Chapter 9 Part2 (1/2)
CHAPTER 9 (Part two)
After they got to where Mahnu was staying, they greeted each other and the King thanked them.
The older lady, Betty, looked worried as she stared at Mahnu, ”...Have you regained your memories, Ca.s.sandra?”
Mahnu shook her head.
”Then, sir, how can we be sure? We care very much for Ca.s.sandra, we won't let anyone think that they might know her!”
The older lady might not have yelled but she had raised her voice.
Marcus came to step in but the King waved him away.
”I know she does not remember, I also have two people who can confirm it but...I want her to come to me freely.”
King Richard turned to her then and she stared at him. Putting his hand to her face, he watched her reaction.
At first, she was shocked and took a small step back but as she looked at his face again, her shock disappeared.
Putting her own hand up, she slowly went to touch his cheek, starting with one finger, then after her whole hand. Suddenly, she pulled away and breathed out. ”I...would like to see.”
”Are you sure Ca.s.sandra? Is this what you want?”
”If you are worried, then by all means come with us back to Conrella.” The King breathed out in relief.
”...Your Majesty!?” Marcus said to the King.
Silence filled the room. Betty and the older man, Donald, were shocked but got down to bow in respect. King Richard stopped them, ”No, it's fine. Please don't. I'm not here as the King.”
He looked at Marcus, showing that he was annoyed, then turned back to the older pair with a hopeful face and said, ”If Mahnu wants to be with you as well and she is willing to give me a chance, I will be happy to take you to Conrella.”
Conrella? The Capital? Both of the elders looked at each other in astonishment. Who was this girl that the King would do all this!? Then Betty said in haste, ”Oh, Oh no! Your Majesty! You don't have to do that!”
The King laughs and pulls Mahnu to him. ”What do you want to do Mahnu? Anything you want.”
He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Mahnu didn't know what to think about! He was the King! We were...together? Does he know why she doesn't remember? Who are the other people that know me?
She looked at the other two men in the room who didn't look familiar, except from meeting recently. What was it they had said? She tried to remember.
What is it that I want?
For some reason Mahnu didn't like that question. Her head felt sore suddenly and she tried to focus.
As she felt herself start to faint, she asked herself that same question again. What do I want?
She felt herself fall and admitted that right now she just wanted to sleep.
The King caught her, ”Mahnu! What...What is wrong with her?”
Betty looked at the King apologetically. ”I would a.s.sume it's because she's been out all day and didn't eat, Your Majesty.”
”What? Why wouldn't she eat, dammit!”
Gently, he picked her up and asked where he should lay her down.
”It's properly because she didn't eat when she was...”
The King interrupted Marcus, ”Hush, Marcus.” He sighed, always so troublesome. He looked at Mahnu's sleeping face and wondered how he had coped without her all this time. Moving a strain of her hair, he wondered how we had missed seeing her here in Brackan all that time ago.
”Has she been with you for two years?” He asked, wanting answers.
”Yes, we found her unconscious and at the same time we were one of the ones that woke up, as it seems to be called.”
”She was a frail thing. Didn't wake for a whole week. Then we were worried because she seemed bed ridden. But after two months, she was able to move a little bit more.”
The King looked at Betty, shocked.
”Again, Your Majesty...”
The King looked at Marcus and silently nodded. They were thinking that it was the same thing that happened with The Chest of the G.o.d's as well.
”It's best if I get something for her to eat, for when she wakes up.” Betty walked out of the small bedroom, to go to the kitchen.
The King watched as Betty went to the kitchen and then Donald bent down near Mahnu. ”You know how children are lots of work? It was like we had suddenly gained a child, which Betty and I didn't mind as we couldn't have any children.”
The King waited eagerly for the elder man to continue.
”She gets startled easily and sometimes day dreams. It was like she had never seen a flower before.
Donald lets out a small laugh and continues, ”And, boy, does she love climbing trees! Even though she is an adult, it was as though she hadn't matured properly.” The old man sighed, ”Betty had to explain the whole womanly thing to her from scratch. She thought that she was dying...For some reason, she hasn't gotten used to knowing when she's hungry or thirsty. We've tried to tell her...but she always seems to forget. It worries us a lot, especially now that she goes out by herself. She also has quite nerve racking nightmares. A doctor had said that her past must have held really bad memories for her, so she must of forgotten them in a way to safe guard herself. They...normally make her cry.”
King Richard wondered what to think about first...she was like a little baby chick that was born as an adult. One that seems to need constant watch. It would be better if Betty stayed close by, just in case. Wait...so she's definitely mortal? Even the...
King Richard had decided, ”Betty, Donald. I would like you to accompany us. I can't leave without those she confides in. I will make it so you will be close but have your own s.p.a.ce. Mahnu and you will not be stopped to see each other.”
”We are too humble, Your Majesty. How could we accept such an offer?” Donald bowed his head humbly.
”Please come, I'd prefer it...I'm sure Mahnu would prefer it too.”
”I don't know what to say, Your Majesty.” Donald said.
”Great. Can we help you pack, perhaps?”
”Oh! How could we ask for that from a King!?” Betty had returned, looking mortified.
Marcus stepped closer to Betty. ”Did Mahnu happen to have a box with her when you found her?”
Betty looked wide eyed at Marcus, ”Why yes! She did! How did you know!”
”The box.” The King said. Finally they had found it!
Betty disappeared for a moment and then returned. ”Here it is. We tried to open it but it seemed to be sealed shut and locked so tightly that no one in town could open it.”
Marcus and the King sighed in relief.
”Take it Marcus. You should know what needs to be done.”
”You...Know what's inside the box?” Betty couldn't hold in her curiosity.
King Richard wondered what he should say, ”Yes...The reason you were all able to 'wake up' two years ago was because of this box. It is all because of Mahnu...But for now, we are keeping it secret. We also need to hide that box very well so it doesn't happen again.”
Betty looked at the box and questioned if it were true. They hadn't been told anything on the day they had 'woken up'. The knights kept saying that everything was back to normal and now they were free to go back to living their lives like before. It was clear that nothing more was going to be said by the King but Betty had heard enough and she was grateful.
The King turned towards William and said, ”Find a carriage, I'd like to leave as soon as possible...” He turned to the elderly couple, ”Is that okay with you? Betty, Donald?”
”Well, yes, of course. Her meal is ready, so I will start to pack right this minute.”
The King picked up the meal and sat it beside Mahnu, settling beside her also.
”Mahnu.”
”Mmm...”
Marcus left the small room and closed the curtain to give his Majesty and Mahnu some privacy. It was a good opportunity to think of the resting place of the small box in his hands.
”Mahnu...Wake up.”
King Richard had gathered her up in his arms, putting her into his lap and whispered in her ear. ”Don't make me ravish you right now!”
Mahnu opened her eyes. She was shocked to see him so closed, ”Excuse me!” She said trying to get out of his arms.