Nightmare
It was early morning in Genovia.
In the kitchens, preparations were already underway for Their Majesties' breakfast and a truck with fresh milk and produce awaited unloading at the delivery entrance. In Housekeeping, clean, scented linen sat wrapped in plastic along side two vases of fragrant flowers from the garden hothouse, both destined for the master suite. Aprons were being tied, caps were being adjusted, and daily assignment lists were being posted in every department.
Mindful that the Genovian royal couple had not yet risen, voices were muffled and footsteps were soft as a cart of hot coffee and tea was wheeled into the sitting room just next to the sovereigns' bedchamber. Outside, the first rays of sunlight were breaking over the distant mountains, the sun rising slowly until a golden glow flooded the green plain on which the palace lay.
A shaft of yellow shone through a gap in the heavy brocade curtains covering the floor to ceiling windows of Their Majesties' bedroom, and fell across the face of the king. His features were distorted by a grimace as his chest rose and fell sharply with each gasp for breath. He thrashed under the satin coverlet and flung an arm over his eyes irritably, then suddenly sat up in bed, eyes wide in panic.
Frantically, he looked around in the darkened room, then to the woman sleeping beside him. His breathing slowed and he relaxed, resting on one elbow. Gently, he brushed a strand of hair from her brow, letting his finger trail down her cheek to her lips.
"Clarisse, wake up!"
She stirred, burying deeper under the covers.
"Wake up, my darling!" He pushed aside the coverlet and ran his hand down her arm, her silky skin smooth to his touch.
"Too early!" Clarisse mumbled, pulling the cover back over her. "I want to sleep."
"It was terrible!"
That got her attention. Her eyes opened and she pulled the covers back far enough to see him. "What? Last night?"
"Not at all," he quickly assured her then kissed her hair. "But, I had the most appalling dream."
Clarisse rolled over on her back and gazed at him with curiosity in her brown eyes. "What about?"
The king chuckled and took her hand in his, squeezing her fingers. "You won't believe this, but I wasn't the king- I was your bodyguard, of all things- our Head of Security!"
"Oh, Joseph, that's simply ridiculous! Go back to sleep!" She pulled the covers back over her head and rolled over, away from him.
King Joseph frowned. It had all seemed so real…. He shrugged and lay back down. Strange, indeed. He'd mention it at the security briefing later that morning, he decided. Rupert would surely get a kick out of it!
A little bit of Dallas silliness in Genovia!