The Prince and His Maid

5: How hurt is she ?

*Naria*

I had been far away in my own thoughts, singing softly as I walked along the road into town. I had not heard the horses before it was to late, and the trees by the bend in the road had made it impossible to see them too. If Arion hadn’t shown up, riding like he had the devil on his heel, shouting my name, I would have been trampled and possibly killed. The prince just saved my life.

But I am not unscattered, my foot hurts quite a lot and so does the side of my body where the horse had hid me. I try to get up from the, luckily, dry ditch I had stumbled into, but to no avail.

Suddenly Arion is beside me, his hands slips around my waist, and he gently lift me up on my feet, before brushing my dress down in place. “Oh darling that was quite a tumble. Are you okay ? Does it hurt anywhere ?”

“You saved me, without you I could have been dead”. I just stand there, staring at him for a moment. Then I manage to snap out of it. “Thank you so much Arion. I think I am okay. My foot hurts a bit and my right side too, but I can handle it. I can still walk to the marked at get the sugar, I just have to walk slowly”.

“Oh no.. no no my dear, you are not walking anywhere before you have been looked over by a priest”. He looks up at his squire Joel, who halte his horse beside us right at that moment. “Joel ride to the marked and get some sugar, when you delivers it in the kitchen you can tell them that I have ordered Naria to take the rest of today and tomorrow of as a start”.

Joel gives him a quick nod and nudge his horse into a sharp trot towards town. I look at Arion again, feeling a bit unsure. “You didn’t need to do that, you already saved my life”.

“I just did what any decent person would do”. He gives me a warm smile. “And don’t start getting problematic my dear. I am going to get you home safely and checked over, we need to make sure everything is okay”.

I breathe out slowly, that hurts quite a bit actually. “Okay then.. you are the prince after all”.

“Yes I am.. Can you stand for a moment ? I just need to check over my horse, it was quite a hard ride”. I nod at his question and he walks over to the huge horse.

I watch how he is talking to it in a low soothing voice, calming it, before he lets his hands slide over it’s legs. Then he squat down, looking over it’s stomach. He mumbles, probably mostly to himself. “Just a few shallow scratches from the hedge, he’ll be okay”.

“I am glad to hear that”. I would feel bad if the horse had been hurt to help me. I know it is a very valuable horse and the prince seems very attached to it.

“Come here darling, let me give you a hand”. He grabs me gently at the waist and lifts me up on the huge animal. I have to admit that I am just a bit nervous. I mean the horse is very big and a temperamental one too, from what I have seen. But it stands completely still, letting Arion swing himself up behind me.

I have both my legs on the same side, like in a sidesaddle and Arion slides one arm around my waist, holding me safely in place. His free hand grabs the rein, as he nudge the horse forward. “Are you sitting okay my dear ?”

I nod slowly, not really knowing what to say. I feel really safe to be honest and he is so warm, pressed against my side. I take the freedom to snuggle a little closer, to sit more comfortable. Sitting here I realise that he smells good, like really good. Life freshly washed linen drying in a summer breeze paired with a hint of sweat, but not in that bad stale way. There is also a hint of something spicy. I never smelled anyone who smelled good like this before, honestly most men stink, like stale beer, old sweat and piss.. or they have drowned the stench in choking perfume. But well most men rarely bathe.

As we get on our way I start having a harder time breathing evenly and deeply. At first I think it is simply nerves, from being this close to him. But then my side kinda starts to burn and I can’t hold in a slight gasp. Arion reacts instantly. “Is something wrong darling ?”

“No.. no I am okay.. I think”. I can hear how I am gasping softly as I speak, and it sends pain up through my hurt side.

“You don't sound okay”. His voice is worried not. “Is it the ribs.. your chest that hurts ?”

I gasp again, it feels like something is slowly tightening around me, making it harder to breathe. Suddenly I am scared that I am badly hurt after all. “Yeah the side.. hurts when I breathe”.

As my head starts to swim a bit, I feel Arion kick the horse into a gallop, my arms desperately grabbing a hold of him. “Don’t worry darling, I’ll get you back him fast and get you some help. Hang in there”.