Chapter 26: Healing the Needy Part 2

As they neared the village they could hear a loud commotion going on. The three glanced at each other and broke into a run. They came to a halt near the town gate. Standing there was Rand and a crowd of cheering people.

"What in the world?" murmured Serenah.

Rand spotted them and came over. "Princess! Our savior!" he loudly proclaimed.

Serenah blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment. She hadn't saved people's lives to receive praise. She truly wanted them all to live.

The people began to chant, "Princess Serenah our savior!"

Alastar whispered in her ear, "My Lady, you have to address them."

She bit her bottom lip and thought about what to say. She wasn't allowed to speak in formal settings. That was her twin's spot. What if she said the wrong thing?

"My Lady. You can do it," encouraged Lael with a quick squeeze of her hand to give her strength.

Serenah looked first at Lael and then Alastar. Their expressions showed nothing but confidence in her. Lastly, she turned to Rand. His exuberant expression decided her.

She stepped forward and raised her hand. The townspeople quieted. All eyes were on her. Anxiety filled her. She took a steadying breath. She could do it. Alastar and Lael both believed she could. She wouldn't betray their expectations.

"My people, I apologize that you have been neglected by my family. I have been asleep for a year and was unaware of your plight. That is no excuse, however. I should have checked everyone once I was up."

"Princess, we are not angry at you. How could you worry about us when you suddenly had to deal with being in a new place?" chided Rand.

The gathered crowd murmured agreement with his words. She felt her heart warm at his words. The townspeople were more understanding than the royal court and nobles combined. This was why she would sneak out of the castle in their old home. She wanted to see the people and be appreciated for who she was instead of being condemned for what she was not.

"Everyone should be fine now. I want to let you know that the barrier is infused with my magic. It will continue to heal your minor injuries and most illnesses. And," she paused to let the crowd's excited shouts die down. "You can leave the barrier and visit this new world."

Silence descended on the clearing. She fidgeted, suddenly nervous at their reaction.

"Can we really go down the mountain?" Rand's hopeful expression relieved Serenah's unease.

"Yes. I adjusted the barrier to allow you to enter and exit freely while keeping enemies out. You should get the chance to adjust to and experience this world like the rest of us."

"Thank you, Princess!"

"You're welcome. You deserve it after all."

"Come! Let's celebrate!" shouted Rand. He ran to her, grabbed her hand, and urged her toward the town.

"Wait!"

"No! Come on, this is to thank you. You won't turn down our goodwill, will you?"

She wavered and caved at the pleading look on everyone's faces. "Alright, we can stay for a little bit but then I really have to get home."

"Yes!" Rand excitedly dragged her inside the gate and to the nearest pub with the celebrating townsfolk in tow.

Serenah felt tired but happy. She was glad she had gone with Lael and Alastar to the town. She was going to speak to her father when they got back to the castle. She wanted to understand why he had isolated the commoners like that. It wasn't right. They should have the chance to make a living and take care of their families just like the nobles. Didn't he understand that they would turn on him and the nobles if they kept oppressing them?

They arrived at the castle, and she went to her room to take a bath and change. She took the time to bolster her confidence and quiet her anxiety at the upcoming meeting with her father.

"Lael, I'm going."

Lael's worried expression almost made her discard the idea of speaking to her father.

"Be safe, Your Highness."

Serenah left her room and Alastar escorted her to her father's study. She took a few seconds to compose herself before knocking.

"Enter."

Alastar opened the door and stepped aside so she could enter. She stopped when she saw her father's guest. Grand Duke Noward was sitting across from her father. He rose and bowed to her.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Good evening, Grand Duke."

"Why are you here?" growled her father.

She stiffened at his tone. This was not going to be easy.

"I came to see you about the townsfolk within the barrier a few miles from here."

Serenah saw his angry glower and almost lost her nerve. If her father was in a bad mood it did not bode well for her. She would normally leave but the weight of the townspeople's expectations steadied her.

"Why were you even in town? Useless people should stay put."

His words stabbed at her, but she continued anyway. "I wanted to see our people who came to this world with us."

"And?"

"They were suffering and unhappy with us."

"So?"

"Father, the lower classes are what supports the royal family and nobility. Without them, we are nothing."

"Haha. Will you look at that?"

She tensed at his laughter and words. The air in the study had changed. Her senses warned her that she was in danger. She wanted to flee, but she thought of Rand's smiling face, and she didn't. She had promised to do her best. She owed them that much.

"Your Majesty, the princess has a point. We shouldn't neglect the lower classes." Noward smiled encouragingly at Serenah.

His unexpected help didn't make her feel any better. Instead, it raised her anxiety. She was caught between two predators. The only difference between the two was her familiarity with them. Her father she knew well. Grand Duke Noward was more of a mystery. She didn't know or understand his motives.

Her father smirked and she felt the stirring of anger. Why must he always mock her and put her down? She had done nothing wrong. She was sincere in her feelings and thoughts. He didn't treat her sister this way.

Before she overthought things she blurted out, "We should let them leave the barrier and explore our new home. They deserve the same chance as the nobility to gain knowledge and learn from our new home. We also need to give them better care. The healers they have are inadequate."

She had barely finished speaking when her father was suddenly before her, his eyes narrowed with rage. She moved to take a step back but wasn't fast enough to avoid the hard slap that sent her to her knees. Her left cheek throbbed and the taste of blood in her mouth silenced her. Blood dripped from her split lip. A few tears escaped as she tried to adjust to the pain of the blow. She swung her gaze up to her father and cowered under his anger. This was going to be bad.

"I don't know what I did to become cursed with a useless, stupid, bleeding heart of a daughter! You bring nothing to the table, don't understand your place, and fawn over the commoners who are nothing but tools for those in power. You understand nothing. I am truly ashamed to have you as a daughter. You are weak and should just die like other weak things!"

His words pummeled her already low self-esteem and crushed her heart. All she wanted was her father's love and approval. Why was it so hard to get it? Why couldn't he love her like he loved her sister? She dropped her gaze, tears threatening to flow.

He didn't allow her to respond as he continued to stab her with his words. "You will no longer call me father but address me as "Your Majesty" or "Sire." Do you understand, you weak thing?"

This last blow shattered her. Her father was telling people that she was a powerless royal. It would open her up to attacks if she wasn't careful. She would lose her life if she wasn't smart enough to avoid the palace and political intrigues of the nobles once they learned of her father's decision.

She yelped when he brutally grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Get the hell out of my office, Serenah."

He shoved her and she barely managed to keep from hitting her head on the floor. She scrambled to her feet, raced from his study, and back to her room.

She ran inside, startling Lael and Alastar.

"My Lady?" Lael took a step toward her and froze her mouth falling open in surprise. "Your face!"

Alastar hurried to her side and studied Serenah's face. "That's it! I will give him a piece of my mind. He can't treat you this way!"

Serenah grabbed his arm and frantically shook her head. "Don't!" she whimpered. "Just let it go. Please?"

Alastar opened his mouth to object, but stopped when she placed a finger on his lips.

"Please?" Her eyes begged him not to go.

He sighed and nodded.

"I'm tired. I want to sleep." Serenah moved past her two friends.

"My Lady, would you like me to help you undress?"

"No, I want to be alone, please. I can get undressed by myself."

"As you command."

"I'll see you both in the morning."

Lael and Alastar bowed and left the room.

Serenah flung herself on the bed and cried herself to sleep from the pain and misery of her body and soul.