Nadine

52. Knocked Senseless

I wake up on one of the couches in Dipak's office. I am the only one here. I walk out in the hallway and I'm the only one on the advisor floor. There are no guards at all here. I wonder where they all are.

I'll check daddy's office. I go up a flight of stairs and get announced immediately.

"Princess Nadine to see the King."

"Enter."

I think about it for a second and didn't I do this already? What is happening? This is so confusing.

They are all in the room again. I stare at them. "Didn't we do this already?"

Dipak smiles. "Yes sorry, you hit your head so I put you back in my office. That must have been weird. You ok now?"

"Yea, I'm hungry though. I'm going to go find food now. Anyone want to go fishing?"

Tre laughs. "Fishing stuff is half way to the sea princess. We will get you some more."

"Thank you Advisor Tre. Goodbye everyone. And hello. I think."

Frode puts an eyebrow up. "Miculai she hit her head to hard."

"Can I have a knife?"

"Why?" Now Gunner is looking at me weird.

"I want to go fishing Gunner."

Tre raises his eyebrows.

Dipak takes me back to his office.

"What's here?"

"I'm going to order you some fish to eat. Then let you go back to sleep. You fell and hit your head on the conference table. I think you may need another hour or two of rest, sweetheart."

I lay down and go to sleep on the couch again.

He wakes me up. "Here, you need to eat something. Then you can sleep some more. Sit up. I'll help you."

He sits beside me on the couch and feeds me an entire plate of food and gives me water and blood. I kind of lean on him the entire time.

"You are much helpful. Thank you. I was so hungry. I am so tired now."

"Go to sleep. I should be back by the time you wake up again."

I lay down and close my eyes. I feel him kiss me on the head. I like him.

The next time I wake up, the morning sun is out. Dipak, Tre, and Gunner each have a couch. They are so funny.

Gunner stretches. "What are you doing princess?"

"I have no idea Gunner. Wasn't it past morning?" I stare out the window. While the 3 of them start moving around. "I feel like I'm having the longest day of my life. Did yesterday happen?"

Tre rubs his eyes. "Wow, she's still confused."

"Did I go outside?"

Dipak raises his eyebrows. "You remember going to the cave?"

"Yes you guys are getting me chains."

"You remember falling asleep and going to your dads office when you woke up?"

"Yes, 2 or 3 times. I remember fishing."

"I ordered you some fish. You didn't go fishing. You remember eating fish?"

"No..." I try to think about it. "Maybe."

"You hit your head really hard princess. Let's give her some food and see if that helps. I'll get Mary and the doctor." Gunner leaves.

"Did I go out last night?"

"Nope that was the night before princess." Tre puts his shoes on.

I blink a few times. I can't figure this out. "Why is it morning?"

"Little miss what happened?"

Dipak stands up. "She hit her head yesterday afternoon. Seems confused still."

Mary wraps me up in her arms. "Let's get you something to eat. That will make you feel better."

"Foods on its way, Mary." Wow, Dipak's in control of everything here. I can tell Tre's upset. But he's not furious or anything. Maybe they won't start punching each other this time.

The doctor motions at Tre. "What time did she fall."

"About 2 or 3."

He checks my eyes and feels around my head. "Everything seems fine Tre. Probably disoriented from being knocked out and then sleeping that long." Oh yea, Tre gets to deal with me medically. Dipak seems upset. He's not furious or anything either. This is weird.

"I feel drunk doctor."

They all snicker a little bit.

"Yes." He writes something on his paper. "This will wear off today. She slow to wake up. Might take some reminding about what happened yesterday after the fall. It's all going to be blurry for her for a day or so."

Mary sets up the food. "Thank you doctor."

"Princess you need to relax today. Just sit on this couch and rest or take a bath. Only do relaxing stuff today ok?" I nod. "No horses, no hunting, no work, no exploring. Only rest ok?" I nod again. He stands up and looks at the guys. "Did you all get that?"

Dipak shakes his hand. "Yes, thank you doctor."

The doctor leaves and I pull the veil back off. "Mary."

"Yes little miss?"

"I hit my head."

"I heard that. Let's get some food in you. Has she eaten since yesterday breakfast?"

"I got her some fish about 5."

"I LEFT BUTTER!" I try to jump up.

