Martha's Father was not the one who caught us, no, that would have been the better scenario. Instead, all of a sudden, Martha and I are surrounded by the Queen's guard, their spears pointed directly at the both of us. Martha turned slowly, her hair messy and eyes glassy from our excessive drinking. I bet I looked none the better judging by the doubles I was now seeing.
Eventually though, I recognized the purple and gold armor of that of my Mothers special guards, which meant that she could not be far behind.
As if on cue, she comes into the middle of the circle of guards, their spears immediately going down. Her dark hair had been tied up in an intricate up-do, her golden crown resting on-top of her perfect scalp. She was tall, and lean- unlike me, with gorgeous tanned skin year round. Her brown eyes, were the polar opposite to my lavender ones, making it seem impossible that she could have ever had me.
"Come with us now, daughter," my Mothers perfect mouth uttered, "don't fight us like you have in the past and I will not punish you as strictly. We may even allow your friend over to the castle someday," she lied.
"You're lying, Mother. You don't think I should be friends with her," I said, slurring my words.
I wrapped my arms around Martha as we glared her down, the alcohol giving us bravery to stand up to someone we typically would be bowing to. My Mother simply sighed though, running a hand along her face in frustration.
"Daughter," she began, "do not fight me. I will have the guards drag you back to the castle if that is what it takes. You will not be able to slip your guards so easily next time," another sigh, "I do not understand what I did to deserve such a disobedient daughter, all I do is to keep you safe, but you insist on making it a point to everyone that I am a fool who can not even keep her own child under control. Now come, Maud, before I begin to lose my temper."
I looked at Martha, and after a moment she released me; exchanging knowing glances as we did. Figuring out how to escape was half the fun, it taught us something that could come in handy for a Prince in this time. Mother didn't see it like that though, she seen it as holes in her plans to protect me- the crown.
I pushed passed my Mother and the guards, "let her be," I heard her say behind me, followed by swift footsteps. I didn't bother to look back, instead choosing to focus on walking straight which proved to be a challenge. Before I walked out the door I pulled my hood up over my head, throwing the door open a bit too hard and leaving quickly.
The carriage was outside, a black and gold trimmed buggy with 4 black horses tied to the front. When the coachman seen me, he scrambled to get off his place at the front of the carriage, but I was too quick and threw the door open myself before throwing myself inside, not waiting for my Mother.
It was a sign of disrespect I know, but I was just so tired of her bossing me around; it's like i'm just something to control for power. I am to be King, not her, and the sooner she realizes I can take care of myself the better. I am 18 after all, and past the age to marry. Some women my age even have babies!
The thought gave me chills.
Ew. Babies. There was no way I was going to have one for a very long time, and even then only for my heir.
No thanks. Kid's suck.
My Mother caught up and was helped into the carriage by the coachman this time, a scowl on her face as she took her seat across from me.
"You think that because you have the title Prince you can go around acting like a man, but all you do is make yourself look ridiculous, and bring dishonor to our entire family. Stop whatever perception you have about what you SHOULD be acting like, it's insulting; and look at you, Maud," she said pointing to my muddy dress, "you are filthy and wreak of alcohol- AGAIN!"
"Mother-"
"Don't Mother me- if you don't learn to stay put and listen or at least tell me where you're going so that your guards can assist you if you get into any trouble- then I am going to just lock you away in the tower until your Father comes home!"
"If he comes home."
"What did you just say?" She said, disbelief on her tone, I instantly regretted saying it as soon as the words left my lips though, and opted to stay quiet. "Is that why you've been acting out so much here lately?"
I remained silent, not wanting to talk to her anymore.
"You don't know if your Father will come home or not, we must pray he does because you are clearly not ready to lead this country," she said.
"You don't know what I am ready for, Mother. All you do is primp inside the castle all day while Father teaches me how to be a King. You wouldn't know anything about that though, so don't lecture me on if I am ready or not," I hiccuped.
"You are drunk, Maud," she fussed.
"Kings can drink," I said, realizing that the rest of my peach mead was in my hands still, so I took another sip, careful to keep an eye on her. She leaned forward and in a swift motion slapped the mug out of my hands, I watched open mouthed and in disbelief as it tumbled out the window; the sound of glass breaking a second later.
