The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is a attempt to write a complete (and very rough) draft of a novel by writing for fifteen minutes each day. I have taken a timed writing from one of the daily prompts done in 2021, cleaned it up a little and used it as my jumping off point into a story. Each day I will take the last line of the story written the day before and use it as my sentence starter and write for fifteen minutes, growing the story as the year progresses.
Day 92: “Oh and I have had warmer garments sent up. You will find them in the wardrobe.”
“Oh and I have had warmer garments sent up. You will find them in the wardrobe.”
Before Anya could thank the Matron she was turning away and walking out of the door. She shut it behind her as she left. Alone Anya felt as though she could explore the rooms she was given. They were much larger and better appointed than the ones she left behind. They weren’t luxurious but they felt as though someone was expected to stay long term.
The room where she was standing was a sitting room. It was not large and had two comfortable chairs placed in front of a fire. Anya wondered if it was due to the lessons Marta mentioned her needing or if she would be expected to have visitors. To the back of the room, beside the fireplace were a couple of the lines that looked as though they held hidden doors. While Anya was curios, she decided to take a look at the rest of the opened space first.
She turned away from the sitting area and walked to the bedroom. The bed was slightly larger. In addition to the expected bed clothes, the bed had thick brocade curtains strung around them. They were tied back at the moment. Anya wondered if she was supposed to pull them shut when she slept and why anyone felt it necessary as there was a stoutly locked door between herself and the rest of those that lived in this section. Against the wall was a large armoire and Anya walked over to it still puzzled about the bed. She opened the doors to the armoire and found three dresses and their accompanying under garments in place. Anya ran her fingers over the cloth. Like the room, the clothes appeared well made and sturdy, but not extravagant.
‘Thicker material,’ Anya thought as she let the cloth slip from her fingers. The material not only seemed thicker but as though it was built in layers. ‘I wonder how cold it will really get.’
Anya poked around in the drawers of the armoire and found most of them empty. One held a few pairs of woolen stockings and another held a couple of extra blankets but overall it was empty. The sight gave her a little bit of relief. No one stocked this armoire with the expectation of keeping her here permanently. She was merely provided warmer garments for the upcoming season.
‘Which I’d need even if I left,’ Anya thought.
She closed the door. To the right of the armoire was another door. Anya entered wondering what it could be and found her eyes going wide. In the center of the space was a large tub. It looked like an enormous cauldron with slightly lower sides. Leading into it was a pipe of some sort. And there was a plugged drain in the bottom. Following the pipe led Anya to a cistern that was already full of water. The cistern was placed in such a way as to get the heat from the fire box without blocking the smoke from going up the chimney. Off to the side was a bucket so Anya was certain that she would still be going down to the well to fetch the water to fill the cistern.
‘But once it it full I can bathe. In hot water.’ Anya heard that the bath houses had a system of heated water. It was costly to pay to use such a luxury.
Ten til Midnight 