She Made Her Choice
Chapter 6
A knock at the door startled her awake. The pains in her body had thankfully begun to localize. Her right hip and thigh, the right side of her ribs, high on her left shoulder, and of course between her legs still ached but she no longer felt like an inzri shaped puddle of pain. ``Princess, the palace doctor has come to check you over.'' Dennara's voice called from the doorway.
Melna rolled on her back with a groan, still a mess of dried fluids barely wrapped in the blanket on the otherwise bare bed. Propping herself up she could finally see the gray furred woman in a white coat holding a large bag standing a little behind the guard. ``Enter,'' she replied weakly.
The doctor confidently strode into the room looking down at the worn princess. ``Well, the first thing I'm going to prescribe is a shower. Colonel, can you help her?''
``Yes, doctor. Princess, do you want me to carry you?'' Dennara stepped closer to the bed.
Melna managed to sit up and slide to the edge of the bed. ``If you could lend me a paw I think I can walk.'' With assistance she stood and hobbled to the washroom. The doctor followed as far as the sitting room, turning on the television and sitting in the armchair.
Dennara sat Melna on the bench and disrobed folding her black uniform and putting it in one of the cabinets. The black-furred woman opened another cabinet taking out a folding stool and some kind of wand with a hose. The stool was placed by the central shower stall and the hose attached just behind the shower spigot. Melna cursed herself for not being more curious while being helped to the stool.
The wand and hose replaced the shower spigot allowing better focus on areas that needed attention. The hot water soaking into her fur soothed places she hadn't realized were aching. Soap was applied gingerly to her body while Dennara carefully washed her back and hair. She was dried on the stool bruises making themselves known at various places. Dennara offered a brush but the princess rejected that idea for now just wanting to get back into bed.
Dennara supported the princess on the walk back to the bedroom. Making their way through the sitting room the green haired maid entered from the hall with an armload of pillows. ``Oh, sorry to interrupt. I was just making the bed. If this is a bad time...''
Melna shook her head thankful for the care she was receiving from everyone. ``Not at all. Thank you for your hard work, miss?''
``You're welcome. I'm Minka Sendu. If its alright I'm just going to finish up and get out of your hair.'' Melna nodded and followed the maid into the bedroom. The bed was already made and Minka just set the pillows at the head and departed. The doctor joined them a moment later.
``Sorry to keep you waiting, doctor.''
``Katie Gander and it's quite alright. Clean fur helps prevent infections. Now let's lave a look at you.'' The doctor started with a visual examination stopping at her ribs. ``This is going to hurt, please hold still.'' Melna clenched her teeth sucking in air as the doctor prodded the lump on her side. ``No broken ribs, that's good.'' She continued pressing again at her thigh and going through the fur on her shoulders.
``Last but not least, I need you to lean back and spread your legs.'' Melna did as she was told and doctor Gander gave a quick inspection of sore sensitive parts. Standing up she retrieved a clip board and bottle from her bag and taking notes. ``You've got some nasty bruises on your hip, thigh and ribs as well as a good sized bite mark on your shoulder. You also have some bruising and swelling down south but nothing permanent.'' She opening the bottle shaking some tablets into a palm and handed them to Melna turning her head to Dennara. ``Colonel, please get her some water.'' She turned back to the young woman sitting on the bed. ``Take those and get something to eat soon. After that rest, even better if you can stay in bed. You and the king really did a number on each other.''
``If his majesty all right? It's all kind of hazy.''
``He's a bit worse off than you but nothing broken, just bruises and a wrenched shoulder. If I may suggest, princess, that you wait till your sixties before trying for more children. Females tend to get less violent with their mates when they're a bit older.'' Dennara returned with a glass of water while the doctor packed away her equipment.
Melna tried to stretch her arms stopping when she winced at the pain in her ribs. ``It's never been like this. I'm usually angry at the start of estrus but never woke up the next day feeling I like lost a fistfight with a bolne.''
