A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Ten

Hours passed and still Charlotte did not move from the bed. She still just sat there and held her doll. It was a very pretty doll. One that was ceramic with a beautifully painted face, strawberry blonde curls, and wearing a satin blue dress. She had first seen it in the window of a store one afternoon during a carriage ride with her father and she exclaimed with great joy how she would love to have that doll. But her father told her that for the time being he had to be careful with their wealth because the kingdom was experiencing a famine. She was disappointed but accepted it.

Imagine her joy on her fifth birthday when it turned out that what he said about the famine was a lie and that he had purchased the doll for her. She had squealed with happiness and couldn't stop telling her father "Thank you." or how he was "The most wonderful father in the world." She had named the doll Mary and from then on the doll became one of Charlotte's most precious treasures. Precious even more now that her father had left for battle. She prayed that she would see him again someday.

Eventually she tried to sleep but found it to be nearly impossible. The bed was comfy enough but her mind just couldn't stop thinking about what would become of her now. Was she really going to spend the rest of her life here? Never to see Niffty or any of the other people she had grown up with again? Why was this happening? Would she ever return to the life she once knew?

Suddenly her worried thoughts were interrupted a voice whimpering. It was faint but Charlotte could hear it. With her curiosity peeked, she stood up and quietly stepped out of her room. She followed the whimpering to the room across from the kitchen and she opened the door to see Vagatha tossing and turning in bed. She was asleep but it was by no means a peaceful one. Her body trembled, she was drenched in sweat, it was obvious that she was having a nightmare.

"Papa." She sounded so frightened. "Papa."

Charlotte placed her hand on Vagatha's shoulder and gave her a firm yet gentle shake. It took a few moments to do so but this action woke Vagatha.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I heard you crying. I came in to see you were okay." Charlotte said.

"I wasn't crying." Vagatha denied. "I don't cry. I was just having a hard time sleeping."

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine! Go away! And leave me alone!"

"You were having a bad dream weren't you? About your father?" Charlotte deduced.

Vagatha looked away.

"You were talking in your sleep. I heard you say Papa."

Vagatha still would not respond to her.

"I know how you feel."

"No you don't." Vagatha finally said. "How could you? Your father is still alive."

"But my mother isn't."

Vagatha's demeanor began soften when she heard Charlotte's reply. That's right, Charlotte's mother had died years ago. That's why the king had remarried in the first place. Because his daughter had no mother, just like how Vagatha had no father.

"I'm sorry." She said in a much gentle tone. "I forgot."

"That's okay. Sometimes I forget too." Charlotte sighed. "If you have nightmares about your father then that means you remember him, right?"

"Yes."

"I don't remember my mother. Papa says it's because I was so little when we lost her. It was on the day I was born and something had gone wrong."