Chapter Twenty-Five: The Coward

"Eva?" A voice reached me from outside. "Eva," the voice said again.

Light exploded through my eyelids. I willed my eyes to open. Blinking back the glow of sunlight, I rubbed my eyes and leisurely observed the room, in which I was lying in.

The room was long and white lined with many, many beds. There was a great window at the end of the room facing east and it was when I saw the nursing tools on my bedside table that I comprehended I was in the hospital ward in Thomas's castle. I was the only patient in there. Then I saw the hand that was lying on my own and the figure sitting beside me. I braced my hands on the mattress and pushed myself up into a sitting position.

Seated in a small chair, gazing at me with concern and anticipation was Thomas. I didn't know what to do. After such an occurrence, how I should react?

Thomas smiled at me when I met his eyes. "You're awake!"

I nodded smiling slightly, not finding the right words to say.

Thomas on the other hand, was not having trouble finding words. "What happened at the castle? Why did you faint? You scared me half to death. I had to carry you back home where as you can see, the royal physicians have been taking care of you.

He stopped for a second and then asked quietly, "Did you really mean what you said when I asked you to marry me?"

Before I could reply, a woman wearing a white dress bustled in and said to Thomas, "Your Highness, you'll have to leave now. The girl has gone through a nightmare and you must let her regain her strength. You can visit later." She walked to my bed as Thomas got up, and giving me one last glance, he left.

"How are you feeling?" she inquired once the door closed.

I shrugged. "Better. But I'm still a little weary."

"Well, you would be," the nurse, said in consequence. "You'll have to stay the night. By tomorrow, you'll be well recovered and I'll let you be on your way.

"What made you fall unconscious? The prince said you two were talking and then you turned pale and were having trouble speaking. The next thing he knew you were out cold."

I recalled the events that had occurred that morning and said, "I'm not sure. Perhaps I haven't been drinking enough fluids. I might've been dehydrated."

"That could be," the nurse said, a tone of disconnected doubt etched in her words.

"Where's Meta?" I asked out of the blue.

"Who?"

"My horse," I said.

"She was taken to the stables when you and the prince arrived. Now lie back down and get some rest. I'll come and see you at dinner."

The woman left my side and I slid back under the covers. As I lay there, I wondered what I was going to do. I couldn't stay until morning though, I knew that much. Ethel would surely be wary and question where I'd gone. I would have to leave when everyone was sleeping. I could sneak out and no one would know awaiting dawn.

After the nurse gave me dinner around seven o' clock (a delicious meal of baked potato, green beans, and black bread,) she let me rest again an hour later. Though, it was not sleep I was reaching for, it was my shoes. I pulled them over my feet and stumbled out of bed.

I crossed the room, my pallid nightgown trailing on the ground. Creeping out into the corridor, I looked either way and when all was clear; I made my way around the corner. That was when I heard the footsteps.

I stopped just on the other side of the hallway to catch my breath. The person tried the handle to the hospital ward and went inside, and I leaned over the side to get a glimpse of whom it was. Of course. Thomas. I had scared him and he must still be worried for me. I turned away and ran to the great hall, up the marble staircase, and into the cool, hazy night that was waiting for me outside.

I hurried through the courtyard and over to the stables. I felt odd and it was as though I was being watched. I looked behind me. There was no one there. I shrugged my shoulders indifferently and was about to turn back when something above me caught my eye.

Maybe it was the haze or the fact that I was still slightly dazed of fatigue or perhaps it was my imagination, but from a large window in the castle, I saw a silhouette watching me from the hospital ward.

I saddled Meta and afterward, guided her out of the castle grounds and into the town of Adriel. Fog had settled over the land, concealing the roads and paths from and throughout town. The moon was bright and full and I saw a silver ring around it. Something unnerving about it all made the hair on my arms stand on end. I goaded Meta to ride quicker.

I lay on my bed in my ordinary tattered dress and tried to concentrate. What I had told him was a horrible lie. But I knew that it had worked and Thomas was no longer in love with me.

I lied to him and my heart so that he and I would be free. And my leaving the royal castle in the middle of the night? My actions revealed that I was nothing but a coward, unable and unwilling to face Thomas and speak the truth. I had breached the curse and my gift. However, I felt miserable. How had I let myself fall in love with a man who had been cursed?

Even though it was done, wouldn't he want to know the reasons for my falsehoods? Or would it be better if I didn't say anything to him at all? I fell into a deep pool of hopelessness, feeling washed out and heartbroken.

I was reminded of Artemis just then. She had lost a dear friend because of her careless actions and so had I. Thomas had been more than a friend though. He had been my companion, the one I confided in. And I loved him.

That morning thunderclouds rolled over the manor. The day became dreary as rain speckled my window. It was soft at first, coming down slowly until lightning flashed somewhere in the heavens, and the rain began pounding to the ground and beating on my windowpane. Thunder growled and lightning crashed. How lovely that day could've been. And now the sun had no chance of lifting my spirits.

This was the worst thing, by far, that I'd ever done in my entire life. I felt guilty and I was filled with despair and misery. Deep inside, I knew it was the best thing I could've done for him; to free him from me and from the curse which he had unwittingly fallen upon. But all the same, it still hurt.

My deed was done and there was no need for him to ever see me again. To him I was going to be married, and to him I was merciless and callous.

Thomas should never learn of the reason and true intention of my lie. All he knew was that I enticed him into a snare of love and did not return the same feelings. Once I shared his joys, his laughter, and now I shared his grief.

But he knew nothing of that. I supposed that's how it should be.

A Note From Me: A huge thank you to winterprincess, Grace, jeccabelle, Lovewriting12 and Sabrinataylor55555 for your thoughtful comments and reviews! And a thank you to those who are still reading and continue to enjoy the story! It means a lot to me, thank you! I wanted to apologize for such a late update. School started up again after the winter break and I got busy. But now I'm back thanks to my reviewers and readers who keep me going! For my lateness, I have uploaded the next chapter. :)