Doctor Gander picked up her bag pulling the strap over her shoulder. ``It's your body's way of saying you're too young for pups. I would agree but I understand that's not an option for you at the moment.'' She placed the pill bottle on the dresser. ``No more than two every seven hours, and none if you can manage without them. I'll be back in a couple days to see how you're healing. And it should go without saying, no sex till both of you are back to a hundred percent.''
Melna took the pills she had been given with the water giving the glass back to Dennara and started crawling up the bed. ``Oh, doctor, how long till I know I'm pregnant?''
Standing in the doorway the white-coated woman turned back. ``Take a test in two tendays, if you don't have a positive result in three you're probably going to have to try again.''
Melna groaned at that thought. Sex was fun, estrus sex was... not so much. ``Thank you, doctor.''
``Take care of yourself, kid, there's a lot riding on you.'' With that the doctor departed.
Dennara watch her leave before turning back to Melna now snuggled into the pillows. ``What would you like for morning meal?''
``Those pancakes sound good right now. With a side of fried eggs and sausage, too, please?''
``Sure thing.''
With the exception of using the restroom Melna didn't leave the bed for the next two days. She took the painkillers sparingly figuring the diminishing pains were a better alternative to whatever would happen from using too much. It seemed the king was doing the same thing. When the doctor returned Melna felt a lot better, taking a deep breath with only a slight twinge in her ribs.
``A few more days and you should be fully healed,'' was Doctor Gander's opinion along with one more admonition to wait another thirty years before trying for additional children. 'Nurse' Dennara had been assisting as needed but Melna was feeling good enough to get about on her own. She got up for a shower and brushed herself with no issues. She grabbed her next book and sat on the couch leaning on her guard one eye on the clock wanting to catch the next episode of 'I Love Lana.' She still had plenty of time.
A little before midday while Melna was deciding if she was hungry enough to order food there was a knock at the door. ``Enter,'' Dennara called out. One of the king's guard opened the door and ducked through the doorway. With a quick glance around the room the titan stepped out of the way for the shorter form of king Tomlin to follow turning to leave once his majesty was in the room. Melna's heart leapt then sank at the sight of his right arm in a sling.
``Good morning, princess,'' he greeted with a bright smile. She stood trying to ignore the fact she wasn't wearing anything taking his good paw in hers and pressed her cheek to his. ``I hope you don't mind, I had some free time today so I thought I'd join you for midday meal.''
Melna glanced at Dennara standing at attention at the end of the couch. ``I don't mind at all.''
The king followed her eye line and smiled. ``As you were, colonel. Its a bit awkward when folks get too formal in private.'' Dennara smiled down at the king and resumed her seat on the couch. Melna sat next to him on the other couch and eyed the sling.
``I hope I didn't hurt you too much.''
Looking down at his arm he replied, ``No, it's fine. It only causes a problem if I try to lift it above my head. Doc Gander wants to keep the sling for another tenday. Everything else has healed already.''
Melna grimaced. ``Doctor Gander says to wait another thirty years before trying for more pups.''
That got a laugh from the king. ``To be honest I'm not opposed to that idea. Think I'd prefer things a bit calmer.''
She bumped her nose to his leaning in to whisper in his ear. ``I'm willing to wait. There's other things we can do to pass the time.'' He shivered looking back with a gleam in his eye.
``Ahem, I think I'm ready for something to eat.'' Melna and Dennara agreed.
They spent the early aftermid in small talk and mildly teasing each other about things currently against doctor's orders. To Melna's horror Dennara related Wilhemina's story of her first time in the shower. Laughing the king pulled her close rubbing his cheek on top of her head. She snuggled close wishing this could last forever but knowing he would need to get back to his responsibilities soon. And too soon it was, having spent two hours with them the king departed. Melna returned to her spot next to Dennara and the book she had been reading.
Melna found herself snoozing when another knock sounded at the door. ``Enter,'' Dennara repeated and in strode Jenna.
``Evening ladies, with tomorrow being midten some of the maids thought we'd ask if the princess wanted to get out of the palace for the day? The king has given approval for a day out with proper precautions taken, of course.''
