The Prince that Saved Me

Fear

{Piper’s POV}

“Now please, allow me to change your bandages.” She said, pulling me towards the room that I was in before. Once inside she sat me down in front of the vanity and began unwrapping the bandages. Once they were all off, I could see that I had stitches on my leg, and a couple on my arm. I winced as she washed all of my injuries, before wrapping bandages back around my arm, leg, and head.

I awkwardly sat unsure of what to say, but when she was finished she offered me a soft smile. “T-Thank you..” I muttered, my voice suddenly feeling small, and my throat much too dry.

“It’s not a problem dearie, now, are you hungry? I was just about to make some breakfast.” She smiled.

I stood, nodding. “I-I should probably put on some real clothes though.” I said, looking across the floor and noticing my bag. I quickly grabbed it and pulled out one of my dresses. It was dark blue, with white accents on it.

“Let me help you dear.” She said, closing the door.

“I-I’m fine, I can manage!” I shrieked, turning to face her. “I’m sorry, I just.. I’m fine, I can do it myself, thank you.” I said softer this time.

“O-Okay dearie, I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.” She said, turning and leaving the room.

It’s obvious that she was the one who changed me into the dry clothes last night, but if she had seen my bruises from yesterday she didn’t say so. I closed the door behind her and walked to the mirror, moving my hair back out of the way. I could see the fingerprint bruises that her left on the side of my neck, and as I lifted the sleeve of the robe I could see the hand print bruise left on my arm. I took off the robe, putting it back where I found it, and slipped off my nightgown. Then I saw the ugly bruise that was now spread across my right rib cage. I turned, grabbing the dress and pulling it on over my head. Once it was on and situated, I grabbed the scarf that my great grandmother had made for me years ago. It was a white knit scarf, and it was so warm and comfortable. I never thought I’d be using it to hide bruises from anyone. I wrapped it around my neck, and pulled my hair up, releasing it back down over the scarf. It cascaded in curls down my back. I opened the door, walking back out into the hallway from before, and making my way back into the kitchen.

As I walked in I could hear the two of them talking. “Honestly, that poor girl was running from something, it’s obvious! I know that you aren’t much for helping others, but perhaps you should at least listen to her before you decide to find her family.” The woman sighed.

“If she were my wife, I wouldn’t enjoy finding her in the home of another man. Especially a single man, I don’t think any man’s ego could take that.” He replied.

I stepped back out into the kitchen and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m no one’s wife, and I don’t plan to be!” I shot at him.

“I’m sorry, I just assumed..” he began, but I held up my hand, stopping him from making a bigger as* of himself.

“That since I’m not too young but not too old, and I’m a lady that I’d be married off to someone, and that I probably have a husband who is scouring the earth for me? That I am not able to do things on my own because of my se*? Are you truly so closed minded that your immediate thought when you see a woman that is near my age, is that we must all be married, and trying so hard to produce an heir.” I shot him a glare. “I am not some prim and proper little lady, waiting to be of service to a man, and I wouldn’t be caught dead marrying anyone! If you must know, I have run away from home because my mother is.. well..” I muttered, losing all the confidence that I had before as the pair of them stared at me. “She’s..” I began again, but the words fall dead on my lips.

“She’s?” He asked, a smirk across his face, his eyes focused solely on me, it had began to make me realize how warm it was in here.

I shook my head. “Nothing.. it’s really no one’s business.. now please, I feel fine, and I should really get back to traveling.” I said looking to the door.

“As soon as the doctor clears you, you’re free to go Miss..” he said, his voice lingering on the word Miss, it is a question, as he has yet to find out anything about me.

“Piper, my name is Piper.” I said, turning my attention back towards the door.

“You’re not planning on trying to run away from me again, are you Miss Piper?” He asked. “I wouldn’t recommend it, I am faster than you, and I would just drag you back until you’re cleared by the doctor.” I turned, looking to him, a sadness forming in my eyes. I wanted to be further from home, I needed to be further, before she found me, or worse, before Lord Farrenhall found me.

I sighed, realizing that he was right. He is faster than me, he would just drag me back, so it’d be easier if I just waited to see the doctor. “Alright, but I really do need to leave soon before..” a knock on the front door stopped me in my tracked. I looked up to him frantically, my heart rate speeding up, I turned quickly looking to the maid who was looking to me with concern. “T-They’ve found me..”