His eyes fluttered open to a familiar wooden roof of the servant's quarters. The fragrance of wood filled the castle's opulent, green quarter, bathed in aqua light from the emerald-paned window.
Looking around, his eyes fell to the foot of the bed, his friends sleeping on a green sofa during their vigil.
Not again.
He buried his head in his hands. I made them wait many months again. Why? Why do I do this? Well, at least, their wait is over.
"Hey—" he called, but a bitterness coated the back of his throat.
The heck? Is this medicine?
Clearing his throat triggered a coughing fit, waking his sleeping friends. Percival and Aelindor stirred at the sound, coughing cutting through their daze. They shot awake.
Percival turned to Aelindor. "Fetch the maid, now!"
With a nod, Aelindor ran outside.
After his coughing fit ended, Oswald wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist.
"Sorry to disturb your slumber, it's just something I drank."
"Never you mind that! It is great to see you awake!"
"Heh. I— Thank you. I'm glad too."
Percival's head hung low. "Two months," he said, his voice low.
T-Two months!
"What! I was out for that long!" His hand balled into a fist.
Damn it! I missed two months, what's been happening while I was out?
The two heard approaching footsteps, their gazes shifting to the opened door.
"The maid hath come hither."
He entered and moved aside, making way for her.
Entering the room, the maid's mouth twitched upward, relief painted her face for a millisecond.
She is relieved?
She walked closer to his bed.
"How is your health? Is there anything you require?"
Does my mother's love and a way to return to my parents count?
"Yes, um… actually, the bitterness—probably from the medicine—is giving me a coughing fit. I'm uh, afraid to ask but uh… Can you… give me a glass of w-water?"
Ugh! My heart! Not going against royalty hurts.
The maid closed her eyes, giving a nod. "At once." She turned on her heel and left the room.
"Haaah. Going against my character hurts…"
"Hahaha. There, there. A draught of water shall harm thee not a whit."
"What if their waters are from a spring that flows from heaven. I drink it and all the waters in the world are ruined."
"Heh. I am certain that the waters here are no different from those of the outside world."
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The maid arrived carrying a small wooden tray, its handles shaped like flower petals. On top of it, a wooden cup, carved with the sideways profile of the former monarchs.
"Thank you!" Oswald said, curling his fingers around the cup and suffocating the monarchs.
"HOLY— WHAT THE—"
A burst of sweet flavor exploded on his tongue, but it was water.
Percival jumped to his feet. "What! What is the matter!"
"You have to drink it to believe it."
Percival tilted his head, taking the cup from Oswald and drinking it, a similar flabbergasted expression plastered his face.
"I can't believe this!" His gaze shot at the maid. "What is it I am drinking?" he said, extending the cup to Aelindor.
"It comes from an ancient spring within the castle; the monarchs of old, and those of the present day, have all drunk from this spring."
Aelindor took a sip and soon joined the flabbergasted club. "From a fount most ancient, yet wondrous sweet it remaineth. Verily… 'Tis marvellous!"
Aelindor handed the cup back to Oswald and he drank the entire cup, shaking his head.
"I just can't believe this—a water tasting this good! Heh…" He looked at Percival. "We need a large bucket!"
"Ha! That is for their Highnesses to decide."
The conversation about the water and its ancient source continued, with laughter and speculation of how its delicacy still continued onward until today.
* * *
After the banter, the maid informed him of his meeting with their Highnesses—he declined, delaying after his talk with the dragon first. His friends waited in the throne room while he left the castle.
"There it is… my dragon."
The huge dragon rested on its talons, by the courtyard gate, barely blocking it. He walked past wooden statues of ancient elven monarchs, a pair of a king and queen, both looking at each other. Nearing it, he waved his hand.
"Hey, Mr. Dragon!"
Its ears twitched, then eyes opened, turning its head toward him.
"Master?"
"Yep, 'Tis I." He sat on the ground, resting his back on its talon that could crush him flat.
"I saw what you did, y'know, before I passed from fatigue. While I only saw a blur, I knew it was you that rammed the mother wyvern."
The dragon raised its head slightly, gazing at the clear blue sky.
"At that moment, I did two favors."
Two?
"I saved you."
He craned his neck up. "And… the second?"
"My dead friend by saving their wife."
Huh…
"W-Wait a minute, you didn't kill her, did you? All you had to do was remove the parasite? Between the eyes, above the head?"
The dragon's head lowered, its giant slit iris gazing at him. "Do not worry, she is fine. From your two months of recovery, she had since migrated."
Oswald let out a silent whistle, his head hanging low. "That's a relief."
He felt burning at the throat part of the neck, someone was approaching, their footsteps falling into an unintentional rhythm. Seeing, he stood up and bent on one knee.
"Ah, Your Highnesses uh…" He scratched the back of his head. "Good morning…?"
The Prince and Princess stood before him. His Highness placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Stand, savior!"
He stood, blinking profusely. "Y-Yes, Your Highness?"
"Of the many boons I shall bestow upon thee this day, one shall be the casting off all formality betwixt us."
"Ahahaha, you say that, Your Highness but uh, it would be difficult for me—not to mention the weirdness I'd feel."
"Heh. Well, thou must needs grow accustomed thereto."
Accustomed thereto…
"I'll try."
The princess walked forward, standing beside the prince. "Nay, nay, Fiannor. Thou hast already made him so exceeding ruddy that a farmer might well mistake him for a tomato."
She laughed behind her palm followed by the prince. Oswald's eyes widened.
Wait a second! I was FLUSTERED!
He clasped his cheeks. "Aw man, this was not how I saw my day beginning."
After the princess laughed, she waved her hand. "I jest, I jest. Yet now would I unfold the other favours we shall bestow upon thee. One condition only would I add: that thou mayst not refuse it."
Really!
"Haaah. Great… Then I also have a condition of my own."
The prince tilted his head, pinching his chin. "Pray, what is this condition that thou proposest?"
"Heheh. Can you not tell that trick to the other kingdoms. I uh, don't have a place to put my rewards." Literally.
The princess stifled her laugh behind her palm. "Fret thee not, for that stratagem lieth beyond the reach of the other realm. To proceed: thou shalt receive twain rewards—one openly, at a ceremony by night, and the other privily, within the hall of the throne."
The prince dipped his head. "Verily, it is for the faithful tidings thou hast delivered; for thereby hast thou greatly aided us in the fray of battle."
Huh.
"You're… welcome?"
The princess stifled another laugh while the prince gestured to the castle behind him.
"Come hither, let us unbind thee a while. Join us, and thy companions, for a repast."
I can't refuse, can't I. Haaah.
With Oswald's agreement, he and Their Highnesses headed to the castle for a banquet.
Damn it! Why can't I escape being treated royally.
* * *
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