Hindsight by Annie-Ominious
Chapter one: The North
Summary:
MEDIEVAL AU: Princess Bulma's home is attacked in the night by an unknown enemy. She flees to her homelands strongest ally, the country of Vegeta to beg the King for his army's aid, and finds an unexpected friend his his proud, gruff eldest Son Vegeta. VegeBul, Slow burn.
Cold was something Bulma wasn't used to, nor was it something she was overly fond of. It stung her flesh and made her bones ache. None of her southern, warm clothing was adequate for such weather - but she'd left in such a rush that she'd had no time to get a heavy cloak. The only thing she did have was the hooded house robe, made from lovely pale white fabric that sat around her shoulders like a cloud. A cold, heartless cloud.
"Princess, we should hurry," Lady Unus asked and touched her back lightly to get her attention. Her thick black gloves were cold against Bulma's bare shoulder blades.
"Yes, I just… It's been so long since I've seen anyone from this family- and I don't exactly have fond memories of the few times we did meet." She turned to look at her companion, a beautiful woman with shoulder-length blond hair, wearing heavily used full plate armor. While it was covered in dings, scuffs, and scratches, it was meticulously well cared for and shone in places where there was nothing to mar the surface. The armor hid her impressively muscled and curvy body, and her boots made her look a good three inches taller than Bulma, though they were the same height. She was a Knight, Bulma's bodyguard, and her best friend.
"I know, Princess. But you'll freeze out here if we don't hurry."
"Don't leave my side, okay?" She reached out for her friend's hand and squeezed it. Unus squeezed back, gently.
"How would you protect me if I did?" Unus asked and smiled reassuringly.
"Either go or come here," said Ember from behind them, his voice annoyed and dripping with longing to be near Bulma. She turned, and went to him, warming as soon as one flaming wing closed around her. He craned his neck to nuzzle her side while she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"I wish you could come," she said again, knowing full well how useless this conversation was.
"Princess, if you didn't know Ember, and you were at home in your castle, and an armored warrior approached on the back of a great, flaming, winged horse that looked like death on hooves wouldn't you attack first, and-"
"Yes, of course. We know why he's staying, I just-"
"She's cold, Unus. Why didn't you bring her a cloak?" Ember huffed.
"I was busy," she answered angrily. In fact, she had been busy. Fighting off attackers. She'd saved Bulma's life so many times just today.
"She saved my life, Ember. There was no time to pause, even for a cloak. Once I'm inside, I'll explain to them that you're my ally and friend. Then I'm sure they'll let you in."
"Alright. I'll just eat some rabbits or foxes while I wait. There seem to be a lot of them out and about in these woods." He turned his head to the side to examine the unmoving bushes.
"Ok. I'll be back soon." She kissed his cheek, right under his flickering red eye and followed Unus away from their little clearing, and towards the castle.
There was a large town between them in the woods and the castle of the Northern King, but since it was hours from sunrise, the two were sure they would be able to get through town without much in the way of hassle. While neither thought any of the common people of this town would recognize Bulma as the Princess of the Isle of Life, she was dressed oddly for the North, to top it off she was clearly a high class, wealthy woman. That made her a target for thieves and rapists.
But Unus, tall, armored, and armed at her side, was a good deterrent. Most petty thieves and rapists wouldn't risk death at the hands of a Knight to attack Bulma when there were so many easier targets. And, this was the King's City. Even as barbaric as the Northerners were, Bulma couldn't imagine too much crime went on with all the Knights and Guards running around.
"The cold will keep most people inside, but we need to hurry," Unus warned. "We're too vulnerable out here." So, they hurried. The main road into town went straight through it to the Castle's main gate, which gave Bulma hope of not being in the cold for too long.
They had to cross a long-frozen field to get to the road, and it was a relief to step on even stone after stumbling over rocks and uneven frozen earth. The city was dark except for the few torches along the roads and the occasional candle in a building's window. Most of the houses here were built from stone and wood, with pointed roofs, and thick wooden shutters to cover the windows in the cold- if they even had windows. Smoke drizzled out of most chimneys, making the air smell horrible, in Bulma's opinion.
