The Infirmary

Clean clothes brought with them some much needed refreshment. Although the castle was still in disarray, somehow a servant found a way to bring some dried meat and fruit for Rose and Caitlyn to eat in the tower chamber.

So when the princess emerged from her rooms again, she was unrecognizable from the dirty, famished maid who had entered.

Caitlyn also looked much more like her normal self. And Ethyn, who had made sure the ladies were well guarded, had also had a chance to wash his face and wipe off his armor.

The knight approached them with a bow.

"The King will be here in a moment, Your Highness." He said formally.

Seeing her back in her full glory, Ethyn feared that using her name would bring up emotions in him which he could not act upon just now. Rose seemed to understand.

"Thank you, Sir Ethyn," she gave an appreciative nod. "I think we should not make him come all this way though."

"Your wish is my command." The knight gallantly offered his arm, and Rose accepted. With a tap of her elbow against his armor, the princess urged Ethyn to offer Caitlyn support as well.

The gentleman easily obliged, and the two ladies leaned on him heavily as they moved down the winding stair.

Since none of the fighting had occurred in the part of the castle, things looked just as they always had. It felt weird, wrong and also comforting to find this place so untouched by the battle for the throne.

The pristine environment did not last for long. At the bottom of the stairs, a long table was broken in the middle with splinters scattered across the violet carpet.

Rose wondered briefly who had won the struggle, but decided it was best not to think too deeply about it.

Ethyn noticed her change in demeanor. "Are you alright? I am sure your father can handle this next part on his own if you need to rest."

Forcing a smile, the princess shook her head. "No, I am fine. I promise."

In truth part of her did want to rest, but she doubted the validity of Ethyn's statement. When they had parted, the king looked on the verge of breaking.

From what Caitlyn had told her about the events in the throne room, it seemed he had made uncharacteristic choices in an attempt to save Rose's unfortunate stand-in.

Rhodri needed her by his side for his own peace of mind, and she knew it. A little bit of fatigue would not stop her from doing what was right.

"How is your neck?" Ethyn noticed she seemed to be favoring the side which was cut by Fed's sword. It did not look deep, but a tiny cut could sometimes be more painful than a larger one. 

"I've been hurt worse," Rose replied vaguely.

Ethyn was going to pursue the matter when the king appeared in the corridor. The circle of guards around the trio parted to accept the man clad in dark purple robes.

"My Dear! Lady Caitlyn and Sir Ethyn." Rhodri opened his arms as if he had not seen the princess only a short while before.

Rose expected this would likely be his greeting for the foreseeable future. She didn't mind though. The princess was also filled with relief to see the king as well.

Releasing Ethyn, Rose hugged the king while the other two showed him the proper respect. The princess noted how gingerly Rhodri handled her. Like she was made of glass. 

"How is everything?" The princess could tell that the king had not taken as long to dress as she had. He must have checked on at least a few things without her. 

"The seneschal found me. He informed me that the clean-up has already begun. With so many incapacitated men, I have put Philip in charge of getting the prisoners to the dungeon. I hope you do not mind." Rhodri raised both eyebrows at his daughter's surprised look.

Rose had made sure Philip went to guard the king with Conall and Aiden --not because she hadn't trusted the other two men--but because he was a familiar face to Rhodri in Captain Rabert's absence. It seemed the king had found him familiar enough to put him in charge of a very important task. 

"I do not mind," Rose admitted. "I am sure he is very happy to be keeping busy doing something other than watch a reckless princess." 

"I would argue, but leaping from a wall isn't exactly sane," the king forced a smile. He veered back to the original topic. "I have always thought the dungeon was far too large for our castle, but today it will be filled to the brim." 

"I guess it is a case of you don't need something until you do. I am glad we have the space just now." The princess wished they hadn't needed it at all, but they were in desperate times. "What will you do with them? And what will we do about Lakyle?" 

"I will need to think on both of those questions, my love. First things first, I will send out scouts in every direction to make sure we do not have any more invading forces heading our way. I do not plan to be surprised twice." Rhodri clenched his fist by his side. It angered him how close he had come to losing everything. 

Rose had more questions on the subject, but she sensed that they would only agitate the king. "That seems like a good plan. Now, let us go visit Captain Rabert. He is still in the infirmary?" 

"I hope so. In all the chaos, I have yet to have that confirmed. I know the doctor hid him away, but I am not sure if he was discovered when the soldiers brought everyone to the throne room." Rhodri hoped for the best.

"Neither the doctor nor any of the nurses were among the servants as far as I could see." Caitlyn offered before lowering her eyes, "But there were a lot of people in the chaos, so I could be wrong." 

The group decided not to speculate any further and investigate for themselves. As they reached the hall leading to the infirmary, the king found that the large clinic was not large enough for all the patients that it had.

Many were sitting or laying out in the hall waiting to be seen. Still others were being brought to receive much needed care. Simultaneously others were carried away on cots with blankets covering their faces. It was a humbling sight.

Leaving the soldiers outside, The king, two ladies and Ethyn entered the infirmary as quietly as possible. They spoke words of comfort and thanks to any that they passed who looked their way, but tried not to make a disturbance. 

Finding a nurse, the king was able to get the location of the palace doctor. He was just finishing dealing with a serious wound of a nobleman who had been in the throne room. Fortunately, it looked like the man should pull through. 

After wiping his hands, the physician bowed before the king. "Your Majesty. I am most glad to see you are well." 

"The feeling is mutual. I was worried that you might have been hurt in the battle." Rhodri clapped the other man on the shoulder.

The doctor smiled weakly. "They came here under the guise of you making an important announcement, but when I said we had a case of the plague inside, they steered clear and left us alone. No one who was here was harmed by the enemy."

That meant that all the nurses and healers were available to aid in the treatment and recovery of the wounded. 

"I am glad to hear it." Rhodri responded with a sigh of relief. 

"If I may," the doctor glanced at the room, particularly at Ethyn before his eyes returned to the king. "Did you need something specific, Your Majesty? I have much work to do, but I am happy to assist in any way I can." 

Rhodri nodded. "We have come to see the Captain." 

The Physician's face changed slightly. "Ah, the only dead man who is not actually dead. Or at least that was true last time I saw him. I shall take you there presently. Mayble, prepare the next patient, please. I will return as soon as I am able." 

The doctor checked on the patient closest to Rose, tightening the bandage on his arm. Having done what he could for now, he sighed, his mind being pulled in a hundred different directions. But he needed to focus on one at a time. 

Dipping his head at the king, the doctor motioned forward. "If you would follow me."