But I'm Just a Boy // phan

(3)

"Who has done it?! Who has awoken my son!?" the queen shouted, tearing into the room, her heels clicking the loudest noise in the dead silent chamber. There were at least two fainted bodies on the floor, and everyone's eyes were on me, including Phil's, who looked confused, scared, and, surprisingly exhausted.

I didn't know what to say, and, apparently, neither did anyone else. I kept avoiding Phil's eyes, which were pleading for answers, and anyone else's, who were all begging me to confess to what I had done.

Finally, after what felt like years, a girl stepped forward.

"I, your highness." Then she looked around the room, daring anyone to say otherwise.

Subliminal Dan stepped forward, screaming about how he had saved Phil, meaning he was his true love, meaning they could be together now, and this girl couldn't do what he had done.

But I didn't do anything as the queen rushed forward and fell at the girl's feet, clasping her hands together and bowing her head as the girl looked startled.

"I beg of you, your name. The name of our future queen." The girl smiled, warily, as though she just understood what she had gotten herself into.

"Catherine," she said. "Catherine of Rifick." Phil sat up.

"What has happened?" he shouted, looking at me, then sweeping his gaze over the room to Catherine.

"Phillip, dear, you have been in a cursed sleep for nearly a year. We thought all hope was lost. Until this amazing girl awoke you. It was prophesied. Your true love."

Phil narrowed his eyes, but stood up in unwary legs, taking slow steps toward Catherine. She looked around the room, and, for a split second, her smile failed as her eyes landed on me.

My fists were clenched at my sides, and everyone was looking between me and Catherine and back like a tennis match. No one was going to say anything.

My jaw was clenched too tightly to even open my mouth.

Me! It was me!

And Phil didn't even know. Phil had no idea I woke him up. He thinks it was-

"Catherine. You have awoken me from what could have been an eternal sleep," Phil's voice was husky, scratchy, his words far too formal. He too looked at me now, his eyes sad. "I beseech of you, the hand of my saviour." He bent to one knee, unsteady, unbalanced.

Tears began blurring my vision as he reached up to her. Two thirds of the royal family was bent at her feet, and Catherine covered her mouth with her hands, hiding her mischievous smile.

"I came in search of nothing more, my Prince," she said, taking his hands.

Before I could do anything, before anyone could say anything, all of the candles in the room were blown out, a strong gust of wind sweeping through the room like it had been stolen from everyone's mouths. It was silent. Only the low embers in the hearth glowed, lighting the room an eerie orange, crackling, just barely, but the solitary noise echoed.

The windows burst open with a gust of late autumn wind- someone screamed. Then the door to the hall burst open right behind me.

"Fools!" a voice screamed. Everyone turned quickly to the voice, gasping. Phil looked like he was about collapse from exhaustion, and, before I thought better of it, I crossed the chamber to him.

"Dan! What-" he whispered, letting go of Catherine's hands. I shook my head as the mysterious woman drifted slowly into the middle of the room. I bent, holding my hand out to the queen, who clasped it with an odd look and stood.

"I'll explain later." Phil looked around me to the woman, who now stood in the middle of the crowded room, everyone having cleared the way for her. She turned her face to us.

"Mary?" Phil gasped.