Carlotta had been reluctant to leave Eric; for it wasn't something she liked doing. But she knew that Dr Sheffield would take good care of him, and she didn't expect to be gone long. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, she could see clearly that something was wrong. There were maids and servants rushing about like mad, some screaming, some crying. And as the overwhelming smell of smoke reached her, Carlotta knew what was going on. She found herself frozen for several seconds.
"Ma'am, we need to get out! Ma'am please" yelled one of the younger maids, tugging on Carlotta's arm. Carlotta was brought quickly out of her trance.
"What happened" she asked, raising her voice to be heard over everyone?
"There's a fire ma'am, in the kitchens" she said, her voice full of panic! No sooner had she finished her sentence, did Carlotta get a glimpse of the orange flames. They were a long way down the corridor, but spreading quickly. Jumping between the wooden beams, swallowing everything they came into contact with, engulfing the entire ground floor in thick black smoke. A sudden realisation threatened to tear Carlotta's heart from her chest.
"Eric" she gasped! Ignoring the pleas of the maid before her, she turned and ran back up the stairs.
"Eric!"
"Carlotta." Carlotta turned round quickly, to find Dr Sheffield standing in front of her, a little out of breath. "What's going on" he asked? But Carlotta ignored his question completely.
"Where's Eric" she asked, her voice edging on hysterical?
"I don't know," replied the doctor honestly, "he ran off, I've no idea where he is." Carlotta suddenly felt as though she couldn't breathe.
"Carlotta, tell me, tell me what's happening" pressed Dr Sheffield.
"There's a fire," said Carlotta, almost in tears, "in the palace."
"Good lord, how did it happen?"
"There's no time for that," snapped Carlotta! "I have to find Eric, he doesn't know." Dr Sheffield nodded, and together, the two of them ran off, repeatedly calling Eric name.
Grimsby knocked frantically of the door of the King's study, not waiting for a reply before opening it.
"Grimsby, I expect you to-"
"Fire, sir, you need to evacuate" he said hurriedly. The King paused for a moment, before striding from the room, and following Grimsby down the hall. He froze. The corridor before him burned, embers falling just short of his and Grimsby's feet, long flames licking at the stone walls, setting the paintings alight immediately. The two men turned and ran for the back door. They reached it quickly, and were about to step outside when…
"Daddy!" The King stopped in his tracks, as did his advisor. David spun round to see where the cries were coming from, he could hear Eric calling for him, but couldn't see him. Grimsby knew that Eric would never refer to his father as 'daddy' unless he was desperate, and wouldn't call for his father at all unless he had no other choice. Breathing heavily, the King turned to Grimsby.
"Go" he instructed!
"Sire it's too dangerous" said Grimsby.
"He's my son Grimsby, my only son, now go," he boomed, "that's an order!" And with that, he took off up the smaller staircase to his right. Wholly surprised by the turn of events, Grimsby could only stare after him in shock. Having only hours ago struck his son, David was now going to save him.
"Eric" called Carlotta, her voice panicked! Behind her she could hear Dr Sheffield, but she was only half listening to him, as she searched frantically for the young Prince.
"Carlotta please, it's too risky, you're putting your life in danger" he said, running ahead quickly to avoid the falling beams.
"Carlotta!" Enough was enough; if they stayed here any longer they'd be trapped. He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to face him.
"We have to get out" he said, blinking hard as the smoke began irritating his eyes!
"I have to find him" shouted Carlotta, struggling to be heard over the roar of the fire and the crackle of burning wood! Dr Sheffield knew how important Eric was to Carlotta, and indeed the entire kingdom; but it was his job as a doctor to save whoever he could, and right now Carlotta was the only person he could save. He took her arm, and attempted to steer her away from certain death. She protested profusely, calling Eric's name over and over again. It was a struggle to drag Carlotta through the palace, and, at the same time avoid the towering flames. More than once he winced as the fire sliced his skin. By the time he found a door, the two of them could barely breathe because of the smoke. Although Carlotta was still calling for Eric, she seemed to have accepted that Dr Sheffield wasn't going to let her continue her search, and her voice was raspy, barely even audible. Once they were outside, they joined the rest of the village and watched helplessly as the palace burnt. The sun was just beginning to set, adding only the fiery colours that flooded the bystander's vision. Black smoke rose in thick swirls, blocking out the little sunlight that the day had left to offer.
Carlotta was now relying completely on Dr Sheffield to keep her upright. Her knees were weak, her breaths raspy. She'd let Eric down. She had sworn to always protect him, and now he was alone, alone in a building that was fast burning to the ground. She had no idea whether he was still alive or not. Sobs racked her chest as that sunk in.
Eric could be dead for all she knew.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a familiar voice called her name. She turned around, she body shaking in fear, before coming face to face with Grimsby.
"Carlotta dear, thank goodness you're alright" he said!
"Grimsby," she said quietly, her voice threatening to give out. "Eric's still in there." She barely managed to get the words out her mouth before she burst into tears.
"I know," said Grimsby, "David is too; he's gone to find him." Carlotta's head snapped up.
"What" she asked?
"I know… I was just as confused as you" said Grimsby.
"But… why… why would he?"
"We heard Eric calling for him, he sounded scared, terrified even," explained Grimsby, "David argued that Eric was his only son, and for that reason he had to go and get him."
"You heard Eric" said Carlotta, not sure whether to be delighted that he was still alive or worried as to whether he still was! Grimsby merely nodded.
"We can only pray that they'll both make it out" he said. The two of them turned their attention back to the palace. Firemen and men from the village were throwing bucket after bucket of water over the flames, in a failing attempt to put the fire out. But by now the fire had practically engulfed the entire building; anybody still in there would almost certainly be dead. Carlotta gasped, looking around quickly before getting Grimsby's attention.
"Where's the Queen" she asked? Now it was Grimsby's turn to look around. A lump grew in his throat as he looked back to the palace.
"They're all still in there" he said, eye's wide, heart slamming wildly against his chest. A couple of the townspeople had realised it by now as well, and a worried chatter had started up. The King and Queen, as well as the kingdom's only heir, were still trapped in the fire.