The only sounds were of their footsteps, but mostly Unus's, as her armor clanged a bit with each movement. She had gotten good at keeping the clanging to a minimum, but if anyone was listening they would just think it was a guard.
Every so often they would hear a loud snore, or a cough coming from one of the homes. Most of the buildings along this main road were shops, with what looked like homes above them, and often Bulma would find herself turning to look at a window while a long, ragged cough filled the air.
"Princess!" Unus hissed and pulled Bulma along by the hand. She followed silently. The further into the town they got, the more coughing they could hear. Hardly a home seemed to have someone who wasn't coughing.
"Is this normal?" She asked Unus, not sure why she thought Unus would know more about the North than she did, neither of them had been here before. Unus shrugged, rather than speaking. So, they kept moving.
The road wound a bit as it led them to the castle, but the curves were wide and gentle, so a cart driver would be able to see around the bend. They had managed a steady pace until they heard voices ahead. Unus grabbed Bulma around the waist and pulled her into the nearest side road and pushed her flat against the side of the building. They listened for a moment to the voices.
"- she was all crying and pleading for a tip! Well, I told her that if she wanted a tip then she was gonna have to kiss mine if you know what I mean!" One voice said, and the other laughed. They could hear footsteps, and the drunken laughing, but no armor clanging. Not a guard.
Unus silently pulled Bulma down the much narrower side street, and out of earshot of the laughing men. Bulma knew Unus could take them. She could win in a fight against 10 normal men at once, but the noise of such a fight would only serve to wake up more people, and as guests seeking refuge with the King, the last thing they needed to do was leave a trail of bodies on their way in.
So, they tried working their way through the smaller roads towards the tall Castle looming in the night. Bulma and Unus were already exhausted from the 9-hour long flight on ember, and the cold wasn't doing much to keep either of them alert at this point. It was like the air was leaching the energy from them.
There was more coughing the further they got from the main road, and the further they got from the wealthy homes along it. More poor people meant more sick people. As they turned down a road that seemed to go in the same direction as the main road, they passed a house. It was twice the size of the usual house, though it was about half as clean, and twice as shabby looking as either of its neighbors. Inside was the sound of dozens and dozens of coughs. The shabby structure didn't even have window shutters, just thick curtains. Bulma stopped dead in her tracks as she looked at the sign over the door.
"Infirmary."
"Princess, no, we have to go."
Bulma ignored her, and went right up to the window, and pulled the curtain aside. The smell was so awful that she nearly vomited right then, but after a moment of holding her breath, she was able to choke it down and look past the curtain.
It was filled with people lying on cots, and stacked beds, so close to one another that many of them were bumping elbows. They were all bundled in blankets and coats and shivering against the icy night air.
A hand on her arm pulled her away from the window, but it was too late. She jerked her arm out of Unus's hand, "I'll only be a moment."
"Princess-"
"Trust me," she snapped, and quietly pulled the door open. There was a midwife sitting by the door at a little desk, her head lulled back, and eyes closed, a bucket of sick in her arms. Bulma looked her over, and carefully snuck past her. Her soft-soled shoes were quiet, and no floorboard creak was louder than the coughing that echoed around this place like a choir.
She made her way to the back, taking a second to look at each and every person before moving up the stairs to the 2nd floor. What she found left her cold.
Children.
So many children - even babies. Her heart ached as she crept upstairs eager to help. Eager to save them. She passed by each sleeping person, pausing just long enough to see their chest rise with breath, before moving on to the next, and the next. Then up to the third floor, and - this time, it was young women, sleeping in upright positions, and holding babies.
She did the same for them, this time waiting for each baby to make a noise or breathe, and each mother before moving on to the next. No one here was dead, it seemed.
But now, it was quiet. Very quiet as the coughing had stopped with each person she looked at. Sneaking out took much longer because now she had to be more aware of the floorboards. She wished she'd started at the top, but she hadn't thought of it. She'd been too zealous and hadn't thought ahead. She mentally berated herself until she was at the bottom of the steps.
