After two weeks in hospital, Eric was finally allowed to return home. He held Carlotta's hand tightly as the two of them headed up the steps to the front doors. In Carlotta's other hand, was a bag of Eric's presents and cards. Hopefully, if they ran into the King, he wouldn't take too much notice. Eric didn't understand why Carlotta wouldn't let him have one of his toys. What harm would it do? Just as Carlotta reached for the door handle, the door was yanked violently open. David stood tall, towering over both Eric and Carlotta. The maid bobbed down in a curtsey, keeping a tight grip on Eric's hand. The King disregarded her and kept his eyes on Eric. The young boy squirmed uncomfortably under his father's glare, shifting his feet on the marble steps.
"In" spat David, stepping back and allowing Eric and Carlotta a walk past him. Eric did his best to hide himself behind Carlotta, avoiding eye contact completely. Slamming the door shut, David turned to face his son.
"Carlotta, leave us" he said through gritted teeth.
"Your majesty, I really think that Eric…"
"Silence!" Carlotta stopped talking immediately, her face suddenly drained of colour. Eric jumped slightly at his father's sudden outburst. Despite the King's demand, Carlotta stayed put, determined to stick up for Eric, and protect him from whatever punishment David had in mind. She prepared herself for the King's rage, but wasn't expecting what came next. The King raised his hand high above his head, bringing it down forcefully across Carlotta's cheek. The maid staggered back from the impact gasping in pain as tears clouded her vision. The King's blunt nail had snagged the skin above Carlotta's eye, drawing blood immediately.
"No" shrieked Eric! But the King ignored him, advancing on the maid and shoving her to the ground.
"Stop it," cried Eric frantically, putting himself between his father and Carlotta, "daddy, stop it!" The King froze, his face reddening by the second. Despite being terrified, Eric refused to let Carlotta get hurt, and pulled up every bit of courage he had in him to stand up to his father. His entire body trembled in fear as he bravely held his father's stare.
"Eric," gasped Carlotta, "Eric move." The young Prince ignored her, standing his ground. Suddenly, something inside the King snapped. He struck Eric so hard that the four year old flew a good few feet across the room. In an instant he was upon Eric again, repeatedly punching him in the stomach as Eric tried desperately to scramble away. But his father's grip was strong, and no matter how much Eric struggled he didn't stand a chance against a man four times his own height. Eric didn't know what to do, he was screaming, whilst at the same time trying to gasp in the oxygen that the punches to his stomach was denying him.
"Let him go," screamed Carlotta, "David please, this isn't fair!" As if coming out of a trance, David dropped Eric and straightened himself up. For a moment Carlotta thought he was going to start on her again, but he didn't. He just stared down at his son. Eric would've been screaming a lot more loudly if he could breathe properly. But as it was, he could barely get any air into his lungs at all. He was led on his side; and his form was curled in on itself as he sobbed in short gasps. The left side of his face was pink from where David had struck him, and bruises were already starting to appear on his wrists and neck.
"That's… that's what you get for disobeying me" said the King. Something in his voice was different… almost as if he regretted what he'd just done. If Carlotta hadn't been in such a state she would have surely noticed it. But she didn't. As David strode away, Carlotta dropped to her knees in front of Eric. She reached out and gently began running her fingers through his hair, not wanting to move him just yet in case he was badly hurt.
"Grimsby" she cried! This was unusual for Carlotta; normally she very good in situations such as this. But right now, she didn't know what to do. Panic had built up inside her until she could no longer think rationally. Grimsby came rushing to her side, kneeling down beside Eric.
"What on earth happened" he asked?
"David, he… he hit him and I-I don't know what h-happened" said Carlotta, stumbling over her words as her voice shook. Grimsby stared at Eric in shock. It was known for David to lose him temper with Eric, perhaps keeping him in a locked room for a time period, or even just yelling at him. But David had never hit Eric. Yes, he sometimes gripped Eric tightly by the chin or wrist, but nothing more serious than that.
"Carlotta dear, go and get yourself cleaned up" said Grimsby, noticing the trail of semi-dried blood down the left side of Carlotta's face.
"B-but E-Eric" stuttered the maid.
"He'll be fine, I'll make sure of it" said Grimsby, deciding it best that he took control over the situation. Carlotta nodded slowly, but made no attempts at getting up.
"Gemma," said Grimsby, "take her upstairs." Gemma nodded, having come down to see what all the fuss was about. She helped Carlotta to her feet and guided her away from the young Prince.
Once Carlotta had left, Grimsby turned his attention back to Eric, who, having noticed Carlotta's departure, was currently trying unsuccessfully to sit up. Grimsby put a hand behind the four year old, and the other on his shoulder, moving him slowly into a sitting position. Eric whimpered in pain and screwed his eyes tightly shut.
"It's alright Eric, just take deep breaths" said Grimsby.
"I c-can't, i-it h-hurts" sobbed Eric, wiping a shaky hand across his eyes.
"Where does it hurt most" asked Grimsby? Eric moved his hand until it was hovering just above his stomach but beneath his chest.
"Alright," said Grimsby, "do you want me to have a look?" Eric nodded, beginning to gain control over his breathing. Carefully, Grimsby lifted Eric's top up, pulling it cautiously over his head to reveal his bare torso. It didn't take a doctor to know what had happened. Purple and black marks covered Eric from the neck down, with darker areas around where he had said the pain was. Grimsby knew it was possible that Eric had fractured, maybe even broken, several ribs.
"Do you think you can stand up" asked Grimsby? Eric didn't answer. His eyes were glassy and unfocused as he stared towards the floor, and his body shook as an effect of what had just happened.
"Eric" said Grimsby again? The young prince looked up at his tutor, tears spilling in a constant stream down his face. Grimsby sighed, wiping his thumb across Eric's cheeks. Eric winced as Grimsby touched the cheek where his father had struck him. Grimsby didn't know what to say. He could think of nothing that would comfort Eric after such a traumatising experience.
"Let's get you upstairs" he said eventually, standing up and offering Eric his hand. Again Eric didn't move. With a sigh, Grimsby bent down and lifted Eric to his feet. To his surprise, Eric didn't make a sound. Grimsby had expected Eric to make a fuss because of the pain, but the four year old remained silent. As Grimsby reached for his hand, Eric turned and began walking slowly over to the bag which Carlotta had been carrying. Kneeling down and ignoring the pain, Eric reached in and pulled out the wooden boat. A choked sob tore from his throat.
Broken.
The mast was snapped in two, and the wood had splintered in several places. The mermaid was now headless, and the string was tangled and frayed. Eric began crying. Whereas before he had been sobbing softly, now he was really crying. The thing he loved. His dreams of a better future. Dreams of what would come.
Gone.