Something in the water

Chapter 5

I wake up a little after sunrise. The guest room overlooks the garden, so if I turn on my side I can see the garden and hear birds flying around. A perfect morning. Maggy rushes into the room, I think she was expecting me to still be asleep. "We've had news from our kingdom," Maggy says and I try to read her expression, serious but soft, I can't tell if it's good or bad. "Your mother is still alive, but your father is dead. The disease took him this morning. I'm so sorry Alice." Maggy bursts into tears, she walks over and hugs me, but I don't feel it, I don't feel anything anymore. I knew this would happen. I push Maggy away and get up, I don't even bother getting dressed, I run straight out to the garden back to the bench by the fountain. I'm sad but I can't cry anymore, I did spend half the night crying. I sit here lost in a hazy daydream for a long time. The clocks bells signal that it's 12 o'clock. I had better go back inside. I see Peter walking quickly toward me, he's almost running, he wouldn't be doing that unless he found out. "Who told you? And please don't be all sad about this, I can't handle people crying right now." I say to him as casually as I can. "Okay Maggy told me." He says and puts his hand in his pocket "I have something for you" he tells me and takes out a small wooden bird. "It's made from a willow branch." Peter explains. I take the bird and roll it over in my hand, it's about the size of my palm and looks like it was hand carved. "Thank you, Peter it's beautiful." I say, I stand up and wrap my arms around his neck, he pulls me in so close that I can feel his breath on my hair, he wraps his arms around my waist. The tears come now and I bury my face in his chest we stay like this for a few minutes. "It's almost time for lunch" Peter says. I realize now that I'm still in my nightgown. "I can't go to lunch looking like this." I say pulling at the sleeves. He lets me go but keeps a hold of my hands. We walk back to the castle holding hands. We choose to walk slowly so we can spend as much time as possible together.

I run straight up to my room, I already have an outfit in mind. I burst into my room to find Maggy laying out a different one, it's a white dress with a pink floral pattern on it, with white ballet flats and a white hat. I quickly put away the bird in my top drawer with my other personal things. I decide to wear what Maggy put out for me because I don't have any time. I get dressed quickly and rush out to the car. We are going to one of the restaurants in town to meet with other noble people.

It's only a short drive to town, so we get there pretty quick. I open the door and walk straight in, the staff announce me and lead me to the table with the others. I sit next to Peter again. We eat lunch quietly, no one wants to discuss todays news. "This food is amazing" says a short plump man wearing bright purple. I think his name was Trayton. Everyone agrees with him but still no one's trying to talk. It's starting to get awkward. I finish my meal as quickly as possible. "I need some fresh air, I'm sure you all have business to talk about. It was a wonderful lunch thank you." I say with a bright smile as if this hadn't been the most awkward lunch I've ever been too. I walk straight for the door but I'm not ready to return to the castle yet. I remember seeing a farmers market on the way here, so I try to find my way back there. "You think I would leave you to wander around the streets by yourself." Says Peter from behind me. I smile and turn around.

This is chapter 5, I had a big week and this was a hard chapter to write, I had writers block for half the week.
Xoxo