Chapter 4
A/N: I apologize a million times! I didn't mean to abandon this story. Honest! Thanks for the reviews everyone, and I hope this chapter isn't as bad as I think it is.
The night was slowly edging its way through the sky. A few of her ladies were gossiping and whispering as Boq waited outside the door. How long could it take to check an arm? Was she doing alright? And why did these ladies staring at him?
Minutes passed and soon young boys were running up and down the halls lighting candles. Still, he had to listen to the chattering chicks. At sudden notice, a pretty redhead with a light blue dress cockily walked up to him.
"So…I've heard thing," She paused to look back at her friends and giggle, "Very intriguing things…are they true, Master Boq?"
"I'm not sure what you've heard miss…?" He did not look at her.
"Mirabelle." She giggled.
"Miss Mirabelle, I'm not sure what you've heard, but whatever it is, I'm sure it is not true."
For a moment the young lady pouted, then with her head held high and one hand resting on her hip, she came closer. So closer he could he could feel her breath on his ear. And with a low, seductive voice, she spoke again.
"I think the rumors are true, Master Boq," She cooed, "But if you object, then show me yourself."
"Mirabelle!" A taller, stouter one called, "Don't be like that!"
She laughed and ran back to her group. While the outspoken one shamed her, the other two praised her and acted like love struck children. Mirabelle playfully winked at him once more, then continued her giggling. What rumor in Oz's name could they be talking about?
Oh no! Has word gotten out about him and Nessa? Had his sin been unleashed onto the spying public? What would he do? What would his dear old mother say? Oh, sweet Oz, this could not end well.
To save himself from his thoughts, hastily rapped three times on Nessa's bedchamber door. A well dressed older gentleman with a long moustache offered his hand in a polite greeting, and then let him in. Lying on the bed was poor, now twice crippled, Nessa. Her hair was up in her bun still, and her arm rested in a cast made of cloth.
"Hello, Master Boq." She quietly said.
"Hello…um…"
For some reason, he found he could get out any form of a name. Nessa…Nessarose…Madam…Governor…nothing came out. After he finally closed his mouth to stop looking like an idiot, the Doctor spoke.
"Well, Miss Nessarose has done a fair job breaking her arm." The Doctor laughed just because it must have seemed appropriate in his mind. "Lucky for you, little lady, you broke it in the right place. It will heal soon enough, in about two weeks. I see you have expressed concerns about your mobility. Of course your little boyfriend here…"
"Oh, no, doctor," Boq quickly spoke, "We are not…I'm not her…"
"Alright, alright, I get it." The Doctor chuckled. "Your friend will help you out. Wont you, son?"
Boq did a quick nod and watched while the old man packed up his tools and looked once more at Nessa. Her dark eyes seemed to never blink. They just kept staring at one of the large post at the end of her bed. Finally the Doctor gave him some cream for Nessa's wound, and slipped out into the darkness.
At first he wasn't sure what to do. Ever since last night, he wanted to be as far away from her as possible. Now with Nessa in even worse condition, he knew that that wasn't going to be happening.
"Master Boq." Nessa's voice seemed to be past cold and straight to frozen.
"Yes." He stood a little straighter.
"Please help me into the chair. I haven't had dinner and I would like a little something. Escort me."
That wasn't a question, it was a demand. There was no friendliness in her voice. For once, he felt as if they had switched places. Hurt flooded his heart…that was a strange feeling. No, there was no anger, just hurt. General sadness. Rejection seemed like a better word for this situation.
"I don't want to hurt you." Boq said, trying to decided how to get her into the chair.
"Address me when you talk." Nessa scorned him like a child.
Something, he wasn't sure what it was, snapped inside of him. Some invisible time bomb slowly ticking away, waiting for the right time to die. Some bell began ringing violently in his mind.
"How would you like me to help you down, Nessa!" He yelled. "How would you like me to look at you, Nessa, speak to you, Nessa, and hear you, Nessa? Sweet Oz, Nessa, I don't know what to do around you anymore!"
It was as if the world was on mute. Nessa looked him in the eye. Her female smell, the smell of flowers and soap, was the only thing he could sense. It was a pretty smell, made him seem like he was in an elegance castle.
"Be yourself." Her voice was still.
She broke the gaze and instead watched her fingers on her good hand play with the lace. Her deep brown hair in the tight, tight bun was beginning to loosen and fall in long strands.
"I just want you to be who you were." Nessa looked up. "Remember Shiz? Remember how happy you were. I know that the memory I have is false, but if you have to think of her, then do it. I just want you to be happy. I want that glow back, Boq."
Boq tried to smile, but he couldn't. He couldn't dig back far enough to retrieve the Shiz memories. All he could think about was being in this room, right here, right now. Nessa was the only thing he could think of.
"I'll try, Nessa." He said.
Was it him, or did an odd warm feeling enter the bedroom? Whatever it was, it seemed to lighten both of their moods. He helped her into her chair with wheels and with a smooth pace, started off to their adventure to the kitchen.