When I'm King

Chapter 3

Waking with an uneasy feeling, he did his best to put his thoughts in order. He knew he had finished what remained in the bottle, he recalled talking to his father, but what was it about?

Though he was beginning to grow accustomed to the high he received when he drank the strange tasting liquid, Sherlock never quite got over how he felt afterwards. He was often disorientated and his memories were clouded at the best. Eventually it would all come back to him, but for now he sat on his bed, clutching his head as if he had a bad hangover, which wasn't completely far off from what he was experiencing.

He stumbled across the room to the water basin and began to splash his face, feeling slight relief in the actions. He cupped his hands together and drank some of the water. Dapping his face with a towel he walked to his dresser and pulled out some clothes. He could not remember what, but he knew he was doing something very important today.

As he buttoned his shirt, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter." Sherlock said in a commanding voice. The door opened and a small man walked in. Nicholas, the family's head butler, came in.

"Sir, the Queen demands your attendance to breakfast immediately." He said.

"Will that be all?" The young prince asked, annoyance dripping in his voice.

"Yes, your highness." Nicholas returned, unfazed by the attitude.

"Then you may tell mother I will be down soon."

"Yes sir, thank you." He said, exiting the door he just passed through moments ago.

Of course mother would want to see me, I have something important to do and she always has to ruin things...I just wish I knew what it was I was going to do...

Sherlock finished getting ready and walked downstairs to the royal dining hall where his mother was waiting for him.

"Hello Sherlock dear," muttered the housekeeper, Madame Hudson, "Would you like some tea?"

He didn't say anything; he just gave a quick nod and a small smile, nothing real or strong, but just enough for her to be happy. Madame Hudson was never rude to Sherlock; in fact she was rather kind to him. She always picked him up if things got rough with his father and helped him, well tried to, when she found out about his substance issues.

As she bustled into the kitchen to get him a cup of warm leaf water, his mother pulled out the chair next to her and motioned for him to come sit next to him. Not wanting conflict this early in the morning with so much to do, he did.

"Sherlock, son, how are you?" She asked, looking almost concerned.

"I'm fine mother, how are you?" He asked, knowing manners were of upmost importance to her.

"I am well, but worried, worried about you Sherlock."

"Me? Why are you worried about me?" Sherlock asked, he was actually quite surprised she showed any concern at all.

"Well, you see, no one ever sees you anymore. You remain locked away in your room, or your library, you never sit with us to enjoy a meal, you do not talk with your father about war strategies, nothing at all." She paused, as if she had worked herself up just mentioning the supposedly terrible things, "And, and now, you come down to talk to your father about...about a man! Of all things, you know thoughts like that will send you to hell!"

Understanding now why he had been called down to dine with his mother, Sherlock began to sink into his chair and waited for Madame Hudson to return and save him, if only for a moment.

As if being able to sense his need for help, Madame Hudson strolled in, caring a tray with a tea pot, cup, and from the looks of it, some sugar and light, fluffy pastries she baked herself. Setting it all down next to him, she began to serve him. Giving him three spoonful's of sugar, he despised how bitter tea is, and setting down a tart that seemed to be filled with strawberries, she gave him a quick squeeze on the shoulder to let him know the entire kitchen and castle staff could hear him mother and were all waiting for him when he needed it. He looked over, gave her a smile-that wasn't entirely fake-and gave a small 'thank you' before she turned to attend the queen.