Princess Iris

I hear a soft voice talking gently as I slowly open my eyes; I try to make out where I am. My eyes finally adjust to the light in the room and I stare at the canopy of my bed.

"I am in my room. How did I get to my room? I can't remember ever coming back from Isabelle's..."

Just then I start to remember what happened to me. The horse, Prince Jeffery, Prince Leonard, Ri. I hear the voice this time; I turn to Ri who is seated right side of my bed and reading from her book.

"Adam looks scared. For the first time since I have known Adam, he looks scared. Oh, how I wish Bernadette was here, no one will believe me when I tell them Adam Robert; the bravest man of them all was scared of a beaver. I watch Adam run into the inn and shut the door. He might get a..."

"I always hated that book," I say.

Ri looks up at me.

"Always have and always will," I say.

"Iris, oh my god, Iris," Ri says.

Ri jumps up as her chair and books fall to the ground. She jumps on my bed and pulls me into a hug. Just then I feel pain in my shoulder and ribs.

"Ow, ow, ow," I say.

She quickly releases me.

"I am so sorry Iris; I was so excited to see you."

I look at her and I notice the eye bags, buff checks, and wet eyes.

"Ri, you have been crying," I say as I struggle to lift my right side and touch her cheeks but she stops me halfway.

"Hush now, you don't need to worry about me. I am more than fine. I was so worried about you," Ri says.

I smile at her.

"Can you remember what happened?"

"Yes, I can. I fell off..."

"What were you thinking riding an untamed horse?" Ri scolds me. "I told you to go outside the garden and wait for me. It took a great deal to get Isabelle under control. I came out to fetch you and you were nowhere to be found." "Oh, Ri I am so..."

"Shut up," Ri says.

I look at her shocked. Ri has never asked me to shut up no matter how angry is she at me. I must have scared her when I lost consciousness.

"You had everyone worried, Isabelle too. We had to split up to look for you. I wished I took Octavia's advice and checked the stable first but I insisted we check the art hall first. Lord Liam found us; he said Leonard sent him to fetch me immediately that you were in trouble. I ran as fast as I could. If I had gotten to you on time and you wouldn't have fallen off that horse," Ri says almost sobbing.

"I am so sorry Ri," I whisper.

"I am just glad you are alright."

My back starts to ache.

"I need to sit up," I say.

"Let me help you," Ri says.

Ri gets down from the bed and quickly moves to my right side to support me upright. She secures the pillow while I struggle with the pain in my ribs and finally, I rest my back on the pillow. I close my eyes as the pain increases, I silent a groan of pain. After a while, the pain calms down. I open my eyes to see Ri staring at me with tears in her eyes.

"I am fine Ri."

She nods at me and cleans her eyes. I manage a smile at her; I turn to the chair on the ground. I look at the window up ahead and my eyes land on the irises on the window pane. They look all dried out and then it hits me.

"Ri, you haven't replaced the flowers," and just then it hit me. "Wait, how long have I been unconscious," I say turning to her.

She looks hesitant

"Ri, how long?" I ask again.

"Four days," she says.

"Four... four..."

"You passed out right after we brought you to mother and father. The physician said the pain was too much for you to endure so you passed out. You had two fractured ribs and a dislocated shoulder. He said your shoulders aren't that hurt. They will heal in a week but your ribs were badly hurt during the fall. He put some ointment and bandages on your ribs. He said you were lucky it wasn't your head and you know what that means," Ri says.

I close my eyes and inhale and I feel a sharp pain. I open my eyes and look at Ri.

"He also said something about you taking it easy."

I nod at her.

"What of mother and father?"

"Mother never left your side after we brought you home."

"She didn't?" I ask in surprise.

"No, she spent her nights here on that chair while I slept with you on the bed. Oh, mother, I am supposed to tell her when you are awake." Ri comes down from the bed and straightens her gown. "King Theodore and Queen Henrietta came around. Mother had to go receive them. I will be right back."

My eyes start to feel heavy. I try to keep them open.

"Iris, don't you dare shut those eyes. Wait for mother," Ri says.

I look at Ri and nod my head at her.

I watch Ri as she hurries out the door. I don't think I can keep them open for a long time. But I need to force myself to stay awake.

Not too long I hear footsteps running down the hall. My room door opens in a matter of seconds. Mother comes to view first. I gasp when I see her tired face. It's like she hasn't slept in weeks. Mother rushes to me.

"Oh Iris, you had me very worried," Mother says hugging me.

She pulls from me and plants a long kiss on my head. When she releases all I could do was smile. Mother has never been this affectionate to me before. It feels rather odd but I love it.

"Have you had some water? You look pale and your eyes look tired," Mother says.

"No, I haven't."

"Adrianna you were supposed to give your sister water 10 minutes after I left. What were you doing?" Mother asks.

"Reading," Ri says.

Mother sighs returning with a glass of water for me. After drinking the water, I noticed Queen Henrietta.

"Your Majesty," I greet.

"Hello little one, you gave us quite a scare. How are you feeling?" Queen Henrietta asks.

Mother carcasses my face gently, I look at her and she smiles at me.

"I feel ok but the pain..."

"The physician said it will take a while before you adjust to the pain," Queen Henrietta says.

"Yes indeed, he also said in a matter of days and weeks you should be able to move around but those bandages don't come off for a while," Mother says.

"I am so sorry mother. I should have known better than to get on Grenade. I just... I just... I am sorry," I say with my head down.

"I don't know what you were thinking getting on that horse. Horses are not meant for ladies and neither are they meant for princesses. Your place is in the castle and by your husband's side nothing more nothing less. You could have been killed," Mother says.

"What I don't understand is why you didn't stop when you fell off the horse the first time. From what I gathered from Leonard, you fell at your first attempt and wouldn't stop trying. That was a reckless thing to do," Queen Henrietta says. "That stupid Leonard! It was his fault I got hurt in the first place," I say to myself.

"You were asked a question young lady," Mother says.

"I know I should have quit trying Your Majesty but couldn't. I mean I chose not to because I never back down from a challenge. No matter how tough I never back down. I can't deny what I did was reckless of me but I am sorry I got you worried Your Majesty. It was never my intention," I say.

Queen Henrietta smiles at me.

"Apologies accepted."

"I was going to wait till you get better to give you the worst scolding you could ever get but seeing how sorry you are, I forgive you," Mother says.

I smile at her as she pecks my cheeks.

"You forgive her? You gave me an ear full of how..."

"Hush now Adrianna, you better than to complain," Mother says.

"I need you to write to Isabelle, she is really worried about you and Leonard too. I know he shares blame here, well all the gentlemen present at the stable do share a blame and I made sure they got it from me," Queen Henrietta says. "But..."

"There will be no buts young lady, Queen Henrietta is right. Someone should have stopped you. Although they said they tried but you were relentless. But they should have tried harder," Mother says.

I sigh showing defeat.

"I will let you rest. Mariah?" Queen Henrietta calls.

"I will be back soon my dear," Mother says gently touching my cheeks. "Your father and I have a meeting with Divimon and Cerphila. If the meeting takes too long I will come to kiss you goodnight," Mother says with a kiss on my head and leaves with Queen Henrietta.