The Understudy of an Alchemist

19. Accidentally Framed

As the world slowly begins to come slowly back, the first thing I realise is that I have a severe case of pins and needles in my left arm, which I seemed to have been resting my entire body weight upon.

Moaning, I stretch my body like a caterpillar, pulling my buzzing arm free; my eyes bleary blink open; as I try to figure out my surroundings, everything blurred and watery. I'm in front of Queen Arianna's library, sprawled out on the carpet. It hits me like a brick, Varian had used that stupid sleeping chemical on me, again.

Twisting around on the plush carpet like a ferret; trying to build up the inner strength to sit up, when a sudden, unmistakable noise echoing inside the library causes me to freeze in fear. It's the sound of guards in amour moving around.

Oh no. Scrambling frantically to my feet, my eyes begin to dart around the corridor, trying to figure out what to do. It's not exactly the best look, being in front of her library, so instead I suddenly decide that running is my best option.

Yet, as I go to do so, the door to the library slams open and a voice suddenly calls "Don't move!" from behind me, at which I freeze, and turn to face a guard I've never met before, brandishing his spear. Backing against  the wall in fear, I hold up my hands to signal that I have no weapon. Ivy had suggested that I bring one, yet I knew that it only would have freaked Varian out.

The guard who called out to me now storms angrily towards me, his face a mask of rage. "Where is the queen?" He demands, at which I blanche in shock. "The......queen?" He rolls his eyes as if I'm stupid. "Yes, the queen. Where is she, girl?"

Hand trembling, I point the room that I'd previously been sprawled in front of. "She's........she's in there." I stammer, fear coursing through my veins. I'm in trouble now. The guard angrily shakes his head. "No, she's not. Where is she??"

It's seems as if I have morphed into a six year old child, my voice is so shrill with fear. "I don't know! She was in there a minute ago!" Tears are beginning to form in my eyes, but I blink them away. Now would be the worst time to cry. I'm hoping that the guard will believe me, understand that I am telling the truth...... yet he continues to scowl as if I'd stomped down hard upon his foot.

"Well then, if you're not interested in confessing, you're coming with me." He announces, and then in case I try to run, (which he isn't wrong, I was tempted to do so), he grabs my left shoulder so tightly, that it made me bite my lip in pain; and then, gesturing for the other guards accompanying him to follow, he became to lead me down the corridor.

Panic is swelling through my body, I have no idea what to do. Do I run?  Turning to the guard, I question nervously, "Where are we going?" ''To the king." He responds calmly, and I feel my stomach fall to the floor in dismay.

Memories of his fury and accusations of corrupting his daughter to commit treason from only yesterday come flooding back in painful tidal waves; I tug the cyan streak again even harder. What if he....executes me???  That thought is not one that I would like to overthink.

We're approaching the throne room now, our footsteps clanking in unison upon the wooded floor; frantic, I struggle to pull free, at which the guard angrily tightens his grip. "Uh! You aint going nowhere!" "Please!" I beg, trying to appeal to his better nature. "I swear to you that I did nothing wrong! But he won't believe me! He'll kill me!"

The guard simply shrugs. "Perhaps that'll be a lesson to your kind of what happens when you commit treason." My heart virtually stops. He doesn't care in the slightest.

As we reach the door, he angrily pushed it open. The throne room is absolutely packed with members of the village, Old Corona and New Corona; although no sign of my parents. Which was inconvenient, as this may be a conversation that holds my fate in balance; as the guard enters the room, he gleefully hollers, "Your majesty! I believe I have caught the culprit!" The king, sitting upon his throne; Rapunzel, Cassandra, Petunia, Ivy and Nigel by his side; looks up upon hearing the guard.