Nadine

33. Cruors Response

I sigh as we approach the castle. I really don't want to deal with this. Maybe they will drop me off at another door.

Nope. Straight to the front door.

I peek out the window and see Tre by the steps. He is standing there with his arms crossed. He does not seem happy. His mom is standing beside him trying to talk to him, but he is completely focused on the carriage.

My mom comes out the door and down the steps. She's pissed too. I'm not sure who gave her a sword this time.

I see Mary right inside the front door. I will be running to her.

"Everyone is very mad here."

Frode nods. "Lies spread quickly princess. Miculai, you should probably get out first and make a statement. They both need to go to the medical area and get checked out."

"Mom has a sword. Can we drive by and go to the back door?"

Daddy laughs. "It's not you that will be dodging that sword my princess."

"Everything is my fault." I start sobbing again.

"I'm not exactly sure how to announce this Frode."

"I'm ok with the back door idea."

"No, you need to face this together."

"The princess got scared and ran last night. Advisor Dipak attempted to get her back and was detained. They are both home safe and needing medical treatment. Ask people to move back and get them into the building as fast as possible. Do not say anything about the cave yet. As soon as Advisor Dipak is cleared we will have a meeting and move on it."

"And please get the sword away from momma."

"Miculai get out first. After the statement I will get out. Then Dipak. We will help the princess out. Then straight into the building. No comments. Fast and efficient is what we want here. We need to clear that cave. No one say anything about it. Move to the medical area only right now."

We all nod and daddy gets out.

"I need everyone to back up and clear the way to the stairs. NOW!" He takes the sword from momma. "The princess got scared and lost last night. Advisor Dipak found her but was then detained. I need everyone back. They both need medical treatment."

Frode gets out and takes the sword from dad.

"I'm sorry I ran from you."

"We'll figure it out princess." Dipak kisses me on the head, then gets out.

He turns around and puts his hand out for me. "Let's get you in there."

I glance up to where Tre is. He's glaring at me. He turns around and goes back inside. His mom follows him.

I hear my mom scream, "I WILL KILL YOU!"

Something happens and I get shoved back into Frode and Dipak. I try to go again and I get pushed away from them. I drop to the ground and close my eyes. I cover my ears and stay here.

I hear swords getting drawn.

Frode yells. "Miculai!"

I feel myself getting picked up. I open my eyes and Tre is holding me. My dad is a dragon. Frode and Dipak are both putting swords away. "What happened?"

Frode says, "Crowd control princess. Get her to the medical area now, Tre."

A minute later, I'm looking at Dr. Cruor. "Step outside Tre. I will call you back in a few minutes."

He steps out.

Dr. Cruor checks me over and calls for Tre.

My mom and Asa come in with him.

"I did the physical exam. Physically she is thin. She needs to eat more."

Tre nods. "We know that already. Her food intake is being watched."

"Great." Doctor Cruor sits. "Tell me what happened last night."

Tre tenses up.

"I was riding Butter. In the castle yard. I was afraid to go any further by myself. But I love riding Butter. He's so jumpy. The alarm sounded and I saw Dipak. I went and asked it why it sounded and he said it was because I was missing. He yelled at me." I start to cry. "I ignored him. Went back to riding Butter in the yard. I think he felt bad for yelling at me. He went and got another horse. Said he would ride with me for a bit. We didn't really talk. He followed me around and let me ride. I went to the river. Then down the water. Then I remembered something." I stare at Cruor for a second. "I don't think I'm allowed to go on yet. I need to ask daddy. This is an advisor issue. He ordered me not to talk about it."

Tre crosses his arms. "I am allowed to know then princess."

"And you will very soon. As soon as Dipak gets cleared your having an emergency meeting and leaving."

"Hold on." The doctor steps out and back in with Frode. "Frode she said she's been ordered not to talk by the king."

"She has. Asa and Aurelia if you step into Dipaks' room. The king can tell you 2. Princess, you can tell Tre. Tre you can not act on anything she says. We will be going very shortly. Doctor, you are not allowed to repeat anything she says to anyone and no one else in the room."

"I don't want to talk about it." I break down sobbing. "I can't."

"Come with me. Do not kill him. What happened was not what everyone thought. The rumors are not true."

So everyone leaves. I go and sit outside Dipaks' room to see what they say. Not surprising I'm the topic of discussion.

"You can see her ribs." Moms still on about that.

"EVERYONE STOP!" Wow, I didn't know Dr. Cruor had that mean tone. "In the last 4 weeks that child has had, brother try to kill her, she had her head smashed in, watched her mother get attacked by a werewolf, her father completely fall apart from that, signed into a bond agreement, had 2 convoys attacked, 1 where she was the lead doctor in the field, delivered her first baby, by sword none the less, was drugged, and now found this cave of torture devices her very own brother kept?" There's a pause. "Am I correct did I catch all that? Are you serious?"

"Yes." That was Tre.

There's a smash. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? Any of those things are a cause for a trauma response in a fully grown adult. All of them is insane. This child needs time to process all of those things. Yes, in some ways, she is an adult. In others, she is still a child growing up. She's to skinny? Sit down and talk to her through meals. She panics when she sees threatening devices? She thinks you will all hurt her? That makes sense. Someone she loved tried to KILL HER. She ran from the werewolves? Look what she saw her mother go through. You people have got to let her process all of these life changes. And yes, maybe she's not processing them as fast as you all are. She's still so young though. She needs time, love, and patience. Not all of you yelling about how messed up she is. You're messing her up more. She is in there thinking everything is her fault and everyone hates her. She feels so bad she can't talk about anything." There's another crash. "I can't with you people." Time to go.

"And another thing." Maybe not. "Look around you. You all have each other to help you process this trauma. Who does she have? Tre has grown and left her in most ways. She has lost her brother. She has no one. And when she sees you people, you yell at her for being to thin? I... Dipak... Leave. All of you leave. Get out of the medical area."

I run and jump in my bed. I hear the door slam.

Mary comes in and sits on the bed with me. "It'll be ok little miss." She rubs my hair.

"I love you Mary."

"I love you too child."

I can see their shadows as they walk by my door. I know they are staring at me. I don't care.

"GET OUT!"

I cry for so long I cry myself to sleep.

When I wake up, it's dark outside. I'm all alone. I'm upside down and kind of sideways on the bed. That's an odd way to wake up. I fix myself and go back to sleep.