Aileen awoke. Her vision was blurred and a ringing sounded in her ear. She panicked.
And as she began to lift herself up she found that she was hooked up to an IV, and she had many needles and machines stuck to her.
A sharp pang was felt in her lower abdomen and then she remembered why she was here. She had been stabbed. She didn't remember how she had been rescued or how she got home, but she remembered how her injuries had occurred.
She looked around and froze when she saw the sleeping Daniel in the chair against a near wall. He had his legs crossed and his arm up holding his head as he slept. His eyebrows furrowed as if he stressing even in his slumber.
She slowly and carefully tried to prop herself up, but she felt so much weaker, and it was even harder as she tried to avoid straining her stomach muscles.
As she tried to sit up, Daniel rustled in his sleep, and as if he sensed her moving he slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times to adjust to the light.
She looked at him as he seemed to register she was awake.
"Aileen?"
She once again just looked at him before continuing to move around.
Daniel got up before carefully grabbing her arm and stopping her from moving.
"Don't move you'll injured yourself, just hold on to me."
She felt strange listening to him, but something in his tone was so compelling.
He slid his hand under her back and she wrapped one arm around his neck.
He propped her pillows up and then carefully lifted her so that she sat against them.
He pulled his chair closer to her bed.
He ran his hand over his face and sighed before saying.
"I'm sorry Aileen... This... This shouldn't have happened."
Had he really just apologized? She thought. It was awkward, she was used to him before when he was closed off. All of the sudden he had began to show her different sides of himself.
She was quiet for a second and then said. "Well it's not really your fault... I was the one who took the horse and snuck off... I put myself in this situation..."
Daniel looked at her like there was something he wanted to ask.
"Aileen?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened? Do you remember? We're trying to find out what happened and who did this to you..."
The fear she had felt before came rushing back nearly leaving her breathless. Thinking about it made her panic.
"I don't want to talk about it right now... I don't think I can remember everything anyways." She lied.
Daniel nodded.
"I'm going to go get Dr. Lee, don't move around."
And with that he was swiftly out the door.
....
Aileen thought maybe Daniel would come back... But deep down she knew he wouldn't.
Dr. Lee had come in and advised her against moving, along with him a nurse who brought and extra blanket, she wondered who told her that, as she hadn't asked for a second cover.
Dr. Lee decided on giving her a week before he tried to have her stand and take steps, for the mean time if there was anywhere she wanted to go, it would have to be in a wheelchair.
A few days had passed and Daniel had not been to visit her since she'd woken up. Aileen felt slightly disappointed. But she felt well enough to get out of bed and decided she wanted to go to the library.
She was carefully lowered into a wheelchair with the help of two nurses, and then she was wheeled out of the hospital wing.
Aileen had a blanket draped over her lap, but she suddenly felt self conscious. All she had on was the hospital gown, her hair had not been styled and she wore no makeup... Surely people would understand though?
In her mind this seemed to be no way for a princess to appear in front of others.
The nurse pushed her to the library with an extension built into the wheelchair she replaced her IV bag.
Aileen spent about half an hour in the library and then decided she wanted to go to the garden. Afterwards she'd have to return to her room.
The nurse wheeled her to the garden. Aileen felt a breath of fresh air pass over her when they stepped outside. She finally could feel the sun on her skin, and the cold breeze blowing in from the small windows of the garden walls.
She wondered if her parents had gotten word yet. She knew it typically took three to four days, but surely the delegation had reached her home by now?
Just as she wondered it seemed her thoughts were answered, as a guard stepped into the garden with notice for the princess.
"Your highness." He bowed.
Aileen nodded.
"Your family has gotten word, and as we speak they are traveling to the Palace. By the middle of the week they should arrive."
Aileen dismissed him, but he mind was stuck on her parents. She hated that it had to take so long to travel back and forth. But centuries ago due to the war, the two kingdoms had moved their capitols as far away from each other as they could, so if ever an attack was launched, they'd almost always have notice.
And so, she was taken back to her room, for her dressing to be changed and her stitches to be checked.
And so after nearly two days passed by. Her mother and father arrived.
They were led down to the medical wing and taken to Aileen's room. She sat up in her bed as a nurse combed her hair.
She saw the complete worry in her parents faces. The nurse excused herself from the room.
Her mother nearly broke out into tears as they reached down to hug her. Everyone treated her like she was glass, touching her lightly as if afraid to break her.
They could only stay a few days and it seemed to pass by too quickly. They had told her Sebastian sent his regards, and she felt a pang in her heart.
A small part of her had hoped that maybe he'd come along with them... But he's the Duke, he has responsibilities, it makes sense he couldn't drop everything just to rush to her side.
Aileen also felt a bit disappointed that in nearly a week since she had woken up, Daniel had not come by to visit her. She hadn't heard anything about him at all.
Maybe tomorrow will be different, she thought as she got ready for bed.