Nadine

81. Help Is Coming

I come out in my human dress. "I am so happy to get rid of all that extra stuff. This is so nice."

Mary nearly tackles me with a pot of water and rags. "Face too little miss." She starts wiping all the make up off. "Look at me. That's good. You'll have a bath in the morning anyway. You are leaving in the afternoon." Then she dumps the water out and leaves. Without saying anything else.

"Was that weird?"

Dipak nods. "A little yes. Now come here and give me that kiss you owe me." I end up lying on him and kissing him. Then someone knocks on the door, I nearly die and take off running down the hall.

"You're fine." Dipak yells.

I come back out and him and Tre are standing there.

I plop down in my chair. "I'm going to have to give you two a secret knock so I don't have to run for a veil and gloves every time I get a visitor. Am I allowed to ask who it is? Daddy said I just say enter."

Dipak laughs. "You can ask but, if one of us are in here and you ask who your dad is... He will break down the wall to get in."

"That's stupid."

Tre sits down. "Put a veil and pair of gloves in the table by the door. Put them on quick for a visitor."

"That's a good idea. I have a pair of gloves that are super easy to get on too. How did the werewolf thing go?"

"They were happy we told them. It was a long ride. How did the service go?"

"It went good. He fixed my bracelet and caught an earring."

"Told you. Every. single. time. How was the walking part?"

"It was easy. A straight shot and not very far. No obstacles or anything to walk around."

"Were you nervous?"

"Yea a bit." Dipak laughs.

"Yea, that's normal."

Someone else knocks on the door. I nearly die. I jump up and run for it again. I come back out with a veil and gloves on. Now my dad is here too.

"Hello daddy what brings you?"

"I wanted to stop in unexpectedly and see how fast I would get let in."

"Was it fast?"

"Well I didn't break down the door... What are you doing tonight princess?"

"I don't know. What are you doing daddy?"

"I don't know. It's weird not having you in the house baby."

"Aww. Daddy." I give him a hug. "I'm right here daddy. I'm not far... I'm actually still in the house."

"I know my princess. But I have less control over who you see and how often now. It bugs me as a father."

"Well daddy you put guards on my door. You know when I have company. You still have some say. It's not like I can do whatever I want."

"I guess you're right baby."

"Daddy."

"Yes princess."

"You said I'm not here permanently, right?"

"I'm still thinking about that. You are doing well here. And the medical wing is so far. I don't know. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking maybe I could go live in the village. Get a little place and live normal for a bit. No one would know who I am. Or maybe not even in the village. Maybe a human village close to here. I mean, I would keep the secret. I've been with humans before. I can do it. And with humans, it wouldn't even need to be a secret. I could live as a normal person."

All three of them stare at me with their mouths open.

"I'm not even sure where to start with that princess. The advisors will talk about it tomorrow morning." He stares at the boys. "I did say the medical wing was to far correct?"

"Yes sir."

Tre nods.

"I thought I lost my mind for a second. But it was my child losing hers."

I give daddy a funny look.

"Yea, I'm going to bed after that. Good night princess. You two don't stay late."

"Yes sir."

"Good night daddy."

He shuts the door behind him.

Daddy comes back in after a three second pause. "Actually, we are going to talk about that now."

I've already got one glove off. Tre is in my second chair and Dipak is on the couch. Daddy picks up my entire chair with me in it. "DADDY! I'M IN THIS CHAIR." He puts me in a more ideal place so all three of them can see me. Then pulls the veil off. "Daddy, have you lost your mind?"

He sits with Dipak on the couch. "It's easier to see when you're lying when we can see your eyes, my princess."

"MARY! MARY! MARY! MARY! MARY!"

Mary runs in ready to kill someone. "Nope. This one you're on your own with little miss. There is nothing I can do for you." I get tears in my eyes. "No child. Look at these men. You are safe here. They will not hurt you. They all love you. Talk to them before you snap and run off again please. Tell them how you really feel." She kisses my head.

"THAT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE THRONE MARY!"

"Princess Hypatia Nadine Sandu. It is in the best interest of the throne and for the protection of you. You have to be honest child. It is the only way you will feel better." She kneels down in front of me. "Yes you are growing up. But you are also still a child in some ways. You have to learn to communicate your feelings. It's part of growing up. You can not continue to run every time something bothers you."

"Fine." Her mind is made up. She leaves and closes the door.

"I hate it when she does that. Can I have some water?"

We stare at each other for a few seconds.

"I can't call her. She won't come back and no one told me how to get a servant yet."

Dipak goes out and comes right back in. "It's coming princess."

"Thank you sir."

Tre sighs. "So, you are thinking about running again. Why are we having such a hard time keeping you here?"

I look him. "Well"

He smiles. "No."

I give him a dirty look and turn to Dipak. I get the bright idea to say the two queens thing. When I open my mouth to talk he says "Nope." I give him a dirty look too.

I do my best little girl act. "But daddy."

Tre laughs. "Not that either."

Someone knocks and I yell "ENTER."

They bring in cake, fruit, and water and put it on my table.

"Thank you sir. I love cake."

Dipak smirks. "We're not changing the subject either, princess."

I bring my tears out. Dipak laughs. "Put those away too. We're only talking."

I shove cake in my mouth and sit there mad.

"You can be mad if you want to my princess. But we can all sit here all night. So, if I were you I would talk."

"FINE!" I eat a few grapes and continue to glare at my table.

"Feel free to start talking my princess."

"I'm afraid of being bonded."

"Why my princess?"

"Because I mean, I get it. I'm the royal heir to the throne. All my life I've been preparing to be bonded and give my king children. It's what I'm supposed to do. There are no options for me. I can't get out of that. It's who I am. And I accept it daddy, I really do. I will get bonded when I come of age or I will bond with Tre 2 days later. I will do that. I will reign from here with my king. I will give him children to carry on the throne."

Dipak tilts his head. "You don't want to?"

"That's just it. It doesn't matter what I want. I was bred for this job. That is my life's purpose. The only meaning to my life. And yes I do accept it. I will be the best queen I can be. I will give my king a hundred children if he wants them."

"I really doubt any man would want that, my princess. I'm still confused as to why your trying to run though."

I start to cry. "Because I want to live a little before I'm stuck here forever. I love to travel and see new spots. You see how often momma traveled with us. Barely ever and never far. Daddy, I want to see the world and I won't be able to do that once I get bonded. I'll be chained to this castle forever. The farthest I'll be able to go is the front yard." I break down in complete sobs.

"Can't I go live a little please? While I still have a chance. I want to see the world and see how other people from different places live. I want to see the water again. I want to put my toes in other kingdoms."

Dipak smiles. "Being bonded doesn't mean you'll be a prisoner princess."

"I've been a prisoner my whole life." I throw myself on the arm of the chair and cry into it.

"Ok boys. I'm calling in the higher powers for this." Daddy walks outside and returns a few minutes later. Then sits back down on the couch. "Help is coming."