Someone ran and got Gothi. Astrid then carefully rolled the girl over onto her back, careful of her broken arm. The girl was unconscious, and her breathing seemed labored. Astrid just looked at her until Gothi arrived.
Gothi was the poorer village healer. She was so old no one knew how old she really was. She put her bag down and began to look the girl over. Soon she began to write in the dirt.
"I haven't seen her since she was born." Astrid read aloud, "What do you mean, Gothi?"
Gothi scribbled again, and Astrid read aloud, "She is of the royal house. Her name is Erica."
Astrid looked at the girl again. She didn't seem like she was royal. The girl had many cuts and bruises from the fall. If Astrid didn't know any better, she would think Erica was just a girl from the better part of the village.
Gothi began to scribble again, and Astrid read, "She'll need a place to stay until she is better."
"She can stay with us." Astrid decided.
Astrid soon had Erica lying on a cot in her own house. Astrid's parents had gone to do something, but she couldn't remember what. That gave Astrid plenty of time to get the wash done.
............
About 3 hours later, Astrid had just hung up the last of the wet laundry. She walked inside to her Erica moaning from the bedroom. Astrid went into the bedroom to see Erica trying to sit up. She rushed over, saying, "You shouldn't try to sit up. You're injured."
Erica instantly stopped and just looked at Astrid.
"Who- Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Astrid Hofferson. I'm the wash girl of the poorer village, my lady."
"Well...I'm Princess Erica. Just Erica will do, though."
Astrid, out of instinct, curtsied to her. Erica smiled and nodded her head in return to Astrid.
"So, how did you end up here, Erica?"
"We were riding along the Raven's Point trail, and the horses got freaked out, and Spot ran away from the group."
"Ah. There is dragon root along that trail. For some reason, it freaks horses out when they get even the slightest whiff of it."
Erica looked thoughtful before saying, "That would make sense."
"Would you like anything?"
"No, thank you. I'm just going to rest more."
"Okay. Just call me if you need anything."
"Will do. Thank you, Astrid."
"You're welcome."
Astrid then left the room and went to finish the laundry.
YOU ARE READING
The prince and the wash girl
FanfictionHiccup is the 18 year old prince of the island kingdom of Berk. His father has given up on his ever finding the perfect wife for his son. Astrid is the 18 year old washer girl in the poorer section of Berk. Her pay hardly gets her family throug...
