Part II: Requiem for a Prince

When Humperdinck opened his eyes, he saw, above him, wooden beams, the like of which you would find in a farmer's cottage. He was lying on a pallet on the floor. His Florin 'commandair's uniform' was gone, and he wore instead a simple white tunic and fawn-colored trousers and boots. There was only one other person in the room - a brunette girl, wearing a near ankle-length red dress that slipped off her shoulders. "Excuse me, miss."

"Oh!" She started a little. "You're awake."

"Indeed..."

"Yes, well. I prepared this place in the attic for you. It's not much, but..."

"I don't understand. How did you find me?"

"I was returning from selling fruits in the village", she said. "I passed by the bottom of the hill to the east, and found you lying there, with ghastly bleeding wounds in your forehead and your arm." Oh. So that's why I have this splitting headache. And how...how did I injure my arm... Then it hit him. Buttercup. Guilder. Montoya. Right. The prince slowly pulled back the sleeve of his tunic, revealing the bloodstained bandages underneath. Montoya's sword had pierced his arm just above the elbow, splitting a couple of veins - that was why it bled so much - and partially shattering the bone. The girl had apparently washed and dressed the wounds and set the bone as best she could, but the pain was still excruciating... "What's your name?" The sudden question startled Humperdinck. I'd best not tell her who I truly am. She very well may decide to turn me over to the Guilder officials, who would doubtless hold me for ransom from my country.

"It's...Valdin. My name's Valdin."

"Valdin. Good solid name, I like that name. Mine's Requiem."

"Do you live here alone, Requiem? How old are you?"

"I'm eighteen, and yes I live here alone. My father died last winter."

"And your mother?"

"Never knew my mother."

"Oh."

"How did you end up where I found you, Valdin? Lying at the bottom of Gall's Hill with your head split open, and what looks like a sword wound in your arm?" Humperdinck had not been prepared to answer that question.

"Ah...a small brush with...with Florin soldiers."

"Florin soldiers? But you wore one of their uniforms."

"I ah...I'm...really a warrior of Guilder. They sent me undercover to investigate something, but the Florin soldiers found me out and chased me."

"That's thrilling! Did you hear anything about the kidnapping of the Florish Princess Buttercup? They're trying to blame it on Guilder! Imagine it!"

"Simply shocking." If she only knew.

"And I suppose you'll be returning to wherever-it-is-you-live?"

"Eventually. With your permission though, I'd like to stay here while I'm recovering. It should be...good for me."

"Of course! Stay as long as you like, I don't usually have guests anyway."

"That would be wonderful." He smiled at her. "Requiem."

The days rolled by. As Humperdinck got better, he began to assist Requiem with her garden, helping her move loads of plants to the village nearby - which had no name, it was simply called 'the village' by everyone who lived there - and showing her fruit-growing techniques he remembered his mother demonstrating when he was young. Requiem was lively and chatty and told him stories of her growing-up days. Humperdinck, naturally, told no stories, as he didn't want the bother of making them up. He simply sat and listened to her stories, and tried to think how to get back to Florin, before he was found. Already he was getting suspicious glances from people in the village marketplace. Have they recognized me?

He finally managed to get a letter out to Yellin, reading,

Dear my friend,

I have to confess that my mission to track down Roberts and Buttercup has failed. I am trapped in Guilder, staying at the house of a simple farm girl named Requiem. I will not ask for your assistance, as I fear a military presence would merely draw attention to me, and I fear I have already been noticed. I will manage somehow. Be sure the country is properly run during my absence, and that my father's health is seen to, and that, should I never return, a suitable heir to my throne is chosen. Yes, I know it must be a lot, but you know what I used to tell you - try ruling the world someday!

Yours,

Prince H.

"Val-din! Where are you?"

"Composing a letter! In the attic!"

"You don't write letters."

"I have friends, Requiem."

"Sure, sure. Can you help me now? I have to get these to market before sundown."

"Of course. By some chance, is there a postal station in the village?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

In the marketplace, as he was sending out his letter, Humperdinck was approached by a strange man. "Do I know you?", the man said.

"No. You do not."

"Really?"

"Really!" Humperdinck ran off, shaken. I'd better not go into the village anymore.

As the days went by, as fall finally faded into winter, Humperdinck continued to stay with Requiem. He began to find, as time passed, revenge was less and less important to him. Occasionally he thought about Count Rugen, about finding his murderer and bringing him to justice, but even those thoughts soon seemed to fall from his mind. What's the point. After being born and raised wielding enormous power in the land as heir to the throne, he was enjoying the simple life. "Valdin", Requiem asked him one day, "have you ever wondered what it would be like to be king? After all, you were named for one." Humperdinck couldn't help but smile. If only she knew who she was talking to.

"Well...no, Requiem, I can honestly say I have never wondered."