The Maid and Her Princess - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

"Can you walk now?" Madoka asked her princess. Elise had fully burrowed her head into Madoka's shoulder. She was on high alert, since they were still very much in the middle of the woods amongst the horrible ruins. Or altar.
"Mmm," Elise made a noise, trying to get up.
Don't leave me.
I am waiting here.
Come to me quickly.
Madoka heard Ciara's thoughts as she helped Elise. At the rate of the danger they were in, she cared not what that strange voice she heard was at the moment. The alien and unnerving presence she felt from the altar faded away, but Madoka remained vigilant. She was her princess's shield and ax, after all. Or maybe the saying was sword and shield?
The princess was muttering something, but Madoka could not understand her.
"It's been awhile," she chuckled. "Since I last spoke English."
"Was..." Madoka was terrified at the realization that the princess was speaking about the tongues. "Is 'English' the language of the Gods?"
"Ha," Elise laughed. "Perhaps I should teach you English."
Madoka gulped. Was it even possible that she, a mere commoner, could speak the language the gods spoke?
"I-I don't think I'm worthy of such knowledge," Madoka stammered.
"Come on," Elise said. The two found Ciara waiting for the girls to come. Madoka sent a prayer to the kind gods in thanks that the horse was unharmed. "You already know, what, like three languages?"
"Commoner, Noble, and Royal," Madoka stated. Commoners used a reverent form of Noble to speak to nobles while the nobles themselves used a reverent form of Royal to speak with the Royals. She remembered her training in Royal. The ancient language itself was being phased out, even the princess herself said that nobles get away without using reverent Royal to address even the King. The princess admitted she did not learn Royal, but knew only key phrases. "Still, is this English language not the one that god used?"
Commoners were not to dare speak to a Royal, Madoka thought some more about English. The language even gods use, perhaps Royals would use a reverent form of English to speak with the gods. And here Madoka was, speaking in Noble with Elise like she was equals with her. It was the princess's personal request.
"Trilingual," Elise said with surprise in her voice. Why was she surprised, Madoka thought. The princess herself could speak three languages, one which no one has ever heard before. "You're smart!"
Madoka suddenly felt her throat feel constricted. Something felt wrong when she looked at the princess now. She was not talking to the real princess. She was talking to... Why was she feeling so...? The shock slowly settled on her skin like a disgusting form of sunlight. She was facing the fact that everything the princess told Madoka about herself was true. It was Madoka's turn to lean on Ciara, pale from this revelation. Elise was not the real Elise. A kind god... spoke to the princess.
"Madoka?" Elise asked her. "English isn't that hard. Hell, there's not even rolling R's. Although, it's a pain in the ass to understand that some of its rules are contradictory... It's decided. We will learn English together when we get home. Madoka?"
Madoka let out a laugh. She did not know why. Her princess was a being from another world. Was she a demon like the nobles in the Palace said? Her head was falling apart in a spiral but all she could do is laugh in disbelief that she was forced to believe. Her own eyes have seen Elise be different. Her own ears have heard otherworldliness. Madoka's hands have fought off the shaking for too long but now she was a mess in hysterics.
Elise just remained silent, quietly placing a hand on Madoka's as she laughed and cried. Madoka instinctively yanked her hand away as if it was a poisonous snake. Did Elise understand the position she's placed Madoka in? Madoka did not care. She was terrified of this new Elise.
"I'm sorry," Elise whispered. "You must hate me now."
"H-How long has it been?" Madoka mused after she finally calmed down. She was really just talking aloud. She was just staring at the spots on Ciara's body since she did not want to face Elise. "You were... how old were you?"
"Seven," Elise confirmed softly. "When you first saved me. Look, I'm prepared to face this alone. There's still time for you to leave— Eep!"
Madoka slammed a fist on the trunk of the tree Ciara was tied to. It was harsh, but Madoka realized that she did not know whoever the original Princess was. Madoka turned and faced Elise. Elise shrunk beneath Madoka's gaze. Madoka thought she was adorable. The woman standing before her was her Elise. Her friend who she attended to for many years. Her princess she's chased up and down the hallways of the Palace. For whatever reason those thoughts calmed Madoka down.
Madoka truly was becoming a burden to her again. She held Elise in her gaze for a moment longer before she broke the silence.
