Hours passed and still Charlotte did not move from the bed. She still just sat there and held her doll. It was a very pretty doll. One that was ceramic with a beautifully painted face, strawberry blonde curls, and wearing a satin blue dress. She had first seen it in the window of a store one afternoon during a carriage ride with her father and she exclaimed with great joy how she would love to have that doll. But her father told her that for the time being he had to be careful with their wealth because the kingdom was experiencing a famine. She was disappointed but accepted it.
Imagine her joy on her fifth birthday when it turned out that what he said about the famine was a lie and that he had purchased the doll for her. She had squealed with happiness and couldn't stop telling her father "Thank you." or how he was "The most wonderful father in the world." She had named the doll Mary and from then on the doll became one of Charlotte's most precious treasures. Precious even more now that her father had left for battle. She prayed that she would see him again someday.
Eventually she tried to sleep but found it to be nearly impossible. The bed was comfy enough but her mind just couldn't stop thinking about what would become of her now. Was she really going to spend the rest of her life here? Never to see Niffty or any of the other people she had grown up with again? Why was this happening? Would she ever return to the life she once knew?
Suddenly her worried thoughts were interrupted a voice whimpering. It was faint but Charlotte could hear it. With her curiosity peeked, she stood up and quietly stepped out of her room. She followed the whimpering to the room across from the kitchen and she opened the door to see Vagatha tossing and turning in bed. She was asleep but it was by no means a peaceful one. Her body trembled, she was drenched in sweat, it was obvious that she was having a nightmare.
"Papa." She sounded so frightened. "Papa."
Charlotte placed her hand on Vagatha's shoulder and gave her a firm yet gentle shake. It took a few moments to do so but this action woke Vagatha.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I heard you crying. I came in to see if you were okay." Charlotte said.
"I wasn't crying." Vagatha denied. "I don't cry. I was just having a hard time sleeping."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine! Go away! And leave me alone!"
"You were having a bad dream weren't you? About your father?" Charlotte deduced.
Vagatha looked away.
"You were talking in your sleep. I heard you say Papa."
Vagatha still would not respond to her.
"I know how you feel."
"No you don't." Vagatha finally said. "How could you? Your father is still alive."
"But my mother isn't."
Vagatha's demeanor began soften when she heard Charlotte's reply. That's right, Charlotte's mother had died years ago. That's why the king had remarried in the first place. Because his daughter had no mother, just like how Vagatha had no father.
"I'm sorry." She said in a much gentle tone. "I forgot."
"That's okay. Sometimes I forget too." Charlotte sighed. "If you have nightmares about your father then that means you remember him, right?"
"Yes."
"I don't remember my mother. Papa says it's because I was so little when we lost her. It was on the day I was born and something had gone wrong."
"So you don't know anything about your mother? Not even what she looked like?"
"I knew what she looked like. There were many portraits of her in the castle. Papa was even going to give me one but...It got ruined."
"I can ask my mother to bring you a picture when she comes to visit us."
"Thank you but that's not necessary. Remember, no one is supposed to know that I'm a princess."
"Oh right."
For a moment they just sat together in silence. Unable to say anything else because they didn't know what else to say.
"Well if you really are alright now, I'll just go back to bed." Charlotte stood up.
"Wait..." Vagatha stopped for a moment but then continued. "Can you?...Can you sleep with me tonight?"
"Sure."
So the next morning when Dolores came to wake the girls, she found them both asleep in Vagatha's bed with Eli and Raphael curled up next to them. A sight which pleased her very much.
From that moment on, Vagatha became much softer and kinder to Charlotte. She helped her learn how to do housework and familiarize herself with the forest. She even invited Charlotte to play games and climb trees with her. This change did her grandmother proud. So proud that she decided to reward her with a special gift that she had been saving.
The gift was a cloak that the old woman had knitted from red velvet wool that she spun herself. The cloak was hooded and could be easily tied at the neck, the material covered her from the cold and she could put her arms through short sleeves. It was as pretty as red roses and as soft as goose feathers. It suited Vagatha very well and the girl was content to wear it always.
"You really like it?" Dolores asked when her granddaughter tried it on for the first time.
"I love it." She replied with a rosy-cheeked smile. "It's so warm and it looks elegant like the robes Mother wears. How do I look in it?"
"You look pretty." Charlotte said.
"Absolutely precious." Dolores said.
"Do you think Mother will like it on me?" Vagatha asked hopefully.
"She..." Dolores hesitated. "I'm sure she will."
"I want to look as beautiful as she is when she comes here tomorrow."
"You always do dear." Dolores said.
"I hope Mother does come this time." She sighed. "I know that if she doesn't, it's because she's so busy. I understand that but...I really miss her."
"I'm sure she'll come when she can."
Unfortunately Desdemona had made it a habit to make promises that she couldn't keep. She had told Vagatha in the beginning that she would visit her everyday but she had yet to come since the girls arrived and it had been a week. However the very next day, Desdemona came to the cottage but the visit would not be a pleasant one.
"I'm dreadfully sorry for waiting so long to come." She told her daughter. "But it's not easy running the kingdom on my own. I'm afraid I may not be able to see you everyday."
"That's okay Mother." Vagatha said. "As long as I get to see you sometime."
"Yes darling. Now why don't you and Charlotte go get started on weeding the garden while I talk with your grandmother?"
"Can't you do that later? I was hoping that maybe we could go walking in the woods together? Or to the village? You always liked to go walking there."
"Vagatha did I tell you to do something?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you arguing? Do as I say. Go weed the garden now and while you're at it, you might want to think about burning that red rag your wearing. It makes you look homelier than ever."
Desdemona and Charlotte looked upon the queen in horror. Raphael growled at her. Eli hissed at her.
"And take these mangy beasts with you!" The queen demanded.
"Yes Mother."
Vagatha picked up Raphael, Charlotte picked up Eli, and out they went without another word.
"Lousy little pest." Desdemona muttered under breath. "Just like her useless father. Always being so clingy."
"You are cruel Desdemona." Dolores said. "How dare you treat your own child that way."
"Don't you start acting holier than thou Mother. I'm not in the mood to hear it."
"Why have you come here Desdemona? We both know it's not out of concern for the children."
"I just want to know how you are fairing with the royal brat?" She asked Dolores. "No doubt she's been making plenty of petty complaints and refusing to do her share in labor. If she is stubborn, you have my permission to beat her."
"Even if I approved of such ghastly treatment." Dolores replied in an appalled manner. "There would be no need to do that. Charlotte is a well-behaved child. She does struggle with some of the chores but that's only because she's still learning how to do them."
"But you are working her hard aren't you? After all if something should happen to Percival, she'll need to know how to survive on her own."
"I work her as hard as I work Vagatha. Why do you ask such things?"
"No reason. Just curious."
Dolores rolled her eyes and huffed at her.
"Per usual, you think I'm a damn fool and that I don't know what's going on in your head. But I'm not going to push you for the truth because you'll start screaming and I don't want Vagatha to see you that way."
"You know you're much too overprotective of that child. You act as if she's never seen an adult angry before. She needs exposure or she'll become a naive little wimp like the other one."
This went on for another hour and then she left. Indeed it was not a pleasant visit at all.