But they all seemed to be sleeping very deeply from the snoring. When she finally got out of the infirmary, Unus was standing there, arms crossed, looking furious. But she didn't speak. "Trust me," Bulma whispered. Unus just sneered and grabbed her elbow to pull her along. But now that she'd started, Bulma couldn't stop. Every time she heard a cough she'd dart over to try and peak in the window. Sometimes, it was possible to pull the shutter open and get a look at the person coughing.
But as they got closer to the castle and the homes got nicer, they were harder to get too. Most of them had locked shutters or a fence around the house. Bulma ached to help them, but she couldn't risk her and Unus's lives by trying to break in. They were guests here, or at least they hoped to be guests.
They ended up taking a winding path to the castle. Often going down dead ends and finding some roads that just didn't connect with others. This town wasn't built on a grid system like they used in the Isle of Life, but Bulma could also see the genius of that. If one didn't take the main road, it would be impossible to get to the castle, and the main road, of course, would be heavily protected in case of invasion.
Why didn't the Isle of Life do the same? She wondered bitterly. Eventually, they found their way to the main road again. It was a wide enough road that they both felt very exposed walking down the center of the road, so they hugged the side all the way to the castle's gate. As they approached, the guards on either side of the gate stood up straight and watched them cautiously.
"Good - Good morning, I think?" Bulma chuckled, her voice a little cracked from the cold. "Please, pardon the suddenness of my appearance, but I am Princess Bulma, of the Isle of Life, and it's urgent I speak with King Vegeta."
The guards just stared at her. They looked between her, and Unus, and back to her. Her story was wild, but she definitely looked high class, though her dress was dirty and torn. They looked at one another, and then back to her.
"Really? The Princess of the Isle of Life? You expect us to believe-?" Bulma removed her hood and pulled her pale blue hair out from under the collar of her housecoat. That gave them pause. Stunned pause. Unus smirked and used their shocked moment to knock some dirt off the breast of her full plate to make the Brevis House coat of arms clearly visible. They didn't look away from Bulma though, not until Unus rapped a knuckle on her breastplate to get their attention. They looked at it and frowned. They were clearly torn. If they woke the king, and she was a fake they'd be punished, and if they didn't wake the king and she was real, they'd be punished.
Bulma smiled reassuringly.
"Is Sister Orache still in the castle? She was the Prince's nursemaid when they visited the Isle of Life eight years ago. She'd recognize me and then you wouldn't' have to bother a member of the royal family until you were sure of my credentials."
They exchanged another look.
"I know the Princes are all far too old for a Nursemaid anymore, but perhaps she's still-"
"She is. Er- Princess." They paused again, frightened of the wrath of their King. Each minute delayed, the cold seeped further into Bulma's bones and she felt as if she'd never be warm again.
Finally, the one on the right called to have the gate opened. Beyond, in the courtyard was another guard, this one huge.
"This woman claims to be Princess Bulma of the Isle of Life and -"
As the Guard got closer, Bulma could see his face. He was older and scarred from many battles - but she recognized him. He had been with the Royal Family when they visited. Bulma was so relieved, that she looked him over without meaning too. He paused mid-step and frowned as he stepped down on his left leg. He did a squat and kicked his left leg a few times frowning down at it. It looked foolish, but Bulma understood.
"Sir Nappa!" She did a curtsy that was a bit low for a Knight. He looked a bit surprised by her bow, but he returned the gesture.
"I remember her. Let's hope she doesn't have frostbite from standing around while you two idiots ogled at her," he said and tossed another look at his leg.
"Are you alright, Sir Nappa?" Bulma asked, frowning curiously at his leg as if she didn't understand what had happened.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, actually. I've had trouble with this knee for years and it suddenly stopped hurting - I wonder if I -?" He trailed off and shook his head. "Princess, my apologies. You must be freezing. Come with me. I'll have you wait someplace warm while I wake the king. I assume it's urgent if you're showing up on our door at this hour?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so." She tried not to think too much about what she had to tell the King, else she lose her resolve and start crying now.
