Chapter 19: Visits
The door of the infirmary opened again followed by a faint creak.
Cold shivers began to run down Henry's back. He was afraid that it was her again, his diabolical sister, who had come there to inflict even greater pains on him and punish him for his very existence. The prince could no longer take all that pain, all that humiliation. Isabelle had commanded her older brother not to reveal to anyone who it was who poisoned his food and inflicted him a burn that was both embarrassing and painful.
He thus confirmed to everyone that the poisoning was caused by poorly cooked meat and that his burn had been caused by himself and no one else. Obviously he was a prince and no one could doubt his word, no one liked to contradict or suspect Princess Isabelle. In any case, he was pleased to note that it was not his sister this time but his cousin who had come to visit. The young man was in every way and as always well cared for and held a small object in his hands. -Good day, cousin Juniper- smiled the prince trying to act as natural as possible -I am happy to see you again ...-.
The young Baron sat on a chestnut chair and leaned his face towards the prince.
-It is my pleasure to see that you are still alive, cousin Henry- Juniper admitted, finally handing the small object in his hands to the man. It was a small, transparent bottle closed with a small chestnut wood cap. It contained a transparent yellowish liquid, and although it was not open, it gave off a strong smell of aromatic herbs.
-This is an essential oil with oregano- explained Juniper handing it into the hands of his cousin -it has a strong effect on abrasions and even burns and does not cause a stinging effect as much as other oils-.
Henry grabbed the bottle from his cousin's hands and smiled friendly, trying to hide the pain. -Thank you very much, dear cousin- said the prince with a slightly reluctant air -thank you, but I don't think I will use it ...-. The young Baron's face seemed almost astonished by that so decisive refusal. He was both perplexed and struck at the same time.
Why would he refuse an item that would help him feel better? Why deny the kind gesture he had made?
-I hope you feel better anyway- Juniper said the one almost offended by so much coldness.
-Much better, thanks- at times the man had to keep the pain that his body felt inside him. Juniper knew that in all his fear and pain the prince was lying, he understood it from his melancholy gaze, from his face, forcibly folded into a cage of continuous pain. He felt compassion for him for a moment, he wanted to do something for him, help him, end his eternal melancholy.
-You haven't left any of the doctors to heal your wounds yet, have you? - asked the young Baron again lifting his thin body from the chair.
The prince, still sitting inside the bed, shook his head quickly and blushed - I find it embarrassing ... - he admitted - I find embarrassing that someone should take care of me ...-. Juniper knew Henry well, and although he loved him and respected him as his relative, he did not understand why the man found it embarrassing to be helped.
Henry was a strong man, who in his even young life had always denied or as much as he allowed himself ignored the fact that someone could help him. During his twenty-five years of age, in fact, no one, except attendants, had ever bothered to give any attention to the prince, since from the point of his royal neutrality it was not of use for the crown and much less to lead the English people.
On the other hand, he continued to possess royal blood and to be the king's son and for this reason, the people continued to respect the man. On the other hand Juniper respected his cousin a lot, he respected his strength of mind, he respected his past experiences and inside his heart, although he could not express it, he believed that Henry would have been a better ruler than Isabelle ever could.
Of course Juniper was not foolish nor did he want to get more problems, so he kept those thoughts well guarded within himself. But he wanted to know more, he wanted to have confirmation that behind all the prince's pains, the cause could really be his angelic cousin. Juniper did not want to believe wrong things, but on the other hand there was little to imagine, since, knowing who he was talking about, all the evidence led to the girl.
On the one hand he was reluctant and still did not believe that Isabelle's wickedness could reach such levels, but on the other hand it was also the young man's desire to help the prince and with the excuse, to find out more.
-Tell me Henry- he began to speak with a somewhat questioning - tell me, was it your sister who inflicted so much pain to you? -
The prince's face lit up with a particular look of surprise, as his cheeks began to fill with a deep blush.
-I don't understand what you are saying, cousin Juniper- admitted the man with a decidedly more anxious and panicked tone than usual -I just don't understand how you can think of such a thing ...-. But Henry was a terrible liar, while Juniper was great at lying and it was not difficult for the last to realize that what he had just admitted contained more truth than he imagined.
-Cousin Henry- he consoled the prince by placing one of his hands on the man's shoulder -I want to help you, but it will be impossible for me as long as you continue to lie ... so I'll repeat my question, and this time I want you to be honest with me- Juniper repeated, looking in the man's eyes - was it your sister, Isabelle, who inflicted such pain to you?-.
