12 -- Devastating news.

Banks walked briskly towards her, like he was determined to plow right through her till she became a brown mound on the floor. Sidestepping his advancement, Laura shrieked as he followed her movements. Then he stopped, right in front of her.
Banks had always scared her, with his bushy black brows and inky black hair. He was always in white, never opting for a different shade than the snow white color. Currently, his hand rested on his bejeweled walking stick, another accessory that he didn't need but always kept by his side. She was very sure that the knob at the top housed a weapon, but she never voiced that out.
"What is it?" She asked, stepping away from his frowning self till she could comfortably look up at him without getting her neck in knots.
"You have to be the most insufferable child on this earth. Your father needs you to stop being a girl and finally man up to the task at hand and you can not do that. He's provided another means that would enable this town not to fall down in shambles and even at that, you simply do not care. You are the most vile person on this earth and your mother would surely be ashamed of you."
He had finished his tirade, but all Laura could hear ringing in her ears was the fact that her mother looked down at her right now. I'm disgusted. She wanted to curl up in herself and cry her heart out. One thing, one thing she had always been sure of was that her mother loved her and that she'll be so proud of her. But she had never imagined that her not stepping up to do her duties would lead her elsewhere.
And who said that she wanted all these, she didn't ask to be born a girl who took no interest in the palace and ruling. If anything, her parents should be blamed for birthing such a worthless child as she. She directed her ire at Banks and screaming at the top of her voice till she was sure that everyone on the palace grounds heard her, she said,
"Being a girl doesn't make me weak. Yes I prefer talks about my hair and clothes to talks about the state, but I can come up with thirty dishes that can run the course of a large celebration. Can you?" Banks huffed, looking down at her like she was a silly person.
"And if you care about our people so much, why not step in and take the reins. You've ruled beside my father for years as his second in command." His face blanched and Laura stepped up to him. "Don't you want to take your place? You're due. After Al, everyone knows that you're better equipped than I am and that Father is doing you a great injustice."
She finally became aware of the hush that fell around them and looking around, saw that the guards and maids and the workers stared at her with shock. Revulsion, even.
Turning back to Banks just as he straightened and came out of his dazed state, she flinched when he replied too calmly, "You're the heir. I knew that I'd never take over the throne even as the king appointed me as his right hand man and I still chose it.
"And if given the chance to go back in time, I'd choose it again. Over and over again. Because he is my closest friend and it has been and will be an honor working with him. Doing the little part that I could do to make sure we're not led into ruination. Something you seem to have excelled in."
Laura flushed then because those around laughed at that. Banks wasn't deterred by the fact that he was embarrassing her. After all she had done the same. Instead, he continued speaking, "I have a lot of things to say to you, especially on the matter of your attitude but let me just state that you... "
The doors to the main castle building pushed open and out came a flurry of skirts and behind them, Elaine, rushing to Laura with her hands twisting her apron.
"Come at once, Laura. Mr. Banks. His Highness has collapsed." She didn't wait for them to follow her back, instead she picked up her skirts and hurried back inside.
Laura and Banks stared at each other, shock, worry and confusion warring on both their faces. Laura gave Banks one last quelling look and hurried after Elaine.
She followed Elaine up the flight of stairs and through corridors, till they arrived at the King's rooms, a bevy of guards standing at the door.
Both Elaine and Laura pushed in, Banks coming in behind them and shutting the door against the faces pressed up. Her Father is on his bed, throwing a blanket over him as a maid presses a damp cloth to his face. Laura choked back a cry, it was unbelievable seeing her father this way.
"Leave us." Elaine spoke to the maid and she put the wet cloth inside the bowl filled with water that sat on his bedside table and she walked out. Laura turned to Elaine and finally finding her voice, spoke.
"What happened?"
"Velma said that it was after he was done with eating. He heard some... Err... Sounds coming from outside and grew agitated. Then he slumped on his seat." Elaine cut a look at both Laura and Banks, letting them know that they were the cause of the king's condition.
Laura had never felt so much crying like the way she currently felt. Her banter with Banks had put her father in this bed, unconscious and pale.
She sat besides him on the bed and drew his blanket over his chest, gripping his hand tightly in hers. She couldn't help the tears that escaped and dropped like raindrops on his overturned hand.
"My princess." Elaine came up beside her and pulled her into her chest, patting her head when sobs racked through Laura's frame. Banks cleared his throat then and they both turned to look at him.
