So I am going to try something new and write the chapter five part from Xavier's POV so we can tell what he is thinking when he meets Scarlet!
Sorry for the random perspective change!
-Duke the uke
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Andy burst into my room, carrying a girl about my age with the help of Blair.
"Andy you were suposed to take Blair home! Not bring him on another of your adventures." I pretended to be flustered but honestly, I didn't really care that my room had transformed into an infirmary.
"Sorry and calm down! You would have done the same thing."
I looked at the girl, who was unconscious. She was thin, probably starving due to his crappy father and King. Long blonde hair fell down her shoulders, framing her delicate facial features. She wore a simple dress, meaning she was a peasant.
"What happened?" I asked as they dragged her onto my bed.
"She passed out." Andy propped her head on one of my pillows.
"She ran here! If her father knew she had just ran 11 miles with no food! He would have my head!" Blair looked concerned. Really concerned.
He looked at the girl regretfully and stroked her hair.
"You know her?" I asked Blair.
"Yup, she is- I mean was- my best friends daughter"
Walking over to the bed I took another look at the girl. She was strong, small but strong. Her hands were callused and slim. She looked as if she had never had a day of to relax.
She looked sad.
I wondered what had happened to make her look so sad.
I went and sat at the foot of the bed and thought about the strange girl, unconscious in my bed.
She was intriguing. Blair said she had ran here, and it sounded like her parents were gone. Being a peasant meant she was dirt poor, and you could tell how malnourished she was from the look of her.
I tried to figure out why she intrigued me. She was an average peasant.
An average peasant that can run from the outskirts to the castle! I thought
But, I knew that was not why she intrigued me.
Alright, I'll admit it the girl was kind of cute.
No, not just kind of, really cute.
Stop it, Xavier! I thought to myself trying to regain my composure.
Her eyes fluttered open. They were green with flecks of gold that danced around.
She looked around the room, I moved myself to where she wouldn't catch me staring.
I heard her whisper to Blair, she looked tense, uncomfortable. He whispered back and she relaxed.
They talked for a bit then, Blair gestured to me. "Scarlet, meet Xavier. Xavier, this is my niece, Scarlet."
She looked shocked as it dawned on her where she was. She tried to stand, but the Blair, Andy, and I rushed to stop her.
"You need food, rest." I responded.
She leaned back against the headboard.
"But-" Scarlet stuttered, "You're Xavier-Oh my gosh-Why?..."
I tried not to smile. I usually hated the familiar routine of shock that often followed meeting someone new, but she was so innocent. She did not look like she cared that he was royalty or would treat him better because of it.
Andy spoke, but I felt dizzy again so I didn't pay much attention.
"This is Andy. He can be annoying but he is useful at times!" I elbowed Andy. Andy kicked me with the side of his foot then smiled at Scarlet.
I could feel the dizziness overcoming me again and I blacked out.
***
I woke seconds later, cold and wet.
I complained and realized my bandage had soaked through with blood. It stung, bad. I tried to hide my pain.
Then, my nose started to bleed.
I cursed. Oops! I thought I shouldn't curse in front of a girl!
Scarlet did not look fazed by his language.
"What happened?" She asked, my heart fluttering when she spoke.
We all answered at the same time, she probably didn't even hear, but I never found out.
Andy suddenly asked, "Xavier, are you well enough to fetch some food with me for our guests?" He looked at me and realized that would not work. "Never mind."
"I will." Blair offered.
They both left to find food.
"So," I said "Who are you?"
"Scarlet" the young girl answered, moving to where she could see the prince she was talking to.
"The outskirts"
I knew it!
"So you ran all the way here?!"
"Yeah... well no.. I sort off passed out...but yeah mostly"
"I could never do that!" I marveled, and it was true. My longest run had been six miles and I had vowed to never do something like that again.
"Especially not now!" I added.
Scarlet laughed and blushed humbly. Her smile lit up the room, I smiled back.
"You are definitely not in any kind of shape to get up the stairs, much less run 11 miles!" Scarlet giggled.
True! .
Choosing my next words carefully, I laughed, then pretended to be hurt by her comment. "You're mean!"he smiled then whispered "just kidding, you're pretty."
Scarlet stared at me and tried to regain her composure.
She looked obviously shocked and I wondered if anyone had ever told her that before. I grinned, enjoying her reaction to the two words I had just spoken.
"What?" I asked innocently.
Scarlet rolled her eyes.
I smiled again.
"Crap, I made it awkward! Sorry for speaking the truth!"
I wondered when she would have to leave, or if we should contact her parents.
"So... anyway, where are your parents?"
"Dead." She responded shortly.
My smile faded.
"Oh, same. Well sort of. My mom is dead and my dad would be better of dead."
"Tell me about your parents," I asked.
She tried to get around it but, eventually, she told the story of how she learned to shoot.
I loved the story. It reminded me of when I first held a bow. I was three but still remembered the moment when I was handed a small bow and instructed to shoot it.
I should take her to the archery range! I thought as she finished up her story.
I decided I would do just that very soon.