"Very well. Follow me," He said and led Bulma and Unus into the Castle. It was a very intimidating castle - huge, and mostly polished stone. The only warmth and comfort it gave was from the odd tapestry and thick blood-red rug. They approached the Throne room, and for a moment Bulma thought he was going to leave her and Unus in the massive, cold hall to wait, but he took them past it, to a study nearby.
It was cold and dark in the study too. Bulma had so been hoping for a fire and heat. It was a room lined with books, with two plush chairs draped in animal furs. "I'll have a handmaid light you a fire and bring you something warm to eat and drink while I wake the King." He explained, seeing the touch of disappointment on her face at the dark room. He gestured to one of the other guards and pointed to the door. "You guard the Princess," he ordered.
"Yes, sir!" This guard was also rather tall and muscled with thick black hair. Nappa took a few candles from the desk and lit them off the torch in the hall and set them around the room. He then bowed and closed the door behind him.
Bulma lifted one of the many furs laying around off the chair and draped it over herself, while Unus stood tensely by the door.
"What's wrong?" Bulma asked.
"What you did - back there. And all these guards - they're all men here, did you notice? And they're huge. Do they make normal sized people up here?" She hissed and crossed her arms.
"I have a plan, Unus," Bulma explained. "And the guards here have no reason to attack us, and plenty of reasons not too. The Vegeta Royal family has always been our Ally, by marriage and blood. My Aunt married a Northern Prince, and she was very happy. They're tough, but honest people."
"I don't know if I could win in a battle with any of these men. How can I protect you from someone like Nappa, when his arm is almost longer than my whole body?"
"Do you think he could kill you in one hit? You? With that armor?" That gave Unus pause and she looked down angrily.
"What's your plan, anyway? Explain to me how that wasn't a stupid choice?"
"Just trust me." Bulma got up from the plush chair and went to slip into Unus's arms. She was clearly angry, but she didn't resist and held Bulma, careful not to hurt her with her armor.
"If you don't trust their honor, trust that their interests line up with ours. Trust their self-preservation. She lifted her head from Unus's shoulder and draped one of the furs around her shoulders. The blond smiled despite her mood.
"We can't do this here. It's not safe for as long as we're in the North." Bulma kissed Unus's cheek and left her arms reluctantly.
There was a knock at the door before it opened. A handmaid stepped inside, weighed down with logs. She bowed anyway and set to building a fire. Not long after she arrived, another handmaid came with a tray full of food, and two mugs of warm wine, and left it on the table for them. She didn't linger, and as soon as the fire was going the other one left too without so much as a word.
"Odd."
"I suspect normal, here," Bulma said, before eagerly going for the mug of warm wine and standing as close to the fire as she could get. Gods, she was cold. She was hungry too, but that could wait until she could feel her limbs again. The hot wine was some of the best she'd ever had. She'd never liked spiced hot wine much but maybe she just needed the cold to appreciate it.
While she sipped the wine and huddled by the fire she looked over the tray of food. It was almost all meat of some kind. Sausages, bacon, steak bites wrapped in pastry - all of it was pretty good, and she was so hungry that she didn't have a complaint in her mind. Unus seemed pleased too, as she ate her half of the plate and drank her wine by the fire.
Neither woman wanted to move from their warm spot. With full bellies, and a head full of wine Bulma was about ready to fall asleep when the door opened after a short knock. It was Sir Nappa again.
"Princess, I hope you're feeling a bit better now that you've eaten and warmed up. The king will see you now if you'll come with me." He stepped aside and gestured to the door. The last thing she wanted to do was leave the heat of this room, but she knew she must.
The hall felt colder than she'd been before once she stepped out into it and hugged her housecoat more tightly. She could hear Unus's little gasp at the frigid air from behind her as they followed Nappa the short walk down the corridor to the Throne Room.
The throne room was a tall, narrow room more like a hall that ended in a King than a proper room. The ceiling was painted with historical, bloody, horrible-looking battles. Beautiful huge fireplaces lined the room, but it was wide enough that the new fires had yet to spread to the middle where Bulma was walking with Unus to approach the King and his children.
