Let The Games Begin.

Slumber

In the time it takes them to prepare my food and come back, I have finished cleaning the desk and put all of the stationary supplies back in their proper places, as well as re-hidden the small blade. As commanded, three knocks sound on the door. The girls come in, set down all they are carrying and then turn to leave.

     "Ladies!" I call, beckoning them back. "Before you are permitted to leave, I request to have my food tasted." In the dim candlelight, not one of us could see the food all that well but I knew if nothing had been tainted with, there would be no hesitation to test the food. The girls share a nervous look and took several steps closer. "Go on," I say, gesturing to the silver plates on the desk beside me. "There seems to be," I pick up one of the candle sticks and move it near the food, "Figs, dates and grapes. And roasted pork. Each of you can try two of the items and only then will I send you away. Well, if the food doesn't kill you, that is. Tell me your names."

     "Julianna," says the tall one. 

     "Talia," the shorter one follows. "Your Grace, we are not permitted to eat in the presence of royalty until you've eaten at least a third of your food, and certainly not from your own plate." 

Neither of them can make eye contact. "I am giving you direct permission to eat in my presence, and from my plate. This is an offer you will probably never encounter again in your lifetime, so I suggest you take advantage of it." Sliding the plate towards them, I cross my arms and lean against the desk. 

Neither of them move for a while, until Talia looks up at me and says "Miss, if you think we've poisoned your food because of the situation involving your mother, please know that while I am very offended, we would never go to such lengths to hurt you."

Julianna nods, finally looking up at me. "If I may be frank, we've heard the cause of your suspicious behavior and we agree with you. The thought of a woman being dependent in all circumstances upsets me. If I were you, I would be quite upset that my mother, who raised me and taught me all that I know, doesn't trust in the wisdom she gave me. Would that mean she didn't also trust in herself?"

Perhaps there was some truth to her statement. "Please, leave. I'll keep the food. If, in fact, it was tampered with and I die, I'll make sure you two are found and punished." Picking up the plate, flatware and the goblet, I round the desk and sit down. "Now, get out."

Scurrying to leave, they pull the door shut behind them and at once, the room is silent again. Before I eat, I take out a strip of parchment and a quill, hastily scratching a physical description of both women and add their names. Just in case. Setting it aside to dry, I say a quick prayer and dig in. After the first few bites, nothing tastes weird and I feel fine, so I eat what I can and leave the rest for morning. Folding the parchment from before, I stick it into the top desk drawer.

Sliding the chair back, I stand, blow out the candles and stumble over to my bed. I had every intention of locking the door but I forgot in the time it took me to set the food aside and walk towards the bed. I didn't know I was so tired. My eyes are closed and I'm asleep before I even make it under the covers.

When I awake, there are several people standing around me. They're all speaking frantically. My head feels so heavy. It feels like it would be impossible to even sit up, under the weight of my own body. Even with my eyes closed, I can tell there is someone sitting beside me. When the room finally quiets down, I pry my eyes open. 

Olea is there, sitting beside me. Gently, she presses the back of her hand to my forehead. Flashing her familiar smile, soft and genuine, she turns to the room and quietly says, "She's awake."

At once, Lucas, Marcellus and Ajax rush to the side of the bed. Beside them appears Petra and Elias. 

Groaning, I drape my arm over my face, asking, "What time is it?"

     "Integra," Petra starts, "It's already well past three."

I freeze. I never sleep that late. Slowly, I uncover my eyes and try to sit up, fighting against the grogginess. "Well, that's okay. Perhaps I was just sleeping so well.."

Elias speaks next. "That you slept for three and a half days?"

My eyes widen. "Three and a half days? Surely you're jesting, Elias."

     "No." He states, shaking his head. "I'm not. And when we began to ask around as to why you hadn't come out of your room, the kitchen maids said you requested to be alone and would punish anyone who disrupted you. When the request seemed to be past date, we decided the risk would be fine if we could just know that you we're okay."

My brows furrow. "I never made such a request. Never."

     "Do you remember what happened that night?" Lucas asks.

Nodding, I say, "Yes, actually. Ajax and I had a small argument about my mother and then he left. After that, I noticed that my room was a mess. Not from casual use, throughout the day but from what looked like someone had been in here, intentionally rummaging through my things. I inspected each item as I put them away and when I was at the desk, replacing the quills, there was a faint knock at the door."

     "Who was it?" Lucas presses, squatting beside the bed so we become eye level.

     "Two young girls, dressed in kitchen maids clothes-" I shoot a glance at Elias who nods. At the moment of realization, I force myself out of the bed. Holding my head, I stagger to the backside of the desk, tugging the drawer open. The paper is still there!  

Behind me, Lucas is out the door and Ajax is right behind him, both shouting, "Seal all the exits! Nobody passes in or out until the notice lifts!"

With a shaky hand, I shove the paper towards Elias. "They looked familiar but so many maids and servants are in and out all day so I thought nothing of it. But to be on the safe side, I wrote down their descriptions and names for a scenario such as this." Under me, my legs buckle and before I know it, I'm on my hand and knees. How embarrassing! 

Marcellus, who had been so quiet I forgot he was here, was across the room in an instant, helping me to my feet. Taking the paper, he hands it over his shoulder to Elias and then lifts me off the ground, taking me back to the bed. Lowering me, he sets me on the edge of the bed, kneeling beside me.

     "Integra, you look awful." He says, a slight chuckle escaping him as he reaches to brush the hair from my face. At first I was offended, but quickly realize he is probably right. I offer a crooked smile back and then motion for the hairbrush on the wall behind him. He retrieves it swiftly, helping me lose the matted ribbons from my hair. With the hairbrush not even all the way through the first pass, Lucas appears at the door, a frantic look staining his face. 

All he says is, "THE QUEEN MOTHER IS MISSING!"