Heart Of Courage

Chapter 3

When I awoke, I found myself tucked up in my bed. Sunlight streamed into the room, and the slight crack in the open windows made the curtains float softly in the breeze. I sat up slowly, feeling my head throb. I did not even dare to think of what had happened, nor how long it had been since I passed out. To my right, on my bedside table, sat a glass of water and a dish containing two white capsules. A note next to it read: 'Please take these tablets if you find you have a headache. – Doctor McNeill.' My doctor was a lovely woman, and obviously she had been summoned to the palace to check on me. Without even batting an eyelid, I gladly swallowed the pills. I leant back in my bed as I waited for the effects to take hold. The red dress I had been wearing was laid out on one of my couches. My corset sat next to it, looking like it had been discarded in a hurry. Everything else seemed exactly the same, however a voice in the back of my head told me otherwise. Something was missing from my room- I just couldn't place my finger on it.

Feeling very unsteady on my feet, I managed to climb out of bed and slide my feet into my slippers. I wobbled over to where my silk dressing gown hung and pulled it on. What was so different in my room? What was missing? I circled round and round, my brow furrowing as I continued to wrack my brain. I went over to one of the windows and opened it fully. I sucked in the cool air that came through, and as my eyes fell on the forest that stretched out before me, something inside my head clicked. I whirled around and ran, albeit very shakily, towards my dresser. There was a space between the vase which always held fresh flowers, and the decorative candelabra that was never lit. My picture frame was missing. The silver picture frame adorned with butterflies, which was given to me on my birthday. The picture frame that held the only photo of myself and Xavier together, sat up in our oak tree in the warm summer afternoon.

The wall in my mind crumbled, and everything that had happened so recently came flooding back. I gasped and choked as feelings of despair, anger, and grief flashed behind my eyes. In a fit of sudden frenzy, I shrieked and grasped at the candelabra, before throwing it out of my grip with all my might. It whistled through the air and broke into many pieces as it smashed against the far wall. In a matter of seconds, Evangeline burst through the door, eyes wide.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" she asked, hurrying over to my side. I simply glowered at the shattered candelabra lying across the room. She followed my gaze and sighed.

"Have you cut yourself, Ma'am?"

I shook my head. "Evangeline. Get me something to wear please." I snapped, trying to keep my rage under control. She nodded and swiftly went to my wardrobe and disappeared inside. Moments later, she emerged, bringing a white lace dress with her. I removed my robe, nightgown, and slippers, and let Evangeline pull the dress over my head. If I had been in a better mood, I would have noticed the beautiful material as it draped down to the floor. Evangeline gave me some white pumps to wear along with it. I brushed my hair and brought it up into a bun as Evangeline started to pick up the broken candelabra pieces. I stormed over to the door, my rage barely contained as I gripped the handle and threw the door open. I practically tore down the corridor to my father's study. I did not even knock, I just opened the door and marched in.

He looked up rather suddenly from the letter he was reading at his desk.

"Ah, Maddison. I see you have finally awoken," he said, a fake smile plastered on his face.

"Yes, it appears I have." I said, staring at him.

"How are you feeling after yesterday?" he put the letter down and folded his hands on his desk. Yesterday? Had I really been out since yesterday?

"I'm fine. A headache, as expected, but I'm fine."

Silence. I'm sure he did not say a word because he could practically feel the anger radiating from me in the air.