Chapter 11: Hope, Worry, and Anger

"No, Ariel, really. I'm fine," Eric told his wife for the fifth time. Stuck to bed rest, he was sitting upright in bed, back against the stacks of pillows behind him with Ariel's hand pressed against his forehead. He pushed it away. "The poison is out of my system, so the fever is gone."

She frowned. "But what if it comes back!"

"That's impossible. It can't come back unless I eat those leave again, and I'm definitely never doing that again now that I know what they look like," Eric told her.

"I know," Ariel sighed, knowing she was being a little paranoid. This wasn't like an illness that could suddenly get worse again. Still, nothing could rid her of the shaky feeling that now overtook her. "But, you do know that poison isn't the only method someone can use to kill you, right?"

Eric pointed towards the door. "There are guards stationed out there day and night."

"I'm sorry. Did you not read the newspaper this morning? Someone tried to kill the king!"

He watched as she moved her legs out from under her to stretch them out across the bed and leaned back against the pillows next to him. Weakly, he lifted his arm and placed it around her. "I know, and I have faith in my men that they will find who did this."

Ariel shook her head, on the verge of tears. "But we had the whole castle on lockdown and ruled out everyone."

There was no doubt that Eric was disappointed about that no one had been apprehended yet, but more than disappointment, he felt worried for his life. He knew how Ariel felt. Still, despite the possibility of being attacked again edging at his nerves, he wanted to do whatever he could to ease her fears.

"The person probably escaped before we knew I was poisoned and before the lockdown. The lockdown was more to just collect information. They'll piece it together soon enough and figure out who did this," he explained. "Just give them some time."

"But no one saw anyone of interest leave during that time frame, and no one saw anyone around the food who shouldn't be. There seems to be no lead to find the person who hurt you," Ariel said. While determined to catch whoever tried to kill her husband, she felt as though there might just be no hope in finding them.

Sensing her distress, using the arm Eric had wrapper around her, he began to gently rub her arm to comfort her. "The guards are smart. They figure things out you might think are impossible," he reassured.

Somehow, he doubted his words. Perhaps it was because he wasn't fully briefed on everything they knew so far. He wondered how much Ariel knew, but he wasn't about to press it out of her and make her worry more, so he was glad when she changed the topic and relaxed a bit.

"I told Sofie to bring up some soup for you."

"I'm not hungry," Eric responded. He didn't feel as bad as he did the night before, but considering it was food that made him sick, the thought of eating still made his stomach upset.

"I know," Ariel sighed. "I saw how you only ate half that piece of toast this morning, but you need to get your strength back."

He shrugged, knowing he did want his strength back. "I guess I can try."

"Oh, you will," Ariel said. "Carlotta's coming up to make sure of that."

Eric's head fell back against the pillows. "You're really using Carlotta on me?"

"In times like these, extreme measures must be taken."

After just a few moments, there was a knock on the door and in came Sofie and Carlotta. The latter had the chicken broth and bread she was going to make Eric eat, and Sofie carried a small meal for Ariel since she didn't want to leave her husband's side.

Carlotta sat the tray of food on Eric's lap. "You and I both know that if you want to get out of this bed, you have to eat," she said, handing him a spoon for the soup.

Eric took the spoon and hesitantly ate a spoonful, practically forcing himself to swallow. "I know."

"Oh, I'm just so glad you're safe," Carlotta said, brushing a hand through his disheveled hair. She truly didn't know what she would do if her boy died, and she knew that poor Ariel would be more devastated than ever, which would be a terrible sight.

After swallowing his first spoonful, Eric place the spoon back down on the tray. "Believe me, I am, too."

Ariel picked the spoon up and placed it back into his hand. "But you are alive and now you only have to get your strength back," she coaxed before motioning to Sofie to set her food over on a table. She would eat after she saw that Eric had.

Sofie did as told. "Will that be all?" she asked, instead of suggesting other tasks for the queen to give her. She simply wished to get out of the same room as the king. He might appear weak, but Sofie knew that it could be a ploy.

"That will be all," Ariel confirmed. "Please, come back in an hour."

The lady's maid nodded before leaving. She wasn't sure where she was going as she took off down the hall. She only knew that she wanted to strangle someone or punch them in the face. Seeing them all, doting on such a demon as if he was an angel, only made her angrier that she had not succeeded in her task.

As she turned the corner, she bumped another maid rounding the corner. Sofie made no attempt to move out of the way and neither did the other maid, so Sofie let her shoulder shove into the maid's shoulder, causing her to drop whatever was in her arms.

Sofie found herself at her room. The seclusion was the only thing she wanted at that moment. After slamming the door shut behind her, she forcefully knocked a book that sat on her nightstand onto the floor. She had tried reading it a few nights ago, but it was about a girl who had all her wishes come true. Immediately after knocking the book down, she regretted it once she saw that it had taken a vase of flowers down, too, which now laid as shattered pieces on the floor. Now she would have to clean that up. That was why Sofie rarely acted out in anger.

However, she sat down on the floor, crossing her arms with a frustrated sigh. Sofie knew that the next few days were not going to be in her favor.

But pouting about it was not going to do anything. She had work to do.