by Kiki Leach
“Princess,” he stated.
Queen Eliza clasped her hands and subtly rolled her eyes. Then she bent down to kiss Norvack’s cheek.
She turned to Dr. Emmanuel and flashed a wide, yet deceitful grin. “Now that we have all properly greeted one another, do you mind informing my son all of what you informed me? Your exact methods in using these devices to help him heal in a timely manner, as well as the specially made medicines and cooked teas brought back from the Netherlands.”
He nodded. “Certainly, your Majesty.”
He accompanied Norvack over to the set up in the center, explaining the various devices and their use, as the queen and I stood back watching in fascination.
I placed one arm over my stomach, resting the other atop and exhaled. I began nipping at my nails unconsciously until I saw the queen peeking at me from the corner of her eye, then dropped my hand.
“How soon do you expect Norvack to heal?” I asked.
“My son is strong, he could heal within a matter of weeks with proper treatment.”
I looked to her and guffawed under my breath. “A matter of weeks?! He’s a man, not a racehorse.”
“I am aware of such things, Mistress,” she hissed.
“Are you, truly? Your son has barely taken a single step since his attack and you expect him to heal that soon?”
“He is a fighter, just like his father.”
“Your son is nothing like the king,” I blurted in resentment. “Norvack shall heal on his own time.”
“He has no time.” She moved her head about and looked to the floor. “You are perhaps more naïve than I previously believed.”
“And you, heartless.”
“As I have stated to you once before, I am a realist! There is no time for the prince to continue remaining bedridden. No time for him to allow days and weeks to go by without--”
“Your expectations of him learning to walk again within a matter of weeks is unreasonable. You are putting a pressure on him that he doesn’t deserve!”
“He needs this pressure,” she snapped quietly. “Without it, he shall remain in that room and be worse off than Willem ever was. I don’t wish for my son to become a replica of his brother, a man who never strived for anything not including women and the most repugnant smelling and tasting of liquors. Bedridden, my son would be dead in two years.” She whipped her head around and glared at me. “I don’t believe you wish for any of that either. You did not marry a loathsome man or fellow vagabond, you married a man who was proud of his heritage, who stood tall and represented the greatness of this country, what little there is of it. You married a prince. And you want him walking again just as much as I do, perhaps even more. I can see it in your eyes and gestures toward him. Would you rather I coddle and coo at him as if he were still a boy? Or would you rather I push him, as a man, to strive for continued greatness in the likes of his father?”
“Norvack is his own great man,” I informed her.
“And all I wish is for him to continue to be his own great man, Cinderella.”
We watched the physician help Norvack from his chair and onto a cushioned table. He lay back as Dr. Emmanuel began stretching his arms and legs, preparing him for practice at the parallel bars.
“I am certain your son is more determined now than ever to be what he once was, even greater.”
“Is that so?” she asked, her tone piquing, her brow arching. “Perhaps you know him better at this moment than I.”
“Perhaps… I am learning more and more of him as we continue to spend uninterrupted time together.”
She folded her arms and pulled her head back, looking me up and down in a peculiar manner. “You are falling in love with my son.”
“No, I…” I exhaled. “I remain fond of him and admire his tenacity.”
“You admire, his tenacity and remain fond. How very kind of you, Cinder maiden.” Her tone was dripping with sarcasm like the syrup from a freshly sliced blood orange.
“I am no longer a ‘maiden’, your Majesty,” I reminded her.
We looked at one another for a long while, attempting to read each other’s expressions, then refocused on the prince. The physician managed to help him stand straight to his feet as he latched onto the metal bars. I moved up and gasped in delight, clutching my chest. Norvack seemed to struggle a bit in trying to hold onto the bars and move one foot before the other. Dr. Emmanuel stood behind, holding him at the waist, encouraging him to continue shuffling one foot ahead of the other.
Norvack’s legs began wobbling, as did his arms, thus rattling the bars. He shook his head in frustration at himself as he continued to struggle in moving. A bead of sweat slid down from his temple to his cheek. He almost reached to wipe it, but stopped himself, fearing collapse.
As the physician continued to encourage, Norvack became more grim, gripping the bars even tighter. He roared out in the manner of a ferocious animal stricken by a sudden and sharp blow and looked ahead.
“I can’t do this,” he insisted.
“Prince.” Dr. Emmanuel pleaded. “A few more steps is all it takes.”
“I cannot, do it. I need to sit down, now.”
After a bit of hesitancy, the physician reached behind and pulled Norvack’s chair to him. He fell back and wiped his face with the edge his tunic.
“Shall I fix you the tea and a medicinal?”
“No. That’s enough, I’m finished with it all for today.”
“My son, you have barely gotten started!” the queen exclaimed, hurrying toward him and opening her arms wide. “You were doing so well--”
“I said that was enough, mother. I need to return to my bro… to Willem’s chambers.”
She huffed and made a face. “At the very least, allow him to fix the tea. It shall help to sooth your aching muscles, as well as--”
“Mother.” He was stern, unapologetic in the cold way he looked and spoke to her. She became startled. “I shall drink the tea at another time. No more from the physician today.”