Melna blinked and looked up at Dennara. There was a slight nod. Looking back at Jenna she all but blurted out, ``I'd love to.''
The maid's smile broadened. ``I thought as much, as nice as the palace is it can feel a bit cramped when you're been here as long as you have. We thought a trip to the museum might be something you'd like, after that maybe a bit of shopping,'' she said with a wink. ``Sorry, Colonel Robbins, you stand out a bit too much, we'd like to keep a low profile.'' Dennara nodded.
``I, uh... I don't have any money with me at the moment.'' Melna replied, embarrassed.
``It's fine, hun, the king has given you an allowance for this trip, its handled. I'll be by at hour nine to get you ready then we'll head out.''
``Do I need to bring anything?''
``Just yourself and something cute to wear. We'll take care of anything else you'll need.''
``This sound great, thanks for taking me.''
``You're welcome,'' Jenna replied with a grin. ``I'll be by in the morning.'' With a wave the maid departed.
Melna felt like her fur was buzzing, she was almost as excited as she was for her first supper with the king. She couldn't concentrate on her book anymore. She dropped in the book mark and closed it. She glanced at the clock, nineteen fifty. ``Dennara, I'm going to write a letter to momma Sally, if that's alright.''
``Sure, Melna. Just be careful what you say, you are still technically an enemy prisoner.'' That got an amused snort. She stood up to return to her bedroom only to be stopped. ``Oh, I almost forgot.'' Reaching into a pocket she pulled out a gold chain and held it out. ``I need to give this back.''
Taking it she looked a the guard confused. ``When did you get this?''
Dennara blinked. ``The morning of your estrus, you asked me to hold on to it for you. You don't remember?''
Melna shook her head. ``Most of that day is a fog. I guess I thought I might break it. Thanks for taking care of it for me.''
``Welcome,'' She said with a smile before returning to her book.
Melna wandered back to her room. Gently placing her chain on the dresser she sat at the desk to write. Melna gave a general accounting of what had happened over the last month, spoke about Dennara, Jenna and the maid staff, and some vague information about the king. On that topic she kept it short ending with 'Negotiations are proceeding well.' Sally would know when her last estrus was so she could read into what that meant.
Placing the letter in an envelop she addressed it to 'Sally Banchet, Eyes Only' and in the return address she used Maena Silandro. On returning to the sitting room she found she was just in time for 'I Love Lana.' She settled in to watch what had become her favorite show.
She woke the next morning trembling with excitement. Jenna had said being stuck in the palace should feel cramped but she'd been "stuck" most of her life, going out was an event by itself. She'd gotten up before Dennara, the guard still in the other bedroom. Melna got started on what would be a very long shower. The guard joined her at another stall as she was rubbing soap in her fur for the third time.
Getting out of the water they helped dry each other off and brush out puffed fur. Dennara dressed in her black uniform and Melna dashed back to her room to pick out what she would wear, pulling out the dozen or so differently colored sets she had been given. Finally choosing a set in teal she put them aside remembering Jenna had said she'd come by to help her get ready.
She dithered around almost as long as she could stand before finally hearing a knock at the door. Melna opened the door to find a bright eyed Jenna in a blue fenner and gint that seemed to frame growing roundness in her midsection. Melna blinked in surprise. ``Good morning, princess,'' Jenna said as she entered the sitting room. ``I'm here to get you get you ready for a day out.'' She walked in the direction of the washroom.
``I've already had a shower this morning,'' She followed the red-furred woman.
``I can tell, but nope, you need a disguise to make sure no one recognizes you while we're out today.'' Jenna held up a box as she lead the younger woman into the washroom.
Melna giggled. ``How exciting, do I get a fake nose and ear extensions?''
Jenna sat her on the bench and disrobed before walking behind her. ``Nothing so elaborate. I'm just going to color your hair. Few enough people have seen you that should be enough to fool anyone that's read a description. You're hair is light enough we can skip bleaching it first and the color will fade out in a couple of days.''
