TFL Ch. 28

"Amelia!!! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Gwen shouts as she runs toward me. Practically pouncing on me, she squeezes me in a warm hug. I flinchingly wrap my arms around her, ignoring the searing pain of my injuries. "We were so worried! I can't even explain how happy I am."

Sir William Darby and his father both step closer before I can speak to Guinevere. "We are so glad for your safe return, Miss Amelia. I do believe you are the only woman to ever escape the Melitan raiders grasp." Lord Edmund says.

"How did you know I was captured by the Melitan raiders?" I question. How would he know unless he was in contact with them? And if he is in contact with them, then what is he meaning in the letter I found?

Sir William rapidly replies, "When the search parties went out, my squire, Jack Hawkins mentioned to me that he thought you might have been taken captive by the Melitan raiders. And your obvious injuries give away that you have been badly treated."

That response does make sense... Perhaps I am too eager to incriminate them... But the letter I had seen... Wasn't that Lord Edmund's initial on it? And what of the secret meeting of Sir William and the stranger? Wasn't the stranger Wesson? The confusing swirl of contradicting facts in my thoughts makes my head throb even more than it already was. Eric must notice my discomfort, for he interrupts whatever Lord Darby had begun to say. "I am sorry, Lord Darby, to interrupt, but Amelia honestly needs to rest now. The past four days have been very strenuous for her. Gwen, will you accompany us to your room and help her get situated?"

What Gwen responds, I have no idea. Each passing moment causes my thoughts to scatter more and more. As we reach Gwen's door, Eric turns to me and places a kiss on my hand. "Get some rest, 'Melia."

"Thanks for saving me, Prince Charming." I mumble. He flushes for a moment and walks off. I try to say something to Gwen, but a yawn cuts off my words. With a giggle, Gwen leads me into the room and I collapse onto her bed, boots and all, dead to the world.

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Three days in the same room is enough to drive me insane. Guinevere insists that I am too weak to leave her room and has not let me stir at all, for three entire days! The first day she even tried to spoon-feed me soup. To explain the situation simply, I refused to allow her to even approach me with the spoon in her hand and she grew angry with me. I could not allow it!

Since she has reluctantly left the room for several moments on urgent business, I breathe a sigh of relief. I know she is my closest friend, but some days she can drive me to the asylum! Her royal nature makes her too controlling, too possessive, too protective! For the past three days, I have been confined to a bed, prohibited from any physical activity, or even dressing at all! Gwen coos and fusses over me as if I were an infant sick with the croup!

I rush to the closet where my clothes hang. Grabbing the lightest dress and the contraption as Gwen so delicately calls it, I hurriedly change into it to prevent a harangue from Gwen when she arrives. I have to do something today, even if it is just a walk around the castle. I rummage through a drawer for a pair of stockings to wear. Oh, Gwen had better not walk in right now while I am messing up her organized drawers! I finally find a pair that matches the dress I chose and is not too uncomfortable.

Now, where have my boots gone? Instead of being on the floor next to my bed, my boots are nowhere to be found! Why doesn't she just leave my stuff alone! Kneeling next to Gwen's bed, I look underneath. Not-

"Amelia Rachelle Terrulet! What are you doing out of bed?!" Guinevere storms in, the words tumbling out of her mouth as she grabs my arm. "I leave you for one moment and here you are trying to sneak off again! I-"

"Gwen, stop acting as if I'm a child and your my mother! I'm not an infant!" I blurt.

She looks at me, surprise in her eyes at my outburst. "You were horribly hurt. What else was I to do but to care for you?"

"Taking care of me and keeping me prisoner are two different things!"

"Well, it seems that if you aren't kept under my watch, you get into trouble! Some bodyguard you are!" She snaps. "And you should be grateful that I care enough about you to make sure that you get well, rather than accusing me!"

"I am grateful, but-"

"Oh I'm sorry that I didn't recognize your complaining as gratitude. How silly of me!" She whips around and walks to her closet, her hair swaying back and forth. Swinging open the doors, she bends over and tosses my boots at my feet. "Here. Go run off and almost get killed again and break my heart."

Her barbed comment exacts its pain well. Grudgingly, I admit to myself that I am being rude and ungrateful. Several minutes pass and silence hangs heavily in the air. As much as I want to get out of this room, I cannot walk out of here with Gwen angry with me, especially after causing her so much grief and worry. "Gwen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. You know how impatient I am. I spoke without thinking."

She looks at me for a moment and hesitantly sits down on the floor next to me. Breathing in, she hugs me. "I'm sorry too, Lee. I have been very controlling for the past few days. You-you just had me so worried... I thought I had lost you forever."

Again, the blame all comes back on my impatient actions. I wince as guilt twists its knife in my gut. How could I be so foolish and hurt my dearest friends? "I'm sorry," I mutter.

She places her hand on my shoulder and gently squeezes it.

"Ready to leave this prison?" she smirks. Her forgiving nature matches the quickness of my sword and leaves me with the feeling of inadequacy again. That haunting word, unworthy, rings in my ears like it has for so many years.

"Definitely." I respond. Guinevere rises to her feet and gently helps me up.

"Let's head to the stables," she says.

We laugh and chuckle as we walk. In my thoughts, I cannot help but think, "Funny that she chooses to go to Jack's favorite spot." I say nothing though, when we arrive in the stables and Jack greets us, a grin stretching across his face. After he greets us, I walk over to one of my favorite horses and brush his mane, smirking as Jack and Gwen seem to forget my presence and lose themselves in flirtatious conversation. It's a shame that their love isn't meant to be. The two of them fit so well together, yet fate will keep them separate forever.

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SURPRISE! I got this chapter finished and I couldn't wait to share it with you guys! Hope you liked it!

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