"Barechild went to the ball?"
"Yes my dear, she did. She went to the last day of the ball. But the prince knew nothing about it. He knew Barechild had been locked away in her room for the last two nights as his mother had told him. And he thought the last night would be the same.
But as the party continued and as the ballroom filled with women in all colours of the world, with them smiling and laughing and flapping their fans… his eyes caught one who wasn't smiling. One who wasn't laughing and one whose face was twisted with pain.
And he saw her eyes, the forest inside them and the mad painful dancing in them. Without a second hesitation he hurried over to them and held her tight. "Barechild, you shouldn't be here."
That was when he noticed what she was wearing.
Not her bear cape but an amazing white gown with blue ribbons at the front and roses in her hair. But as amazing as she looked, her face was only just holding back the pain she was in, her body shaking as he held her.
Of course, the prince knew why she was doing this. It was his birthday and pain or no pain she wanted to be there with him. That was why she was dressed up. That was why she was in agony.
So he sighed and bowed to her. "One dance then you go back to your room." He whispered, taking her hand.
Barechild nodded weakly and almost stumbled her way to the dance floor. She wasn't as graceful as she had been in the hallway, her pain making her loose count or miss a step but the prince kept her tight and granted her wish. He danced with her, with everyone watching and showed them how beautiful she was.
But as the dance ended, Barechild let out a cry of pain and collapsed, unconscious. The whole room hurried to help but the prince was the only one who knew how to help her.
He picked her up off the floor and carried her to his room where he tore off the dress and let her sleep while he returned to the party only to explain what had happened and where he was going.
So he went back to his little Barechild, locked the door, undressed himself and slipped into bed beside her. He held her so tight that night that not one part of his body wasn't pressed against hers. And since she was naked and he was naked, it was quite an interesting night.
