Previous to Ever After

Four

I sprinted up the grand staircase with Lawrence and Captain Luxford on my heels. I pushed open the door to my parent's chamber and peered in.

The doctor, a short man with tiny, circular glasses, was leaning over my father, listening to his heartbeat. His round face showed no emotion as he moved his stethoscope around my father's chest, searching for the slow, steady beat that was proof that he was still alive. Mother was standing behind him, twisting her wedding ring around her finger, something she only did when she was very nervous, which happened very rarely.

A couple of seconds later the doctor wrapped up his stethoscope and took out a thermometer. He placed it in my father's mouth as I stepped closer. Lawrence and Captain Luxford remained at the door, saying nothing.

The doctor removed the thermometer and muttered a number.

"Pardon?" I asked, staring at him. Mother glanced in my direction.

The doctor looked up at me, as if this was the first time he noticed my presence. "One hundred and seven," he repeated.

I clenched my teeth as he took out a few other tools from his bag that I didn't recognize.

The doctor looked up at mother. Pushing his glasses up on his nose, he said, "If you don't mind, my queen, I would like to prepare these tests in a less crowded environment?"

That was doctor talk for get the hell out.

We all moved into the hall and said nothing. Mother stared at the floor and I bit my fingernails. Lawrence and Captain Luxford stood quietly, staring at the portraits on the wall, as if the dull and neutral colors were actually interesting. Gretchen brought up cups of tea but no one touched the platter. She sat down on a chair and stared absently with us. We waited.

And waited.

And waited.

After what seemed like forever, the doctor appeared outside the door. He gestured for my mother to come inside the room. I stood up to follow her but he held out his hand, blocking my path.

"Only the patients wife, please," he said.

I clenched my fists and hardened my stare. "Yeah, and I'm the patients daughter, now move aside," I said as I walked by him. He shrugged and closed the door behind us.

Unusually, my mother didn't scold me for my rudeness. Instead, she sat down next to father and held his hand. "Well?" she asked.

The doctor sighed and walked over, folding his hands in front of him.

"Your husband– and your father," he started, taking a quick glance in my direction, "has come down with a very rare illness. So rare, that it doesn't even have a name yet. I've witnessed only two other patients with the same symptoms as the king. Not waking up, abnormally high fevers, cold hands, a very, very slow heartbeat, etcetera."

He paused giving us a moment to comprehend his words. I looked down and saw how tight mother's grip was on my father's hand.

When she didn't say anything, I spoke up. "Yeah, we know what's wrong with him. The question is, can you cure it?"

The doctor looked annoyed, but kept his eyes on my mother.

"As I was saying," he continued. "It's extremely lethal and–" He cut himself off and paused to look over at me. "And incurable..." His expression grew soft, and he almost looked sorry. "Your majesty, he has about six days until the disease reaches his heart. That's when..." His voice trailed off.

I patiently waited sixty seconds of dead silence until I spoke, my voice shaky. "That's when what?"

"When the disease will stop his heart," he said, his voice cracking on the last word.