A Maiden, A Puddle and a Privy

*to be read with an English accent. it's more fun that way.*

Once upon a time in a land seemingly far far away. At least far far away from much of anything. There was a Maiden. She wasn't a queen or princess, nor did she live in a castle. No, no royalty resided in our Maiden's land. She wasn't very tall, nor did she have long flowing flaxen locks. So had there been any Princes in this tale she would not have caught there attention. Our Maiden didn't like guys anyway so no loss there. Our Maiden had her own place, and enjoyed her job and life in her little corner of the world seemed happy. Until one night an evil curse fell upon her and tampered with her mind, leaving her without her memory... Or maybe she just overindulged and had a bad night. You decide.

Our Maiden's story begins at her work. She worked with animals of all sizes and sorts. While ushering in some of her animals she slipped and fell cracking her head on the ground or... maybe a tree root. Dazed but otherwise ok she righted herself and finished up her duties. No delays would be tolerated for that night was the annual Holiday party for our Maiden and her Coworkers. No silly headache would put a damper on this night of frivolity.

A grand time was being had at the party. Our Maiden, freshly clean and pressed was enjoying the festivities with her colleagues. Most zealously was she enjoying the beverages from the barkeep. Perhaps a bit too quickly was she indulging. All was well thought our Maiden though knew she was getting tipsy rather quickly. Alas, this revelation did not deter our Maiden or even slow her down. Something wicked this way comes...

The next thing our Maiden knows is that she is outside her dwelling on the ground in a puddle. She has no idea how she got there or even where "there" actually is. Recognizing her doorway she now knows where she is but has no idea how she got there, N0r does she know how long she was lying in that puddle. She looks up at the dark night sky. The stars are still out but the night had turned brisk and she was chilled to the bone. Staggering and shivering she stands and turns toward the doorway...

It's dark, but not dark like nighttime. There's a noise, soft but insistent. Our Maiden feels herself pulled by the noise as if she is in a tunnel and the noise is guiding her out. Her eyes flutter then open to a blinding haze, and a stranger! Two strangers in fact. Our Maiden awakens to find herself in her privy. Her vision is cloudy so she cannot clearly see who these strangers are. Her throat is dry so she has trouble asking the strangers how they came to be in her privy. The closer of the 2 stranger hands the Maiden something, Ah her glasses. Now her vision clears considerably. She discovers that the strangers are in fact her Landlords who have been summoned to find her. It is now Noon on the following day and our Maiden has failed to show up to work. Her Coworkers are concerned and asked for their help.

2 more people now enter the already crowded privy. She knows these men, they work with her. Why they are in her dwelling puzzles our Maiden, but it would seem they came out to assist the Landlords in finding and making sure our Maiden was alright. Somehow our Maiden was able to make her way into her dwelling and even change out of her wet clothes. Even more surprising was the fact that her contacts had been removed. What wondrous magic allowed for all of this to occur whilst our Maiden was capernoited? Auto Pilot.

With the state our Maiden was found in the Landlords called for Medical assistance. Now there are 4 more people attempting to enter the seriously overcrowded privy. One healer assists our Maiden to her feet and leads her out to a more spacious part of her dwelling where he and his fellows can assess her condition and render treatment. Many questions are asked and for most our Maiden's answer is "I don't know." Less than helpful in assessing any possible injuries. The fall the previous night is a concern along with what little our Maiden can tell them about the night before. A new and painful bump on her head is also alarming. Head trauma may be afoot. Diagnosis is further hindered because many signs of head trauma mimic the symptoms of a wicked hangover. As the cobwebs clear out of our Maiden's head a bit she begins to feel, and that means she now feels the hangover. She feels awful.

With exuberant amounts of time where our Maiden cannot recall where she was or what she did, a report of previous head injury, excessive drinking and a new bump on her head, the healers are concerned. They wish to take her with them via private chariot to be examined more thoroughly. Our Maiden declines their offer. Private Chariot rides of that nature are quite costly, and she assures the healers that all she has is most likely a nasty hangover. Her tone betrays her confidence in that statement. The healers leave although hesitantly. They caution our Maiden that should the symptoms persist past a hangover's duration to seek out their help immediately. A Concussion or Subdural Hematoma they fear.

Now everyone leaves. The crisis is over now that she has been found, she is ok (relatively) and no further assistance is needed. The healers go off to help someone else. The Landlords return to their duties and her work friends go off to let all the others know that she is alright (sort of). Our Maiden, shaken by the encounter sits staring at her floor. Wondering if she is indeed alright.

The End?