The maid pulled on a smock and some gloves to protect her own fur and started a long, and honestly rather boring, process. The feeling of Jenna pulling a comb through her hair was quite pleasant, though. At the end of it Melna stood in front of the mirror admiring her red hair. Her natural light blue showed through just enough to give it a slightly purple hue. ``It looks great, fur and hair dyes are hard to come by at the villa and most look like you put colored dust over you.''
Jenna washed her paws in the sink before putting her clothes back on. ``They came out with some new methods of dying about thirty years ago, it's gotten pretty popular. Alright, get dressed, the rest of the girls will meet us in the garage.''
Dressing quickly she thought about wearing the breast chain but thought it better not to. She walked back to the sitting room while tying the cord for her fenner. ``I'm ready.''
``Alright, princess, let's head out. Colonel Robbins, I promise to have her back before curfew.''
Dennara shook her head with a grin. ``You kids have fun now.''
Melna waved as they departed. Upon entering the garage she was greeted with the sight of four more women in the Aldenean take on Silvanen attire standing next to a large car. Tan-furred Amber in a set in bright red, brown-furred Minka in purple, and two dark-furred women in white. ``You know Amber and Minka. This is Bella,'' first indicating a woman with dark brown fur, ``and Nina,'' pointing to the other woman with dark gray. The two women nodded to Melna. ``They're palace guards as well but they work under cover more often than not. They blend into crowds a bit better than your usual escort.'' That got a smile from the two women.
Crossing her arms Jenna turned to Melna and tapped a fingertip to her nose. ``Now, what should we call you while we're out? Melna isn't a common name here and "princess"... well, you don't look like you could be any of ours.''
That got a round of giggles from the group. Melna thought for a moment. ``What about Maena, or May?''
``That works. Everyone, this is my niece, Maena. She's visiting from Yuskellen.'' Jenna gave a wave of her tail. ``Alright, ladies, load up and we'll head out.'' She moved to the far side of the vehicle while Nina opened the front door and motioned Melna to enter. She got in. When everyone was situated Jenna waved to a guard to open the door and they were off.
Melna stared out the large windows of the "van," as they called it, in wonder. All manner of buildings slid by outside. There were big signs advertising everything from food, to clothes, and even cars, stood high as they drove past. There were so many people everywhere. She wished she hadn't been so nervous when she first arrived, she'd missed a lot.
It was less than half an hour in the van before they pulled into a paved lot filled with many vehicles of all descriptions. The museum was massive with stone columns and large windows. One set of windows made up one entire wall but Melna couldn't make out what was inside with the sun shining off it. The group made their way through a set of doors that looked quite like the ones for the throne room at the palace to stand the in line snaking its way to a counter. Her head on a swivel she looked at murals on the walls depicting ancient wooden wagons and men and women that were building wooden houses and farming.
Minka, the tallest of the group, kept a paw in the middle of Melna's back, presumably to keep her from getting lost in the crowd. ``Six, please,'' Jenna said to the clerks at the check-in counter paying and received a pawful of paper wristbands colored yellow. Each of them put one on. ``Alright, where to start?''
Amber lifted an arm pointing down the high-ceilinged a hallway to the left. ``Might as well start at the beginning.''
The rest nodded and lead Melna through the passage. One of the first exhibits they stopped at was a geographical model. The most notable feature was an almost entirely circular ring of mountains. A small flag was placed near the eastern edge of an inland sea with the words "you are here" written across it. Nudging Minka she asked, ``Is this a map of Aldenea?''
``Yep.''
``How did the mountains form? It's weird they'd be in a circle like that.''
Tracing the model mountain range with her eyes Minka responded, ``No one's entirely sure, but most of the smart people say an extremely large meteor hit the planet a very long time ago. Some folks say its too big for that, anything that large would wipe out life on the planet and be eroded by the time anything else could take its place. Other people say dragons built it but can't give an explanation why.''
Jenna and Amber had moved ahead a little way already, Bella and Nina remaining close to the princess, and waved the stragglers on. The following exhibits went on to explain more about the "walled country." At nearly three hundred thousand square miles Aldenea was the largest nation of its closest neighbors. The mountains had kept it isolated from those around it for millennia, the original settlers moving in from Quentallin, one of the only places a mountain pass could be easily traversed.
