An Unlikely Pair

Chapter IX

Prince Andrew

"That pudding snack. You know the one we ate for dessert today," I said.

"Yeah. That sounds nice," Princess Margaret said.

"You look so beautiful when you smile," I said, smiling slightly.

"I know," Princess Margaret said.

"That was rude," Duchess Sonia scolded her. She wasn't talking to me. I thought.

"Come on," I said, then I held her hands as I helped her up, "Let's get you happy," She hugged my arm tightly. I could feel her fingers move along my muscles under my sleeves. I could feel her heart beating faster than a galloping horse. "Are you scared?" I asked.

"What? No," Princess Margaret said. Her heart beat faster now. "He's still there. Behind us," She whispered when we started walking.

"I wish I could help you," I said.

"I wish so too," Princess Margaret said. This unreal thing that she's seeing. It terrifies her. But what terrifies her about it? I thought, I'll ask her about it. I feel a poke on my cheek. I looked down at Princess Margaret and she said, "You have steam coming out of your head,"

I nervously chuckled and said, "I am thinking a lot. But why did you poke my cheek?"

"Wanted to see how squishy it was," She said, then she poked my cheek again, "Squishy..." She kept poking my cheek until we reached the dining hall door. When I was about to open the door, Princess Margaret suddenly let go of my arm. Flashbacks of her getting shot replayed in my mind. I looked down at her and she was huddled in a ball. She was rocking back and forth while covering her ears. Can she hear them too?! I thought. Without any other thoughts, I scooped her up into my arms and I carried her into the dining hall. Father was already in there with Sharah on his lap. She was crying. When she looked at me, her eyes were red. I rushed to a chair and gently put Princess Margaret down into the seat. "How is she?" Father and I asked at the same time.

"Remember that unreal thing I told you about?" I asked Father.

"Yes, why?" Father asked.

"It happened again," I said.

"But I thought you said that was a one time thing," Father said.

"I thought that was the case. But it was worse than before," I said.

"Worse? How was it worse?" Father asked, concerned.

"She saw me this time," I said, "I had a knife in my chest, then she said that she saw the butterfly man. She said he had come back,"

"That sounds horrible," Father said.

"It was. I had to convince her that I was the real Prince Andrew," I said, "And the worst thing about this is I can't do anything about it,"

"You can be with her," Father said. He sounded so sweet and fatherly.

"Thanks, Father. But, could you wait here with her for a moment?" I asked.

"Of course, but what will you be doing?" Father asked as I went into the kitchen.

All of the cooks looked at me when I came in. "Prince Andrew?" The head chef said, "Do you need something?"

"Yes. Could you make that pudding snack Princess Margaret and I had for dessert?" I asked.

"I could try. My son left for home when dinner ended," The head chef said, "It might not be the same,"

"I want it made anyway. Margaret is upset and this is the only way I can think of to make her smile," I said, then the thought of that beautiful smile of hers came to mind. I left the kitchen and I could feel my face becoming hotter with each second.