My heart is pounding as I walk carefully down the stairs. I remembered every twist, every turn back to him, having memorized it on the way up. I wouldn’t forget it, it was the way to him after all. The corridor was lit with dim lanterns. They were refilled with oil by the servants, letting me know that these passages were used very often. More than once I was hiding in a room while servants ran past me carrying food or blankets, their normal daily tasks. Mostly they were carrying buckets of water and mops, most likely cleaning the floors while the Queen slept so it was bright and shining in the morning. I could hear all of their quieted whispers, not wanting to talk too loudly since who knew who was listening on the other side of the walls? Even still, I could hear them whispering about As
