Remember Me: A Nutcracker Story | ✔

XIII. Goodbye

It all felt like a dream. 

Mary felt weightless and there was a blinding whiteness beyond her closed eyelids. She was immobile — no matter how she tried to move even her fingers, they wouldn't budge. She could hear faint whispers around her, calling her name, sighing deeply.

Suddenly, memories sliced through her calm mind and she was reminded of a blade to her throat, welts on her wrists, and her hair being yanked from their roots. Laughter replaced the whispers and she was engulfed in a horrible, squeaking sound. Fire erupted around her and there was nothing but red and black for miles around. Mary tried to run, tried to shout, but nothing worked — the sounds and sensations gripped at her like solid black shadows, pulling her into nothingness.

"MARY!"

She eyes snapped open, only to immediately close up again. There was too much light and heat and she couldn't breathe. She tried moving her arms and was a little relieved to find them working. Her heart was beating too fast against her chest. She still couldn't register where she was, but the sudden appearance of NC's face in front of hers relaxed her heart a little.

"NC!"

"Dearest, are you alright?" he said, clearly relieved as well. "You began thrashing so hard in your sleep, I was afraid you'd reopen your wounds. Are you still hurt?"

"N-no, just... Disoriented, I guess. Where am I?

"You're in the palace."

Indeed she was. She was back in her room with a blanket over her legs. The light was bright outside and the sun was high in the sky. She kicked off the blankets and was rewarded to feel cool air blow against her bare legs. It was then that she became aware of the bandages covering her wrists, and a gauze was over her neck and chin. Apart from NC, Sticks, Gielgud, and Tinker were in the room. The Sugar Plum Fairy was nowhere to be seen. The events of the war were rather hazy to her.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You passed out after that last effort with the Rat King," said Sticks, jumping right in. "The battle didn't last long after that, but you've been sleeping for a day and a half."

At this, Mary's eyes widened. "That long?"

NC nodded as he sat on a stool beside her bed. "We have been taking shifts, and I have to admit, I was getting anxious about you."

Mary's smile turned sheepish. "I'm sorry I worried you. I'm alright now, thanks to you."

NC tucked a lose strand of her golden hair away from her face. "We wouldn't have won if it weren't for you. I'm so proud of you."

Sticks looked on as Mary sat contentedly beside NC with his hand over hers. This was all the King's fault, and she wouldn't have been in such danger if it weren't for him. Yet she looked at him with all the adoration in the world, as if he never hurt her. She looked like she would go through such ordeal again if he asked it of her, and it irked Sticks a great deal that NC never would. He tore his eyes away from the scene and slipped out of the room, making his way to a balcony.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The grounds in front of the castle was still a mess. Black spots dotted the field from minor fires and blood spillage, swords and spears were littered and glinting against the sun, and banners were torn and lay in the dust. At least the bodies have been cleared, and the prisoners have been organized and locked up. The wind smelled of death and blood, but it was all part of the aftermath.