Dark Halls, Stone Walls

Chapter Eighteen

It took awhile for me to get permission to leave my cot—Doctor's permission, not the Prince's. Apparently, even royalty must bow to medical expertise.

The only issue with that was that everytime I pushed to get back to work, the doctor—Not Noreen, she was said she had other business to attend to—would wag his finger at me and give me a long-winded explanation why I could not. It boiled down to one of three things: I was pale ("Too much blood loss has happened in the past few days!" He cried, I was dizzy ("How the hell can you hold a broom if you can barely walk straight?!" He said after I bumped into one measly thing, and I was in pain ("Don't tell me you're trying to hide that your lower back was thrown out?" This one I lack the wit to argue against.)

The doctor in particular would have been cute had he not annoyed me so much, but I managed to get him to let me go temporarily on the condition that I check back in with him when I'm done.

I grimaced from the pain and avoided the sympathetic stares of many of my old coworkers. To them, this was a career finisher, and had I not been in for what I was, I would have lost hope.

I sighed.

"My lady, please wake up!" Noreen's voice crackly rang out from the small room.

A twinge of irritation from the sympathy-earning twange Noreen liked to add when she wanted something bad enough.

The woman blubbered to, whom I assumed was, Princess Elizabeth. "My lady, please... please! If you can hear me, please open your eyes, just once!" She let out a soft sob after another, as if she was heartbroken and mourning over a dead child's grave.

I stiffened. So Princess Elizabeth is asleep... perhaps in a coma of some kind. I clenched my fist. My lady, I swear if you get out of this relatively fine, and I find out that you tried to do something while I was out protecting you, I may just go to jail for wringing your neck. Maybe even for killing you—I haven't tried one-handed strangulation yet but as you always used to say, "Let's try it out, why the heck not?"

"Noreen." Her voice came out so weakly that I doubted that she spoke at all until Noreen responded.

"Yes... yes, that's right! It's your old maid, Noreen! My lady, please wake up, you're scaring this poor woman!"

I would have crossed my arms and leaned against my left shoulder to listen in, and I almost did, had I not remembered the reason why my arm ached as much as it did. Instead, I laid my whole arm across my body and leaned against my back.

An uneasy quiet filled the air. To my surprise, it was Noreen that spoke again.

"My lady, what's wrong? Why... why can't you-"

The voice of the prince interrupted her. "Whatever you're seeing in there, it's not worth being unconscious for days over." Again, with that arrogant, almost condescending attitude. It was a wonder how she could deal with him day by day if he spoke like this, then again, the crown probably helped.

A fellow maid with blonde hair was carrying a basket of linens when she spotted me with a frown. I gestured to the room and put a finger to my lips. She hesitated, but meandered to the other side of the doorway and offered a small smile.

She mouthed at me, "I heard what happened. I'm sorry."

I shook my head and silently said back, "No worries. Listen."

Even she, the princess, let out an exasperated groan. "... your highness." I couldn't make out the first few words.

He matched her tone. "Wish I could say the same," A chair squeaked, "but unfortunately your condition puts a damper on the celebration."

"What's going on?"

"Princess is in a coma."

She gaped. "No way! Why?"

I shrugged, "The prince is in there with Noreen."

She rolled her eyes and listened in with me.

"... don't recall trying to please you in any regard." My lady muttered.

I flinched, then steeled myself. Well, attitude gets along with attitude I guess. I smirked, almost jealous of her for this one privilege. I suppose even royalty can get told off.

Now if only her Highness was better at sneaking up on people, she might have been able to run away and lived like me for awhile. I smiled at the thought. No, she's too morally straight for that. Just like how I used to be.

A crowd started building behind the both of us. The ones that were around for that last bit gasped and widened their eyes. Some of them looks annoyed at her audacity, others grinned as the juicy gossip they could tell the kitchen staff. I was included in that latter group.

He sighed in frustration. "Well, whether you want to please me or not, can't you just listen to me and wake up already? Why do you always get yourself into trouble anyhow?"

A pregnant silence filled the air. Everyone leaned in, anticipating the tension

"No."

Some of the maids widened their eyes, still a bit confused on how a sleeping woman could talk so clearly, but enjoyed the show regardless. Admittedly, I was no exception.

"You're insane." I relished in the twinge of desperation in his voice. "There's no way you prefer this over being awake!"

"Well, I prefer staying like this, so just leave me alone, would you?" She snapped. I had to cover my mouth so that I didn't laugh out loud. "Let me enjoy my peace for a while. I can at least be somewhat happy here, and I won't let either of you take that from me!"

A heavy quiet grew between the doorway as we all stared at each other. No one dared say a word.

I grimaced at the prick of regret in my chest. I thought she was doing better nowadays. She was, wasn't she? I pursed my lips, silently kicking myself getting distracted. No, focus on the task at hand—I can use this to get out alive.

Noreen sighed. "Your Highness, I don't think it's best to—"

Prince William got up from his chair and the sounds of his steps reached the entrance, paced around, and walked back to his chair.

I exhaled softly.

Some of the maids on the outer edges decided enough was enough and walked off, but most of us near the door stayed close and waited for more.

However, minutes ticked by in complete silence. Soon enough, I was alone, patient enough to wait an entire day for a chance to make a trade with his Royal-Pain-in-the-Rear.