Fire and Ice

Princess Nashi

>Nashi's POV<

I stepped into the room and over to the young bluette sitting on the bed.
She was crying into her knees much like I was earlier.

"Sylvia..." I began, but soon realized I didn't really know what to say to her.

She probably knows it's my fault.

"Can you fix him for me?" She croaked.

"Fix who?" I asked her, joining her on the bed.

Sylvia let go of her knees and revealed a small snowman-like stuffed doll on her lap.

"He's ripped. My Mother....can't..." she began to sob loudly, moving to lie on the bed.

"I would be happy to fix him." I hummed kindly, excepting the small stuffed creature from her.

"T-thank you, N-Nashi.." she mustered out.

I slid off the mattress and over to the vanity. Searching through several of the drawers, I finally found a small sewing kit.
I opened it up, got out a bundle of thin white string along with a needle, and got to work.

"Does he have a name?" I asked the sorrowful Princess curled up on the covers of my bed.

She sobbed for a bit but had heard my question. Sylvia finally croaked,
"Plue."

"Plue? That's a cute name." I said, looking down at the maiden's toy.

Once Plue was all stitched up, I made my way back over to the bed to return the creature to Sylvia.

"Here, Sylvia," I hummed, handing her Plue, "good as new."

The young maiden lifted her slumped form and looked at the creature in my hand.
She smiled a bit and excepted the toy from me.

"T-Thank you." She chirped, hugging Plue close to her body.

I sat back on the bed next to Sylvia. Tears were still streaming from her eyes but her cries have mellowed to a whimper.

"Did your Father tell you everything?" I asked softly.

The princess nodded, turning her attention to me.
"He told me....about what happened to everyone," she wiped a few of her tears off her face and continued, "and how....my mother..."

Sylvia sobbed out again, crying into her hands.

"I'm sorry, Sylvia."

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her into a tender embrace.
Part of me wanted to explain my part of the story. But part of me didn't.

I didn't want to tell her that this was all my fault. I didn't want to tell her that if I wasn't here, none of this would have happened.
Seeing Sylvia like this broke my heart.

The young maiden continued to sob in my shoulder as I held her in my arms.

I didn't know what to say to her.
I wanted to see her smile but I knew that wouldn't be happening soon.
All I could do was hold her, comfort her the best I could in this state.

But then something came to mind.
My favorite lullaby I was sung to, by my mother, when I was little.
I began to hum the tune of the song to Sylvia as she rested in my arms.

Eventually after some time past, the maiden's tears dried, and Sylvia drifted to sleep.
Laying her down on the bed, I moved away from her as she rested.
She finally found a moments of peace in her dreams.

I ventured over to window seal and sat down on its bench. Opening the curtains, I found that the sky was black.
It was late and probably a good time to go to bed.

As I looked up at the sparkling stars my attention was turned to my chamber door.
I heard a light knock click on its wood from someone on the other side.

I didn't want to say 'enter', fearing I would wake Sylvia, so I skipped over to the door and slowly opened it.
There I saw a talk black figure. He startled me for a moment but it soon became clear to me that it was just Sylvia's butler, Sebastian.

"Good Evening, Lady Nashi." He said with a bow.

"Good evening." I said, feeling my cheeks heat a bit.

"I have come for Lady Sylvia. Is she still here with you?" He asked me with a rich mellow tone.

I nodded and moved so he could step into the room.
He humbly entered and turned his attention straight toward the bed were the princess lay.

"Ah, there she is." He said quietly.
"I'll take her back to her chambers."

"Ok." I whispered.

The butler lifted Sylvia with ease, carrying her gently to the door bridal style.

"Thank you Princess. I hope you sleep well." He said before leaving.

"As to you."

As he disappeared down the hall, I closed the down after him.

I felt my eyes begin to water as I leaned against the wooden door. I slid down its surface until I was sitting on the cold floor.

"I'm sorry"