The King's Throne sat in the middle, framed by three smaller thrones on either side. His was easily the largest, and most ornate. It seemed to be carved out of Ivory, but Bulma was too exhausted to care.
The king was sitting on his throne, wearing a thick cloak with a fur pelt for a collar. To his right was his eldest son, Vegeta, then third born, Raditz, and this fifth born Tarble. Then, to the king's left was his 2nd eldest son Goku, and his fourth born child and only daughter Fasha, beyond her, was an empty throne. Where was the queen?
Bulma remembered the sickness in town and, without turning her head as she approached, looked over each member of the royal family except Raditz and the guards around them. When she was close enough, but not too close to be rude, she did the lowest curtsy that was acceptable for a princess to do.
"Princess Bulma. Welcome. Nappa hasn't told me much, but I'm to assume since you've arrived in the middle of the night without a lick of proper Northern clothing that there is troubling news," The King said. His voice had become much gruffer than she recalled from her youth.
"Thank you for taking us in, your majesty." She bowed her head again for good measure and removed her hood. While her housecoat's hood was thin, it was something and her ears stung from the cold. She didn't know how to word the news to soften the blow but these were Northerners. All of them. They hated what they called fancy talk that muddled the truth. Good. Her mind was too muddled and exhausted to come up with a way to sugar coat the news. "Our Palace was attacked in the middle of the night. They all wore black masks and no sigils to speak of. It was so sudden - they used some sort of gas to kill everyone. Unus and I managed to fight our way through and find that my father-" her voice cracked. She'd not yet said these words out loud, or even really let herself think them. Tears leapt to her eyes. She blinked them away and looked up at the King. Beside him, his eldest son was whispering to a handmaid. A stab of anger pierced Bulma's mind. She was telling them that her father was dead, and he was asking for a snack or something? She tore her eyes away from the eldest son, who looked so much like his father that had the elder not had facial hair and smile lines around his eyes, she'd not have been able to tell them apart.
"They killed my father," She choked. "They killed almost everyone - it was a miracle we made it out at all."
"So, these nameless attackers have taken the castle?"
"And the capital. It looked like they had men swarming the place when we were fleeing."
"How did you escape?" He asked, leaning forward. She couldn't tell if he was curious or suspicious.
"I'm blessed to be companions with an incredible being. We call him Ember, and he's a winged horse of sorts. Intelligent as a person and able to speak. He's been a secret up until now because my father always wanted me to have a secret way to escape in the event of an attack, that no enemy knew about and would have thought to prepare for. He looks terribly wicked. Huge, black, and covered in flames that burn only those he wants it too - but he's a loyal companion and a good soul."
There was a long pause. The King shifted in his Throne a bit and stroked his chin.
"You flew here, on a wicked looking black horse covered in flames?" He clarified. "Over a thousand miles since this happened?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It happened last night."
"Which is why I've yet to hear word of this takeover, I'm sure?" He sounded skeptical, and she couldn't blame him.
"I can go fetch Ember now, as proof. He's waiting nearby. I just didn't want to ride him to your front gate because of his threatening appearance. My father is always -"
She stopped short at the mention of her father. No, her father "WAS". Not "is". He'll never be "is" again, and that thought broke her. She started shaking and cupped her hands over her mouth to keep the noise in - she must look terribly weak to these Northerners - she was so embarrassed, and her chest ached so much for her father that the tears spilled freely now.
Soon, her chest was heaving with sobs as she fell to the cold stone ground - no longer able to hold herself up any longer. Something heavy and soft landed over her shoulders out of nowhere and she looked up, confused to see Prince Vegeta crouching in front of her. He'd draped a thick fur-lined cloak over her shoulders.
"Father, perhaps we can speak with her further on the matter after she's had some sleep," he said. She looked up at him, and over his shoulder to the rest of his family, expecting to see boredom and distrust on their faces, but instead, she saw pity and sorrow.
"Of course." The King stood up and stepped down from his throne. "Nappa-"
"I'll take her to a guest chamber," The Prince said cutting his father off.
"Good. Use the pink room. Nappa, have a handmaid sent there to get a fire going."
