The Princess + The DragonChp12

Chapter Twelve

When Malevont woke up again, bright sunlight filled the room. He sits up and he noticed his shirt is wrapped around his chest like a bandage. He remembered that’s where his wound is. A few inches more and he wouldn’t be here alive.  Amarelle’s head popped out from the doorway in the bathroom.
“Good morning,” she greeted him in a cheerful voice. “Did you sleep well?”
Malevont raises an eyebrow at her.
“How did I get here?” he asked.
“I brought here remember? You were stabbed by a troll and I put some herbs on you to stop the bleeding.”
Malevont saw Chestnut jumping on the bed and the squirrel arched his back as he gave a loud yawn.
“I think I slept well, don’t you think so, Malevont? I slept just like a log,” he said.
“Oh, shut up,” Malevont scowled.
Amarelle then came up to him and gave him a small wooden cup of hot tea. Or what it looks like tea.
“Here, drink this up,” Amarelle said.
Malevont lifts the cup to his lips and took one sip. His eyes went wide and he suddenly spits out the contents, hitting right at Chestnut’s small face. The squirrel swore at the dragon-turned-human and then jumps out the bed.
“What the bloody hell is this?!” Malevont shouted, coughing and spitting. Amarelle frowns at him.
“It’s herbal medicine tea. It’s supposed to help calm your nerves. You had a rough night,” she said calmly.
Malevont simply looks away from her. Amarelle gets up and walks back to the bathroom. As soon as her back is turned, Malevont dumps the rest of the contents from the tea on Chestnut. The latter gave a cry of annoyance and outrage. The princess came back with a wooden basin filled with water and a damp rag hung around her arm.
She places the basin on the floor next to the bed and soaks the rag in the water. Then she takes the shirt off him and examines his wound. It was a deep cut and it was covered with dried green blood. It would take a lot of stitching to seal the wound. She takes the rag and dabs the wound gently as she could. Malevont winced and gave a small cry of pain.
“It hurts, woman!” he cried, startling her.
“I know it stings, but this will help you,” said Amarelle.
“You have a lot of nerve, human,” Malevont remarked darkly. “Running away when I told you can never leave. Because of you, I almost died trying to protect. None of this would have happened if you didn’t disobey.”
“None of this would have happened if you didn’t try to rape me,” Amarelle shot back.
Malevont glares at her and he lets her continue dabbing his wound.
“I loathe you,” he whispers at her. She sticks her tongue at him.
After she was done with her work, she takes the basin away, grabs a basket and goes to the window.
“I am going to find some more herbs to help with your wound,” she told him. “If you don’t mind me leaving for a few hours.”
“You are not going anywhere,” Malevont sneered. “Besides how are you going to get down from the Tower?”
“The golden stairs are still there.”
“… Damn.” Malevont tries to think of another excuse, but he couldn’t. “How will I know you won’t run away again?”
Amarelle gave him a look. “I will not. You have my word.”
Then she descends over the window and down the stairs. Malevont gets up on his feet, though they are a bit shaky, and he walks around the room. He could feel his strength coming back to his legs, but he was still weak. If there is one thing he cannot stand, is being weak and helpless. It would make him inferior to others.
Chestnut Wingfire, after drying himself, walks up to Malevont.
“You should be thankful that Amarelle saved your life,” he said. “But I couldn’t believe that someone beautiful like her would help someone despicable like you.”
“I couldn’t believe it too, Wingfire,” Malevont agreed as he leaned against the table. “I abuse her, but she treated me. It’s amazing how humans act irrationally for the benefits of others. That princess… she is not like one of the humans I know. It boils down to one of the unfathomable complexities of mankind. And Wingfire, stop sneaking up behind me like cat.”
Chestnut stopped walking closer to his friend and he gave a sniff. “I was going to tell you that you need a bath. You reek of blood and dirt.”
***
Malevont could not believe his ears that Chestnut Wingfire told him he should bathe himself in a tub. It was preposterous! He used to bathe in rivers and lakes, but not in a tub for humans. But he agreed (unwillingly) to Chestnut’s suggestion and he entered the bathroom.
The tub is long and white. Malevont fills the tub with water and he takes of his trousers and boots. Chestnut came with some old twigs and places them under the tub.
“You need a hot bath if you want to wash all that filth and muck out,” Chestnut told him.
“Good idea,” Malevont agreed. Then he inhaled deeply, opens his jaws wide and blew a long blast of blue fire at the twigs. Flames merrily danced in the burning twigs and steam soon appears above the water-filled tub.
Malevont slowly steps into the tub and he sank his body in the hot water. He gave a euphoric sigh as he relaxed. But his euphoria has been cut short when a damp cloth thrown by Chestnut hit his face.
“HEY!!” Malevont shouted.
“Use that to scrub yourself. I’ll be outside waiting for you,” the squirrel told him.
As soon as Chestnut closes the door behind him, he saw someone stepping over the window and into the Tower. It was Imogene, and she was holding a ball of orange fur in her hands. Chestnut’s nose suddenly twitched back and forth as if he is ready to sneeze.
“’Ello, Chestnut! Is Malevont here?” she asked.
Chestnut points a paw at the bathroom. “He’s taking a bath at this moment and – HEY, DON’T GO INSIDE THERE!!”
Imogene had not listened to Chestnut speaking that she was about to open the door when she heard Malevont shouting, “SHUT THAT DAMN DOOR WHOEVER IS OUTSIDE!”
Imogene’s face turned red and she quickly slams the door. She had huge embarrassed grin plastered across her face as she turns to the squirrel.
“So, how did Malevont felt ever since Princess Amarelle escaped yesterday?” she asked. She had a strange eager look on her face.
“He was furious but he went to fetch her and he got himself wounded,” Chestnut said.
“WHAT?!” the young girl cried. “Is he all right? Is he hurt?”
“He’s fine. Amarelle just went out to find some medicine herbs, I think.”
Imogene looked relief. “Well, that sounds good to hear that Malevont is fine. And it is a good think I brought a little friend along to make him feel better.”
She shows Chestnut the furry ball in her hands. Chestnut’s eyes widened with fear and he shrieked in horror.
“Oh, no!!!”


End of Chapter 12