"We got Butter princess." Gunner puts his hand out.

"Oh. Thank you."

"Great. Now open your mouth." Mary feeds me all the food and drinks. I lay back down and pass right back out.

I wake up a couple hours later and Mary is sitting on another couch sewing something. I sit up.

"Feeling better little miss?"

"I don't know yet."

She smiles at me. "So, whose office are we in?"

"Dipak's."

She gives me this look. "Yea we're going to be talking about this later aren't we?"

I start laughing and squealing and lay back down.

"Yea, that's what I thought."

"I do have to pee though and he would probably like his office back. How long have I been here?"

"Almost a whole day." She starts packing up her stuff.

"Wow."

"Yeah, Doctor said you can take a bath and do relaxing stuff today. Let's go do that. Get you all cleaned up. I think that will help you feel better too."

"Should I leave him a note?"

"Do you want to?"

We go back to the royal wing after I write it.

"So what did the note say?"

I laugh. "I thanked him and apologized for taking up his office for a whole day."

She winks at me before we walk into my house. "I really don't think he minded princess. That boy still has a thing for you."

"Why do you say that?"

"What are you 2 talking about and how are you my baby? I heard you hit your head and were in the offices all night. Did you see the doctor at least?"

"Yes momma, the doctor told me not to do anything today. Except sit on a couch or take a bath."

"Relaxing stuff ma'am. No excitement."

"Oh. Was Tre the one who helped you with the doctor?"

"Yes Tre was there with me momma."

"Good. So, what are you doing now?"

"Mary is going to help me take a bath and get cleaned up. Then I have no idea." I stare into space for a minute. "I don't think I've ever relaxed before."

They both start laughing.

"Well I'm sure we can come up with some ideas for you. Thank you for helping her Mary."

"My pleasure ma'am."

Momma leaves and Mary takes me to the bath.

My mom eventually comes in. "Nadine, Dipak has been here 3 times, Tre twice and now gunner is here. How long do you plan on being in here? And dinner is in 2 hours child."

"Aww. Do I have to get out for dinner?"

"Yes." She rolls her eyes and leaves.

I sit there for another hour then Mary helps me out. She puts me in ball gown again.

"Why am I in this?"

"Your mother likes having you all together for dinner."

"Every night?"

"Yes."

I roll my eyes. Mary pushes me out the door when it's time to start and I take my seat by Tre.

"You alright now?"

"I think so."

Dipak smiles at me from down the table. "So, how was your 3 hour bath?"

My mom snorts in her cup. "Dipak, It was not 3 hours. It was nearly 6. The servants had to keep taking warm water in there."

My dad and Dipak start laughing.

"No Miculai, the servants had to serve her lunch in there and everything. She didn't even want to get out for dinner."

Everyone busts out laughing at that.

I'm even laughing. "Well momma, the doctor told me to relax today."

"Yes, but I don't think he meant a 6 hour bath child. There are other ways to relax."

"Well, I'll try one of them after dinner momma."

"This teenage phase will never end."

"Shopping is relaxing. I'll take my 2nd night tonight and go shop some more."

I get a full 6 people that yell No at me.

"Then I guess I'll get back in the bath."

Daddy laugh again. "I'm not getting in the way of a girl and her relaxing bath time. Give someone else a dirty look Aurelia."

Then everyone starts laughing again. Even my momma. She eventually shakes her head and gives the servants the sign for food. "Let's eat everyone."

After dinner, most people go out to the sitting room. I sit there staring into space. Dipak sits down beside me. "Will you come to my office tomorrow so we can talk for a bit?"

"Yes of course sir."

He kisses my head. "Thank you princess. After lunch if you are able."

"Enjoy your next bath princess."

I bust out laughing. "I will thank you sir."

Frode walks up next while Dipak is still sitting there. I think he saw Dipak kiss me on the head. "Princess if you are well in the morning you can stop by after breakfast and I will go over the bonding contract with you."

"Oh thank you sir. Yes, I will be there."

He smiles at me. "Don't push yourself. We can always do it another day if you're still suffering from that fall you took."

"I'm sure I'll be fine by then. Thank you advisor."

Dipak stands up and leaves with him.

"Mary, I need a bath."

She busts out laughing. I hear Dipak and Frode start laughing too.

I like Dipak's laugh. It's nice hear.