As he sped out of the door, I went after, grabbing onto the handles of his chair.
When we returned to his room, I rolled him to the window on his insistence, and went over to sit on the bed. I felt him look over at me in a shameful manner, but didn’t turn to him. After a few moments of stillness, without either of us having said a single word to the other, he dropped his head and focused his eyes on his legs. He grabbed one of his knees and grimaced.
“Do you consider me less of a man?” he mumbled.
I scrunched my brows. “What?”
“I struggled like a fish out of water, gasping for air. I couldn’t make it across the board without shaking in terror.” He paused. “My arms are as weak as my immobile legs. I may never walk again.”
“I wish you would not speak in such a manner.”
“It’s what I believe.”
“Why?” I asked. “It was only your first time trying since the attack, which means you are bound to struggle. But you will get better, and stronger, I am sure of it. Today does not make you less of a man, or prince for that matter. However, it should make you more determined than ever.”
“…If it shall get me closer to having you.”
“As well as learning to ride again.”
He sat back and grunted. “Perhaps. But if I remain skittish…”
“You will not always be that way, Norvack.”
He grabbed onto his knee again and twisted his face in sadness.
I looked away in frustration, then rested my hands in one another and smiled cautiously.
“I should tend to the garden. The servants will be in shortly with your breakfast, then the nurses for your bath.”
“You’re going to leave me to wallow in my misery alone?”
“I shall return to wallow with you soon enough.” I went over and kissed the corner of his lips. He turned a little, trying to meet my lips with his own, and I jerked back.
He reached for my face, lightly pressing his fingers
into my skin and staring into my eyes. “I am determined to have you.” One of his fingers inched toward the edge of my lips. He turned his head and his green eyes flickered as he watched my mouth open. “Stay with me,” he pleaded in a quiet yet desirable voice.
I was all too tempted to do as he wished from that alone, squirming only slightly as the heat began to rise in my throat, traveling to my face, sure to burn his hand.
I gulped and dropped my lids over my eyes, closing my hand around his wrist and lowering it. “I must tend to the garden.”
“Cinder--”
“But as I said, use such determination to have me, during therapy. If you do, I have no doubt you shall be healed within a matter of time.”
I took hold of my gown and backed away, then turned and rushed from the room in a flash before he could say another word, assuring that I would never leave his side, or his bed. I lay back on the door, patting down my face as it grew even more warm.
I spent more time pacing in the garden that morning than actually tending to it, while Brigita cut roses and gardenias and filled her wicker basket until the colorful petals spilled out over the edge.
“If his therapy is not going well--” she started.
“It was only the first day.” I fiddled with my hands, and looked out to the filed, watching as Norvack’s horse now glided by with the aid of a breeder. “Have you ever ridden Norvack’s horse?” I asked her.
“Once. He escaped from the gates late one night and I was the only one who had managed to catch up with him.”
“Hmm.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Only curious….” I folded my arms and sighed. “The prince believes himself less of a man now because he cannot walk or ride. I wish to re-teach him to ride once he fully heals, but I have not ridden since I was a child and stole a horse from one of the Sheriff’s men.”
“What happened to the horse?”
“He trotted off days later. I couldn’t very well keep him outside my cottage, although it seemed the horse knew it before I did. Perhaps you can enlighten me with the basics during a refresher course.”
“That sounds wonderful!” she exclaimed. I nodded and nibbled at my fingers again, fretting. “Something else is bothering you.”
“Indeed, Norvack’s behavior. In part, I am so sensitive to his anger and resentment, seeing as how this entire debacle is the result of his arrogant father whom he practically begs to receive respect. But at the same time, I am so angry with Norvack himself! My attempts to be a good wife, or even that of a companion, are becoming more of a task than late night hunting in a winter snow storm. He continuously believes himself to be weak, and he is far from it. Quite honestly, I have never seen him more masculine and strong than I do now. Though I certainly would not dare tell him that, as he wouldn’t believe me or accept it as a compliment. All the times before, he would wonder what I had considered of him.”
She ducked her head a little and squint. “What did you consider of him then, Cinder?”
“I don’t know. Disgusting, vile on the levels of his brother. I remained attracted to him, but could never imagine myself…” I broke off and looked at Brigita, who was smiling wide.
“Yes?” she asked.
I moved my head about. “Never mind.”
I began walking away, but she took my hand and dragged me back, staring hard.
“Are you falling for him, Cinder?”
I took a moment and slipped my hand from hers, frowning. “Perhaps my fondness is growing, but it does not mean what you assume it to. I told you before, I’m not sure if I can ever love anyone, ever.”
“It doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It only means that you have not as of yet. Or rather if you have, and you are no more aware of it than before.”
“…Perhaps,” I muttered. “It’s possible.”
She grinned.
As soon as she picked the last of the gardenias, she slid her arm inside mine and we traipsed through the remainder of the garden and across the lawn.
