Here is Chapter 13! I'm sorry it's a little shorter than normal. BUT! Only one more chapter left until the flashback with the ring? Who is excited for it! Anyways, onto the chapter!
The next morning, Arianna woke up with a headache. Groaning she realized that this was why she never really drank. She then remembered what had happened with her and Bash and realized that this, too, was a good reason not to drink. Getting up, Arianna made her way to see the girls, wanting to check and see if Mary was okay. Going into the hallway, she realized that she was not alone in her destination. Lola, Kenna and Aylee were making their way to the other two as well.
"Morning!" all the girls said joining Mary and Greer.
"I guess I should send down for breakfast then." Mary said about to get up when Greer shot of the bed.
"No let me!" she said, quickly dressing and going down to the kitchen.
"What's gotten into her?" Lola asked.
"Who knows? What I want to know though is what got into Arianna last night. Or maybe who." Kenna said, turning to face Arianna who had taken up a spot on the bed.
"What are you talking about?" Aylee asked, sitting in the chair at the foot of the bed, Lola sitting beside her and Kenna taking the spot across from Mary on the bed.
"Arianna went on a little drunken moonlit stroll with Sebastian last night." Kenna said, watching Arianna blush deeply.
"What? Do tell us!" Mary said, wanting all the details.
"Nothing happened at all." Arianna said, trying to get out of talking about it.
"Don't you try to get out of this one! Tell us!" Lola urged.
"Alright, alright." Arianna surrendered. "We just went for a walk. Kenna shouldn't of let me go alone if she knew I was so drunk though! I really should not have done that."
"Oh why not? You love him, don't you?" Aylee questioned.
"Well, yes, but—"
"No buts! If you love him then just be with him!" Mary said.
"That's easier said than done, and you know that. But honestly, nothing happened. Something might have but Francis came up and sent Bash off to get word out to the six companies for Scotland." Arianna pouted.
"It's looks as if someone is not happy about that." Lola pointed out.
"Well maybe a little disappointed that nothing happened. But it's a good thing nothing did! I can't control myself around him and I need to start being smarter about all of this. If I'm to be queen of Hungary soon, I need to start using my head instead of following my heart." Arianna said rather sadly.
All the girls just frowned at this statement, not knowing how to help her. After eating breakfast, all the girls got dressed and went their separate ways for the day. Arianna was starting to worry about Sebastian, hoping that he would return to her safe. Sure, she had let him in on her feelings last night but she had seen his symbolized around his neck. He did still care for her just as she did for him. However, this made her decision to keep her distance even harder. As she was walking outside, she noticed Sebastian's horse riding up to the castle. What sparked her interest though was not his horse but the lack of Sebastian on said horse.
Arianna ran up to the horse, seeing a guard doing the same thing, only to find Sebastian folded over on his horse, blood flowing from his side. At the sight of all the blood, Arianna froze. She started to take short, fast breaths, not sure she could handle this, handle losing him. Hearing shouting, Arianna snapped out of this and helped the guard take Bash to Nostradamus' chambers, causing quiet a commotion when they entered the castle. Once in the castle, another guard took her place, helping carry Bash and Francis and Mary followed her to the seer's chambers. Catherine was right behind them, Henry joining not long after.
"How is he?" the king demanded.
"He's gravely injured. I can tend to the wounds, ease his pain but I make no guarantees." Nostradamus said, trying to clean the afflicted area.
Arianna quickly kneeled down by Bash's side but couldn't stop looking at all the blood. It was everywhere, covering his whole side and his hands. That's when she looked down at her hands and saw all of this blood on hers. She started to hyperventilate again, but then Bash spoke, causing her breathing to stop altogether.
"Father…" Bash began, sounding so weak. "The English, rode out from Calais to face us. We never made it to the ships. It was a slaughter."
"He shouldn't be talking. I'll give him a potion, put him to sleep. Clear the room, it's the best thing for him." Nostradamus said, pouring a small vile of liquid into Bash's mouth.
Francis knelt down by Bash's head. "Bash I'm so sorry."
Everyone decided to clear the room except for Arianna. She stayed seated on the floor by Bash. Nostradamus looked at her questioningly.
"Your Grace, he needs his rest." Nostradamus started.
"Nostradamus, I have a question." Arianna cut off, her voice having no emotion.
"Yes, your highness?"
"Did Sebastian ever leave my side while I was in here?" she asked.
Nostradamus knew where this was headed. "No, your grace. He did not. Not until you woke up and you saw him leave yourself. Not matter how much I urged him to get some decent rest himself and get cleaned up, he never left your side."
"Then I'm sure you know what I'm about to say." Arianna started. "I'm not going to leave his side until he wakes up. I cannot bear to lose someone else I love. I will stay here, no matter what. Please do not make me leave."
Nostradamus stared at Arianna, knowing full well that he couldn't demand her to leave but yet here was this princess asking his permission for something. Seeing the devastation and the defeat on her face, Nostradamus nodded, saying she could stay with him.
Arianna breathed a sigh of relief. "You may stay. But if you insist on it, I must ask that you help clean him up. He is losing blood and is covered in it." Nostradamus said, handing Arianna a wet towel.
"Yes, of course. I will help with anything I can for him. Thank you, Nostradamus. And thank you for taking care of me when I was here." Arianna said as she took the towel and began cleaning part of Bash's stomach and his hand.
"Bash, please do not die on me. Please…" Arianna slightly pleaded with his unconscious form.