Moongrace

Part 8

In the morning, he woke up quite late, Eleeza was still sleeping next to him. He gently touched her soft cheeks and caressed them. Evan hoped so much that she would be better. When he started to pet her hair, she slowly woke up. She looked up with her soft, dark blue eyes and pulled him into her arms. They lay that way for some time. But it got late and Evan had to go to work. He carefully pulled away from her embrace.

"How do you feel Eleeza?"

She closed her eyes: "I definitely feel better, though not yet restored."

"Do you want breakfast?" he asked and dressed himself.

"Oh yes, please!" she sat up. He hurried to her as she closed her eyes against a short attack of dizziness.

"I am alright", she said and very slowly got up. She really felt way better and could even walk a few steps without big problems. They opened all the bandages to look at the remaining wounds.

"You really did true miracles yesterday!" he wondered.

"I really tried my best. Thank you for carrying me to bed... did I really nod of?"

He nodded and pulled some more bandages off.

"It's impossible!" he exclaimed.

The wounds had improved even more over the night. Only the ones on her torso were still pretty bad. The rest had closed and vanished to most extend. They bandaged the remaining wounds after washing them with water. Then they had breakfast together.

Eleeza stayed in Evans room, washed her gowns and cleaned up the room. When she could no longer stand it to be locked inside the room, she went outside in the gardens. She tried not to be seen by the servants and went to read a few hours in a hidden place of the park. Else she slept a lot, the wounds and the happenings of the last days still tired her. When Evan returned in the early evening from work they sat on the table and tried to plan the future.

Eleeza was not sure how long the Queen would leave her in peace and rest. The events of the last day would probably keep the royal family busy for some time, but not for ever. Actually the assembly of yesterday was in all mouths. Everyone was wondering what exactly had happened, if the things that were told were really true. Had there been a good fairy? Or was it an angel? Did she really have wings? And so on. The people who were involved in the assembly stood in the centre of interest. But the question that was asked throughout: What had happened to Princess Nasca?

In the middle of their talk they were interrupted by loud knocks on the door. Evan got up to open it and found a guard standing there. He announced that the Queen wished to see both at point seven o'clock. They looked at each other. What did the Queen want this time? They had actually hoped that they had one day in peace left.

There was not much time left. Quickly they bandaged the healed wounds again, to hide that Eleeza had healed so quickly. And to conceal that there had been a help of magic. Then they slowly walked to the Queens chamber. Eleeza limped a bit, part of it was show, but Evan did not know to which extend. They tried to avoid any contact with the other servants.

They were not very much afraid, since Esalaa had promised Evan nothing bad would happen to them. Still they were had frayed nerves.

The Queen received them the moment they got to her chambers. They bowed as it was expected and waited for the Queen to say something. Both were tensed and she held his hand, clenching it.

"Good morning. I see you both were included in the magic of this... witch." she leaned back in her golden throne.

"You can look quite beautiful, my dear. Who would have expected this? Better than my daughter after she was enchanted by that cruel person, I might say. I was thinking of something yesterday; a genius plan you may call it. I have a deal for you, Girl. Pay attention for you have the extraordinary right to choose. Since my daughter is nolonger able to present herself on royal functions, I needed to find someone todo this job for her. Now, my dear, you have turned out to be quite beautiful.And luckily nobody recognizes you, as you look now. Here is my deal: Either youwill replace my daughter at royal functions and serve for her as her new faceor I will declare you to my lowest maid, even lower than you have been andnever release you from my service. Choose wisely. I give you five minutes tothink."

She sent them away to a corner of her chambers and servants bustledaround her.