"Already did, Your Majesty," he said with a little smile. When the King stared him down for a moment, a tiny smile playing at the corner of his lips, Nappa added: "It was obviously the only guest room you'd use for a southern princess, so I sent a few handmaids to get it ready for her right after she arrived." That made the King chuckle, and slap Nappa on the back. Nappa just grinned.
"The Pink room then," Prince Vegeta nodded and looked back down at Bulma, who'd managed to quiet her sobs. He looked her up and down, then without a word slipped both arms under her and lifted her. She felt so weak that she didn't mind. If he wanted to show off and act all manly, then she'd let him, and if he was doing it out of genuine kindness, then even better.
Tired as she was though, she couldn't stop thinking about the empty throne.
"Prince Vegeta?" She asked as he carried her down the long corridors, Unus close behind.
"Yes?"
"Where's Queen Gine? Is she well?" Bulma asked, frowning worriedly at him. He looked down at her, brow raised, and shook his head. That's the only answer she needed. Of course, the royal family understood her pain at losing her father, when they were about to lose a mother. That is if Bulma didn't find her first.
"Do you have good doctors here?"
"Yes."
A little panic flared in Bulma. What if she died tonight? She needed to see her - but she couldn't ask Vegeta. He'd never take someone who was basically a stranger to see his sick mother at this hour. So, she didn't. She let him carry her all the way to the west wing, and into a room that was completely out of place in this castle. It startled her, it was so different. She actually looked back over his shoulder to make sure they hadn't teleported to the south.
She understood at once why it was called the pink room. Unlike the rest of the castle, the walls weren't stone, but rather smooth wood painted a muted rose, with lovely white molding and a marble fireplace. Everything screamed comfort and elegance in ways the rest of this castle didn't.
"Wow," she said. "I take it this room was made special for southern dignitaries?"
"Yes, the only other room in the castle like it is my mother's. She loved the look of your castle in the Isle of Life, and wanted something similar for herself, and to make guests from the south more comfortable. The wood keeps it unbearably warm in here, though I expect you'll find it comfortable." He set her down just past the doorway and immediately stepped back over the threshold.
"Prince Vegeta?" She asked confused at his odd behavior.
"Sleep well, Princess. The handmaids will come fetch you in the morning. If you need anything in the meantime, pull that rope to ring for someone," he said gesturing to a rope on the wall by the bed.
"Thank you so much Prince Vegeta. This is lovely. Sleep well, and my apologies for disturbing you all at this hour." Bulma curtsied to him, and Unus bowed behind her.
"It's no problem. The early warning might well do us good. It's a shame about your father. He was a mighty king."
He was a good man, she thought. But she smiled as tears stung her eyes again. That was a high compliment up here.
"Lady," Vegeta said, turning to Unus. "I'll show you to the knight's quarters-"
"Your Highness." She bowed. "I will stay with my princess to protect her." That made Vegeta give them both an odd look.
"In the same room?"
"Yes."
"You plan on standing guard all night and not sleeping?"
"Yes."
"I'll have guards come stand by and protect her. You'll be of no help to her if you pass out from exhaustion."
"Your Highness, I am Lady Unus Octo, Knight of the Isle of Life and the Emerald City. It is my sworn oath to never leave the Princess's side in times of danger, and she has never been in more danger than she is now. To force me to leave would be to force me to break a sacred Oath."
"Prince Vegeta, it's really alright. She's been my protector for several years now. I trust her more than anyone."
"Alright," he shrugged. "I'll post a few guards at your door. Good night." He bowed and left.
As soon as he was gone, Unus closed the door and sagged against it. "That was close."
"It still might be. They'll probably just assume it's a southern thing. Let me help you with that." Bulma went to Unus' side and began helping her with the many straps that held her full plate on. Both women were in need of a washing, but both were too exhausted.
Bulma barred the door with the large wooden plank mounted on the wall, and the two fell asleep in the beautiful four poster bed at once.
