(Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! Reviews are appreciated!)
Arianna gasped, her jaw dropping. Her stomach churned, as she felt slightly nauseous from looking at the tube.
Idunn began to breathe faster, panicking at the sight of her dislodged chest tube.
"No no, my love. Calm down. I'm going to get help-no, not I'm not! I'm not leaving you!" Arianna reached up and ran the emergency bell next to Idunn's bed.
Inside the dining room, Harold groaned, taking a bite of his second sandwich. "Talk about needy patients."He grumbled and raced off to the infirmary.
Arianna tried to calm her sister down. "Look, I'm a snake!" She waved the chest tube around.
Idunn began to cry. Not just in pain, but in fear.
Harold bolted into the room, followed by Nurse Violetta. She was very loyal to the doctor, and she just happened to be his wife. Harold picked up the tube.
"How on earth did this happen?! I just fixed it up when I brought the IV bags!" Harold groaned
Both queens remained silent.
"So? Tell me!" Harold demanded
"Tickle treatment." Arianna muttered.
"Huh?" Harold gave his wife a bewildered look.
"Perhaps they were tickling each other, Doctor." Violetta said.
Idunn nodded and tried to smile. She squeezed Arianna's hand as Harold pulled on gloves. He began feeding the tube through the small hole in Idunn's chest. Idunn looked away. Nurse Violetta held the other end of the tube firmly to ensure there was no spillage. She secured the tube in Idunn's chest with a strip of medical tape. Arianna breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you." Arianna said. "And Harold, you're still holding your sandwich."
"Gross!" Harold exclaimed. "Germs!" He dropped the sandwich into a nearby bin, along with his gloves.
Violetta laughed. "Go wash your hands, and I'll make you a new one."
Harold kissed her head.
"Don't touch me, I'm STERILE!" Violetta laughed.
"Is there anything else you need, before I go eat a new sandwich?" Harold sighed.
"We could use another pillow…and she can't reach her call bell…and are you sure her IV is full? Is it inserted properly? How long will she need the chest tube in? Can we take off her bandages?" Arianna asked.
Harold groaned in frustration, but it sounded more like a llama crossed with a sheep.
Idunn hid behind the blanket to stop herself from giggling.
"I….I….ARGH! Just repeat the questions….one at a time. Gosh, I am so HUNGRY!" Harold groaned.
"Just go to the kitchen, I'll sort out the patient. You've worked hard." Violetta said.
Harold's stomach grumbled in agreement.
"Besides, your stomach just agreed with me." Violetta laughed.
Harold went off to the sink to wash his hands. He made sure to take his stethoscope with him- no more funny business.
"Forgive him, he's just stressed." Nurse Violetta smiled. "I'll fetch everything you need. For the moment, everything seems to be working properly. And remember, the best medicine is laughter and rest. However, Queen Arianna, lay off the tickle treatments until she has recovered enough for us to remove the chest tube."
"Right….my apologises." Arianna blushed.
Violetta fetched another pillow and fluffed up the one Idunn already had. She lifted up the blanket to change the bandages on Idunn's arms and legs. Arianna leaned forward to watch her.
Violetta unwrapped the bandage on Idunn's left arm. The skin surrounding it was red, and dried blood could be seen deep inside the skin.
Arianna gasped with horror. "Was that there when she was brought in?" She asked.
"Yes. We bandaged it as soon as we put her on the gurney." Violetta replied
"Don't look, my love. Look at me." Arianna said. She pushed Idunn's cheek gently towards her face and kissed it.
Idunn winced as Violetta disinfected the wound, and the others. She used fresh bandages on the wounds and pulled the blanket back on Idunn.
"That should do it." Violetta smiled. She curtsied before leaving the room.
"YOU ARE WHAT?!" King Frederic suddenly roared from the throne room.
Idunn panicked for Rapunzel's sake. "Fetch Frederic now! Go!" Idunn said to Arianna.
"And leave you alone, but-" Arianna was interrupted by a sobbing Rapunzel. She ran right past Arianna and collapsed sobbing in Idunn's arms.
Arianna looked on. Her face burned with hidden envy. She tried to look on sympathetically, but she had no idea why her daughter was trusting an aunt she barely knew.
"You know what, Rapunzel, I'm not even going to bother standing here. You never ask me for my advice anymore! You're my daughter, for goodness sake! Who are you going to ask when you give birth, Mother Gothel?!" Arianna suddenly gasped. She knew she had crossed the line. Rapunzel buried her head in Idunn's chest. She couldn't bare to look at her mother.
"Ari….perhaps you should get some air. You've been here a while." Idunn said gently.
Arianna walked out of the infirmary, tears pouring down her cheeks, heading to the throne room.
King Frederic was sitting in the throne room, on the throne with his hand on his temple with his eyes closed. Arianna stepped into the room, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.
Upon seeing his wife, Frederic stood up immediately.
"My darling!" Frederic gasped. "Are you alright? Did something happen to Idunn?"
Arianna shook her head. She sniffed. Frederic gently wiped her tears with his thumb.
"I lost my temper. I went too far. I was jealous…I just want Rapunzel to know that she can come to me. We lost her for eighteen years…and all I want is her trust. I want the best for Idunn, but I want the best for our daughter too."
Frederic kissed her lips gently. "My love, these few days since Idunn's arrival have been almost as hard for you as when we lost our daughter those many years ago. Her pregnancy has been quite as shock, as have Idunn's injuries. All we can do is remain as strong as we can for those who are most vulnerable. I love you, and you are magnificent to me as you are a magnificent queen. Idunn knows you well. She will forgive you."
Arianna smiled happily. "You always know what to say."
"Come. We'll have tea on the gazebo outside. You need some air. As do I." Frederic kissed her head.
(That's it for this chapter! Thanks for reading! Can you guess what Rapunzel and Idunn will do together next? Hint: Rapunzel mentioned it in a previous chapter!)
