And They All Fell Down

Chapter Six

Sophia returned with the doctor and found Melinda on the floor with the Queen, "What happened?"

"She just collapsed!" 

The physician ran over to her and Melinda stepped out of the way. Sophia and Melinda looked on in horror as he went into his bag and opened a small vial of clear liquid, pouring it into her mouth. She gasped and opened her eyes, coughing and trying to sit up but the doctor encouraged her not to. "She needs to be undressed and placed into the bed. I will return with more supplies." He fled the room quickly, his haste showing both the ladies that the situation must not be good. 

They undressed Lavinia and put her in a nightgown and laid her gently in the bed. She was not responding but her eyes were opening and closing. The doctor returned and began treating Lavinia, "What has happened to your hand?" 

Lavinia did not answer so Sophia answered for her, "She broke a teacup and cut her hand on the glass," she lied. Lavinia had never told the truth but Sophia was far from dumb. 

The doctor unwrapped the bandage and revealed a wound gone dark with infection. "She is septic! The wound was not properly treated." 

"She didn't want to be a bother. We treated it ourselves with some ointment from your infirmary and some bandages but she told us we need not concern ourselves with it again." 

"Cleaning a wound once isn't enough to keep it from becoming infected. The infection is likely traveling through her body but I think we caught it early." 

"Can you save her?" Melinda asked, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. 

"I believe so but it will take time and I will need space to do my job." 

The girls nodded and cleared the room, allowing the doctor to do his best to treat Lavinia. They could hear their Queen screaming in the next room. Melinda went to rush back in but Sophia stopped her, "He is cleaning the wound and it will be very painful. Let him work." 

Melinda felt pained just sitting around and waiting, "I'm going to tell the King." 

"Be sure the children aren't present. We don't know what will happen and we shouldn't worry them." 

Melinda nodded and left the room. She made her way down the hallway and all the while she prayed "Please don't let her die" 

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Melinda approached the council room but was stopped by guards, "You can't be here. Strict orders from the King." 

"Really? The King ordered that I specifically can't enter?" 

"No women." The guard didn't even look at her. 

"This is important!" 

"It can wait.." 

Melinda looked at the guard and got close to his face, "Let. Me. In." 

"You want to be taken to the cells?" 

"Sure...right after this." Melinda punched the guard in the nose. His voice erupted loudly in screams as she ignored the pain throbbing through her knuckles and barged into the room. The King looked up at her, surrounded by all of his most important people. 

"How dare you?" 

"It's important!" 

The King looked down at her bloody knuckled and the guard approached behind her, grabbing her arm. His nose dripping with blood. 

"So important that you punched my guard in the nose?" 

Melinda nodded, "You really should have two guards, my Lord."