Carlotta's heart nearly leapt out of her chest when Eric's blue eyes flickered slowly open. He blinked several times in an attempt to clear his vision, and stared up at the maid. The three year old tried desperately to remember how he'd gotten here, but just thinking about it made his head hurt. This wasn't just the dull pain of a headache; no, Eric's head was pounding, the pain increasing by the second and was affecting his vision. Unknowing to himself, Eric began to cry. Carlotta could see that Eric was hurt, but when he let out the first of many sobs, she felt as if her heart were being torn in two.
"Oh, darling, don't cry" she said softly, running her fingers through Eric's thick black hair. Upon hearing Carlotta's gentle voice, the young Prince held his arms out, for all he wanted now was someone to hold him. Carlotta saw his request and straight away lifted Eric onto her lap. She held him close, and rubbed his back comfortingly with one hand while the other rested on the back of his head. Eric brought his knees up to his chest, ignoring the slight discomfort between his legs and clutching the fabric of Carlotta's apron tightly in one hand as she began to slowly rock him back and forth.
"I've got you darling" cooed Carlotta, kissing the top of Eric's head lightly. She looked down as Eric's sobs became quieter, and was surprised to see that he had his thumb in his mouth. It wasn't something he usually did. Carlotta struggled to think of the last time Eric had sucked his thumb. A sudden realisation made a lump grow in the maid's throat. The last time Eric had sucked him thumb had been only a few months after he was born, and his father had practically ripped his thumb out of his mouth. The realisation was this: Eric might suck his thumb every night for all Carlotta knew, he was just too afraid to do it in front of his father. Crying fell into a similar category. When David was around, Eric tried his hardest to keep his tears to a minimum; but as soon as his father wasn't around, Eric would cry for hours. Tears pricked Carlotta's eyes, as she began to realise just how harshly Eric was treated. She brushed them away quickly and looked down at the little boy who lay in her arms. As Eric's stomach groaned, he began to cry again.
"Eric, do you want something to eat darling" asked Carlotta. Eric nodded weakly. But as Carlotta went to put Eric down, he tightened his grip on her clothes, refusing, without words, to let go.
"Don't go" he said, his voice hoarse from all the crying. Something in Eric's voice returned the tears to Carlotta's eyes.
"I won't go darling, I just want to have a look at you" replied Carlotta, sitting Eric on the edge of his bed. Reluctantly he loosened his grip, and Carlotta knelt on the floor in front of him. Apart from the redness, his eyes looked drawn, tired and unfocused. She put a hand to his forehead, only to find that the coldness from earlier had been replaced by a raging fever. His head was slumped against his chest, as if his neck were too weak to support it and his legs twitched in discomfort. His hand soon found the inside of his thigh, and he began to rub it irritably.
"Darling, don't touch it" said Carlotta, taking Eric's hand and moving it away from his raw skin.
"It hurts" sobbed Eric.
"I know it does darling, but I need you to be really brave for me okay?" Eric nodded in response, although it took all his self-control to keep his hand away from his burning skin. Carlotta took the tub of cream from Eric's beside table and removed the lid.
"Eric, lie back darling" she said, pushing his shoulders slightly to help him lie down. Being too weak to argue, Eric soon found himself facing the ceiling again. He gasped as Carlotta began applying the cream to his skin, soothing the irritation slightly, but not enough to make Eric forget about it completely. His skin felt hot, and the blanket around his shoulders definitely wasn't helping. With shaking hands, Eric began to push the blanket away.
Once she was satisfied that the cream had been rubbed in enough, Carlotta turned her attention back to Eric, ridding him of the thick blanket surrounding him.
"Eric what have you eaten today darling" she asked?
"Nothing" murmured Eric, struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Nothing," exclaimed Carlotta?! "Darling you must be starving!" Eric nodded again as his stomach gave another annoyed grumble.
"Okay, you stay here and I'll go and get you something to eat" said Carlotta, returning to her previous plan. Eric shook his head and suddenly his eyes were wide open, flashing with an emotion that could be nothing but fear.
"Darling you need to eat something, that's probably why you feel so poorly," continued Carlotta. "I won't be long." Still, Eric shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to be left alone. Carlotta sighed, as much as she wanted to stay with Eric; she knew that if he didn't eat something his condition would only worsen.
"Eric I'll be really quick" she said, a little more firmly this time.
There was silence.
"Promise" said Eric weakly?
"I promise" replied Carlotta, wrapping her finger around Eric's. Standing up, she took one last look at the young Prince before she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her so that nobody would disturb Eric. It was at that moment that the Queen came round the corner. Her brown hair was tied in a tight bun at the base of her neck and from her ears hung strings of tiny rubies. Her gown was made of fine velvet, and with the help of a corset she appeared unnaturally thin. The crinoline beneath her skirts lifted the fabric around her legs, producing a perfect hemisphere from her waist to the floor. The large gem around her neck matched her gown and earrings, and atop her head she wore a silver crown, also decorated with rubies. She cupped her hands in front of her, suggesting that she was indeed someone with authority. Carlotta lifted the sides of her apron and curtsied.
"Ah, Carlotta," she said, her voice slow and regal sounding, "just the person I was looking for. I need another woman's opinion on as gown I intend to buy." Carlotta was filled with a sudden dread.
"Actually your highness, I was just about to get something for Eric" she replied politely.
"Oh nonsense, I'm sure he can wait" said Eileen, unknowing, or uncaring, to her sons condition.
"With respect your highness-" began Carlotta again, but she was quickly cut off by the Queen.
"Carlotta I expect you obey orders," snapped Eileen, her posture not breaking for a second. "If I request your assistance I will get it, no matter my sons desires, is that understood?"
"Yes your highness" replied Carlotta meekly.
"Very good," said the Queen, turning slightly, "shall we?" She made a sweeping gesture with her arm as Carlotta's indication to follow her. Carlotta obeyed, knowing in the pit of her stomach that this would take a lot longer than she'd like it to. I'm sorry Eric.