They moved through exhibits of fossils of extinct animals, then early settlement days with recovered artifacts like tools and firearms, then into the last five thousand years detailing discoveries of the uses of liquid petroleum and the like. Technology seemed like it advanced quickly in Aldenea. Officially, Silvana was two thousand years older but bolne were still the primary form of transportation for most but the extremely wealthy. The last exhibit before the exit was a model of a dragon that filled the room with windows for a wall. ``The dragon this is modeled after has been unofficially named Henry. He likes to swing by every couple years.'' Amber piped up from beside Melna.
Looking closely at the markings, it didn't match the dragon that had flown over during the battle outside the villa. ``It's awful small for a dragon,'' Melna chuckled.
Amber poked her in the ribs. ``Yeah, well, a full sized model isn't going to fit in here.''
Speaking more quietly Melna said, ``They built the history museum in Silvana around a dragon skull that was found in the middle of an open plain.''
That got the attention of the rest of the group. Jenna stepped closer. ``Really? Ask a lot of folks around here and most would tell you dragons don't die.''
Melna nodded. ``We don't know anything about it, the rest of the skeleton hasn't been found. After it was discovered it was left alone for two or three hundred years to make sure it wasn't something important to the dragons. That thing was huge, I was only eleven at the time but I still remember its front fang was more than twice as tall as me.''
``Let's hope this war ends soon, I'm sure there's several archaeologists that would love to get a look at that.''
Melna's tail swayed nervously and she just nodded back. The group walked back into the lobby having made the full circuit of the museum. Jenna looked up at the clock on the wall above the exit. ``Hey, look at that, its almost midday. Let's get something to eat, I need to sit down for a while.''
That idea got an agreement from everyone else. Making their way out then piling into the van they headed off in search of sustenance. Jenna drove them for about ten minutes finally stopping at what they called a diner. All six packed in around a table and the waiter brought them menus and took drink orders. Amber nudged Minka pointing to the male as he walked away. The green haired woman playfully glared at the other woman for something whispered in her ear.
Melna studied the menu before she decided on fried bird meat and vegetables. The waiter left them again to put in their food orders. ``Hey, Jenna, I wanted to ask. Why did you all dress like this?''
Jenna smiled. ``Figured you'd ask. Well, first, I knew it was all you had at the moment. An odd one out in a group attracts attention. These are common enough here most folks are just going to assume our group is just having a girls' day, which is accurate. Second, unique clothes in bright colors will be easy to spot if one of us gets separated. And last, they're cute and comfortable. I may start wearing these more often. Ben seemed to like them, too, when I was getting ready this morning,'' she finished with a wink.
They ate and talked, topics seeming to shift faster than Melna could keep up. It was rather nice to eat something less fancy than what she was getting at the palace. This was more like something Sally would have made on short notice after the princess came in from playing declaring starvation as a child. After the meal they got desserts, Melna being encouraged to try a blended frozen fruit drink which she did quite enjoy.
Plates emptied they sat in silence for a moment when Jenna declared, ``Alright, ladies, let's go shopping.'' That got a chorus of cheers followed by giggling from the group. They piled back into the van for another short drive.
They pulled up to a vaguely star shaped building that looked to be even bigger than the palace though it was only one floor. Melna forced herself not to gawk like a... well, what she was, someone who'd spent the majority of her life isolated in a remote compound. She felt a paw around her wrist and looked over at Amber who pulled her along the group following as she led the way through the myriad of small shops inside vast building.
They had everything she could imagine here and some things she couldn't. She'd managed to divert the group into a "pet store." She had no intentions of getting anything here, for now, but she did get to scratch the ears of several baby felines. Minka managed to disentangle the princess before she made purchases she would regret later.
