SHADOW

Shame

A rush of cold air and shouting startled Sha and brought her to her senses just as a huge shadow grabbed Elias, pulling him away. Sha gasped when she saw the Count shake the King, and suddenly Sonya grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

"Come with me, my lady—we have to run!"

Sha didn't think. Not in the heat of the moment. The shame, the fear—what had she been doing? What was going to happen now? She ran. She ran through the gardens, not caring about the pebbles cutting into the skin of her feet. Her shoes were gone—lost along the way. Her dress was torn in several places, and she wondered if Elias had done that, or if she had ripped it while running.

She didn't know what would happen next. The Count and Elias, fighting because of her... Would the Count get into trouble? Because of her?

"We have to wash you, and then we'll go to sleep now," whispered Sonya, gently removing her bedraggled dress.

"I'm fine," Sha replied quietly. "I worry more about what will happen tomorrow. Do you think they'll arrest the Count for manhandling the King?"

She looked out toward the courtyard, fear in her eyes.

"What will happen to us if he's arrested? It's all because of me. I'm a fool, Sonya," Sha said, rubbing her face with her palms. "A shameful wench. I should have controlled myself."

"No, you're not," replied Sonya firmly. "It's the fairy wine and those aromatic fantasy candles. They dull the mind. They make people unreasonable during solstice celebrations. I think it'll all be fine. The Count is the King's friend. It'll be all right—don't worry."

She began gently washing Sha and brushing out her hair.

"I hope so... but I'm still afraid. There will be consequences, I'm sure of it."

"I'll sleep in the chair here," said Sonya softly. "I won't leave you alone tonight. We'll lock the door. I already failed you once by leaving you. I have my share of the blame, too."

"You don't have to sleep in the chair—you can sleep with me," Sha replied with a small smile.

Her heart was heavy with worry and shame. She wondered if she would be able to sleep at all after everything. Outside, the music still played, and people continued to laugh and dance in the garden, as if the world hadn't changed.