"I'm sorry, Elise. I think I'm fine now," Madoka said finally and clasped a hand on Elise's.
"You don't dislike me?" Elise asked meekly.
"I-I realized," Madoka had trouble articulating her thoughts on the matter. So she did not. "I'm your servant. Hmph! Now get on Ciara!"
At the sound of her name, Ciara's ears perked up. Elise's sad eyes lit up again, but also needed to be lifted up on the horse's back. That is right, Madoka concluded. She was serving her friend as she always has been.
"That... god... or whatever," Madoka trailed off. Ciara was eager to get out of the forest so Madoka let her move faster than a walk following the markings she left to backtrack. She could not stop her curiosity from running rampant in her mind. "What did it say?"
"Ha... god, huh," The princess scoffed when Madoka called the voice a deity. How could Elise deny it was a god? "They granted me certain... let's just call it knowledge? For my magic. Also they said they were not the one who sent me here. Could you believe that?"
Madoka stayed quiet. The kind god helped her princess's magic? She resigned herself again realizing that if what the princess's visions were true then Elise will need all of the help she can get.
"Yes, I can believe that," Madoka pushed Ciara into a gallop as soon as they were out of that dreadful forest. The Estate loomed in the distance as they rode with the princess screaming the whole way.
The princess was huffing and puffing as Madoka slowed Ciara to a halt.
"Elise," Madoka rolled her eyes. "We have arrived. You can let go of me now."
"That's it!" She wheezed, getting off the horse. Ciara was quite pleased with herself. Elise pointed a finger at Madoka. What was the princess planning this time? "You're learning English, dammit. I am teaching you. We can work on reading while we're at it."
For some reason, learning how to read and a new language daunted Madoka more than her physical training.
"Starting with the alphabet!"
"Why?" Madoka complained. The princess smirked, seemingly pleased with herself that the maid was capable of complaining. "I don't want to learn!"
"Because," Elise turned before entering the Estate's door. Madoka had forgotten how empty it was. "It'll be like a secret language! We will be the only two people in the world to speak it! And the whole, uh, God thing."
As the last month of the Summer came to a close, Madoka found herself learning to be able to speak English. It was odd to her how easy she found learning language was, although she could only speak certain phrases confidently. To Elise, that was all she needed. Given time, Madoka would learn how to speak the language of the gods easier. She frequently asked Elise how to say something while the princess giggled at Madoka's accent and said it was cute.
"You probably would be really good at math and science," Elise spoke in English most of the time.
"D-Don't tell me you're going to teach me more things," Madoka complained. She still had a hard time with certain sounds, but it seemed the princess could understand her. Elise laughed. She held up another tome with Madoka's writings on it.
"Bah! I wouldn't teach you math. Who needs it in real life?" Elise said. Madoka could not tell if she was being sarcastic. "By the way, your homework is finally passing! Yippee!"
Madoka sighed as the princess danced around with the papers. Outside, a loud horn was blown. Both girls looked at each other.
"Are we under attack?" Madoka asked, ducking beneath a window.
"No," Elise said. "It's the end of our Summer of Light."
"We are here for Princess Elise Fiara!" Called someone from outside. Madoka and Elise headed outside to be greeted by a row of soldiers. A carriage awaited them. They bowed. Madoka realized that their crests matched Elise's Brother's crest.
"What is this commotion for?" Elise spoke in Royal, this time. Madoka was glad that she still remembered their native languages.
"Forgive us," the captain of the soldiers bowed. Just then, the carriage doors opened and out stepped Brother Fiara. Prince Fiara. Madoka's heart sank in nervousness as he smiled. The soldiers backed away from Prince Fiara as he strode confidently to the princess and her maid.
"Greetings, Dear Sister," the Prince's voice was light and gentle but Madoka sensed something unnerving beneath his Royal words. Elise appeared to be defiant but deep down she was scared, Madoka could tell. "Our Father calls for you. Oh, and you can come with us, too, faithful servant of my sister."
Madoka bowed and quietly followed the two Royals to the carriage with her fears welling up a tempestuous storm inside of her. She left her weapons inside. What could she possibly do?
The carriage was pulling away further and further from the Estate as if it was taking Madoka and Elise to hell itself.