Something in the water

Chapter 2

"So now can you tell me where we're going?" I ask childishly. We've been on the train for about an hour. "Olerith! Of course we're going to Olerith, it's the only place that has had no cases of this plague. I'm surprised you didn't guess already." Says Maggy. Olerith is about another hour away. I decide to have a sleep while we wait to get there.

"Your highness, your highness" I wake up to find a footman shaking me gently. "We have arrived at Olerith and we need to get off the train now." He says to me before disappearing out of our compartment. I'm still a bit sleepy but I can't help but think, where's Maggy? Where is everyone? No one is here with me, that never happens when your a princess. I get up and decide to get changed into one of my new dresses. It is blue with a red ribbon around the middle. I do a quick twirl in front of the mirror before getting off the train. I look around in the fading sun and try to find my car. But I never have to do this by myself. Where is everyone? I find our royal car which has our flag tucked into the windshield. I get in, but I'm starting to panic. Does Maggy have the sickness? She looked fine before I fell asleep. "Where is everyone?" I ask the driver, but I don't expect a reply because I can tell the driver doesn't want to talk. So we sit in silence until we reach the castle. I still can't help but worry about everything.

We reach the castle after a short drive. A footman opens the door for me and takes my luggage. He gestures toward the stairs and I know that I need to walk up them to get to the castle. I love how the stairs move my dress, it makes it look so pretty. I start walking up the stairs with a heavy feeling in my stomach. I can tell something is wrong. I reach the top of the stairs and the king and the prince are waiting for me. I know the queen died while carrying their second child. "Greetings princess. I trust you had a nice journey." The king says but he doesn't look too happy to see me. "Yes, but it is a little strange that my maid has gone missing. Is she already here?" I ask. "Yes, she is setting up your room. Have you heard the news?" He asks worryingly. I haven't heard any news but I'm glad the know Maggy is alright. "No. What's wrong?" I ask. The king looks at his son and nods his head a little to tell him to go inside. The prince is only 1 and a half years younger than me but he is a lot less mature. The king turns back to me. " Your mother and father are both ill. They've caught the sickness." He says sadly. I can't believe this. My mother so strong, my father even stronger, both sick? It can't be. They must have been sick before I left this morning. "Thank you for telling me. Which way is my room?" I ask, I need to get away from here. "Down the first hallway then past the drawing room. It's on the left. Do you need me to come with you?" He asks. Narrowing his eyes at me. I can tell he's worried about me. But I can't afford to break down in front of him. "No I'll be fine." I say and start walking as fast as I can. Past a hallway through a sitting room and out the door. Tears start forming in my eyes and quickly start falling down my cheeks. I don't even remember where I'm going. I end up in the back garden. They have such beautiful roses here. I sit on a bench near a fountain and cry. I wish I had been nicer to my mother before I left. There are so many things I should have said. Did I tell her I love her? I can't remember. I'm so distracted in my thoughts that I don't see the prince emerge from behind an apple tree. "Alice, you don't need to hide from us. It's normal to cry at times like these." He says to me as I try to move away. He sits next to me "If your father finds out you called me Alice, you'll be in trouble, Peter." I say, trying to plan an escape. "I don't care what he thinks. You need someone with you right now." Peter says reassuringly. "The only people I need with me right now are my parents" I say as another tear falls down my face. "I'll take you to your room if you would like." He says and stands up, turns around and offers me his hand. I can't believe in the midst of all this sadness I'm still willing to take a chance. I take his hand and we start walking to my room. We make small talk while walking.

We will upload once a week from now on. We hope you enjoy this chapter. This story is being written by 2 people so if it's hard to follow that's the reason why. :)