Unfortunately, stress wouldn't let Bulma sleep long. She woke up a bit later, how much later she couldn't say. It was still night, but night lasted so long here she wouldn't have been surprised if it was actually morning. Regardless, she slipped out of bed and pulled her dirty housecoat back on over her filthy night dress. Thank god she'd worn the floor length one that night. She usually slept in things with far less coverage.
Unus was still sleeping, so Bulma crept out of the room on her tiptoes. The guards turned to her;
"Princess? Can we help you?" One asked. He had more stars on his shoulders, so she assumed he was the higher rank.
"No, thank you." The less she said the better. Any explanation could be answered with the guards saying they'd have someone come to the pink room for her, and she didn't want that. She wanted to be alone just long enough to find the queen. No easy feat, for sure.
The castle's layout was as confusing as the cities had been. She tried door after door after door until she found what she'd been hoping for. A linen closet with servant's clothes. She slipped inside and found a handmaid's garb that would fit her, put it on, covered her hair in a bonnet and slapped a good bit of dirt on her face to hide who she was.
Now disguised, she left the closet and continued her search. It was impossible. She'd been out of her room for nearly an hour now and she was sure Unus would notice her absence and wake up soon. She was about to turn back when she found the currently empty dining hall. Nearby had to be a kitchen with more maids.
She tried the server's door to the side and found a bustling kitchen full of people preparing for breakfast.
"What are you doing?" Another maid barked. "You're not stationed in the kitchen-"
"It's urgent, a guard told me to fetch the Queen some warm water and tea. You know how they are, not a single care that I'm not stationed here," she lied easily. She'd worry later about how easy the lies came now.
The other handmaid, a dark-haired woman with arms thicker than Bulma's by half, sneered and nodded. She fetched some tea and handed it to her.
"Kota!" She barked, and another handmaid sprang from the chaos, her arms twice as thick as Bulma's.
"Get a bucket of hot water for the queen and take it to her with this one. Hurry!"
The burly woman nodded and fetched a large wooden bucket and got it filled by a chef from a tea kettle. Then, they were off. This other handmaid seemed to know the way, almost running as she rushed up the twisting, winding corridor of the castle until they were climbing up a spiral staircase to a tall tower.
Bulma struggled to keep up, even though this woman had a bucket of hot water she was much faster up the stairs. Eventually, she caught up to her at the top. Six guards were standing by.
They barely paid them a glance as the burly woman slowly opened the door and looked inside. She turned to frown at Bulma, who just shrugged like she didn't know what was going on.
"They are sleeping!" She hissed. "Who told you to come up here?"
"A guard. Insisted the queen needed tea and hot water. Is she really asleep?" Bulma craned her next to get a look over the woman's shoulder. She could just make out lumps that had to be the queen. The King wasn't in sight. If she was sick, they probably kept them apart.
"I'll leave her the tea then," Bulma hissed and slipped past the burly woman to creep around the massive four-poster bed, and across the thick, lavish rugs to set the tea by the fire, where it would stay warm. While she was there, she stoked the fire a bit. She turned and looked at the sleeping queen. She was covered in blankets and seemed to have a cold sweat - but as soon as Bulma looked at her, the wheezing left her chest, and her breathing quieted to what was normal.
The Burly woman gestured angrily at her to hurry up, so she crept across the room and out the door. Once they were down the stairs, she turned and slapped Bulma on the shoulder, hard enough to knock her into the wall.
"What were you thinking, new girl? You believed that guard? You think he'd ask a newbie like you to deliver anything to the queen?"
"You believed me!"
"I did until I saw she was still sleeping! Now she's gonna wake up-"
"To a warm room and a warm cup of tea! I won't be so trusting from now on, thanks," she spat bitterly and stormed off, leaving the strong woman to lug the bucket of water back to the kitchens.
But she wasn't mad. She was pleased that she'd managed to sneak into the queen's room. Her feeling of accomplishment didn't last long, though. Eventually, she gave up trying to find her way back to the Pink Room and dipped into a closet to shed the handmaid's clothes and put her old dirty ones back on. Now she only needed to ask a guard to escort her back to the Pink Room.
She was back in bed next to a still sleeping Unus in no time.