It was 5:30pm and Arianna decided to make tea for Rob. It was the least she could do after what had happened. She sighed,
“hey Arianna!” she looked back to see Adrian. She smiled,
“hey Adrian. What up?” Adrian came closer to her,
“you don’t look so happy,” he continued, “tea for yourself?”
“no. for Rob.” Adrian was surprised,
“where are your manners Arianna?!” she remembered. She’s so used to calling him by his name.
“sorry, I meant for the prince.” she mixed sugar into the tea. He watched her in silence. She looked dead,
“I’ll be right back. Give me a second.” she left. Adrian just stared. Something was wrong with her. Eleanor came in,
“what is going on here?” she asked him
“um Arianna is making tea for his majesty.” he replied
“go back to your post and don’t leave there again. You soldiers nowadays are so lazy.” Adrian left unhappy. Eleanor stayed back and looked at the tea. She grinned maliciously.
Arianna came back to meet no one. She picked up the tea and went to the dining hall where Rob was.
“here’s your tea, Rob.” she dropped it in front of him
“thank you Arianna.” as he wanted to take a sip of his tea,
“Rob no!!!” Eleanor shouted from afar, running like her life depended on it. He stopped,
“what’s wrong Eleanor?!?!!” he asked. She knocked the tea from his hand and it spilt on the floor. “why did you do that??!!!”
“this girl, this girl is a traitor!!!!!” Eleanor accused, pointing at Arianna.
“what?! What did I do??!!!”
“she poured acid into your tea, Rob!!! She’s trying to kill you!!!!” Arianna gave a puzzled look. Eleanor’s shouts attracted everyone to the dining hall,
“look, Rob, why would I do that?? Why would I want to kill you??” Arianna asked in all simplicity,
“Eleanor what are you saying?” Rob a bit angry, asked.
“if you don’t believe me,” she paused “see for yourself.” she turned him to where the tea had spilt. The acid was burning the wooden polished floor, emitting vapor as it did. Everyone gasped, including Arianna. Rob could have died.
“see Rob, she wants to kill you! Guards take her out of the palace and execute her!!!” Eleanor commanded.
“Rob, look, I didn’t do it.” she tugged at his arm. He didn’t respond. Tears welled up in her eyes, “Rob please, you have to believe me. I didn’t do it!”
“guards, take her away” Rob said sadly. Arianna gasped and saw a wicked smile on Eleanor’s face. Two guards came up and grabbed her fiercely by the arms, dragging her away.
“Rob please, I didn’t do it!! Please!!” Arianna cried.
“Adrian, do something!!! They are taking my sister away!!” Ruby followed them. They couldn’t do this to her.
“Ruby!!! Wait!!!” Adrian ran after her. Ruby begged the guards to let her go, but they pushed her out of the way making her fall. They were still taking her away. Ruby got up with tears staining her face, she went after them, until Adrian locked her arms behind her back.
“Adrian!! Let me go!!! Can’t you see they’re taking Arianna away!!! Leave me!!!” she screamed and cried simultaneously. Adrian was hurt. But it was all he could do. Nothing.
Arianna looked back, “Ruby!!!!!” she struggled and managed to free herself. She gave a guard and elbow to the guts and the other a kick to his face. She ran towards her sister.
She was almost there, but more guards came and blocked her way. She was forced to run outside the castle. As she ran, tears fell from her eyes. Devastated. Arianna’s head ached. She just continued running outside the gates and into the forest.
She pushed her way through the thick forest, running for her life. The guards chasing her would most definitely not spare her if she even dared stop running. Tears swelled up in her eyes,
“I didn’t do it!!!” she cried to the sky until she tripped on a rock and fell down a steep hill, rolling and tumbling, she landed with a loud thud. She opened her eyes, cuts scared her body, her lovely maiden dress torn. Her vision blurred, her world went into thick darkness, her last words, ‘I didn’t do it’.
Rob watched in absolute silence and Ruby had passed out from shock. Adrian carried her into her room and placed her on the bed,
“I’m sorry.” was all he could say.
Rob walked slowly to the palace’s gates and Eleanor followed him,
“I’m sorry this had to happen.” she lied.
“get the ambassador to come here tomorrow eight o'clock sharp. And tell the maids to clean up the place, my parents are coming back tomorrow.” he walked away from her, back into the palace.
“yes my prince.” she responded. He stopped,
“and Eleanor,” he looked down, “make sure no one hears about this. It’s just between us.” with that he left for his room. Eleanor had finally won. She would finally have her way.