Queen Bee

Blood and Water

    The twilight brings a renewed sense of calm. Maybe Anna is right. Maybe Olivier....maybe he didn't understand a word I said! Maybe he thought I just got excited and he was supposed to follow me, but I was too quick for him. Something gets stuck in my throat. He wouldn't have thought that, for simple reason that when people are excited they don't usually scowl and jab fingers in your direction. I let out an exasperated sigh and stand. If I don't make myself go to tonight's feast and face them, then I would never go. So I push myself over to my vanity and brush any messy parts of my hair out, no t caring about the sharp jolts of pain it brings. I step into my dress closet and run my hands along each of the clothing items, until I find one that seems right. I can't remember the last time I picked out my own clothes. Gently, I take the hanger off of the metal rod revealing a royal blue gown, decorated with soft pearls at the neck. I manage to shimmy out of my current dress and slip that one on, thankful that it doesn't require any lacing in the back. I stand myself in front of the mirror, holding my chin up and smiling. Mother once told me that these physical actions can lead to the emotionally feeling it represents. A rapping at the door breaks me out of my own thoughts, making me jump a little. I smile at myself for real, then head over to the door.  I open to see a young Page, maybe nine or ten years of age.

    "Your Highness!" He barks, saluting and bowing to me. His face is completely serious as he stands back up, straight as a block of wood.

    "Yes, Sir?" I ask, stifling back a laugh.

    "Private Anslo Sculley here to tell you that you are wanted in the banquet hall A.S.A.P., Your Highness." He talks just like a military commander ordering his troupes around.

    "Oh, why thank you very much, Private. You are dismissed." I decide to play along.

    "Thank you, Your Highness." He drops his salute and bows once again before sprinting down the hallway. I take one last look at myself before leaving the safety of my room. 

    I don't even need to be in the banquet room to know what it looks and smells like. I'm sure the smell of cheese, bread, and smoked meats waft through the air like a bird in nature-or a bumblebee in field of flowers. The long, mahogany table that stretched through the whole room is probably filled to the brim with plates, bowls, and pots of delicious foods waiting to be eaten. You can also probably hear the faint yell of Godfrey as he commands his army of poor servants under his will. My father's voice and sound of laughter force me to stop, take a deep breath, and take a moment to clear my head. 

    "And that's when I said, that's not a wife, that's a scarecrow!" Both King Jules and Father erupt in laughter as I enter the room. I bow and as sweetly as I can, say "Your Majesties." Jules is the first to notice me, eyeing me from head to toe. 

    "Come join us, Princess! Come, come!" He says, pulling a chair out from next to him. My father wipes a joyful tear from his eye and adds "You look nice this evening, Darling." The sound of my footsteps gliding over the marble floor echo through the air as I take the seat next to Jules. 

    "Thank you, Father." I wait a beat, one that feels like an eternity, to see what he has to say about my actions today with the prince. Then I realize the prince isn't even here. Father takes a swig from his glass, almost inhaling the clear liquid. 

    "Will the prince be joining us tonight?" I ask innocently. 

    "Nay, he's under the weather unfortunately. Must be from all the travelling." King Jules now takes a sip from his class which contains a blood red liquid. Both of the drinks must be wine.

    "Oh."

    "Next time, we'll have to come to you!" My Father says, waving a servant over to fill his drink. Another one brings me a glass and fills it with water.

    "That would be nice! You know, I'm not as young as I used to be." His lips curl into a smile.

    "Oh, I understand that. I do, I do. Oh! Speaking of trips, after all of this," father waves his hands in the air, "I say we take a trip, daughter. Just you and I."

    "I would love that!" I reply, truthfully. I'm shocked he'd ever willingly go alone with me, but at the same time I think it would be nice.

    "Yes, I have some things I think we should discuss. Some things I should say to you before you get all grown up." He smiles, a twinkle in his eye. Then he reaches across his plate and grabs hunk of seasoned bread.

    "Well, let's not let the food go to waste!" 

    "Agreed." Jules says, snatching a sliver of some sort of meat from a plate. I start my meal off with some of the same salami from earlier. After a few minutes of silent eating, Godfrey emerges from the kitchen in a pair of nice clothes. Much nicer than usual.

    "Is everything to you liking, Your Majesties and Your Highness?" he asks after bowing like usual.

    "More than to my liking, young man! Say, would you mind letting your cook show me what spices he used in the bread?" Jules looks at my father expectantly. 

    "What? Oh, Godfrey, yes. That would be just fine with me, how about you Godfrey?" Before he can answer, Jules stands up and exclaims "Then it settled! Take me to your ship, captain!" 

    "Of course, Your Majesty. Right this way, please." He follows our cook out, letting the door swing behind him

   "He seems to be a nice fellow." King Harald is still watching the door as he says this.

    "Yep." He looks back at me.

    "How was Olivier today?" Is this a trick question? Is he giving me a chance to fess up?

    "Fine."

    "That's good. Is he...you know..."

    "He's fine."

    "Well, I see you've taken a liking to him then!" He smiles again, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

    "I just said he was 'fine'!" I can't help it when I blush, so I pretend to wipe something off my face with my napkin.

    "Well, that is the best thing I have ever heard you say about a boy-even if he's just fine!" 

    "I suppose." My father chuckles, going back to his meal. I decide to focus on mine as well when the door is suddenly slammed open. I jump, my fork leaving my hand.

    "looooook what I found! The good stuff!" Jules is grinning ear to ear, holding a small, red bottle of something. 

    "More alcohol? I think I've had enough!" My father chuckles politely, pushing his cup away from him.

    "Come on, it'll be good! The cook said that he was saving it, but we could use it now if we wanted!" He pops open the top and poor my father a generous amount. Then into his own. He's about to pour some into my now empty glass, when my father sticks his hand out in opposition.

    "She doesn't drink yet." Jules shrugs and places the bottle on the table between us. 

    "A toast?" Jules asks, lifting his cup up.

    "A toast." My father stands, his chair squeaking as he stands. 

    "To..uh..to new relationships!" Jules' words a little slurred as he thrusts his glass up higher.

    "And that they last a lifetime." My father adds as they clink the glasses together. My father sits back down, drinking from his glass and eyeing the other king. Jules clumsily sits himself down and sniffs the wine. 

    "You know, I think I've actually had too much." He says and sets his glass down on the table with a thud.

    "I would have to agree, Friend." My father laughs, slightly nervous.