Tied up with red ribbon

Selena lay in a deep slumber, completely unaware of her impending misfortune. As her dreams whisked her away to a far-off land, she tossed and turned in her sleep. Suddenly, with a loud thud, she rolled off the bed, taking her quilt along with her.

"Agrh…arrgh that hurts," she whispered in the quilt her head buzzing. She wormed her way out of the quilt and her dishevelled head of hair popped out from underneath.

With her sheepish eyes, she noticed that Alfie wasn't in his cage or anywhere else. Every morning when she woke up he would have either left his cage to sleep beside her or curled up in her cage. It depended on his mood really.

A soft knock came from the door. That's because the noise was so loud that it caught the attention of Joan, who had been waiting dutifully outside. She rushed inside, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight before her. "Your Majesty! Are you alright?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.