The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 27

What a ridiculous day. It started with me getting ready for my coronation and ended with me finding out I’m a princess of a forgotten kingdom. I was exhausted. I went into the washroom and saw the tiara sitting on a small table. I had completely forgotten about that.

I quickly grabbed it and made my way downstairs to see if I could find someone who would know where it was kept. I started walking towards the throne room, assuming the crowns were probably kept in there. As I got closer I saw Halvor and Gala laughing about something.

Halvor had a handsome smile and he seemed to laugh easily with Gala. They were clearly very close, as I hadn’t seen Halvor laugh like that with anyone else. I paused, not wanting to interrupt them, but I had to walk that way if I wanted to go to the throne room. Suddenly Gala looked over towards me with a smile still on her face. “My Queen” she said as she bowed her head.

Halvor immediately stiffened and the smile completely disappeared from his face. I reluctantly walked towards them and said “I wasn’t sure what to do with this.” I held up the tiara. “I assumed it was probably kept in the throne room.”

Halvor nodded and motioned down the hall “One of the guards will take care of that for you.” Then he immediately turned towards Gala to continue their conversation. Gala bowed her head again and I just nodded.

I scurried down the hall and met one of the guards in front of the throne room. He bowed to me and I said “I was told that someone could take care of the tiara for me.”

“Of course My Queen.” The guard took the tiara carefully from me and disappeared into the throne room. I made my way back to my bed chambers, making sure to take a different route so I didn’t run into Halvor and Gala again.

I immediately changed out of my gown and into my night shift. I crawled into bed and immediately fell into a deep sleep. I dreamt of my mother for the first time in years. She was running through a forest, calling out to me but I couldn’t hear what she was saying because she was too far away. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t catch up to her and no matter how many times I called for her she wouldn’t stop for me.

Suddenly I felt someone shaking me. My eyes flew open to Halvor sitting near me on the bed with a concerned look in his eyes. I furrowed my brow still half asleep.

“You were having a bad dream…you were calling out for your mother” Halvor said quietly.

“Oh. I’m sorry I disturbed you” I said as I sat up. I pulled back the covers and Halvor stood up to give me some room.

“You didn’t disturb me. I was just coming to bed and noticed you tossing and turning.”

I nodded and got out of bed. “Where are you going?” Halvor asked.

“To the washroom” I replied. Halvor nodded as I quickly left the bedroom. My head was still thick with my dream and I needed some space.

I quickly poured some water into one of the small basins and vigorously splashed it on my face. I dried off with a towel and took my time folding it back up. I knew I was stalling because I didn’t want to go back to bed with Halvor.

I quietly left the washroom and walked over to one of the windows in the sitting room. I could see the moon shining brightly through the plate glass and I sat on one of the benches to gaze at it. I began to fiddle with my necklace as I thought about all the events of the day before. I felt a tear slip down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away as I laid my head down on the windowsill.

Suddenly I was awake again and in bed. I had no memory of going back to bed after I looked at the moon. Or maybe the whole thing was a dream and Halvor never even woke me up to begin with. I rolled over and came face to face with Halvor, who was staring at me. I jumped a little, not expecting him there.

“Did you have another bad dream?” He asked.

I frowned, so he did wake me and it wasn’t all a dream. “No…but…how did I get back to bed? I don’t remember coming back after looking out at the moon last night” I murmured.

“I carried you. You fell asleep out there and that windowsill can’t be all that comfortable.” Halvor replied as he turned away from me.

“Thank you” I said. He grunted and sat up to get out of bed. I slowly stretched and did the same.

“I will be in strategy meetings all day. Do not expect to see me before nightfall.”

I nodded and we dressed in silence. I ate breakfast alone and then made my rounds to check on the servants. I made my way out to the stables and I saw a stable hand struggling to deal with Bjorn. The poor man was trying to lead Bjorn out to the pasture, but the stubborn horse wasn’t having it. I sighed, just like Halvor.

I slowly made my way towards them. When the stable hand saw me he quickly bowed and said “My Queen, please be careful. This horse doesn’t like strangers.”

I chuckled and said “Yes, I know. You’re a stubborn one aren’t you Bjorn?” The horse quickly settled and I pet his head. I slipped on his bridle and led him out of the stable to the pasture, with the stable hand following closely behind me. I petted Bjorn some more and then handed his reins to the stable hand. Bjorn bobbed his head in annoyance. I turned to the horse and said “Now Bjorn, be good. I have to go now.” He settled once more as I left and the stable hand bowed and thanked me.

As I made my way back to the castle I overheard some servants talking and they sounded very upset.

“I hear she can’t handle the pain. If her fever doesn’t break soon she might not make it.”

“But isn’t the royal physician seeing her? Surely he knows something he can give her for the pain.”

“Apparently whatever he’s giving her isn’t strong enough and she wakes up in pain a mere two hours later. He’s giving her all he can.”

They must be talking about Diana. I walked over to the servants. “Excuse me, can you please show me to the infirmary?” They all quickly bowed and greeted me. One gestured to me to follow him and he quickly brought me to a large building connected to the castle. I walked in and quickly spotted Diana in one of the beds, being fretted over by a maid.

I walked over to her bed and saw her writhing around, crying out in pain. The maid was trying to calm her. “Please my lady, the doctor said you’ve had all the pain medicine you can have for now.” I felt bad for Diana. No one deserves that much agony for a mistake. I looked around the infirmary but didn’t see the doctor anywhere.

I spotted some large shelves filled with herbs and liquids. Head Mother had taught us how to make certain medicines and poultices. The most useful one for injuries was one that numbed whatever it touched for several hours. I quickly set about finding the herbs that I needed.

I gathered the supplies and began grinding the herbs together, adding water to make it into a liquid. “What do you think you’re doing?” A booming voice came from behind me.