"Has anyone sent for the doctor?" His question seemed to snap something in Elaine and she pulled her arms from around Laura, rushing for the door.
"I told a guard to do that. But sadly, I didn't check up on that progress. I'd do that now." Elaine walked out, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Laura turned back to her father, glad that her tears had subsided and she wouldn't cry anymore. Her eyes roved over his features, frowning when she noticed that he had age spots and more prominent wrinkles. Of course, she knew that her father was old and fatigued, that was the reason he had stepped down. But she had never looked closely at him to see all these differences. The contrast between the strong man she knew years ago and this one was glaringly alarming and it made her feel all the more sad.
She took over the damp cloth that the maid had left in a bowl and resumed moping the sweat from his neck and his chest. She pulled his robe closed and moped his head.
Elaine walked in then, the doctor behind her. He carried this black briefcase that looked a ton heavy and was bespectacled.
"The guard had already sent for Mr. Finch. Thank God for that." Elaine said, taking his coat and putting it on the back of a chair.
Laura inclined her head at him, showing him her appreciation. She moved away from the bed to give the doctor ample working space.
Mr. Finch pulled out a small flashlight, leaning into her Father and pulling his lid open, he shone the beam directly into his eyes.
Laura winced, she could just imagine how direct and sharp that must've been but she took comfort in knowing that her father wasn't awake.
"What happened to him?" She watched as his pulse was checked and his heartbeat was listened to. Mr. Finch lifted a finger to tell her to hold on and took a thermometer out of his bag, taking his temperature. His mouth pulled tight and he shook his head, putting his equipment back and bringing out two glass vials - one with a clear liquid and the other, small tablets, before shutting his briefcase.
He turned to look at them and Laura couldn't help but hold onto Elaine's hand. "It was just stress. One of his episodes." Her Father had been having faint spells for years now, but this one seemed to be worse because most times, his unconsciousness didn't last up to thirty minutes. This was going to be an hour or more already.
"But he'd be okay?" She desperately wanted to know. Her Father might aggravate her most times, but he was her Father. He'd been the only one who truly loved her. He didn't understand most times, but he was hers and she needed someone in her corner so desperately.
"He would be. Although, his health is seriously fading. Rapidly. And it's shocking because the progress of his ailment was not meant to deteriorate faster." He removed his spectacles and wiped beneath his eyes.
"I'd be coming to check on him tomorrow and the next and hopefully he'd be stable then." Mr. Finch handed the two vials to Elaine and moved to the door, speaking to her, "A table spoon and two tablets, morning and evening, would do."
Remembering something, Laura stopped him. "Mr. Finch, when do you think he'd wake up? This time seems more different than the other times."
Mr. Finch bowed his head in thought and then replied, "Give him an hour. If he doesn't wake up by evening, send a word to me and I'll be here immediately. I hope he does though." He added for her sake when he saw her crestfallen expression and then he was out of the door.
Elaine walked to the table and placed the vials there, removing the bowl and after bussing Laura on the chin, she left the room too.
It was just Banks and her in the room and she looked at him as he stared at her Father, worried in his eyes. He turned suddenly and walked to the door.
"Prince Nicholas arrives in a week's time. Your Father was going to tell you but now I have to." He walked out after dropping that news, leaving her reeling from that information.
She dragged a chair over to her Father's bedside and promised herself that she'd sit right there till he opened his eyes.
Propping her head on her arms that were placed on the bed, she stared at a Father for a long moment, not knowing when her eyes closed.
She became conscious later when she felt a hand sift through her hair. The room was dark and only a single lamp that lay on the table by the fireplace, gave warmth to the room.
She turned her head then, remembering the caress that she had felt even in her sleep and jerked upright when she saw her Father gazing at her, his breathing harsh.
"Oh, Father." She hugged him tightly, only later remembering that she has to be careful around him. She moved back and smiled sheepishly at him.
"I heard that it was my raised voice, and Banks, that got you here. And I'm so sorry. So, so sorry." She placed his hands in hers and kissed their backs.
She looked up at him then, remembering what Banks had said before he left. "Is Prince Nicholas coming to the palace in a week's time? Banks had said so."
Her father looked at her and after a while, tried to speak. It was a failed effort as his voice came out hoarse and Laura, already feeling bad at being the cause of this faint spell, hushed him.
"It's okay, Father. I just wanted to let you know that I'm open to this marriage. Anything for you. And anything for this kingdom."
It had been years since she'd seen her father smile and the way he smiled at her just then, made her feel like she had made the right decision.