"Doris, get up!" Beth hissed in her ear. Doris flinched out of her sleep as if she had been slapped.
"What?" She mumbled and fell back against the pillow when she saw it was only Beth. "What happened?"
"Melody is here!" Beth said as she pulled on Doris's arm. That made her feel wide awake, more so than any freezing bucket of water ever could.
"What? Melody is here?" Doris scrambled out of bed. It was only then that she noticed that William must have already left for the morning. She knew he came in during the night. She felt his arms around her to fill her with a warmth that only her mate could offer.
"Yes! She showed up early this morning apparently offering her help to William's side." Beth rolled her eyes. They both knew that Melody only ever helped herself. If she was here, she wanted William back.
Doris hurriedly got dressed. "She must be trying to get back on his good side. He banned her from the palace when he took away her ladyship." It was possibly the most embarrassing thing that could ever happen to a former lady. Some ladies got to still live in the palace while others were sent elsewhere for work. To be banned was shameful.
"I heard she was dragged out crying and cursing your name!" Beth laughed. She went to peer through the tent flap to see if Melody was nearby. "One of the maids told me she scratched up a few of the guards and they had to smack her just to silence her. The whole time you guys were in the north she talked about William wanting to marry her."
"If she hadn't abused me as much as she did, I might even feel sorry for her." Doris said.
"The only thing you should feel sorry for is anyone that has to deal with her." Beth muttered. Doris came to join her and poked her head out of the flap. People passed normally and went on their way, did they know that someone wicked now walked among them? Did they even care?
"I don't think you should show yourself to her, Doris. Who knows what she has planned in that rotten mind of hers. She might have come all the way here just to hurt you and get you back for what happened."
"She knows that would be foolish. Everyone here is aware that I'm the prince's lady now. They wouldn't turn their eye if she tried to hurt me this time." Doris closed the flap. "Besides, she doesn't scare me anymore. I can handle myself."
"She may not scare you, but she terrifies me. I heard some of the older guards mention how you might be with child. If they knew that, then I guarantee that Melody has already learned that as well. We both know she won't take that news well. She thought she was going to be in your shoes."
"I can't stay in here all day. She knows I'm here if she knows William is here."
"You're right. It would be more dangerous to have you as a sitting duck." Beth bit her lip in thought. "Perhaps we should go see what she wants ourselves."
"I thought you were scared of her!" Doris followed Beth as she left the tent.
"I am! But-I don't want to be anymore. I want to learn how to be less fearful like you did." Beth said quietly. She glanced at the passing rogues as if she was afraid they were eavesdropping on her.
Doris gripped Beth's hand. "You're braver than you think of yourself. Don't sell yourself short when you're the bravest woman I know."
Beth bumped Doris's shoulder with a small smile. Across the camp, Melody's back was unmistakable. Her long blonde hair was braided with determination and not one hair looked out of place even here. Doris fought the urge to fix her own hair that never seemed to want to stay still.
Melody turned when she heard their steps approach her. She took one look at Doris and plastered on her usual fake smile that hid every intention in her mind. "Doris. I wondered when you were finally going to get up."
"Yes, her prince tends to keep her up at night." Beth said quickly, almost without thought.
"Beth!" Doris hissed. Her face flamed red instantly.
"Sorry, my lady." Beth bowed her head. Melody narrowed her eyes at them.
"Melody." Doris cleared her throat. "I didn't expect to see you here. Or ever again."
"Well, I may have been tossed out from the palace but when I heard about the war-I had to let William know that he still had my support."
"I'm sure he appreciated that. Will you be on your way?" Doris clasped her hands in front of her coolly. "As you can see, everyone here is very busy".
"I was told that his side could use every helping hand they could get." Melody smiled with her teeth. "I thought I would stick around for a while and try to help in any way I could."
"Prince William said you could stay?" Doris asked.
"He didn't say I had to leave." Melody lifted her chin in challenge. Her voice dropped slightly. "He only said to be a good girl and he knows very well that I always listen to his commands."
Doris swallowed the rage that formed in the pit of her stomach. "As long as you don't cause trouble."
"Don't worry about me." Melody glanced around at those around her. Doris watched her carefully. "I only want to help the cause. I think William deserves to be on the throne, despite what happened between us. He should be the king."
"Right-"
"Oh! There's William now." Melody's face brightened when her eyes found William. Doris wanted to shove her to the ground.
"Doris." William's eyes were only on her as if Melody didn't even exist. He gripped her hand and led her away from the girls. "I see you've already run into Melody."
"Why would you let her in the camp?" Doris whispered. "She clearly hasn't gotten over what happened. She basically tried to murder me with her eyes the whole conversation."
"She said she would be useful to us." William muttered. "I told her to stay away from you."
"What could Melody possibly be useful for? She wants to end up back on your good side and she will clearly do whatever that takes."
"She said she has over heard hundreds of Martin's private conversations. She might be able to get back into the palace and act as if she wants to work for the palace again to get even more information. Everyone knows I publicly threw her out, they won't think she's with me."
Doris crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn't imagine William being fine with Doris allowing an ex lover in the camp-even though she clearly didn't have anyone before William.
All she could do was nod her head and keep quiet when all she wanted to do was force Melody far from the camp. Nothing good could come of Melody trying to help.
"If she says anything to you, tell me. She'll be gone by morning." William kissed her temple before he walked off towards the main tent. Doris watched him disappear inside.
Later that day, Beth joined Doris on another walk after their lunch. The cold air felt blissful against her warm skin. They took a small path behind the camp that was much less crowded.
"I heard it's good to take a few walks a day. Soon you won't want to walk anywhere because your feet will swell! Isn't that the craziest thing you ever heard?" Beth laughed. Doris frowned at the thought of her feet swelling.
"That sounds awfully painful. I suppose I wouldn't want to walk either."
"Well, it might not be that bad once you get used to it-"
A wooden cart suddenly came barreling towards the girls. Doris acted without thought, she shoved Beth out of the way and tried to jump as well but was too late. The cart slammed into her leg and sent her to the ground.
"Doris! Oh my, are you okay?" Beth quickly got up to help Doris. She shoved the cart away from her.
"Oh no. I don't know how that thing got away from me." A voice dripped in false innocence called.
Doris didn't have to look up to know it was Melody. Beth helped Doris stand carefully. "It's fine, it doesn't hurt." She whispered to Beth. "It was just a small hit."
"Oh, so brave Doris! I remember you used to cry at the smallest slaps. How much you've grown."
Doris glared at Melody as she wiped off the dirt from her pants. "It seems you haven't yet made yourself useful here, Melody."
"The day is still young, dear Doris."