But I'm Just a Boy // phan

(6)

I was ushered inside the castle, and bypassed the hiring process due to my long time working there before. Everyone had a pretty good idea of how well I did my job. However, no one, apparently, save the queen, had any idea why I had left in the first place.

I was just tying a kitchen apron around my waist, the memories of what I had seen just over an hour ago still burnt into my mind's eye, when trumpets sounded outside, signaling the arrival of the prince. I stumbled, and retreated further into the kitchen, hiding myself behind the giant stone oven so even if he came through the kitchen, he wouldn't see me.

Eventually, I gave up hiding, figuring he had gone another way, and began to get my bearings of my somewhat familiar surroundings. I had worked here before and I wasn't bad. The royal family had many wonderful ingredients you couldn't find anywhere else. Benefits of being rich, I suppose.

The two kitchen staff that were in there went rushing out, concerned, as people went running through. I narrowed my eyes in confusion. My questions were answered when Christopher, the man who hired me, came running through again, and waved his hands.

"The Prince! There's something wrong with the prince!" And ran into the main castle. I ripped off my apron, not thinking, not breathing, and followed him, my heart pounding in my ears. What did he mean? What's "something"? Is this my fault?

I came into the entrance hall, where a knight, in heavy silvery armour, held Phil.

I suddenly had tunnel vision as I looked at him, as I realised he was limp, as I realised he wasn't moving, maybe not breathing.

"Help." The knight said weakly, and fell to his knees. I suddenly embodied Subliminal Dan and lept forward, catching Phil in my arms. He was tall, but I was just barely taller, and somehow stronger, and I lifted him.

"He needs to see a doctor. He needs help. Go!" I shouted at the crowd of people gathered around us. As if all awoken from a trance, a few people went running out of the castle to find the kingdom's doctors, as a few more went up to the knight to help him stand.

"What happened to him?" Someone asked him. The knight shook his head.

"Blimey if I know. I foun' 'im in the wood, there. He was on the ground, all stretched ou' like he fell mid-run. I didn't know what to do. So I brought 'im 'ere." I fell to my knees with Phil still in my arms, and put him on the ground. I pressed my fingers against his neck, searching, desperately, but couldn't find a pulse.

"Damn it!" I screamed, pounding my fist against the stone ground. I couldn't lose him. I wouldn't. I pressed my head against his chest, my ear right over his heart. I held my breath.

I heard a faint ba-bump, and I nearly passed out from relief. I let out a hysterical, breathy laugh.

"Where is he?" Someone yelled, and I looked up. A few people, one man a doctor I recognized from the village, came running in. I stepped back, my heart still beating furiously in my throat, not trusting myself to speak. I gestured to Phil, who laid peacefully on the ground, almost like he was sleeping.

The doctor crouched over him, and pressed his fingers against his throat. He hesitated for a second, then, knitting his eyebrows, did the same as I had and pressed his ear against Phil's chest.

Then he sat up, a confused look on his face.

"Strange." He said, standing.

"What?" I gasped, unfolding my arms, concern clouding my brain once more.

"I've only seen this in books, ones they don't even sell anymore. My great-great- grandfather's medical encyclopedias." I almost burst with fear.

"What?" I hissed. He cleared his throat.

"I could be wrong but... I think the Prince has been cursed."