"That...was.... NOT... okay, MOTHER!" I said, infuriated that she'd had the audacity to slap it out of my hands like that.
"Yell at me again, Maud," she threatened, and I squinted my eyes at her, "see what happens."
I crossed my arms across my chest in defeat; outside the carriage the rain finally was clearing, leaving the sun shining through cracks in the grey clouds. Another 10 minutes of silence later and we were rolling past the luscious, green, flower fields that lead the way to the castle. Just outside of the city, it allowed those inside some privacy away from the overcrowded areas.
We pulled up to the front gate, and I listened to the clinking of the chains as it rose- allowing us inside. Once we passed the entrance, the horses hooves clip-clopped on the cobblestone road and in a few moments we circled around the horseshoe road.
Once the carriage halted to a stop, nearly slinging my drunk ass out of my seat, I looked up to see Mother shaking her head just as the door was opened and a hand stuck inside to help us out. My Mother rose, and with the grace of a swan took the hand in front of her and exited the carriage.
I closed my eyes and sighed, feeling sick to my stomach all of a sudden. Once again though, the hand was stuck inside the carriage and I stood up- swaying only slightly- and took it. I took a step forward, but my legs turned to gelatin and I fell forward.
My ribs took the damage from the fall, and I heard a crack when the side of the carriage met with my flesh. I sucked in a breath, feeling a sharp pain in my side. I continued to fall though, turning upside down and landing on my head before landing on my side again.
"Ah, fuck!" I cried, clutching my side even as the pain in my head began to blossom. At this point, I was so disoriented from pain I couldn't even hear the people around me. Thank the Goddess that I was as drunk as I was, or I am sure this would have been a lot worse for me. It was when I felt the trickle of blood down my forehead that I began to panic though.
Immediately my hand shot to my forehead, touching the liquid and pulling it back to reveal the disgusting, bright red blood I had feared. I felt my eyes roll to the back of my head, and all was black in the world after that.
I dreamed though, and it was not good. In fact, it was more like a strange nightmare.
In my dream, I walked through a field of grain, the sun pouring down over the long stretch of yellow and blue as far as the eye could see. I ran my hand over the tops of the grains as I walked through the field, taking in my surroundings.
Such a strange dream.
I have never felt one so realistic. I could feel the sun on my skin, and the grains against my palm.
All of a sudden there was a crack of thunder, and a shadow was cast over me and quickly swallowed the field in it's gray cloak. I spun around, taking in the formation of storm clouds that now was making it's way towards me. As it came closer a figure arose in the distance; a splotch of black against the field.
Closer and closer it came, almost leading the storm clouds. When I heard the familiar patter of horse hooves, a shiver ran down my spine. I looked onward as the figure slowly came into focus.
The man was fierce, and larger than life. He wore an obsidian black suit of armor, with two devils horns protruding from the top of his helmet- giving the appearance of a devil. This was no ordinary devil though, no, it was the King. On his head, shined even in the shadow- his thorny, golden crown. I watched, eyes wide in terror as he closed the distance between us; everything in slow motion now. I tried to scream, but nothing came out as his large, hands came out to grab me- stealing the rest of the sunshine from the dream, and instead, turning it into a nightmare.
I rose up suddenly, my surroundings coming as a blur as the first wave of nausea hit me like a punch to the gut.
I rolled to my side, wary of the slight pain in my side, and puked directly into the floor.
I heard words exchanged before someone came over to me and wiped my mouth off; helping me to lay back into the bed again.
"Water, my Prince?" the older voice asked, and even though I could not recognize who it was with my eyes, I knew it was from their voice.
"Oh, Gran, what are you doing here? You shouldn't see me like this," I said, even as a cup was placed to my lips. I drank it thankfully, knowing that while disappointed at my condition, she was the only person in my life that I truly felt respected, and loved me- even though she was not technically blood relation to me.
"I have seen you drunk plenty of time, my love, but you are not anymore," she began, "you've been asleep for 3 days, Maud... and while the healers have done everything they can to set your bones back and fix your head wound, it would appear your eyes have not yet healed."
I furrowed my brows, looking at the dark, and blurry figure at my bedside. "What did you say?" I asked in disbelief.
"Maud," she took my hands in her, "we think you may be partially blind. At least for the time being..."