The Five Manors

Chapter 3 Mourning

"You're awake!" someone exclaimed and then that someone was shaking my arm. "Guinevere! It's over."

I opened my eyes to see that it was Zarina shaking my arm. "What-" I started to say.

"We aren't in the cells anymore Guinevere. When the whole situation was over they decided to bring you to the infirmary. You hit your head pretty hard when you passed out. They thought you might have had a concussion. I'm . . . really sorry I didn't catch you in time." I had been staring at her open mouthed as she spoke.

My pink dress had been replaced with a white cotton nightgown. "How long was I out?" I asked.

"We were in the cells for about another hour after you passed out and then we had you carried to the infirmary about five hours ago. I have been here the whole time waiting for you to wake up." she finished saying. She looked rather sad. She hadn't changed out of her navy blue dress and her long dark hair looked slightly tangled.

Why had we been in the cells? That's when it hit me. "Catherine," I said.

Zarina sucked in a tight breath. "Guinevere . . . I'm so sorry but-" I cut her off.

"She was here earlier talking to me!" I said. I sat up hurriedly when all I suddenly get very dizzy. "Where is Catherine Zarina?" Zarina was staring at me confusingly.

"What do you mean she was here earlier talking to you? I have been here the whole time since-" Zarina was staring down at her hands before her gaze lifted back up to mine. Her eyes looked red and puffy.

"Catherine is d-dead Guinevere. Some invaders broke into the castle and killed Catherine. They were gone by the time the guards reached her room."

I didn't speak. My eyes started to water. That whole conversation with Catherine had been a dream? She really was dead?

"She passed Guinevere. She actually made it but-" her words got choked up from sniffles. Taking in a deep breath to calm herself she said "We are now the final four. There will be no great feast tonight as the queen planned. she wanted me to tell you that and also . . . we will be headed to the Fourth Manor at sunset tomorrow."

This was how the queen was. If someone died you must carry on. That was her motto.
"All right. Thank you for delivering the information Zarina. Wh-when will her funeral be?" I asked softly trying not to cry as hard. Catherine was actually gone but somehow I knew our whole conversation hadn't been fake. I would do as she had asked me to. If I could find someone named . . . Vincent?
"Tomorrow morning."

Silence hung in the air for a few minutes until I stopped it. "Zarina, what exactly happened?" I asked. I dreaded the answer but I wanted to know.

"Like I said, the guards believe the people who killed Catherine wee invaders of some sort. When they got to her room they found her slumped against the left wall of her bedroom. Her room was a mess. All of her belongings were strewn across the floor and every piece of furniture was broken. The guards think that the invaders were looking for something."

"Was anyone else hurt?" I ask.

"Thankfully no. But the invaders left quite a mess in the castle halls."

Zarina strokes my hair before she stands up. "Get some rest Guinevere. I will come see you later tonight. Okay?" With that she walked away leaving me to my thoughts.

This was all too much. I was being transitioned to the Fourth Manor tomorrow and now Catherine . . . no. It couldn't be true . . . but it was. This was all real. What was happening. Everything.
If the Tenebris Populo still existed...this was bad. I wouldn't believe until I had actual evidence though. If I could find this Vincent and tell him about about what happened maybe he would be able to give me some information too.

I'm not certain what would be said to Catherine's family. They lived in New Portland. Catherine had a younger brother . . . what would be said to her mother and father. Not much. They already knew that when she was sent off to come live in the castle for the Ten Lady's program there was a huge chance they would never see her again. At least they would know that she had worked hard and had passed.
I couldn't dwell on this any longer. Taking in deep breaths while counting to twenty I do my best to calm myself. As all as I swing my feet over the bed to sit up right the door to the infirmary bursts open and the royal nurse walks in.