To his astonishment the prince could not keep the tears in his eyes and so transparent and salty tears began to fall from his cheeks. -What can you know, Juniper? - Henry asked, wiping the tears from his cheeks -what can you know about my pain? -.
The young Baron looked away from his cousin's face and squeezed his fingers into his fists, so much that he almost scratched his palms with his nails. Juniper knew pain, he knew it better than anyone else. He was fighting against him, his battle, he wanted to be free from his past, from his anxieties, from his memories. Above all, he wanted to help his cousin be free, and found it selfish that the prince did not want to share his pain with him.
-I know what it means to be hurt, to be broken inside- Juniper admitted, clenching his fists more tightly -I know it because I myself, am a victim ...-. At those words Henry was strongly impressed, so much so as to end the bath of tears that fell from his grey eyes. His thin pink lips were parted in a grimace of amazement and most of all of compassion. -I was not aware of it, please, excuse me- asked the prince calming the infinite mixture of emotions inside him and trying to regain his senses, wiping his tears from his cheeks.
-I want to help you, prince- Juniper placed one of his hands on his shoulder looking at the man's grey eyes at the same time -but if we want to support each other, we should be honest-. Henry briefly nodded, but it was obvious that he did not fully agree with the young baron. Juniper could not understand why the man had such a great desire to deny any help was given to him, not only was it humiliating for him, but it was necessary at the same time, that both could count on each other.
-My sister will become queen of England anyway one day, this is her fate ...- Henry admitted slowly shaking his head and looking away. The young baron brought his lips to the prince's ear and began to whisper to him some words of comfort with as much discretion as possible.
-You are wrong Henry, you are a prince, you are the chosen one to the throne-. The man shook his head again, this time faster and more decisively, trying in every way to elaborate the words of his cousin.
-I am not interested in reigning over England - the man admitted, staring into the Baron's young and struck eyes - when the opportunity arises I will try to escape to France, there I will be welcomed by my mother's family ...-. Juniper at that statement was quite impressed and at the same time disappointed, Henry had such a great opportunity and refused to seize it, which for the young man seemed inconceivable in every way.
-To run away is what a coward does, but you are not a coward, Henry- Juniper said, with a look of disappointment and melancholy. The prince himself was struck by the arrogance of the baron, who at the age of seventeen was already believing to know the world better than a man who was twenty-five years old. So, it was at that moment that both of them, disappointed and embittered began to argue.
-You absolutely don't know, Juniper, how I feel! How it feels to be disowned by your people and hated by your family ...- admitted the prince, arranging his body more comfortably inside the bed. Juniper knew this was not the case, he wanted to remember his paternal uncle who destroyed his childhood. He wanted to remember that if it weren't for the guards who had protected him that night, the young man would have died together with his mother. On the other hand, he knew that Henry also had not had a much better childhood, and for this reason, he wanted to avoid bringing up such a topic, especially when he was angry.
-Please, don't put words in my mouth, cousin, rather try to understand my point of view ...- the young man tried to remain calm as he annihilated one of his usual panic attacks inside himself.
-If I understand correctly, you want security for France, as I want security for my people ...-. A brief pause of silence was created between the two, a pause of silence and tension that held for a few moments before Juniper spoke again.
- Exactly for this reason ... - he said - ... I think it is important that instead of arguing and making ourselves enemies, we spoke and could strengthen our alliance-. At first the prince seemed at least convinced about the argument that his cousin was holding, but in his heart he felt that the young baron had his reasons and he noticed the anxious way in which he tried to hide his panic. He felt that his young cousin had a lot of passion and determination in his heart and mind and that he knew what he was talking about. Henry could not help but smile and nod with his head.
-You are right ... - the prince ended by concluding -I do not find it appropriate to discuss, neither now, nor in this situation ... just one thing, I want you to promise me, cousin Juniper ... - the man nodded - I want that once all this is over, you will let me go to France ...-.
Juniper looked in amazement at his cousin's face, noticed his golden hair, his grey eyes, which gave a reflection at the same moment of anger and decision. All of this struck him deeply, how that man was obstinate in reaching his goals, and that was why in his opinion, Henry could have been a great ruler.
On the other hand, Juniper understood all of a sudden what he was feeling, he had completely forgotten about his personal desire to regain Scotland from his uncle, and for forgetting this he felt completely guilty. He was thinking back to what he had said before, that running away was for cowards, when the young baron too really wanted to escape.
Juniper smiled and raised his face -I promise that when it happens I won't stop you- he admitted -I won't, I promise-.
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