A Minute Before Midnight

~Chapter Three~

Sunlight spilled in through the windows, warming my face. I kicked my blankets off and went to the window seat at the other side of the room. I leaned back on it, closing my eyes and letting the sun warm my whole body. I sighed, comforted. There was a knock at my door, and I heard Ash come sweeping in, in that graceful way of his that always made me feel extra clumsy.

"Oh. I wasn't expecting you to be awake. I wouldn't have just come in. I'm sorry."

I smiled. "I wasn't expecting myself to be awake so early either. Don't apologize." I opened my eyes and looked at him. He stood perfectly straight, again reminding me how faulty I was in posture. "Did you need something?" I asked him.

"The Queen wishes to see you, Princess." He told me. I winced at the name; it was going to take a few days to get used to that.

"Did she tell you why?" I asked him.

"No. She just sent me to notify you. I have to question the prisoner." His voice turned bitter at the mention of Finn.

"You're not going to hurt him, are you?" I knew my voice was more concerned than it probably should have been.

Ash stared at me for a moment, as if trying to decipher something. I swallowed. "Why do you care? With all due respect, Princess, he is our enemy, and it would do you well not to feel sympathetic."

I shook my head. "I don't care. I was merely curious." I smiled. "Now, if you'd please..." I motioned with my hand for him to leave, and he nodded curtly before exiting, shutting my bedroom door behind him. I sighed. If it was that easy for people to tell I cared even a little bit for Finn, I was in trouble.

***

I lifted my hand to knock on the Queen's chamber door, but it opened by itself.

"Come in." Her voice floated out to me, and I pushed the heavy mahogany door open. I stepped inside.

The room was grand. It was the largest room in the palace, as I liked to call it. The Queen preferred to think of it as an estate. The walls were painted a lovely beige color. At the far wall, a four poster bed rested on a sunken floor. The canopy was the same beige as the walls, if not slightly darker. The pillows looked plump and very comfortable; the blankets were snug-looking, draping down to the floor elegantly. A beige sectional took up the right corner of the room, sitting in front of a fireplace. Besides the fireplace, the entire right side of the wall was a massive bookcase, filled with books, obviously. A walk-in closet and a bathroom took up the left wall.

The Queen stood in the center of the room, her hands clasped in front of her.

"We must discuss the prisoner. It is a very troubling matter for me. For more reasons than one."

My brows furrowed. Did she know?

"May I ask why?" I asked, suddenly very concerned. What would she do if she knew?

The Queen smiled. "Of course you may." Her smile faltered, and she sighed, rubbing her temples as she sat on the sectional. I followed her, and sat beside her, giving her enough space. "I believe he is telling the truth, though I cannot tell exactly. My instincts have always been very accurate, and I'm sure they are correct this time also. He says he was only here for you, and I believe that. Yet, just two months ago, my Second was killed by someone in that Kingdom." She sighed again, staring at the fireplace. There was no fire, because it was Spring, but now I wished there was, so I would have something more interesting to look at.

"This is troublesome. But I believe him too, your Majesty. Last night, he danced with me, and he seemed...well...he didn't seem like he came here for any reason other than curiosity."