Next up was clothing stores. There was so much, so many types it was almost overwhelming. The rest of the group managed to keep her from getting lost in a sea of fabric grabbing several pieces before heading to the changing rooms. It was hard to pick something. She wasn't used to wearing much clothing and a lot of things covered more than she cared for. She did find some long skirts she liked. They felt similar to wearing a fenner that covered her thighs with a waistband that tied above her tail. There was nothing between her legs, though. When she brought this up to Jenna, she just nodded and told her to keep trying things on.
Melna was left alone in the stall with Minka as she tried on some different tops. Catching the sight of her own now-red hair in the mirror she was reminded of something she'd wanted to ask. ``Hey, Minka, I was wondering, do you dye your hair? I've never seen green hair or fur before.''
The taller woman pulled a shirt over her head looking at it in the mirror before glancing up at her head. ``Oddly enough, its natural. My family figures I got it from my grandmother. She's Quentish. Strong colors are fairly common there, I hear. I think Jenna said one of her relatives was, too, that's why her fur is so bright red.''
By the time Jenna had returned Melna had a small pile of "yes" and a large pile of "no," she didn't think she could ever get used to the feeling of trousers. ``Hey, Maena, try some of these. They're good for not getting things on the inside of your clothes when you sit down.''
Melna could tell by the shape what they were for. Jenna had gotten several different kinds of the underwear. She actually liked them quite a bit, they felt like wearing a fenner without anything hanging down in the front or back. Some tied in the back over her tail, some just rested under. Melna decided to get some of them after finding the right sizes.
Putting everything else back they collected the things they wanted to buy. Everyone had gotten something, even Nina and Bella. The brightly colored group wandered through a few more stores. Melna picked out a few trinkets, a decorative blue glass bowl she wanted to take back to Sally, and a small clock for her bedroom. At last they ended up in the food court picking out sweet snacks. Melna had gotten some kind of sweet roll that had a layer of syrup glaze over it. ``I'm gonna get another one to take back to Dennara.''
Melna was tired, she hadn't moved around this much in months. Jenna looked a bit worn out, too. She had a hard time imagining spending this much time out an about while carrying a pup. The general consensus was that it was time to head back. As tired as she was Melna was reluctant. She stopped short of the exit door and turned to look around. Everything was so bright an vibrant, surrounded by so many people she didn't know. It was scary. It was amazing. Maybe soon, after this was all over, she could just stop being important. She could go to the mall whenever she wanted, walk down the street and meet new people.
Jenna put an arm around her shoulders. ``Are we going to have to do this again sometime?''
``Yes, please,'' she replied quietly.
``C'mon, let's get you back to the palace.''
The drive home was quiet, Amber seemed to have fallen asleep. Jenna delivered Melna back to her rooms and received a long hug from the younger woman. ``I had a really good time today, thank you so much.''
Jenna squeezed her in return. ``It was a pleasure, princess.'' With that she departed.
Melna gave the sweet roll she'd brought to Dennara and took the results of her shopping to her bedroom. She then showered and brushed her teeth. By the time she was finished it was only hour twenty-two but she her paws hurt and she was tired. She sat on the bed for a long brushing before crawling under the sheets and going to sleep. Today had been a good day.
The maids, as well as the two guards that had accompanied them, seemed determined to keep her busy. They didn't have another ``girls' day'' but she was often in the gardens before or after public hours, got a tour of the kitchens, or one of them was visiting to play games in the sitting room. The king also visited every few days or she was escorted to the dining room to would have supper with him. The sling had come of after twelve days and Melna wondered if could convince him to visit her bedroom again soon.
Melna had lost track of time until doctor Gander again stopped by with a small box. ``These are pregnancy tests. Use one today, tomorrow, and the day after. They aren't perfect, if the result isn't conclusive try again in another tenday. Make sure to follow the instructions.''
The princess stood staring at the box tail bushed. She had almost forgotten. Dennara stood up to join her. ``Do you want me to call for Jenna?'' She nodded.
Melna followed the instructions and put the cap back on the used end. Stepping out of the restroom she handed the stick to Jenna. The maid and the guard stood in the washroom with the princess, it would be another ten minutes for the test to reveal the result.
