In which the princess falls ill
Princess Y/N picked at her breakfast, she was very sure it was lovely but she didn’t feel as if she could stomach it. She had woken up feeling under the weather but didn’t make a mention of it, brushing it off as a seasonal affliction. But here she sat trying desperately to make her stomach stop churning. Though her corset made this very hard.
She took as deep a breath as she could and tried to roll her shoulders.
“Are you alright?” Came the gentle voice of her lady’s maid, Ynes.
Y/N turned in her seat to look at Ynes who was now at her side and resting a delicate hand on her shoulder.
“I’m not entirely sure.” She admitted “I think I need something fresh air.”
Ynes nodded and picked up her plate as much of the dining staff had gone with the king and queen to their expedition to a neighboring kingdom.
“I will clean up here, don’t go too far now.”
Y/N nodded and slowly stood from her chair, glancing back at her knight, Sir Theodoric, and his glistening armor. She knew he would follow her as per his oath of casting his protection over her. This fact had long since stopped annoying her and began to comfort her, especially today.
As she slowly glided towards the large wooden doors that lead to the side of the castle grounds where much of the gardens were, she thought about the man carefully following her. He wore a silk band of rich purple around his right arm, signifying his service to the princess as she had not been a fan of the surcoat he had been given at first. She believed this surcoat set him apart from the other knights too much. It made her knight seem like an outsider among his own, like he wasn’t fit for battle like the others but to simply follow the Princess around and repeat fealties till she or the king and queen, were satisfied. She knew the truth, however, she was very well aware that her knight had seen battle, she had seen the man’s shield and markings of a hero. There was no doubt in her mind he would leap back into the fight at a moments notice, either for the kingdom, or for her as his oath required.
She didn’t realize how lost in her thoughts she was or that her knight had moved ahead of her until she was walking through the doors he held open before her.
She stepped out onto the path that cut its winding way through the grass, flowers, stone benches, and small statues. She could just see the beginnings of the royal gardens in the distance and she knew that the sweet perfume that wafted around her was coming from the orchards beyond the main gardens.
She heard the sound of sparring coming from the lower grounds, the metal on metal of swords where she knew her older brother was being allowed to win. She knew, also that her younger brother and younger sister were in the castle being taught military history and etiquette respectively.
Y/N hiked her skirt up and took a slow breath of fresh air. Standing still as she willed herself to relax.
“Are you alright my lady?” Came the voice of her knight through his visor.
Y/N hummed and spoke over her shoulder, “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
Her knight stayed quiet and followed her as she walked farther onto the grounds towards the gardens.
However, as she went, she realized the sun had begun to be more punishing than when she had first came out of the castle, the light breeze had stopped, ending her brief remedy.
She continued to walk however, determined to find herself under the shade of the royal orchards.
She didn’t quite make it. She made it to the edge of the gardens when she began to feel faint. She breathed shakily and felt her body suddenly turn cold.
“My lady?” Asked Sir Theodoric, hurrying to her side.
She tugged on the back of her corset trying to fill her lungs with fresh air, hoping that it would help.
“Princess Y/N please, sit, you need to rest.”
She felt the metal of the knights armor, warmed by the sun, on her arm right before she fainted.
Sir Theodoric immediately dropped his sword and scooped the princess into his arms, turning back towards the castle and rushing as fast as he could to the doors.
Once inside the castle he didn’t stop, he heard Ynes scamper behind him.
“What happened? Is she alright?”
“She fainted, I’m taking her to her chamber, get a nun and maids she needs medical attention.”
Ynes hurried away and Sir Theodoric turned down a vast hall and began to quickly climb a winding stone staircase, being careful not to jostle the princess.
He stopped in front of her chamber door and pushed it open as he walked in. He laid her down on her four poster bed and carefully folded back the silk that closed off the bed for the rest of the room so the maids could attend to her when they arrived.
He stood there looking at her, observing her face and her ragged breathing. He hated it, he hated that his oath didn’t give him the power to will away what afflicted her.
His thoughts were interrupted when the maids came rushing in with the nun who carried a large case of her medical equipment.
“Thank you Sir Theodoric, please if you would step out. We can take it from here.”
The knight looked at her and nodded stiffly, “Thank you sister.”
He left the room and closed the door tight. He took up his post outside her door, praying in his heart that she would be roused and taken care of.
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