Never Had A Real, True Friend
Chapter 3: Nightmare
Julian was just finishing grading Anneliese's tests, all of which were perfect, and getting ready to go to his own room. Since he was there so often the Queen decided that he could live at the castle. The rooms were a bit too extravagant for him, but he wanted to keep Anneliese company, he knew how lonely and miserable she had been without any friends, and he didn't want her to experience it again after her lessons and eventually studies were done. His room wasn't very far from her's, and he sometimes visited her. Always during the day, but today he felt like she needed him so he opened her bedroom door to see a very distressed Anneliese, tossing and turning in her sleep. She was having a nightmare, he looked at her sympathetically, and then sat down on the edge of her bed. He tried to wake her up by calling her name quietly, but then had to resort to shaking her gently out of her slumber.
"Ah!" Anneliese cried, her breathing quick. When she saw Julian, she seemed shocked and frightened at first, but then realization crossed her features, and she hugged him tightly. Julian held her in his arms as she sobbed silently. It must've been a terrifying dream.
"Anneliese, it's all right." He whispered comfortingly, rubbing her back, "It's okay, it was just a dream."
"This was different. It was so real." Anneliese whispered.
"Would you like to tell me what happened, it might help." Julian said.
"Well . . . ." She choked, "Preminger had a plot," She lied down on her bed, "to become king."
"King?" Julian asked, "Preminger?" He smiled. What a terrifying yet totally ridiculous thought.
"I know terrifying, right." Anneliese smiled.
"Very," He said, "Preminger in a crown." He shuddered, Anneliese let out a giggle, "What else happened."
"He was planning to take all the gold out of the mines." Anneliese said, "Than we'd go bankrupt, and I would have to marry him."
"Never letting that happen, the guy could be your father." Julian said, "I'm sure your mother wouldn't let it happen either."
"You're right," Anneliese said, trying to actually convince herself he was, "in the dream mother promised a young king that he would marry me. He was rich too, so that should help the kingdom."
"And?" Julian asked after a pause.
"Preminger kidnapped me," Anneliese said, "because he wouldn't become king if that happened, and then I woke up."
"Tell you what, if Preminger ever becomes that much of a lunatic, I'll protect you." Julian said.
"You would?" Anneliese asked, not exactly believing him.
"Of course," Julian said, "We're friends." Yep, friends, nothing more.
"Yeah, friends," Anneliese smiled as the word rolled of her tongue. She hugged him, "So, since we're friends. Can we skip the next exam."
He pulled away from her, "Ah . . . no." He said, simply, "We maybe friends, but your mother is my employer and I need to give you your semester exams to see if you've actually learned anything or were just sleeping with your eyes open."
"How'd you know I could do that?" Anneliese asked.
"Your mother told me." Julian said. Anneliese opened her mouth to say something than closed it again then opened it.
"Well that secret's out." Anneliese sighed.
"Where'd you learn to do that, anyway?" Julian asked honestly baffled as well as curious because he kind of wanted to learn how to do that as well.
"The first time I did that was at dinner when a king came to visit." Anneliese said, smiling at the memory. The prince came as well, and the moment he talked he won the most annoying people contest. She slapped him twice, once for saying girls were useless, once for calling her flaky. She was nine at the time and was a rather assertive little girl.
"Did anyone notice?" Julian asked, cutting through her thoughts.
"Not until the king and his oh so annoying son left." Anneliese said.
"The prince got on your nerves then, I presume." Julian said.
"Most princes do. Believe me they are nothing like they portray them in the books." Anneliese said. The clock chimed, signaling it was midnight.
"You better get some rest." Julian sighed, and got up.
"Good night, Julian." Anneliese said with closed eyes.
"Good night." Julian turned around to see her already sleeping, he smiled and whispered, "Anneliese."
...
A/N: How was that. I wrote it in a hurry. Took me about forty minutes. So sorry if it's terrible. Please review though.