for it.