I looked at her from the corner of my eye as she focused ahead.
“Have you ever been in love?” I asked.
She gave me a long and unusual glance, and then nodded solemnly. “Once,” she said. “One of the leading members of the king’s court.”
“Is he still here?”
“No. He married someone else last year, the daughter of the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg.”
I raised my brows in shock. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“How on earth did he manage that?”
“She and her family were on a visit from their country, as the Grand Duke sought a peace treaty from the king. On the night of their royal introduction and celebration of the treaty, she met the man I believed I was going to marry, and became pregnant with his child,” replied Brigita, her voice, barely above a whisper, “and her father forced the marriage. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg would not allow his daughter to bear a bastard, even if the child’s father was not of royal heritage. We were together once before he left the palace and I never saw him again. I have been told they have since had five children, all daughters.” She reached for her stomach and suddenly stopped walking. Then she curled her fingers in and turned to me; her eyes were red, her face flushed. “If you don’t mind, I would rather place the flowers in water and take a moment alone.”
I stared at her for a moment in wonder and then nodded. “Of course.”
She hurried toward the palace as if she were walking across hot coals.
As I continued to look after, I saw the king traipsing toward me from the opposing direction. He acknowledged Brigita with a nod, though she hardly seemed to notice, and continued straight ahead toward me. I rolled my eyes so far into my head, I feared them sticking against the inside of my eyelids. When he finally approached, I tried pretending as if I had hardly noticed his burly figure, but failed. He stood directly before me and crossed his arms at his stomach, grinning sincerely for the first time ever. It made me apprehensive and worried the moment I could see and actively count the number of teeth inside his mouth.
“A lovely morning,” he said in a light voice, looking all over the field as if it were his first time noticing the multiple hills of grass. “The sun is quite bright today, the air is clean and clear. Perhaps breakfast would have been best suited beneath the tent. And how I am certain Norvack would have enjoyed it, as well as your company aside him.”
I pinched my lips to the corner of my mouth and made a face. “Norvack ate with the family? By choice?”
“A bit of coaxing is always an encouragement, as I requested his presence with the queen and I.”
“Ah. Am I to assume that my morning invitation was somehow lost between servants?”
“I requested you as well, Cinder.”
“I am quite confident you didn’t.” I lay one arm over the other and rested my chin on my hand. “What do you wish for?”
His eyes traveled and he took another step forward. “I hear the sheriff paid me a visit while the queen and I were in search of Dr. Emmanuel in the Netherlands.”
My face dropped in displeasure. “You hear? From whom?”
“No one of importance. Though I am told you sent him away. And I am told that my son continues to encourage his banishment from the palace.” He rubbed his face and lowered his hand to his throat, stretching it in the manner of an ostrich. “When he was deliberately uninvited to the ceremony, I questioned if it was because of you. And now that my son wishes for permanent exile, I am certain it is because of you.”
“What makes you so sure of that?”
“The day prior to your wedding, when I spoke to my son in the library. Do you recall that?” he asked. “The disagreement overheard between he and the Sheriff was in regard to you.”
“The members of your court were never fully convinced of what they heard.”
“They were indeed convinced of what they heard, Cinderella, and so am I. You are hiding something and th
e Sheriff is aware of what it is.” He closed one eye and pointed at me. I stared at his finger as if I were looking down the barrel of a cannon. “My son is covering for you -- lying to us all, for you.”
I leaned my head and feigned a grin to hide my worries that he was beginning to figure things out. “I have no clue as to what you are referring. Norvack despises the Sheriff only half as much as I do, and for more reasons than you could ever imagine.”
“I am certain my fair girl that every reason is because of you. My son never had a single issue with the Sheriff prior to now.”
“Is that a fact? Because I can easily say the same for Norvack and the King of England, who never had a single issue until --”
“YOU came along, once more,” he hollered.
I slowly moved my head left to right. “No. Until you felt the need to live for your son and choose him a proper wife, one he never intended to marry. You are the reason your son cannot walk. You are the reason he can no longer ride. Yet I am to blame for…” I shrugged and looked to the corner of my eye. “What, exactly? Norvack’s disagreement with the sheriff has not caused him any harm. No matter if such a disagreement is in regard to me. It’s your selfishness that nearly killed him. He may be choosing to protect me from whatever the Sheriff claims to be aware of, but at least he is safe from harm.”
“Are you?” he asked.
I stood frozen and he took another step closer to me, glaring up into my eyes. His cheeks flushed a bright red color. It was as if flames were bound to shoot up from his neck at any moment.
“What my son is protecting you from will not stay hidden forever. The Sheriff will be here tonight as my personal dinner guest, and you and I and my son shall later discuss this matter out in the open as it should be.”
My heart sank and I fell back a little. “This is why you demanded Norvack join you for breakfast. To personally inform him of the Sheriff’s arrival tonight.”
“Precisely!” he replied cheerfully. “Prepare yourself, my girl. For if I learn a deadly truth tonight, I shall force my son to slaughter you himself on a scaffold in the village square.”