Elaine’s weak bones screamed in agony as she slowly pulled the heavy door of her room open.

This was the first time she was out of bed for almost a month.

She’d been bedridden due to her severe unknown sickness.

Day and day, Elaine was left in bed, only to sleep and think on the thought of death.

It was painful living through everyday, only looking at the ceiling, silently begging to end the suffocating pain.

Often, her skin would be warm and sweaty, but her bones would be freezing. Coughing fits would cause an attack, brining clots of blood up.

She despised feeling so weak, not knowing what was slowly killing her.

Until she heard her maid speak about poison. Maybe someone was poisoning her, she was after all the King’s niece.

A death in the royal family would cause chaos, bringing the kingdom to a sensitive and open shot for an attack.

Elaine’s feet dragged against the cold marble, but she continued forward.

She had to get outside.

Her maid and doctor left her to sleep twenty minutes ago; they’d be back to check on her in an hour or two.

She evidently decided today she would venture out and spy.

Her killer was here, somewhere.

Clutching the stairwell railing, ever so slowly did she descend down the stairs.

Her breathing was heavy and piercing.

She hadn’t walked in weeks.

“Do not let death come so easily,” she whispered to herself, urging her body to move forward.

Once down the stairs, Elaine had to stick to the shadows, hiding from any walking staff.

They all should be in the grand ballroom, preparing for an evening party, but still, Elaine had to be careful.

She crept quietly to the back garden door.

It would lead her to the secluded gardens behind the estate.

Yesterday, while pretending to sleep, she heard her butler whispering about a new maid who had been seen in the gardens quite often.

Elaine’s question was _what was so important or special in the gardens to continue to pull the maid there? _

She had to see for herself.

Her thin body shivered in the autumn breeze. Elaine cursed herself for not wearing more warm clothes.

She approached the gardens’ gates and carefully opened them.

She heard a distant laugh and quickly sought to hiding.

“King Stephen, you really are quite a funny gentleman,” a light, feminine voice laughed.

King?

King Stephen was here!

“The kingdom is threatened by her presence and poisoning is the only way,” a deep voice explained, the voice belonging to King Stephen.

Poisoning? Threatened kingdom?

Elaine couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

The King has been poisoning her!

Ever so quietly, Elaine moved closer to the sound of the voices, being careful to stay hidden.

“The council will appoint her Queen, for my son is a drunken, but I can’t allow that to happen,” the King grumbled on. “Now Ms. Petler, I advise you up her dosage, to ensure her funeral lands on the day we planned.”

Elaine couldn’t breathe.

They were going to kill her soon.

“Yes your majesty,” the young maid replied.

It was the maid that visited Elaine during the morning hours.

Elaine could hear the shuffling of feet pass by and then silence beat all around her.

They were gone.

Elaine jumped up and hastily walked to the area the two were conversing.

She paled in fear.

Poison plants of all kind grew around. Foxglove. Hemlock. Nightshade. And so many others.

Elaine’s heart was beating fast with fear.

Then an idea struck her.

She had to burn the deadly garden.

Not only would it end the poison supply, but it would send a message.

A small lantern winked at the corner of Elaine’s eyes. It was meant to light the garden at night, but now it would be its destruction.

Elaine reached and grabbed the lantern, opening it to grab the flame within.

“Death will not seek me today,” she said, dropping the fire upon the poison.

She quickly made her way out of the garden, fearful of the fumes the poison may produce from burning.

Outside her window, Elaine watched with a smile at the burning flames of the garden.

People screamed in fear, but Elaine only laughed.

“Step one done,” Elaine said to herself. “Step two, take down the King.”