Chapter 6

I woke to find myself in my old bedroom at the palace. The one I used to have before Esmerelda moved me to the servants quarters. The doors that led out onto a balcony was open and a cool breeze came in. I took the painkiller tablet and drank the water that was standing on the side table. I could see that my wounds have been properly treated this time and my body washed. I was wearing a clean linen cloth dress, almost like a caftan. I had no idea how long I had been sleeping. I had strange dreams of the king and Nagit sitting beside my bed. And I wasn't sure even if the conversation in the cell really happened. I was already running a high fever then... I slowly sat up and put my feet down. I was still stiff and very sore, but felt I needed to move. I slowly got out of bed and walked over to the open doors. It was as if the breeze and sunlight was calling me. Just then I saw that Nagit was standing on the balcony, looking out over the lake. I was surprised and inhaled sharply. This sound made him look around. I saw surprise and then relief on his face.

"Cari!" he said as he rushed over. He had wanted to embrace me, but stopped himself just in time. It would be very painful for me now. Instead he put his hands gently on my shoulders.

"How are you feeling?"

I was confused. Was this the same man that sentenced me and Hugo to be hanged yesterday?

"I have a lot to explain to you..."

Nagit told me how it was his plan to make Esmerelda think that he was under her control and he had hoped that this last confrontation would result in her revealing the truth. He had convinced his father to wait nearby my cell.

"I almost did fall into her web," Nagit now said, "you suddenly left the day after I kissed you and told you that I like you. I was hurt that you didn't explain yourself or say goodbye. Then I found this under my pillow one night and realised you couldn't have left willingly..." he held out a pouch to me which I knew contained my mother's necklace and his bracelet. Tears rolled down my cheeks as my hands closed around them. Someone must have found them and put them under Nagit's pillow...

"I decided that I needed to expose her. I was convinced that she was behind your disappearance as well my mother's death. I couldn't let her keep taking away the people I love. So I pretended to be a willing pawn and played along hoping to find a chance to catch her off-guard. Then you came back..." he gently caressed my face with his hand.

"You gave me the chance I needed. Thank you so much Carli..."

"Nagit..." I realised that I was speaking to the king, and an engaged one...

I distanced myself a bit from Nagit. I couldn't let my feelings cause more trouble than it already has.

"My...lord, I am truly happy that I could help in any way," I said bowing my head slightly as I was unable to bow my waist, "please excuse me, I am still weak and need rest."

"Carli?" he asked in surprise, but I returned to bed and soon was fast asleep again.

The next couple of days I didn't see Nagit. A nurse came to look after me and my meals was brought to me. I slowly regained my strength and healed. Eventually I was well enough to dress myself. Another week passed in which I helped Mrs Spoon in the kitchen as I didn't have anything else to do. I tried to see Nagit, but was refused by his butler.

It was getting truly summer now so I put on a light summer's dress and went for a walk in the garden. Without meaning to I ended up by the tree-stump near the lake where Nagit and I used to hide secret messages for each other. Not expecting there to be anything I looked inside and saw there was an envelope. Not able to resist my curiosity I opened it. It was a letter to me from Nagit. It said: "meet me tonight at the stables." It wondered if it was written today and felt a bit excited thinking of being able to ride with Nagit again, but then my heart sank at the memory of Denushka...

I learned that Esmerelda had been sent to an asylum. Nagit was now running affairs with his father as his advisor. Apparently the old king now had a new interest in live and was a changed man. I guess that was why I didn't see Nagit, he is king after all... I asked about Nagit being engaged and was told that arrangements were made for him to get married two weeks from now. It felt like a rock sank in my stomach.