The gazebo lowered about thirty feet underground before it stopped on an empty circular platform which fit perfectly with the base to lock it into place. Around it, there were climbing flowers of mostly reds and pinks decorating the stone walls and ceiling. In the middle of the room, there was a fountain, somehow flowing with crystal clear water. In the corner of the room there was a bed, similar to the one in The Princess chambers, just begging for Crystal to lay her weary head to rest. Crystal knew that if she tried to sleep though, she would wind up staying awake, thinking about Irina and the sight of her near lifeless body. Now she wished she would have stayed behind and asked Nurse Rosie how Irina was doing...If she would make it or not. Crystal wiped the last of her tears away and stood, her knees like jello and threatening to give out. It was better if no one else saw her like this; Crystal hated to cry and right now, she looked an absolute mess.
First thing tomorrow, I'll go... I'll go and check on her. Crystal closed her eyes and sighed, nodding to herself.
Until then, I should stay out the way... Pushing the gate aside, she stepped off of the platform and pressed a button to send the Gazebo back up. Wouldn't want anyone coming down into her hiding place, there was no telling when the dark knights of Narsil would show up again. Crystal grabbed a box of matches from a drawer in the nightstand and lit several several candlesticks before the Gazebo closed her in the dark. The room was dimly lit, but it still felt comfortable to The Princess. She did feel rather glum at the moment, so it matched her mood perfectly.
Crystal slipped out of her dress and went to the next room, a small open area with a claw foot bath tub and a small chest with clothes and a couple of her Mother's things. This little underground place had served her Mother well years before, so Crystal liked to come during her lowest points in life. There was a time when she thought she would be married off, because Olivia had told her it was customary for all Princess' to be wed at sixteen, but that wasn't the case at all. Well, perhaps it was in less fortunate Kingdoms.
After her bath, she dressed in one of her Mother's old nightgowns and took out a silver hand
mirror. She laid down on her bed and held the mirror up to her face, smiling softly at the image that appeared where her reflection should be. She fell asleep like that, smiling with the mirror clutched tightly in her hand.
Morning came and Crystal was already up, feeling refreshed despite yesterday's depression. She put her Mother's mirror away in the chest, burying it under loads of clothes before shutting it and locking it. If anyone ever found out about that... No, she couldn't even think about what would happen. She already had too many secrets, one that Crystal was sure Vaross knew about it. Shaking the negative thoughts from her head, Crystal took the gazebo back to the Courtyard and rushed to the Hospital Wing. She ignored everyone that tried to stop her, Crystal was in no mood to be questioned or pitied.
Rosie was exiting Irina's room just as Crystal came down the hall.
"Princess! Everyone's been worried sick about you!" Crystal frowned and sighed at the nurse's words. "C-can I see her?" She asked nervously, glancing behind Rosie at the door.
"Yes, but try not to look so sad. She will be fine." The nurse said, placing a hand on Crystal's shoulder to give it a firm squeeze. Rosie left Crystal, shaking her head with a smile.
Crystal turned the door knob slowly, and pushed it open slightly. She didn't go in immediately for fear of seeing Irina, but after some seconds of mustering up enough courage, she finally went inside. "Irina..." She said softly, closing the door behind her before walking over to the injured woman's bedside.
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